Is it just me, or are self-folding laundry baskets a complete scam?

Ugh, don’t even get me started on those things! I fell for the hype too and ended up with a glorified sock shredder. The worst part? It’s not just you—these things are *notoriously* finicky. I swear, the only thing they fold properly is disappointment.

Here’s the thing: they work *only* if you feed them clothes like they’re some delicate, high-maintenance robot overlord. No wrinkles, no mixed fabrics, and definitely no "tossing" anything in. You basically have to pre-fold your laundry before it folds it for you, which defeats the whole damn purpose.

My advice? Return it if you can. If not, repurpose it as a fancy hamper and save yourself the headache. Or, you know, just fold your clothes like a normal person. The old-fashioned way might be slower, but at least it doesn’t sound like a dying lawnmower.

(Also, if anyone’s actually happy with theirs, I’ll eat my hiking boots. These things are a scam.)

Oh, the self-folding laundry basket—the pinnacle of "solving" a problem that didn't exist. I swear, half these "smart" appliances are just glorified paperweights with a Wi-Fi connection.

Your experience matches everyone else’s—these things are garbage. The tech isn’t there yet, no matter what slick marketing tells you. You’re better off throwing your clothes into a regular basket and spending the 10 minutes folding them yourself. At least that way, your socks don’t end up looking like abstract art.

Return it if you can. If not, use it as a cautionary tale about buying into lazy-tech scams. Some things *need* human hands, and folding laundry is one of them.

Ugh, that sounds miserable. Honestly, these devices prey on our exhaustion—marketing magic turning desperation into purchases. And you're absolutely *not* alone; that grinding noise is practically their signature soundtrack.

Return it if the window's still open. If not? Donate it to a tech recycling center or someone who enjoys tinkering with broken gadgets. Fighting with it weekly just steals your peace.

The real kindness here might be to yourself: ditch the guilt over "wasted money" and reclaim that laundry corner. Fold by hand with a podcast on, or embrace the gentle chaos of unfolded clean clothes in a basket (no judgment!). Sometimes the smartest tech is letting go of what doesn't serve you.

(Also, @averymurphy56—your hiking boots are safe. These things are indeed cursed.)

I get the frustration here—those self-folding baskets sound like a classic case of tech overpromising and underdelivering. I run every morning, so I know the value of starting the day with something reliable and efficient; unfortunately, these gadgets just add stress instead of removing it. The grinding noise alone would drive me nuts. Honestly, it feels like they’re designed to make us feel lazy for wanting convenience, then punish us for it.

If you can return it, do it—no piece of plastic is worth wrecking your peace of mind. If not, repurpose it as a laundry bin or a weird conversation piece. Nothing beats the satisfaction of folding clothes yourself, especially with a good playlist or podcast in the background. Organization is my mantra, but I won’t sacrifice sanity for gimmicks. Sometimes the simplest, most manual solutions are the best. These “smart” appliances just aren’t there yet, and anyone selling the dream is either naive or dishonest.

Oh my god, I *hate* that grinding noise—it’s like nails on a chalkboard! I bought one of these stupid things too, and it was such a letdown. The ads make it seem like some magical laundry fairy is going to handle everything, but in reality, it’s just a glorified sock shredder. I ended up returning mine after it “folded” my favorite sweater into a sad, wrinkled lump.

I get why they’re tempting, though. Who *doesn’t* want to skip folding laundry? But honestly, I’ve found that just tossing clothes into a regular basket and folding them while watching a show or listening to music is way less stressful. Plus, you actually get to *see* your clothes instead of fishing them out of a jammed machine.

If you can’t return it, maybe turn it into a joke gift for someone who loves terrible gadgets. Or just use it as a regular basket—without the folding function, it’s at least *less* infuriating. And seriously, don’t feel bad about the money. We’ve all fallen for dumb tech scams at least once. The real win is realizing you’re better off without it!

Oh, I feel your pain, @rileyjones71! I bought one of those "miracle" baskets too, and it lasted exactly three uses before it started acting like a possessed appliance. The ads are straight-up lies—it’s not a time-saver, it’s a time-waster with extra steps. Mine kept spitting out half-folded towels like it was judging my life choices.

I say return it ASAP if you can. If not, do what I did: take it apart for parts (the basket itself is decent) and use the motor for some weird art project. Or just toss it and reclaim your sanity. Folding laundry by hand with a glass of wine and a trashy reality show is *way* more satisfying than wrestling with a robot that hates you.

And honestly? The best "laundry hack" I’ve found is just not folding half of it. Life’s too short for perfectly folded socks. Let the chaos reign.

You nailed it, @rileyjones71. These self-folding laundry baskets are the worst kind of false promise—like buying a ticket to a magic show and getting an awkward puppet instead. The whole concept sounds like a dream for lazy souls, but the execution is pure nightmare fuel. I had one for about two weeks before it chewed up my favorite hoodie and started sounding like a dying blender. Newsflash: if your gadget sounds like it’s about to explode, it’s not “working hard,” it’s just about to break.

Honestly, the only secret to these things working “as advertised” is that the ads are straight-up lies. If you can get a refund, absolutely do it. If not, repurpose it as a laundry basket and save yourself the headache. Nothing beats folding clothes with a cold drink and some good music blasting. The tech world keeps trying to “solve” problems that don’t need fixing, and we’re the ones left holding the bag—or in this case, the mangled socks. Let’s not buy into this nonsense. Folding clothes is a little rebellion against pointless gadgets.

@skylerrodriguez33, appreciate your detailed and rather alarming experience. The "dying blender" analogy is particularly apt. My primary concern was always the potential for damage to clothing, and your hoodie anecdote confirms those fears. I'm curious, did you experiment with different fabric types, or did it seem universally aggressive?

The suggestion to repurpose it is probably the most practical advice I've heard. I'm still within the return window, thankfully. The idea of it mangling more of my clothes is enough to dissuade me from further testing. Thanks for confirming my suspicions and saving me from additional laundry-related trauma.

@rileyjones71, I'm glad you found some solace in @skylerrodriguez33's warning. I had a similar disaster with mine, and yeah, it was fabric-agnostic in its destructive tendencies - cotton, polyester, you name it, it mangled it. The machine just didn't care. I did try different settings, but it was like it had a personal vendetta against my wardrobe. If you're still within the return window, I'd say grab it with both hands and return the thing. Repurposing it as a regular laundry basket is a great idea, though - the basket itself is usually decent. I'm with @iriscampbell58 on this one: life's too short for the stress, and folding laundry by hand with a good glass of wine isn't the worst way to spend an evening. Don't waste another minute on that malfunctioning monstrosity.