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The type of thing I obsess over.

or, The Saga of The Pink Laundry Basket

(As a disclaimer, I should say that this sort of minutiae is not terribly important in the long financial run. A purchase of a laundry basket is hardly going to ruin a person, and I think it’s much more important to look at ongoing expenses(like grocery spending or cable bills) than it is to look at one-time, small purchases like this. I think I’m going back and forth on this more because I want to be responsible consumer than because I want to save money. However, I just thought I’d let you in on the mental workings of a crazy frugal girl…and I’m asking for your input too!)

When we first got married, we bought a nice sturdy laundry basket, which is still going strong. This was our sole laundry basket for a while.

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A couple of years into our marriage, my sister in law gave me an old pink laundry basket that she no longer needed. Since this one is the old style, it’s a softer plastic, and it has not held up as well as our newer laundry basket. I think that if it had only been used for laundry, it might still be ok. But-as in many households, I suspect-my kids have turned it upside down, danced on it, sat on it, jumped on it, used it as a play jail and done who knows what else with it. And, it’s starting to be worse for the wear.

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In addition to the rip that’s visible in the photo above, the side is also cracked. The basket is not so bad when it’s empty, but when it’s filled with a load of wet laundry, it tends to buckle, and it’s difficult to hold it on one hip. Still, it can be used, and so I was reluctant to get rid of it and buy a new one. I was especially hesitant to throw it away because that sort of plastic was not recyclable in my area. Because of that, I decided to stop obsessing and just use it as long as I could.

Recently, though, something happened that has made me start considering a new laundry basket again. In the last few months, our local recycling rules have relaxed considerably, and now we can put items like old laundry baskets out with our recycling! This is good news, but it has made me rethink my commitment to my pink basket.

Since I can now get rid of it without sending it to the landfill, I’m much more inclined to let the old pink one go(I have used it for a lot of years!). I’m sort of considering getting rid of the old one without buying a new one. The old pink one has just been sitting in my laundry room for the last six months or so, and I seem to be managing just fine with only one laundry basket. I’m a little bit concerned, though, that this may only be because I’m not currently using the outdoor clothesline, though(it’s been too cold). I seem to use two baskets more when I’m carrying laundry outside and back in again. I really think that I could manage with just one basket though, and if I could, it would mean a little less clutter in my laundry room.

I could always buy a new one this summer if I end up really missing being the owner of two laundry baskets.

See, I told you I was obsessing(and I would probably obsess over a million more things like this were it not for the leveling effect my husband has had on me). What would you do?

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shawna

Sunday 1st of March 2009

Actually, I prefer those cheapo flimsy laundry baskets so much more than the expensive sturdy ones. I think we have about 10 laundry baskets floating around the house (they take up so much space and I have been thinking about getting rid of some - I love the compost idea!), and I always look for the cheapo flimsy white one. I can hold it on my hip, squish it so I can fit through the stair gate with it on my hip, it's lighter to carry up the stairs. I wish I had 10 of the cheapo ones, but we have lots of the tall thin ones which I despise!

Carole Blake

Tuesday 24th of February 2009

Well...after considering the first comment (go for a drink!), I thought, why don't you tie the splits/cracks together with some string, line it with an old bit of blanket/material, put some compost in it, and stick it outside for the girls to plant something in, or herbs, or something...a pink planter!!!

And I love that you are obsessing over it, I hate chucking stuff out too, I just filled two yoghurt pots with lettuce seedlings and covered them with a large soft drink bottle cut in two as mini incubators.

Can't wait for some fresh leaves... salad anyone?

denise

Tuesday 24th of February 2009

As a family of five with five baskets (no hampers, though) I say just buy yourself a new basket, and toss the pink one in the shed.

Michelle

Tuesday 24th of February 2009

Bye-bye laundry basket. I'm surprised nobody's been pinched between the broken halves yet--that seems to happen to me when I have a cracked basket. (And it always pinches you right at the waist when you're carrying a full basket tucked up against your body. Ouch!)

But to take your post in an entirely different direction---I'm so impressed that your original white basket is still in one piece. We have a couple of that style and the handles have broken off! But we still use them. I can't find that style any more; all the ones around here are smaller and rounded and just don't hold as much.

Becky

Monday 23rd of February 2009

Umm I can't relate sorry! This post however cracks me up. I have 5 that I use regularly and two for storage of various things in the basement. I have matching white sturdy ones and I LOVE them. Our laundry room is in the basement so I feel compelled to have a family of baskets. I'd recycle or re-use it and go crazy and buy a new one. Thats just me though, I am WILD :) good luck with your decision.

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