What is a laundry bin?
Laundry bins are storage units for used clothing. They minimise the risk of bacteria and mould growing inside damp clothes strewn all over the floor. Laundry bins also make the task of transporting used clothes to washing machines much easier.
Types of laundry bins
There are myriad varieties of laundry bins. However, all of them can basically be categorised under four groups.
The first is the plastic laundry basket. This is the cheapest and lightest, but least durable and least hygienic type of basket.
The second group is the wicker laundry basket. It is made from tightly clustered strands of fibre, usually sourced from plants, trees, and sometimes, synthetic fibre. Wicker baskets are hardy, light and airy. They are roundly acknowledged as the best type of laundry bin. An example of this is Dixie’s Fishbone Laundry Basket. It’s handmade using water hyacinth fibre and comes with white fabric internal lining.
The third group is the woven laundry basket. It is quite similar to the wicker basket, except the fibre strands are thicker. However, this feature makes it the most durable type of basket. A good example of this is AfroArt’s Sene Laundry Basket with lid. It’s made from the bulrush plant and hand-woven by women in Senegal.
The final group is the fabric bag. Such bags are usually made from a blend of fabric such as cotton, rayon and polyester. A fabric bag should not be used to store dirty clothes for a long period since it creates an environment which is conducive for bacteria growth. However, if you do your laundry daily, then it’s fine. Just remember to wash the bag as well.
We carry a few of the fabric bags in our online store as well. One particular model, House Doctor’s Stripes Laundry Basket, comes with an inner plastic lining. This prevents the growth of bacteria, mould and bad odour. The half-meter long bag also has two handles, so it is very convenient to carry.