Of all the household tasks that come with adulting, doing laundry is, in my humble opinion, the lesser of all the evils. There’s something incredibly satisfying about a freshly cleaned pile of clothes, ready to make its way back into the wardrobe (eventually).
For many people, though, doing laundry feels daunting and endless, particularly for those who have big families or live with a large number of people. This can be exacerbated by small laundry rooms and a lack of good storage solutions, making the process a real pain in the you know what.
Kmart shoppers – never ones to miss a trick for making life easier – have recently been raving about a laundry item from the budget retailer that rivals a product 4 times the price, but a laundry expert tells Yahoo Lifestyle that there are some drawbacks to both versions that buyers should be aware of.
“@Kmart Australia have a new laundry hamper that competes with the Joseph Joseph Tota laundry hampers,” one excited shopper shared on TikTok. “These are $35. Absolutely love them. These are called the Anko Dual Section Laundry Hamper.”
“Thank you so much, I so need this, but I couldn’t justify the Joseph Joseph price,” one person commented.
“Been waiting for this dupe!” another replied.
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How does the Kmart hamper compare to the Joseph Joseph one?
The Joseph Joseph version of the two-sectioned basket retails for around $150, making the Kmart version a clear winner in terms of affordability. However, laundry expert Nicole Gibson from Söka Australia says that there are some key differences between the two products.
For one thing, the Joseph Joseph version is made from bamboo with cotton tote bag inserts, while the Kmart offering is polyester. “Comparing them visually, you can tell the fabric’s not taut, it’s not as well made, it looks more flimsy and not as stylish,” Nicole says.
“And the price point,” she continues. “Well, you pay for what you get, and I think when you’re paying $150 for a Joseph Joseph one, you do get that quality. It’s aesthetically pleasing where the Kmart one isn’t really on point, but if that’s your budget, then it would certainly do the job.”
Are dual hampers worth buying?
One customer has certainly found the Kmart basket to be up to the job, replying to one of her followers by writing, “I am so glad I didn’t impulse buy the JJ brand when they had a sale because this was a much cheaper option and they are the same nice look inside. The only difference overall is the lid and the fact that the assembly is so much easier, too.”
Replying to another person who wanted to know about the sturdiness of the Kmart hamper, she replied. “Very sturdy. I bought two so I can divide my laundry into four sections.”
While, in theory, dual hampers – from anywhere – seem like a great way to keep colours and darks separate and to streamline the task of doing laundry, Nicole says that it’s important to look at the bigger picture.
Hidden dangers of using laundry hampers
“I think we need to take a step back and actually look at some of the hidden dangers of laundry hampers in general, whether they’re single, dual, triple, like one of the Joseph Joseph ones,” she says.
“The non-negotiable laundry rule when it comes to putting clothes in laundry hampers is that you cannot put damp, sweaty, moist, wet clothes in a hamper. Why? Because it will cause bacteria and mould to spread across the other clothing items that may be dry.”
She adds, “You really do run the risk of that mould and bacteria growth with any sort of fabric laundry hampers.”
Nicole also says that where you keep your hamper can also contribute to a buildup of mould, so it’s important to keep it somewhere where there is adequate ventilation.
What to look for in a laundry hamper
And while Nicole says she would opt for the Joseph Joseph laundry hamper over the Kmart dupe due to liking the aesthetic more, she is actually a fan of an entirely different laundry basket in her home.
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Nicole’s pick is a slimline plastic hamper from Kmart (which retails for around $19) that features breathable holes.
“It’s easy to wipe out,” she says. “You can hose it out, put it in the shower, but it’s got a lot of air vents. Air in your clothes is really important, the airflow is really important.”
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