Back-to-school sales are in full swing. Sure, I take advantage of rock-bottom prices on crayons, tablets and pens, but the sales that interest me most are the ones targeted at the “Back-to-College” crowd. Stores like Target, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Kmart and Linens N Things are currently offering great savings on household items from towels to trunks, mini-refrigerators to magnets. But, the one item I always stock up on during these seasonal sales is the laundry basket. I never seem to have enough laundry baskets… and it’s not because I have a ton of dirty clothes, it’s because I use them for so many other purposes.
Here are my top five reasons you should have more than one laundry basket:
1. Toy Box. Toy box, toy container, whatever you want to call it, a laundry basket is a great catch all for toys and (in my daughter’s case) stuffed animals. Since laundry baskets come in all shapes and sizes, and now, in a range of colors too, you can mix and match them to your room’s décor. My daughter has a large, purple laundry basket that does double duty as a home for her stuffed friends and as a boat for her. She empties out her friends, grabs her toy broom and off she goes “paddling” down the hall.
2. Hair Salon. Forget about cutting hair in the bathtub or having to mess with spreading out a tarp… I simply place a stool in an extra-large laundry basket and cut my daughter’s hair in our mock “salon.” The hair falls in the basket and makes for easy clean up.
3. Cooler. Having an end of the summer barbecue? Who says you need to spend a ton of money on a galvanized bucket or an extra cooler? Simply line a laundry basket with a plastic tarp or a clear garbage bag, fill it with ice, stock it with your favorite beverages and viola—instant cooler.
4. Outdoor Storage Unit. Laundry baskets are as handy outdoors as they are indoors. To keep your hose knot-free, simply roll it up and store it in a laundry basket. Whether you have an in-ground pool or an inflatable one, laundry baskets are great places to keep pool toys organized. Once they are loaded they store nicely on garage shelves.
5. Pet Center. My aunt and uncle have a special laundry basket designated solely for their dog’s goods. They place Goldie’s food, extra dishes, toys and leash in a laundry basket, which they keep in the front closet. Everything Goldie needs is located in one place so they never waste time looking for a lost leash, a missing ball or favorite chew toy.