Best laundry hampers

Top pick: SONGMICS laundry hamper with removable bags — a lid, a liner you can lift out and carry to the machine, and the strongest owner ratings of the practical everyday hampers here. It's the one most households should start with.

Who the others suit:

• Wicker with a lid (SONGMICS, 160 L) — the biggest capacity for a family, and it looks like furniture rather than a bin.
• 3-compartment wicker (The Basket Lady) — sort lights, darks and delicates at the drop, no sorting later.
• Narrow rectangular wicker — tight bathrooms and closets where floor space is short.
• Corner wicker — tucks into an unused corner.
• 4-compartment hamper — several people sharing one laundry spot.
• Mesh pop-up — travel, dorms and small apartments; it folds flat.
• Large 30-gallon lidded hamper — cheap, roomy, no fuss.

Check the height and width against your space before buying; wicker needs a dry spot.