Best Laundry Hamper That Keeps Smells In: 3 Picks, 1 to Skip
Hampers smell when damp clothes sit in still air. Fix the habits first, then pick a lidded, vented hamper that holds odor in without trapping moisture.
By Jamilur Rahman Updated November 5, 2026 · 7 min read
- Time
- 10 min
- Cost
- $20-$50
- Difficulty
- Easy
In this guide
Quick answer
A laundry basket smells because damp, sweaty clothes sit in still air, and bacteria and mildew grow in a day or two. Never toss in anything damp, empty the hamper every week and wipe it out with vinegar and water. If the smell keeps coming back, or you can smell it across the room, a lidded hamper with ventilation holds odor in and lets moisture out. An open basket cannot do the first, and a sealed bin cannot do the second.
Free fix vs. permanent fix
Dry it, wipe it, empty it
- Hang damp towels and gym clothes to dry before they go in
- Wipe the basket with half white vinegar and half water, then dry it fully
- Sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda on the bottom
- Empty it at least once a week
How long it lasts: As long as you keep the habits. One damp towel or gym shirt can bring the smell back within a day or two.
A lidded hamper with ventilated sides
A lid keeps odor from drifting into the room, and the vents let moisture escape so mildew has less to grow on. An open basket cannot hold smell in, and a fully sealed bin traps the damp that makes it. The free steps clear today's smell; the vented lid keeps the room from smelling like laundry.
What to get: Lidded laundry hamper with ventilated sides and a removable liner
How long it lasts: Years, if you pick a surface that wipes clean or a liner that washes.
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What you'll need
-
Spray bottle with white vinegar and water
Half and half, for wiping out the hamper
You have it -
Baking soda
A thin layer on the bottom soaks up odor
You have it - Our pick Illustration
Lidded hamper with ventilated sides
Holds odor in and lets damp out
- Illustration
Plastic lidded hamper with vent slots
Hard plastic that wipes clean in seconds
- Illustration
Two-compartment hamper with lid and removable liners
Keeps gym clothes away from everyday clothes
Why it happens
Damp clothes going in
Wet towels, swimsuits and sweaty gym clothes carry moisture. In a closed space the bacteria and mildew that make the musty smell multiply in a day or two, not weeks.
A hamper that soaks up odor
Cloth, wicker and old plastic absorb smell the way clothes do. You wash the clothes, but not the hamper, so the smell is waiting for the next load.
No airflow
A solid-sided hamper packed tight has nowhere for moisture to go. Body odor and damp stay put and build.
Too long between washes
A hamper left full for two weeks, or crammed so tight the lid will not shut, gives smell more time and more surface to build.
Try this first (free)
Do these in order, starting with the simplest.
-
Dry everything before it goes in
Hang damp towels, swimsuits and gym clothes over a door or rack until they are dry. This one habit stops most hamper smell.
-
Empty the hamper and wipe it out
Tool used: Spray bottle with white vinegar and waterTake out every piece of clothing. Spray the inside with half white vinegar and half water, wipe it down and let it dry fully, in the sun if you can. Never mix vinegar with bleach.
-
Add baking soda
Tool used: Baking sodaSprinkle a thin layer on the bottom. It soaks up smell for pennies. Replace it every few weeks, or each time you wash the hamper.
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Keep the worst offenders apart
Put gym clothes, wet towels and anything very sweaty in a separate bag or section, and wash those first so they do not sit.
-
Switch to a lid that lets damp out
Tool used: Lidded hamper with ventilated sidesChoose a hamper with a snug lid and vent holes or mesh panels. The lid keeps the smell in the hamper, and the vents keep damp from sitting.
IllustrationCheck price on AmazonTool for this step
Lidded hamper with ventilated sides · Holds odor in and lets damp out
-
Wash on a schedule
Run a load at least once a week. Wash the hamper itself monthly: wipe plastic, and machine wash a removable liner according to its label.
When free fixes aren't enough
If the smell returns within a few days even when the clothes are dry, the hamper itself is holding the odor. That is common with cloth, wicker and old plastic. It is also a problem when the hamper sits in a bedroom or small bathroom, where even a little smell is easy to notice. A hamper with a lid and vents fixes both: the lid keeps odor from drifting out and the vents give damp air somewhere to go. If you see mold on the hamper or on clothes stored in it, wash the clothes, throw out a moldy cloth or wicker hamper and find the damp source before you buy another.
Buy the fix
Still stuck after the free fixes? These are the products we would look at.
| Pick | Product | Fixes | Who it's for | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best pick | Lidded laundry hamper with ventilated sides and a removable liner | odor that leaks into the room and damp clothes with nowhere to breathe | Anyone with a hamper in a bedroom, bathroom or small apartment who wants the smell kept in. | Check price |
| Budget pick | Plastic lidded hamper with vent slots | a hamper that absorbs smell into its material | Dorms, kids' rooms and anyone who wants the cheapest hamper that is easy to clean. | Check price |
| Upgrade pick | Two-compartment lidded hamper with removable liner bags | sweaty clothes making all the other laundry smell | Athletes, kids who play sports, and couples sharing a room. | Check price |
Lidded laundry hamper with ventilated sides and a removable liner
Fixes: odor that leaks into the room and damp clothes with nowhere to breathe
Look for: A lid that closes snugly, so odor stays in; Ventilation holes or breathable mesh panels on the sides; A removable liner you can machine wash; Big enough for a week of laundry with the lid shut.
- Who it's for
- Anyone with a hamper in a bedroom, bathroom or small apartment who wants the smell kept in.
- Honest downside
- You wash every day or two and the hamper sits in a big, airy space. A basic basket is enough.
Plastic lidded hamper with vent slots
Fixes: a hamper that absorbs smell into its material
Look for: Hard plastic walls that wipe clean; Slots or holes for airflow; A lid that sits flat and stays put.
- Who it's for
- Dorms, kids' rooms and anyone who wants the cheapest hamper that is easy to clean.
- Honest downside
- You want a hamper that looks like furniture. Plastic can look basic, and a thin lid can crack.
Two-compartment lidded hamper with removable liner bags
Fixes: sweaty clothes making all the other laundry smell
Look for: Two sections so gym and wet items stay apart; A lid, ideally with vent holes; Washable liner bags with handles for carrying to the machine.
- Who it's for
- Athletes, kids who play sports, and couples sharing a room.
- Honest downside
- Floor space is tight. Two sections take more room, and one big hamper may fit better.
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How we picked: How we picked: this page is based on laundry and mildew care guidance, hamper product specs, and the odor problems people report in owner reviews. We do not test products by hand.
Material matters: what holds smell and what does not
- Hard plastic: absorbs the least odor and wipes clean in seconds.
- Fabric with a removable liner: fine if you can machine wash the liner, since fabric itself holds smell.
- Wicker, rattan and bamboo: look nice but soak up damp and odor unless they have a liner you wash.
- Mesh with no lid: airy, but it keeps no smell in.
Size and placement
Pick a size that holds one full week of laundry for your household with the lid still closing. A lid propped open by clothes lets odor out and does nothing for airflow. Keep the hamper off a wet bathroom floor if you can, and a few inches from the wall so air can move around it.
What to skip
Sealed airtight bins and perfume sprays
A fully airtight bin looks like the answer, but with damp clothes inside it holds the moisture that mildew needs. Scented sprays and plug-ins only mask the smell for a few hours. Fix the damp and the hamper, not the scent.
Frequently asked questions
Should a laundry hamper have a lid?
How do I stop my laundry basket from smelling?
Can I wash my laundry hamper?
Why does my hamper smell when the clothes are clean?
Related problems
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