(Note that when I say ‘laundry basket’ I am referring to the basket I tote clean laundry around in. I’m not referring to a laundry sorter or any other basket I put dirty clothes in. I just want to make sure we’re on the same page.)

I’ve owned many laundry baskets in my life. Some baskets were lovely and girly and some were more functional.

My personal preference?

I choose the functional laundry basket every time.

I’ve learned that in this case, functional is better and makes my Laundry Life easier. If a super cute, practical laundry basket was on the market, I’d be first in line. Until then, I’ll stick with my plain old drab ones that get the job done.

Mama has several criteria when purchasing a laundry basket. Here they are in no particular order:

Buy a Basket with Sturdy Handles

A laundry basket with sturdy handles is an absolute must. I detest a basket that has handles that bend when I pick it up. You know with 6 people living in my house that our laundry baskets are piled high and that makes them heavy. I need a basket where the handles stay put and can bear the weight of our laundry.

Make Sure it has a Rectangular Shape

I owned a round laundry basket when I lived alone and it was fine for just one person’s laundry. It was always a pet peeve of mine that I couldn’t stack folded clothes in it, though. Since the basket was round, it could only hold one stack of folded towels or one stack of shirts.

It is rare that I stack a load of folded clothes in a laundry basket, but in the event that I do, I want it to be a rectangle. A round basket is completely impractical, in my opinion.

Only Buy a Laundry Basket with a Smooth Finish

Have you ever had a basket (think wicker) that snagged your laundry? I despise that. There’s nothing worse than having a nice knit shirt that has been picked because it got caught on the edge of my laundry basket

I completely avoid the whole issue and buy only laundry baskets that have a smooth finish. I’ve only found plastic ones that are smooth, so plastic it is.

Steer Clear of the ‘Hip’ Laundry Baskets

You’ve seen those laundry baskets that are curved to fit around your hip, right? They seem like they would be a good idea. However, if you routinely stack folded clothes in your basket, they aren’t ideal. As with the round baskets, they just don’t stack clothes well.

Make Sure Your Basket is Vented

All laundry baskets need to have vents, even if you only transport clean laundry in them like I do. Vents are just the little holes that are all throughout the sides of the basket, allowing the laundry inside to breathe. Laundry baskets that do not have vents tend to harbor more static electricity. If you do use your basket for dirty laundry, it must be vented so your laundry doesn’t mildew. Mold and mildew are hard to remove from clothing, so avoid the problem all together and just go vented.

Do you have a laundry basket that you can’t live without? Tell me all about it. I’m always looking for things that would make my Laundry Life more simple.