Why I Always Pack a Laundry Basket

• I travel for work and leisure about twice a month, and I always pack a laundry hamper.
• My collapsible, mesh basket fits on top of my clothes in my bag, so it doesn’t take up much space.
• The hamper makes my hotel room more organized and packing at the end of the trip easier.

As a frequent traveler who’s jetting off at least twice a month, I’m always looking for ways to make my arrival and departure days easier.

One travel hack I’ve started using is taking a collapsible mesh laundry hamper with me on trips. 

When my basket isn’t filled with dirty clothes, it lays flat on top of my clothes in my suitcase. Because it’s not bulky or heavy, it doesn’t take away from the weight or space my suitcase allows, which is great for longer trips. 

Here’s why I never leave for a trip without one. 

It makes it’s super easy to get organized in my hotel room 

Once I check in at a hotel and find my room, I fully unpack my suitcase. Then I roll my bag under my bed or tuck it into a corner. My final step is opening my laundry hamper and putting it in a corner, closet, or bathroom, depending on how the room is set up. 

Doing this helps keep my room looking clean throughout the stay. 

I hate living out of a suitcase for trips because it often means designating a “clean” side and a “dirty” side. Having a laundry basket means my dirty clothes don’t have to be scattered on an extra bed, haphazardly placed into a suitcase, or piled into an empty chair. 

I like being able to find the things I need in my hotel room without shuffling through miniature piles of laundry. I’ve also taken laundry baskets on cruise ships and riverboats to help stay organized in smaller rooms (often under 250 square feet). 

When my trip is over, packing up is easy

The night before I leave a hotel, I take a few minutes to empty my laundry basket on the bed and fold up my clothes to put them back in my suitcase. By this point, pretty much all of my clothes are dirty, so it doesn’t matter what side they go on. 

Then I collapse the laundry basket and pack it on top of my clothes again.

When the morning comes, all I have to do is toss my pajamas and bathroom essentials in, and I’m ready to check out.