Reusing Ziploc-type bags? Tips wanted - Page 2

[USAmma]

I wash and reuse them. I let them soak in the dishwater, then just quickly run the washcloth on them (inside out) and rinse. To dry them I kinda roll them up halfway like you would do to make a cuff on your pants, and then set them on a dish towel on the counter. They dry really well that way.

I've been trying to use more aluminum foil to wrap foods for lunches because that can be recycled more easily than bags I think.

[AngelBee]

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[I-Love-Alaska]

At Goodwill I picked up a drainer type-thing for baby bottles. It has 8 tall spikes and it's perfect to get the baggies nice and dry. It takes up little counter space and the "spikes" fold down for easy storage...

[Mama2Bug]

Originally Posted by I-Love-Alaska

At Goodwill I picked up a drainer type-thing for baby bottles. It has 8 tall spikes and it's perfect to get the baggies nice and dry. It takes up little counter space and the "spikes" fold down for easy storage...

This is exactly what we use! We use it to dry other small things too (jar lids etc).

We reuse baggies until they fall apart or DH forgets to bring them back home from work. We reuse the ones that he uses to hold lunch meat and such as well. I just wash them more carefully with more soap and hot water. After all, I don't throw his plates or cooking pans away. We just wash them well.

[momma_monkey]

After washing/rinsing them, I hang them on my plant leaves. The plants that like to be wet enjoy the extra drops of water.... kind of kooky, but it is a fun game for my LO to take them off when they are dry.

[SusanInItaly]

Great thread, school starts next week and this is a good reminder to stay focused on reusing! Thanks!

[mamadelbosque]

I just wash with all the other dishes.. if they've had meat in them I usually do just chuck them, or if they're super gross seaming. But mostly I just wash with soapy waters and rinse out. To dry we hang them on our random silverware and let them air dry. Takes a day or so usually, but it works

[SoHappy]

I try not to use bags, but if somebody gives me something in a bag, it gets reused. Some things (like cheese) get wrapped in wax paper before they go in the bags to make the bags easier to clean and reduce contact with our food.

[snitker79]

I have a hanging wire produce type basket over the sink. I found some clothes pins that have a hook on them and I use the pins to hold the bags. It doesn't even get really used for the fruits and vegis anymore because they would go bad too quickly sitting directly in the sunlight.

My question is how to move away from using the plastic zip locks all together. I reuse them as much as I can, but sometimes they don't get rinsed right away and then I recycle them. And other days I just hate washing out bags, so they sit until I have a pile to do, then the stuff that was in them might be too old and I worry about bacteria forming. I generally just rinse and swish for most things and use soap when I deem necessary.

I have been looking at the wrap n mats and the happy sacks which both allow you to store snacks and sandwhiches in reusable ways. There is debate over the safety of the PVC in the WNM or the PUL made in China. I have some PUL treated fabric that I was using to experiement with diaper making...do you suppose it is food grade safe?

I realize that some things are still going to be stored in the zip locks, like the stuff in my freezer, but I would like to do away with using them as much as I do, especially since I've done so well with cutting down on plastic grocery sacks by using cloth bags.

Thanks for any input.