Washing Plastic Bags

Before I started washing plastic bags I thought "What a waste of time!" Now, when I see someone throw away a bag used only once I think, "What a waste of money!"

I mostly wash zip-type bags. We just wash the bags when we do dishes. I swish the soapy water in each bag, then rinse. If there is peanut butter or something sticky on them, then I'll wipe them out real well. It can help to turn them inside-out. We put them upside-down to dry. I have a bread-slicing guide that is perfect for that job, or you can do like a friend of mine and use an umbrella-type hanging dryer.

I do not re-use bags that have held meat - I don't think the bags get really clean after that.


Since I've started washing bags, I buy them much less often than I used to. I buy zipper sandwich bags for our lunches and re-use them instead of using plastic sandwich holders. The sandwiches in bags take up less room in the lunchboxes.

I also re-use bread and bagel bags. I use them to hold portions of zucchini to freeze. I drop these portioned bags into a freezer bag. I also use bread and bagel bags for the dogs' waste on our walks. They are smaller than grocery store bags and take up less room in the trash.

Another useful type of bag to wash and re-use are cereal bags. These are wonderful for keeping your counters clean when make bread or biscuits. Cut off the closed end of a clean, dry cereal bag. Next you cut or split the bag down the seam and open it out. I grab one when I measure flour or knead or cut dough. They are great when you are making out hamburger patties. After using these bags with raw meat I toss them.When measuring flour on the cereal bag I use it to pour the flour back into the flour bag. I got the idea from re-using cereal bags from a home schooling friend who leads a home school 4-H group!

These are just a few more ways we reduce, re-use and recycle at our house. It cuts down on our expenses because I'm not buying plastic bags as often, and we are getting more use out of items that we used to just throw in the trash. Less waste for the landfills!