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.
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.
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?
Well, I'd probably go and have a drink after thinking about this for so long:)
Frankly, I would obsess just like you! I am so frugal at heart, these kind of scenarios can be difficult for me.
I am sure you read Nancy Wilson's recent post on 'Sweet Possessions' ??
.......maybe a new, sturdy laundry basket could be a sweet possession?
Listen, as a preschool teacher, be happy that your children used the basket for boats, cages, and teeter totters. They are active imaginative kids. What do I do with stuff like this?? Either; 1. tape it and use it in the attic to hold something that no one will see, like plastic pumpkins, or Easter Eggs. 2. just recycle it...you have gotten many years of use from this. Stop thinking about it, just do it. I just bought 2 new laundry baskets that are square, deep, and very sturdy. I use them ALL the time to take stuff upstairs (not just laundry), to carry stuff in from the car, to clean up the kids rooms and re-distribute stuff, and the like. They were not that much money, but a great investment...and I'll have them for many years.
~~Dana~~
I like Dana's ideas for storage. I had the same issue with a laundry basket and reinforced it with duct tape and now it holds up great. It doesn't look good, but it is servicable. And like you and Dana I find it very efficient to use laundry baskets (we have 2) for mulitple purposes.
Hmmm, well, can't relate on this one! I can't even count on two hands how many laundry baskets I have. I like the foldable ones for toys and blankets. I have one of those 3 sorter ones for the household clothes. And then I have 5 plastic ones in the laundry room where I can do more sorting.
I do use them for *organizing* papers when the need arises. 🙂 They aren't just for clothes!
We don't use paper towels, so I like to have a separate basket for wet rags.
Where do your dirty clothes go? 6 people only need one basket?
My hubby goes through lots of clothes. Work. Work out clothes that SMELL! And then regular clothes....that he re-wears.
I re-wear my clothes for days. Hey, I don't smell, and I stay home all day! 🙂
I do wash my clothes in cold and hang *most* of them to dry. And we cloth diaper. 🙂
So don't hate me that I have so many baskets!
They have a cool one with a hip indention. I'd like that one! You should check it out!
Two words, Duct Tape. 🙂
Honestly, I know how awful or redneck or trashy it may seem but honestly when it comes to fixing plastic bins, nothing works better. Just be sure that there's no sticky parts showing or it will get on the clothes.
We used to break all of the laundry baskets my parents bought. We were destructive but also creative kids. Cardboard boxes, the molded Styrofoam that came inside said boxes and laundry baskets were all favorite items for creative play as youngsters. Of course this was more my brother and myself, the girls of the family may have used the baskets for their dolls.
What I think the bigger picture here is that we need to be sure and buy quality items such as the white basket that will last as opposed to "cheaper" items like the pink basket that won't last nearly as long. It's really about being smart with your money and being frugal, not cheap.
Ha ha!
Too funny!
I would probably see how I could manage with just the one, and if I found I needed a second one, I would buy a new one. 😉 Do you just have the one basket for the 6 of you??? I feel as if I am hogging the laundry baskets! I have 5 for 2 of us!!! 5! H brought 3 when he moved in, and I had 2!
Put it in a playroom or wherever the kids play. It's not a laundry basket. It's a space ship, a horse, a sled, a car, a pupet show theater. Turned upside down, it's a desk for playing school or just coloring, it's a judge's stand, a pulpit..whatever they choose....
Just put it in there. When they say, "What's that laundry basket doing in here." you can reply simply, "It's not a laundry basket." You'll maybe get a little more life out of it.
Yep, we've been managing with one basket. The girls have a hamper, Joshua has a hamper, and Mr. FG and I have a bedroom that's really close to the laundry room, so I just carry our dirty clothes in there every day.
Battra, I agree about the quality. I wouldn't have bought the flimsier pink one, but since it was given to me, I figured I'd use it until it was un-useable. 😉
Dana, I was actually thinking of using it for storage in the shed...like to hold all of the kids' balls or something. That might make me feel less guilty. lol
I've given some more thought to this - it really is a compelling issue! 🙂 I'm glad you're leaning toward using it for storage in the shed, it sounds like you really would like to have more room in your laundry room and I'm a big advocate that things should be either useful or pleasing and preferably both!...so now I would vote for you giving it another home - either in the shed or you could post it to Freecycle. I'm sure there is someone who would still like to use it with a little duct tape repair.
I have the same exact white laundry basket. That thing lasts forever. If you like to have 2, I would do what the other poster said and duct tape it.
You might be surprised just how expensive a new laundry basket (good quality) is. I suggest price shopping first. Then decide if you really want to recycle the pink basket. LOL.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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!