I have been doing this for years, and I KNOW it has saved me money! I don't think I could tell you the last time I actually had to go out and buy more food storage bags, aka, Ziploc bags, because I almost always wash them, put them back in my drawer and re-use them. If you think about it, there is no reason NOT to. I think the rare occasions that I don't save them are when there was raw meat in the bag, or something happened to spoil in there, so I opted out! But, other than that, I can't bring myself to throw them away! I make a bath of hot, soapy water, and let them soak for a good hour or so, and then I scrub them well, and hang them on my bag dryer. Do you have a food storage bag dryer??? This thing has been my lifesaver, because I not only use it for Ziplocs, I also wash the kids' bibs and hang them on there to dry, as well! I got this idea from a neighbor of mine and bought it on Amazon (they are still for sale there for under 20 bucks!) Here's what they look like:
And, here's what mine currently looks like this morning:
It really works, and I use it EVERY day!! I have also heard that you can make your own bag dryer, by buying a toothbrush holder and sticking chopsticks in the holes!! Someone out there is clever!!So, if you don't reuse your food storage bags, give it a try!! It's an easy, money-saving, "going-green" way to be!! :-)
(I'll be back later tonight for Tip #2!!!)
I LOVE my plastic bag dryer!!! Thanks, Sarah, for giving it to me!! The plastic bags that have had raw meat in them I put an antimicrobial soap and a little water in them, shake them, and let them soak for a while. I don't dump it out in the dishpan but down the drain, so hopefully the germs are down and gone! Sometimes my ziplocs tear at the top corners or spring a leak, so then I throw them away, but I also re-wash all my bags. To get the drying rack off the counter, I put it on top of my frig.
ReplyDeleteYou better give mom props for being the first person--way back in the day--to reuse her plastic bags! :o)
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Aim, Mom was the Pioneer of re-using food storage bags!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd, Mom, good tip about using the antimicrobial soap on the bags that had raw meat! Maybe I'll try that!!