Plastic bags have long been a topic of concern regarding their environmental impact. They take hundreds of years to decompose and can cause severe harm to wildlife, marine life, and our ecosystems.
However, as environmentally aware individuals, we can take small steps to reduce our impact by reusing plastic bags instead of discarding them after a single use. By doing so, we can extend the lifespan of these bags and reduce our contribution to the waste stream.
This article will share ten ways to reuse plastic bags rather than being disposed of after a single use. These ideas will include examples and short descriptions of each service, making it easy to understand and replicate. Adopting some of these practices can save money and contribute to a cleaner, healthier planet.
So, let’s get started!
Use Old Shopping Bags To Line Trashcans
Because small trashcans are often found in rooms or bathrooms, they are often the repository of wet or sensitive items. Lining your baby trashcan with plastic bags ensures that you don’t get your hands dirty while cleaning and also avoids the additional chore of washing the bin inside after cleaning.
Trash Bag In The Car
Nothing is worse than arriving home after a long road trip and scouring the car’s interior for sweets wrappers, soda cans and other discarded packaging. Using an old plastic bag for collecting trash, you can simply knot the bag closed and solve your trash issue upon arrival at your destination.
Wet Bag For Gym Clothes
This one is for all you gym-goers out there. If you are like me, you don’t like mixing your sweaty gym clothes with your gym bag’s clean and dry wear. Shoving the used clothing into a plastic bag and tying a knot to keep it in solves the problem in a single go.
Pro-tip: Let as much air out of the bag as possible before tying the knot to ensure it doesn’t take up too much space.
Shoe Bag For Storing Shoes In Luggage
When traveling with a single suitcase or hiking with a backpack, every seasoned traveler knows that shoes and clothes don’t mix. It always feels like shoes have some filth as residue on their soles, and you don’t want to transfer that to your clothing.
For those of you who use polish on your shoes, you are acutely aware that polish can quickly transfer onto clothing. Keep a few folded plastic bags in your suitcase or backpack. You can then conveniently shove your shoes in there while packing and keep your articles apart.
Picking Up Dog Poop
Without discussing the ideal consistency of dog poop that can be picked up with plastic bags, suffice it to say that it’s theoretically possible.
Three pro-tips:
- Make sure the bag has no holes in it.
- Once you have the targeted items firmly in hand, pull the bag over your hand in the opposite direction, trapping the said goods inside and avoiding unnecessary eye contact. Knot the bag tightly and discard it at your earliest convenience.
- Make double sure that the bag has no holes in it!
Related: Best Dog Breeds For Homesteaders
Paint Tray Liners And Store Wet Rollers And Brushes
I have paint trays that I have been using for years, and I have never needed to wash them after painting, saving water and other cleaning chemicals. Instead, I simply pull the bag over the tray, ensure enough space for the paint, and tie the bag at the back.
Depending on how well you seal the entrance, you can use another bag to cover wet paint and brushes for a few hours or possibly overnight. I place blocks on the opening to ensure no air can come in or out.
Future Grocery Shopping
Keep a bag filled with neatly folded bags in your car or backpack for shopping. Most bags can be used almost indefinitely. Remember to wash your bags with warm soapy water to keep them hygienically clean.
Protect Fragile Items During Storage Or Travel
You can wrap coffee mugs or glassware in plastic bags for storage or travel. This protects them just as much as wrapping them in a newspaper would. I wrap steelware in bags when travelling to prevent scratches. The possibilities are endless.
Make Ice Blocks For Coolers
Take a bag. Make sure it isn’t leaking. Fill it with water, knot it securely and transfer it to the freezer. The ice block can keep your icebox cold while travelling or camping. I use ice blocks to get my bath water down to “I can’t believe I am doing this” Fahrenheit, as cold plunges help for inflammation and fat burning. I HOPE!
Related: What to Eat When the Power Goes Out
Ripen Avocados
Wrap avocados in plastic bags to ensure that they ripen faster. Two pro-tips:
- Wrap an almost soft one with a hard one to ensure that the hard one ripens faster, or add a ripe banana to speed up the process.
- Never wrap all your avocados on the same day. Wrap two a day until they are all done, ensuring you don’t have to eat a whole box on a single day!
Covering Plants To Make Mini Greenhouses
One idea is to create mini-greenhouses for potted plants. Cover the pot with a plastic bag and secure it with a rubber band or string.
Covering the plant will help create a warm and humid environment, which can be especially helpful during cooler months. Be sure to remove the plastic cover on warmer days to prevent the plant from overheating.
You can also make a small square trellis system using pruned branches to keep the plastic bag from crushing small plants.
Wrapping Limbs To Protect From Cold
Another way to use plastic shopping bags in the garden is to protect plants from frost.
In colder climates, exposed stems and branches can be damaged by ice, but wrapping them with plastic bags can provide a protective layer. Simply wrap the bag around the stem or branch and tie it in place.
Wrapping can also be helpful for newly planted trees or shrubs that may need extra protection during their first winter. Just be sure to remove the bags once the risk of frost has passed to avoid trapping moisture around the plant.
We trust that you have found these tips on reusing plastic bags practical and that you are inspired to incorporate some of these practices into your daily routine. By reusing plastic bags, we can all contribute to a healthier planet and reduce our environmental impact. Remember, every small step counts; we can make a significant difference together, so our children and grandchildren can live a better life.
We encourage you to use your creativity and develop other uses for plastic bags. Please share your ideas with your friends and family, and encourage them to do the same. Doing so can make our lives more practical, reduce waste, and save resources. Let’s work together to create a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future for ourselves and future generations.
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