DIY: Rig Up Accessible Laundry Bags (2024)

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by Jessi Wohlwend

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DIY: Rig Up Accessible Laundry Bags (2)

The laundry hamper situation in our household has always irked me slightly. I like laundry hampers with wire or some sort of “boning” that holds them open so that they stand up on their own and are always accessible. My husband likes drawstring fabric bags because they are very easy to carry up and down the three flights of stairs between our apartment and the laundry room in the basem*nt of our apartment complex. The problem with my style of hampers is that they’re awkward to carry when they’re heavy and full; the problem with JM’s hampers is that they don’t stay open and it isn’t the easiest to get your dirty clothes into them (if it isn’t super easy to do it’s pretty likely that my clothes will just end up on the floor instead :-p).

We’ve tried both styles of hampers, and even combinations of the two where we put JM’s bags inside of my hampers so that they have some shape/form to them but we can carry just the bag downstairs to do laundry later. None of it really works very well though. It’s like a tiny little mosquito of annoyance that I can swat away, but it always comes back later and I’m reminded again and again that I haven’t found a good solution yet.

So imagine my excitement when, while browsing through the DIY & Crafts page on Pinterest a while ago, I stumbled across a picture of a brilliant solution! In fact (unfortunately) I was so excited that I didn’t even take the time to repin the pin, I just went right ahead and recreated it, so now I can’t even point you back to the source of my inspiration 🙁

However… LOOK!

DIY: Rig Up Accessible Laundry Bags (3)
It’s both always open AND easy to carry!

Duh, it’s like the simplest idea ever, but it hadn’t occurred to me before. To recreate this I used:

  • an embroidery hoop (I found these at Michael’s for about $3 each, they are 12″ hoops)
  • a laundry bag (about $5 each at Target), or you can use an extra pillow case
  • a 3M hook
  • a 4″ piece of ribbon

You just open up the embroidery hoop and put it around the laundry bag, then stick the 3M hook to the wall and use the ribbon to hang the hoop from the hook. It takes about five minutes and voila! Instant always-open always-accessible laundry bags!!! It’s perfect for us because I can easily just toss my clothes into the bags when they’re dirty and when it’s time to do laundry we can just open up the hoops and carry the bags downstairs. Yay!

DIY: Rig Up Accessible Laundry Bags (4)
Up close look at the hoop/hook/ribbon assembly

How do you deal with your laundry/laundry hampers? Is that even a thing you worry about or pay attention to in your house? Maybe I’m just super picky… 🙂

DIY: Rig Up Accessible Laundry Bags (5)
I took a second picture to try to get it a little sharper, but my cat totally photo-bombed this one 🙂
I link up at these awesome parties!

Tagged: bedrooms laundry

DIY: Rig Up Accessible Laundry Bags (6)

Jessi Wohlwend

I believe that anyone can do crafts and DIY projects, regardless of skill or experience. I love sharing simple craft ideas, step by step DIY project tutorials, cleaning hacks, and other tips and tricks all with one goal in mind: giving you the tools you need to “do it yourself”, complete fun projects, and make awesome things!

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  1. Jessi says

    12 years ago

    I used to have a nice wicker hamper (also with a lid) but I did the same thing Hyphen did… 🙂

    I swear we've been through about 11 different kinds of hampers trying to get this figured out! This one is working incredibly well so far; I have high hopes.

    Reply

  2. Katie says

    12 years ago

    How clever! I must say that one of the biggest advantages of a house is not having to go to a laundromat. ^_^

    But I've been having problems with this, too, mostly because Hyphen has this wood hamper that he's had forever and admittedly looks nice–but it has a lid. He's always closing the lid, then setting something on top, then dumping all his clothing on the floor instead of into the hamper. Sigh.

    Reply

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DIY: Rig Up Accessible Laundry Bags (2024)

FAQs

What can I use instead of a mesh laundry bag? ›

You can use a few safety pins to seal the pillowcase shut and toss it into the laundry. It will work just like a mesh bag does for your clothing. Optionally, you can get creative if you have a sewing machine and make your own laundry bag out of an older pillowcase.

Do mesh laundry bags work? ›

Mesh laundry bags will protect your fine washables! Placing delicate items like washable silk, wool, or lace inside a mesh laundry bag can save them from damage during the machine wash cycle. This article explains when and how to use mesh laundry bags and offers simple instructions for washing delicate items.

Can I wash all my clothes in a mesh bag? ›

When Should You Use a Mesh Laundry Bag? You should use a mesh laundry bag during your laundry routine when you want to launder delicate clothes, activewear or gym clothes, items with straps or embellishments, or when washing baby clothes.

What to do if you don't have a laundry bag? ›

You could certainly use a pillow case or two, but having a nice paracord closure to the bag is a welcome addition to the design that prevents your laundry from spilling out everywhere. You could also modify a pillow case into a DIY laundry bag just by sewing in a closure.

What can I use if I don't have a garment bag? ›

Creating a makeshift garment bag is surprisingly simple, and it only takes a few minutes. Start by grabbing and opening up your trash bag and turning it upside down. With the clothing item still on the hanger, put it in the bag with the hanger toward the sealed bottom of the bag.

How to do laundry in ziploc bag? ›

Wash it yourself summary:
  1. use dry bag, scrubba, or just plain plastic bag.
  2. add clothes, water, and pretty much any kind of soap.
  3. swish around and best to soak for a few minutes.
  4. drain soapy water from bag and squeeze out clothes (don't wring)
  5. add clean water to bag, agitate, and then drain.
May 5, 2022

How to turn a pillowcase into a drawstring bag? ›

  1. Take your pillowcase and turn it inside out. Use your seam ripper to split one side seam 5cm (2″) from the top. ...
  2. Fold the top of the pillowcase over 2.5cm (1″) and press. Stitch all the way around to create your casing. ...
  3. Take your ribbon and use a safety pin to thread it through the casing.
Apr 27, 2021

How to use a bra laundry bag? ›

Wash on cold and skip the dryer

Lingerie bags aren't magical, damage-repelling force fields, so don't expect them to protect your delicate clothes from hot water—or worse, the heat from the dryer. Stick to short, cold wash cycles and air drying.

What should I put in laundry bags? ›

The main reason a laundry bag is used is to preserve delicate fabrics, such as nylon, wool, silk, lace etc. These items are more prone to pilling and stretching - so a zipped laundry bag is an easy way to prevent this.

Why wash shoes in a mesh bag? ›

It's a good idea to pop your shoes, and your laces, inside a mesh laundry bag to protect them from becoming snagged on the inside of the drum. If you don't have a laundry bag, an empty pillowcase is a good alternative.

Do you need a laundry bag? ›

The main reason a laundry bag is used is to preserve delicate fabrics, such as nylon, wool, silk, lace etc. These items are more prone to pilling and stretching - so a zipped laundry bag is an easy way to prevent this.

Can you wash bras without a bag? ›

The best way to protect your bras during a wash cycle is to place them inside a mesh laundry bag and wash using mild detergent and cool water on the delicate cycle setting, making sure to air dry afterwards. These precautions can help protect the bra's shape and structure, but it does not guarantee it.

What are different types of laundry bags? ›

Choosing the Right Laundry Bag for Your Needs

They generally come in three types: mesh, fabric, or canvas.

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