PVC Pipe Frame Laundry Hamper

Build a sturdy laundry hamper out of PVC pipe and a drawstring bag.

Sure you can buy one just like it in the store but PVC pipe is fun to build with.

Step 1: The Bag

I bought my laundry bags from bed bath and beyond for pretty cheap but you can make them pretty cheap too.

The bags are sturdy cotton and are roughly 32 inches long and 27 inches wide. They have a drawstring in the top and a little spring loaded barrel tie. They're nothing fancy.

If you were to make these, you would need 2 panels 35 inches long and 28 inches wide. You would sew both panels together around 3 sides approximately 1/2 inch in from the edge leaving ond of the 28 inch sides open. You would then fold the edges of the open side down 2 1/2 inches and sew around the circumfrence of the opening 1/2 inch in from the edge of the fabric (2 inches in from the fold if you are so inclined. After that you turn the whole thing inside out and cut a little hole to thread your drawstring through and get to threading.

Comments

[Oolaba]

Entre le temps passé et le cout des produits, ne vaut-il pas mieux se payer directement un panier à linge ?

[Anthony Cervantes]

It was less than $20 USD for everything. The bags were on sale, PVC is cheap, and I buy fittings in bulk to use in our garden.

I've noticed the laundry hampers in stores seem to use thinner pipes. These have outlasted several store bought laundry baskets and are still in daily use in our home.

[G_spell]

How much did this project cost you?

[abadfart]

very nice i have to walk about a block to do my laundry this will help  

[mspryde]

That was fun! I just made one this evening - $7.00 of materials from Lowe's and about 30 minutes of work. We have a factory so I have access to a chop saw which made cutting a breeze. The longest stretch of time was spent trying to get the ink markings off the pipe (acetone worked). I plan to spray paint it, but the SO was concerned that the markings would show through. Next, making a laundry bag - whoo hoo! Thanks for the instructions!

[pcwebber]

This is such a good idea that I went down & brought the pvc & had them cut the sizes that you gave & then realized that I needed two more 13 1/2 for the bottom! Is this right or did I put it together wrong?

[Myself]

This looks cool and it's explained well, but PVC is hard to recycle, and manufacturing it is an environmental nightmare. I encourage anyone reading this instructable to consider using metal (which is infinitely recyclable, of course) or wood, which is renewable and biodegradable. Metal pipe is easy to build with, whether you use conduit fittings or plumbing parts. There are also "adult erector sets" like 8020 extrusions and unistrut, which are appropriate for larger projects. Wood, of course, is the oldest building material and still a good one. A nicely stained piece of furniture looks better than PVC, too.

[winandzoo]

Thank you for posting this comment. There are numerous things my 3 sons and I have wanted to build and PVC always seemed unavoidable. Up to this point we have refrained because I didn't want to expose us to the toxins during the cutting process. Never heard of "8020 extrusions and unistrut" until now! Just checked them out online and am so excited to have an alternative! Thanks so much!

[nanamarie]

I been looking for a site to make these hamper, happy found this one. If goes well in making it i mite make my friend one lol

[dataphool]

There are elegant. I like them. Why not use a single piece of fabric 62 inches wide and fold it in half? I have never seen, in a fabric store or Woolco a barrel fitting, although they are on many jackets, etc. any ideas?

[meddler]

I like this and will make it but i think i'll make an extra and use it for a kitchen garbage bag holder.This design would be ideal for that, maby for a camp site as well,hmmmm.

[Yakster]

I like it, may do it. It'd be cool to build a single stand that would hold three bags for White, Color, and Dark clothes. Yakster