Suggestions from experienced college-goers welcome. Looking for something big enough to hold 1-2 loads, stands upright, lid/no lid? Easy to carry!
My D loves this one: birdrock home double laundry hamper (Amazon)
Just a normal laundry basket. They have limited space. The basket likely will fit in the closet.
Maybe stay away from anything that has a bag over a frame - they tend to break.
honestly I prefer a pillowcase or two. Stores flat when empty! Easy to carry to the laundry room!
I like that idea @donnaleighg! However…if the hamper’s not standing there (ready to have clothes thrown in it) I’m not sure if laundry end up where it should, or if my S will realize it’s PAST time to do a load.
My kids used a regular laundry basket slid under the bed. Makes it easy to fold and bring back the laundry from the machines.
ETA: Most schools have limited floor space so you’ll want something that will hang on the back of a closet door, hang from a bedpost, or go under the bed. The advantage of something without a drawstring is that it’s easier to chuck the laundry in.
@Acadia2023 natural consequences… I’m just in favor of less stuff. My two are now out of college but the less stuff you have to stuff into your car (or into storage) the better. I’m still suffering PTSD from four flights of stairs for my eldest… j/k.
I bought D14 a Vera Bradley laundry bag and will likely do the same for D19. It’s roomy, has a convenient shoulder strap and drawstring closure, folds flat when empty for easy dorm storage, and comes in several pretty patterns to distinguish it from your run-of-the-mill laundry sack (no accidentally grabbing a dormmates laundry).
We plan on getting DS a hamper with wheels and a pullout handle like a suitcase.
My son is “appropriating” his dad’s Navy issued deployment seabag. It’s made of super thick canvas w/ a large multi hook & eye closer, and had thick padded shoulder straps for carrying. They can be purchased by anyone, military or not, online or any military surplus. A used one will probably run about $25.
My kids both used a canvas bag for laundry. Worked just fine.
We use a Homz collapsible laundry basket from Home Depot. I think this can be ideal at college for sliding under the bed and smooshing down after putting away clean clothes.
Thanks @whidbeyite2002. I actually saw one of the Homz baskets at a Home Depot yesterday and wondered if it would hold up (not break) over time. Also wondered if it would have too big a footprint when in use?
another thought…get a large LL Bean (type) bag and put it in the closet. That will hold one load of wash. Stands up…has handles. Durable. And can be washed also.
If/when your kid washes sheets…just put them in the pillow case to schlep to the laundry room.
When I took son and two friends home for winter break one year they each had a different type of dirty laundry container- made it easy to unload to the correct house (also good it was cold with an suv open to the rest of the vehicle…). Eons ago I had a bag with fancy markings that was a gift. I think son had a bag. I worry about a basket taking up too much closet space, plus being able to be tipped et al on the way.
I suggest some kind of bag that can close.
I second the collapsible laundry basket suggestion. It takes up less room than her original standing canvas hamper with carrying straps, and because it holds less, it’s easier to carry and she does her laundry more often. She ordered her basket from Amazon.
Edit: She has to go down three flights of stairs, across a courtyard, and down another flight to get to the laundry room, so the easier to transport, the better.
Got my D a narrow-ish laundry basket that fit completely in a dorm closet. Less than five bucks, holding up well, works great. Rigid plastic. I do not recommend cloth. Stains, rips, mildews. I don’t recommend mesh bags, other than to bring laundry home perhaps. They rip too easily and get caught on things.
@Acadia2023, we have a small house, so we own 2 of these. Some dorms have adjustable-height beds (supposedly my daughter’s will), so I imagine she will tuck the basket under the bed when full.
We’ve only had the collapsible baskets for a few months, so time will tell if they hold up.