Plastic bags. They are something that many people stockpile and have a ton of after a few weeks of shopping. Some may just want to throw them out with the garbage, but why when there are so many ways to use them in your home? Below are just 15 ways you can reuse plastic grocery bags!
15 Creative Ways to Reuse Plastic Grocery Bags
1. Use them as trash can liners. The smaller cans are the perfect size for grocery bags!
2. Toss a bag or two in the baby’s diaper bag for many uses: to hold a dirty diaper or wet clothes, to keep used bottles and baby spoons separate from the clean, and to hold used tissues.
3. Cover your hand with a grocery bag to keep it protected from things you don’t want to touch, such as dog poo, animal fat while cooking, or unclean surfaces like a gas pump handle.
4. When packing holiday décor or other fragile pieces, there is no need to run to the store for packing peanuts. Simply wrap each item in a plastic bag, then stuff more bags between the items for extra safety.
5. Place puzzle pieces in a bag before putting them into the box. That way, if the box were to fall open, the pieces won’t spill out and possibly get lost!
6. Grocery bags can be reused to become fillers for vases and planters. Stuffing a few bags at the bottom of a pot saves you money on potting soil, and makes the plant lighter so you can move it easier.
7. Step into a pair of plastic bags before walking out into the rain or snow. They will help keep your feet dry, and slipping them off when you walk inside your home or a building prevents you from tracking in grass and mud.
8. Plastic bags can be a great cover for a table when doing arts and crafts projects. Painting and paper scraps can be contained when you lay the items on a bag. It makes cleanup time much quicker too – just fold up the plastic bag and toss in the trash.
9. Speaking of crafts, grocery bags can be a material for your projects! There are many online tutorials for making purses, wallets, and more using plastic bags.
10. Keep a plastic bag in your purse or bag for wet items, such as an umbrella or sweaty water bottle.
11. Reuse a grocery bag as a “catch all” when peeling and preparing fruits and veggies for meals. You can sit it down inside the sink or cover a cutting board to reduce the mess and cleanup for recipes.
12. Line a reusable fabric tote bag with a plastic bag so it lasts longer. This will prevent against stains and tears.
13. Have a grocery bag or two in your car at all times. They can help keep trash out of the floorboards or become a sick bag for a passenger that gets car sick.
14. Teach your children to make parachutes for their toys. Tie string from each bag handle to each arm of an action figure, and your kids have a new way to play!
15. Return the plastic grocery bags to the stores they came from. Many retailers have bins by the doors to take your used bags and recycle them as new ones.
How do you use reuse plastic grocery bags in your home?
More recycling tips
25 Creative Ways to Reuse Egg Cartons
10 Easy Ways to Recycle Egg Shells
20 Frugal Uses for Used Tea Bags
Kecia is the founder and editor of Southern Girl Ramblings. Her site is dedicated to helping moms survive parenthood…one post at a time. She features information on parenting, health, travel, fun, and more to ease the craziness that goes on in kiddo-filled households!
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K Gebauer says
I Take my own bags to grocery stores, especially Walmart. Lots of stores give you five cents credit for using your own bag
Glenda says
Most of mine do get used as waste can liners, but I have given them to public library, thrift store, and someone holding a garage sale. I keep one in my coat pocket in case there is debris that needs to be picked up when I’m out walking, or a foraging opportunity appears. The other day I hopped out or the car and used my bag to bring lunch from the garden on my way in.
Alea Milham says
I love your ideas Glenda!