The $2 IKEA Solution To Replace Bulky Plastic Hampers

While plastic hampers might feel like a necessity in domestic life, they are difficult possessions to manage. Due to their large size — which is required for lugging around large loads of laundry — and their often inflexible shape, you might find that they are a nuisance to store and maneuver around. If you don't want to spend a fortune on a visually pleasing, basket-style hamper, though, you might feel stuck with big plastic ones. Fortunately, you can think again, thanks to a cheap IKEA solution — the Pärkla laundry bag – that proves there's simply no need for a traditional laundry hamper anymore.

Retailing for only $1.99, the Pärkla has a 18-gallon capacity, making it capable of stowing and transporting vast quantities of laundry around the house. With a totally flexible body, it can be folded down when not in use. The zipper on top ensures that the laundry stays where it should when moving it from place to place, while two sturdy handles on the top make relocating it to the laundry room easy.

This laundry bag would be especially useful in homes with multiple levels because it can be loaded up with bulky laundry and hauled up or down all at once, eliminating the need for multiple trips up and down the stairs. There's also a gripping handle on the bottom of the bag for when you dump the contents into the washing machine.

Despite being a new product from IKEA, the Pärkla has already garnered a 4.9-star rating (out of five stars) from nearly 40 reviews. Customers praise the bag for its performance and value for price.

Thanks to its design and size, the Pärkla laundry bag can be used in a variety of settings beyond collecting dirty clothes. The Pärkla's capacity, for example, makes it a genius hack to organize bulky blankets when you aren't using them, as well as items like extra pillows. Individuals who live somewhere with harsh winters but hot summers could store their cold-weather apparel securely in the generously sized bag when not in use.

If you utilize reusable shopping bags, the Pärkla could help to contain them. One five-star review on IKEA's website states, "I bought the laundry bag with the intention of containing all of my plastic shopping bags. I had three large bags with many smaller plastic bags inside. This bag held them all and has made my laundry room more organized."

More unconventional uses for this laundry bag include using it to store camping gear like sleeping bags, clothing or stuffed animals when moving to a new house, or employing it as a secure, water-resistant container for towels when you're headed to the beach. The Pärkla could also serve you by holding summertime items; just throw all of your deflated pool toys, folded-down pool noodles, and floatation devices right into the flexible bag. This allows you to retrieve these seasonal items as quickly as you store them.

Lastly, one more Pärkla note and storage idea, but you might also be interested in the identically named storage case from IKEA to help you store spare blankets – if you're looking for a more orderly linen closet.