There was a time when I I scoffed at my mom for washing and reusing her Ziplock bags (and her tin foil). I mean, why in the world would you bother with the effort when you could buy more for so cheap?
Then I was introduced to the real world of a newly-wed, one income budget and suddenly I wondered why in the world anyone would throw away a Ziplock bag after one use. In my mind, it's almost like throwing away tupperware. Now, I salvage every freezer bag I can, with the exception of those used for raw meat.
It's not much of a hastle to rinse/wash them out when I wash the dishes, and I just drape them over the other dishes on my dish drain and they usually dry out within a day or two. I often use bags to store baked goods in the freezer. Some of them don't really need to be washed as I'll just be using them for the same purpose again, so I fold them up and leave them in the freezer door for next time (thanks to Crystal's suggestion). I often just fold used tin foil up and put it back in the cabinet where I store the roll of foil so I remember to use it if there's a piece the right size.
So, what about you--do you save your freezer bags and/or tin foil?
Linked to:
I haven't been saving my bags, and I pretty much never reuse tin foil, I need to though! Just be sure to make sure there is no bread crumbs in bags you use for bread leftover. I learned the hard way that that will make my bread go moldy within days once I take it out of the freezer!
ReplyDeleteYes, I reuse my bags & tin foil! I am somewhat appalled when I go visit someone and they are throwing their bags out! :)
ReplyDeleteYes. I've been doing it for 38 years. :) When I was a young child, "they" first introduced plastic bags. They came on bread. My mom saved every one and washed and reused them many times. You could not buy them! I have a large wire hanger hanging from the side of a set of shelves in the kitchen and I keep a few clothespins on that. When I wash out a bag, I shake out the water and then hang it, by one edge of the top of the bag, kind of hanging open up there by a clothespin. I don't use a lot of foil, but if I can, I save it. I hang it up there too!
ReplyDeletep.s. Another good way to do it is to turn them inside out and throw them in with the wash. Then hang them to dry.
ReplyDeleteMy mom (your "mimommy") taught me about re-using the bags. You are right about not using the ones you've used to store meat. I haven't been saving them lately:( Need to get back into the habit. Great ideas from Yolanda about throwing them in the wash, and hanging them to dry.
ReplyDeleteYep, I wash 'em and use them as many times as I can. Tinfoil I reuse most of the time. At first, I also scoffed at the idea of reusing ziplocks, as the cleaning process isn't uber fun, but yep, one-income newly wedded households learn these little tips quite quickly. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteI've been washing bags for 30 years. The only bags I don't reuse were ones with raw or marinated meat. I've reused some foil but none that had food on it. I don't wash foil. Glass dishes with lids are much more frugal. 30 years, 6 kids, and one income make us learn to be frugal with what we have.
ReplyDeleteThis is my first visit here, and I had to laugh at the title of this post. I also used to think it was SO SILLY when people washed out plastic bags. BUT, now I do it myself. Usually just the freezer bags, but I still can't believe I do it. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteTracy
I haven't done this yet, but I have been contemplating the change!
ReplyDeleteHello!
ReplyDeleteI am a seventeen year old home-schooled daughter, and I was amused by your post! For years now, I have been hand washing my family's used Ziplock bags and tinfoil, too. :) My Mom taught me how to do it when I was little; she also didn't want to throw them away. She was, and still is, a home-maker, and living, and continuing to live, on one income-there are six in my family. I just wanted to encourage you in your endeavor to be frugal and supporting to your husband. It is an encouragement to me as I prepare to be a wife and homemaker, Lord willing, some day!
I commented on your give away for the Marie Madeline apron; I was one of the last ones.
You have a very cute blog, and I hope to view it in the future.
~Jeri Beth Hardy
Amiable post and this post helped me alot in my college assignement. Thanks you for your information.
ReplyDeleteI read your post on ziploc baggies and love it! I used to wash my baggies by hand, but now I've invented a frame that fits inside a baggie to hold it open and upright so you can easily wash it in the dishwasher without worry.
ReplyDeleteThe product is not available yet, but I am seeking backers and pre-orders at:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1371617912/wash-baggies-in-the-dishwasher
If this is something you can get behind, please post to your blog so people will be able to find the Baggie Washer on Kickstarter.com and back the project!
Thanks.
Jan