All Ways to Reuse Plastic Bags, but Not
Black Friday is coming, and with it, you may end up with more shopping bags than usual. And depending on where you live, where you shop, and how well prepared you are, there may be some plastic among them. If you find you have too much of them, here are some easy ways to reuse them—besides just lining your little trash cans or collecting dog poop (although that’s fine too).
Put some in your travel suitcase
Plastic bags come in handy when traveling. In a pinch, you can use them instead of cling film , for example to seal bottles before flying. You should also always have a few of these items in your suitcase so that you can separate shoes from clothes and dirty clothes from clean clothes while traveling, and especially so that wet items such as swimwear are not next to your other belongings. To that end, toss a few into a beach bag that you also use for short summer outings.
Put some in your car for roadside emergencies
If a child has an accident or you spilled a soda at lunchtime, your car can go from pristine to not-so-clean very quickly, and you’ll want to have bags on hand to help clean up the mess. Put a few in the glove box in case of an emergency, and if you have a car emergency kit ( and you should ), put it all in a plastic bag and tie the handles so it’s easy to access and won’t get hurt while riding. . in the trunk until needed.
Keep your shoes in shape
Roll a few plastic bags into small balls, then stuff the balls into another bag and tie it until it is slightly larger than your foot. Then stick a new, hard piece of plastic into boots, ankle boots, and your prettiest shoes to help keep them in shape while they languish in your closet.
Protect your technology on the go
A few years ago we advocated using a plastic bag to create a DIY laptop sleeve, but it doesn’t even have to be that hard of a project: keep a plastic bag in your backpack so you can put your laptop, calculator or other equipment in it. inside if you’re worried about liquid spills. I always keep a water bottle next to my computer in my big bag, which I understand is a risky and dangerous game, and I’m going to put a plastic bag in there right now .
Use them for packaging
The holidays are approaching and you are probably going to send gifts in the mail. Maybe you are going on a big trip or planning to move. You never know how much packing material you’ll need until you need it , so keep a few plastic bags along with your other supplies like boxes and tape. Lay plastic bags horizontally and fold them around the edges of fragile items, or roll them into balls to fill empty spaces in boxes to provide extra protection for items during travel or shipping.
Hide some with your drawing tools
You should use a plastic bag to wrap your brushes when you’re taking a break from projects, according to The Kitchn , and line your paint tray when you’re in the middle of a renovation that will require multiple colors of paint. Save a few along with your art supplies to better prepare for your next project.
Add a few to your front closet
The Kitchn also recommends using plastic bags as shoe covers when housekeepers or other people in dirty shoes need access to your home. If they are at your front door, it will be easier for you to gently ask them to cover their legs before they have a chance to pick up your rug; Plus, you can always use it to prop up your wet umbrella the next time you’re out in the rain.
Clean shower head
Another tip from The Kitchn: Remove hard water residue from your shower head by filling a plastic bag with vinegar and tying it over the device. Leave it for cleaning (or relaxing elsewhere) and the vinegar will do all the hard work for you.
Disguise your hair
I always keep a fresh plastic bag in the bathroom so when I make my hair mask I can tie it tightly around my head so it stays in my hair while I do other things. The towel will just soak up the mask and also create a slippery mess, but the plastic bag holds it all securely in place so you can get on with your other self-care routines, whatever they may be.
Wrap hangers to increase grip
According to My Recycled Bags , you should try cutting plastic bags into strips and wrapping them tightly around metal hangers to increase their grip. It’s not pretty, but it’s effective in a pinch, especially when you’re removing heavy coats for the winter.