Wash Reusable Grocery Bags

How many of us use reusable green bags, raise your hand! Congratulations that we do but do we also clean those bags regularly? Do we use the same bags over and over again for groceries and also as a book bag or also to carry dirty clothes or for other assorted uses without washing the bags before grocery shopping? And what about juices from an accidentally squeezed peach or meat juices? Have we thought about all these different bacteria that can hide in the bags and we use those bags for groceries over and over again? We are so used to being able to the toss plastic grocery bags away that we've become accustomed to maybe only reuse one last time (for anything from our bathroom trash cans, to kitty litter, to doggie poop scooping, etc) that we simply don't think about the green bags we use over and over again without washing.

What I've been doing is use a different style green bags according to purpose. I have one style for books or needed file folders, another style for dirty clothes to be contained if I spend the night at a family member or friends house and then I have a few of one different style to use for groceries (my choice for groceries is Walgreen's dark green colored bags that have an extra long handle that fits on my shoulders and they are on sale a couple times a year for $1.00 for 3 bags). I don't really care about whether or not the dirty clothes or book/file bags get washed often but I do care about washing the grocery bags after each use! Simply soak them in distilled vinegar and water in the sink, wash with soap and water and hang to dry in the shower. That's as easy to do as the pie you might be placing in a green bag on your next grocery visit, ;-)

Happy and healthy green bagging!

By Deeli from Richland, WA

Answers:

Wash Reusable Grocery Bags

I put mine in the washer and dryer. (07/14/2010)

By Lilac

Wash Reusable Grocery Bags

Another great reason to wash these bags is because they get really stinky! I've worked in a grocery store and dreaded when people come in with reusable bags because they smell so bad! Honestly, I've almost gagged a time or two. Equally gross is animal hair on the bags.
I've often wondered if it would work to wash these bags! Thanks for the great tip! (07/14/2010)

By Janelle Weaver

Wash Reusable Grocery Bags

Hmm. I'd never really thought about this issue. I think it's partly because I have to nag hubby to use them, which isn't often enough to suit me. It's probably also because ours only get used for groceries, nothing else. I'll definitely remind hubby we need to wash them, though! (07/14/2010)

By Lelia Jo Cordell

Wash Reusable Grocery Bags

I put mine in the washer and dryer too. (07/14/2010)

By Joan

Wash Reusable Grocery Bags

Thanks Deeli, it's something easy to overlook. If you don't mind advertising a draper's shop, Shaws (UK) are selling strong reusable bags for 25p . Might not go in the machine but would handwash.
Marg from England. (07/15/2010)

By Marg

Wash Reusable Grocery Bags

Great idea. I personally feel very happy when I use my clean, but quite wrinkly, washed bags - please don't iron them - this is a complete waste of electricity! (07/15/2010)

By Lisa

Wash Reusable Grocery Bags

Does it defeat the purpose of reusable bags to use a whole lot of water to individually clean them after every use? Is that wasting water? If you are going to wash at load in the washer with other things that seems like a better idea. (07/16/2010)

By Karen

Wash Reusable Grocery Bags

KaLoJa, I don't think anyone who uses green bags would waste an entire washing machine load to simply wash them alone. I have four green bags and they fit quite nicely in my bathroom sink to soak in a cup of distilled vinegar and a gallon of water.

Also, in my case, I am disabled and only have the energy to do laundry a couple times a month (and, yes, I do change my clothes daily) but I want my bags that carry food in them clean every single week. One gallon of water is not wasteful when it comes to making sure to not get 'any' bacteria including salmonella, botulism, etc. that easily could be contaminating those bags. (07/17/2010)

By Deeli