I have spent the past 2 days looking at every possible way to store plastic bags on the Internet. Pinterest, for example, has about 10 really cool looking ways to store them that are linked to over and over again.
You know the types of bags I'm talking about. Those plastic grocery bags you have to use when you run into the grocery store without your reusable cloth bags, because you left them sitting in your trunk.
The people of Pinterest, for some reason, believe I want to iron, fold, flatten out or roll my plastic bags. I do not. I want to shove them. I don't care if they look particularly cute while sitting under my sink. I don't care if they impress people with how cleverly they're arranged. I want to shove them under my sink so they're easy to get at and don't float around the entire cupboard when I want to grab one.
Why, after bashing around the grocery store with a cart that alternates between only going right and skidding to a stop every few feet, coming home putting away the groceries, realizing I forgot the mandarin oranges and the inevitable cleaning out the fridge to make room for the peppertettes I was again compelled to buy … would I want to sit down on the floor, flatten and fold all my plastic bags into thirds, lay them on top of each other and roll them into a tube? I would not.
The intention of course was to find a brilliant way for storing plastic bags, which I would then introduce to you. I could picture it immediately. Me finding the ultimate plastic bag storage idea, implementing and photographing it under flattering light, you my adoring readers gasping and holding your hands to your hearts. This was exactly how Nobel Prizes were won.
But all of the ideas were … O.K., if I'm being my true self … they were ridiculous. If I'm being "hey I'm a blogger and every idea has at least some good in it …, they were ridiculous.
The worst thing about these storage ideas and in fact, dare I say it, Pinterest in general, is it's often based around super-cute photos. I love Pinterest for inspiration but when it comes to some of the DIYS, they excel more at highlighting the overuse of chalkboard lettering than actual usability.
The biggest problem with all of the plastic bag storage solutions was they took too much time to do and … they didn't work. One suggestion was to stuff all your plastic bags in a can with a plastic lid, cut a slit in the lid and pull the bags you've shoved into the can out. Great. Paint the can all pretty and stuff.
The problem with this solution is it's only the first bag that will pull out of the can and the rest just stay shoved in there until you pop the lid off to pull one out and 5 or 6 randomly assert their freedom at the same time.
The other big one on Pinterest was the flag fold. Laying out any garbage/plastic bag and folding it up into a triangle like a tiny flag to be presented to a family of freedom fighting mice.
I've done it before. I'll admit it. I've done the flag bag. It's the kind of thing you'd sit and do while watching television. But it isn't a solution for a quick way to stash plastic bags.
Then there's the roll er up solution. This involves laying out you plastic bags, bag by bag, flattening them out and then folding them in half. Then you place bag after bag after bag on top of each other until you've run out of room or bags or sanity and then you roll them up. This creates a neat little roll of plastic bags that you're supposed to be able to pull out from the centre with the next bag following in succession.
The first problem with this is the fact that when you come home with more plastic bags in a day or two you can't just add them to the roll. You have to save the bags up and wait until you have enough saved to make another roll. Which means you shove them under your sink like you always did and never, ever make another roll again.
The rest of the suggestions were too ridiculous to even consider. Like sewing an old shirt up and filling it with plastic bags. Huh? People are even reupholstering boxes and crates complete with trim, piping and batting. omg. I just wanna find a place to shove my grocery bags and it's looking more and more like that place is going to be up Pinterest's ass.
Don't misunderstand. I will spend an inordinate amount of time on ridiculous things. This Sparkle wipe dispenser for instance. But some things are worth my time and other things aren't. YOU may think an upholstered, piped crate specifically for your bags that will take up more room than just shoving them inside themselves in your cupboard is a great way to spend your time because you love reupholstering and you just ran out of solid white, 2,000 piece jigsaw puzzles to do. But I do not.
To each his or her own. (I'm just saying that to at least appear somewhat accommodating on the subject)
So what was my solution? How did I solve the great grocery bag dilemma?
I didn't.
You're up.
[shareaholic app="share_buttons" id="5342563"]
Kathy
Up late last night so I came back for more bag solutions. For style I'd love the Simply Human holder but for cost and creativity I will switch from a tissue box to the metal letter tray attached to the side of the under sink cabinet. Now I am going to but a bowl of water in my outdoor building to see if it freezes because I hope to do your peat moss idea for carrots and such. Your site brings smiles.
Jennie Lee
I use one of the cloth-tube types already mentioned, but mine has elastic around the top and the bottom, so they don't fall out, as well as a loop at the top for hanging. The original loop wasn't strong enough, so I replaced it with a loop of nylon webbing long ago. When that thing is full, I figure I have all I need to keep, and start putting them in a mesh laundry bag that hangs on a hook by the stairs. (The bags they put my newspapers in go there, too.) When that is full, I take it with me to the store. The bin for recycling is just inside the front door. I put the bags in the bin and cram the mesh bag in my trusty backpack. I wanted to take this opportunity to make sure your readers know what they call these plastic bags in England. Everyone calls them "witch's knickers", and I think it's hilarious! When you see something white way up in a tree, what else would it be?
Kat
I'm a flag folder, mainly because it makes it really easy to keep a couple in my purse and bag for last minute errands, errant rainstorms, and the like. However, after I fill up one of those Ikea holder things, the rest get recycled at a local drugstore.
Stephanie
Wow so many comments and it's only 8:45 here in California! Impassioned subject...or perhaps we just like to hear ourselves talk (me included). I wanted to harmonize on your comment that Pinterest is great for inspiration but as for directions and reality...well, mmmm the pictures and fonts are fabulous!
