[mom-from-missouri]

Laundry baskets are great for gifts!! Recycle them. I sometimes use them full of baby items for a baby gift, or full of laundry or kitchen items for a bridal shower. If you get your items to fill it with from the dollar store, you can do quite well for about $20.
Each of my kids has a laundry basket in their room, either under the bed, or in the closet for their dirty clothes or stuffed animals. I also have one I keep outside toys and pool toys in. You can easily hose the toys off while in the basket before bringing the basket back inside, and they will drain well, but keep together.