Shetty B
One more point for the tubes. Mine isn't really slender tho. When there aren't many in there it seems slender, but it's quite a huge ball when fuller. I honestly can say that I've never been able to completely fill it. Elastic at both ends, stuff in the top, pull from the bottom. Never drop out. Loop at the top and it hangs in my pantry right inside the door. I only put in bags that are clean and dry. Questionable ones (damp or containing meats) get the boot.
Nans
Another vote for the wonderful $2 Ikea holder. I also use the ikea holder to store my wrapping paper. Keeps them from falling all over the closet. Genius!
Jacqui
Hi Karen, I too am an IKEA supporter! I have one in my basement by the cat litter, one in the garage and one in the kitchen closet. I can stuff and pull with the best of them and it satisfies all of my needs for bag management. I think you should give it a try. BTW, love reading your blog, especially enjoy your warped humour! Stay well
Nancy R
I also use the wall-mounted Ikea holder with holes in it to store my plastic bags. It's in my broom closet which is even better because I shove so many plastic bags in there and if one happens to fall out - who cares? I won't see it!! Out of sight, out of mind.
Cred
I tried to be duly diligent and read all the comments before commenting myself but I only made it 2/3 of the way thru. I hope that you find the perfect solution and do a follow up post to inform us and give accolades to the reader who solves the single most universal problem in the western world.
I have a handful of reusable bags and a couple plastic shopping bins that are brilliant, when I don't forget them in my damned car. I neeeeed a good solution, too. I would just buy that ikea bag holder if the store wasn't 150km away. I tried the rolling trick and keeping them in a Pringles can but found the same problem as you and others- I can be a little ocd when I think I have a solution to an organizing problem. But seriously, I cannot commit to this kind of tedium in the name of convenient bag storage- I hate you sometimes, Pinterest.
Good luck finding the solution!
kaela
I have a linen vegetable bag - one of those ones that was ostensibly for storing veggies in the fridge, but is far to small to fit anything other than a single, smallish bell pepper, and doesn't even keep that fresh - hanging on the inside of my cabinet under the sink, near the trash. I tie each bag into a small knot, then toss it in the bag. Pull one out when I need it to line my small trash bin. I used to just shove them loose into another plastic bag, the handles of which I hung on that same cabinet door, but they take up much more room if you don't tie them in a knot first.
Granted, I am pretty good about bringing my re-usable bags; we more often run out of 'trash bags' than are overwhelmed with plastic bags to store.
Sonja
I hang one on the laundry room door, stuff the other bags in until full, tie the top in a pretty bow (not really!) and then throw the bag(s) in the garage to hopefully remember to take back to the grocery at some point to put in their recycle grocery bag bin. Done. No fuss, no muss. And best of all...free!
Stefani
I absolutely love your mouse!!
Karen
Thank you for noticing. :) ~ karen!
Elen Grey
I use the plastic IKEA thingy. It's mounted on the wall of the basement landing. I cram it and stuff it and cram it some more. For style.... I drape the dog leash over it. The end.
Caroline
Just saw this. Take a 2 liter bottle and cut the bottom off. Cut the top off leaving a hole about an inch and a half to two inches. Tape, file or melt the edges so they aren't sharp. Hang upside down on the inside of your cabinet door. Shove your bags in it. To get one out just tug one out from the bottom. Here's a link to a picture. It's the 7th photo in.
http://www.familyhandyman.com/storage-organization/instant-storage-solutions?pmcode=FHE31VH189&_cmp=DiyTipsHints&_ebid=DiyTipsHints1/27/2015&_mid=30978&ehid=4CB67CD58903F0C08BE43009E5CF18D5DA4B1369
Oriah
I use a simplehuman grocery bag dispenser. It works great shoved under my kitchen sink. I bought it at a thrift store for $2 and cannot understand why anyone would have gotten rid of this gem.
Karen
That one's actually really nice looking! And it looks easy to use. ~ karen!
Oriah
I can't wrap my mind around how this showed up at the thrift store....maybe it's because i live in a college town?
Anyway, it holds a lot of bags....it's practically a black hole. The bags stay put and are easy to pull out when you need one to wrap a paint roller or do one of the other useful things plastic bags are known for. It's definitely the limousine of lazy person plastic bag storage.
Sandy
I'm still using the old-school-church-craft-show-type made with some really ugly fabric with elastic gathered ends and a fabric hook. Works great! I'm not really a friend of the environment so I rarely use my cloth bags so I end up using the plastic ones to line bathroom garbage cans and cleaning up the dog poop. And for anyone living in the GTA, why is Fortino's still charging 5 cents per bag? One of these days I'm gonna get up the nerve to ask the manager where they get off still charging for bags, especially cheap crappy ones that always rip.
Maryanne
i use a clean paint can, lid off. Actually there was never any paint in the can, it held cookies from a paint company's Christmas gift to their customers. I just simply shove them in and then easily pull them out. The can sits on the floor of my pantry. It doesn't take up much room. Works for me!
Arianne
We just hang this bad boy inside a kitchen cabinet. Works like a charm.
http://www.organizeit.com/axis-chrome-over-cabinet-plastic-bag-holder.asp
karen
i made one of these decades ago and it still works perfectly:
http://www.marthastewart.com/272738/pretty-plastic-bag-organizer
Dani
We have 3 stackable bins in the kitchen for glass, cans, & plastic bags. We take the largest plastic bag we have on hand to "line" the bin. The rest of the bags get shoved inside. Once the bag is full, hubby takes it to one of the local stores that recycle bags. This process is repeated for plastic bags as necessary.
We use reusable bags most of the time, but those plastic bags have a habit of catching a ride home occasionally. ;-)