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"]
Angela Cohen
Hi Karen over here in old blighty we use lots of plastic bags,most people havent caught on to taking their own reusable ones yet. We have the tubular material type just usually made from scraps with a piece of elastic either end and a hanging loop.Ijust have mine in the gap down the side of the fridge hung on a suction hook they are fab just stuff bags in one end and pull out the other sorted.
Kristina
I have two things that hold the grocery bags. The first is a Simple Human grocery bag holder. You wad up the bag and then shove it in the top. When you need a bag you pull it out of the slot in the front. It is about the same size as a box of cereal so not a huge space hog. I also made something that looks like this http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2009/01/grocery-bag-holder.html that hangs on an over the door hook in the pantry. I like them both and between them we never run out of bags to take with us on the dogs walks. :)
MARILYN JOHNSON
Go to Lowe's or Home Depot and buy a "Bag Stor" that hangs on the wall. THEY WORK GREAT!!!!
Vanessa
I'm in California and sweating the loss of the plastic bags (which I don't really understand because you can still get them for take out) I used them for any numerous things around the house from garbage to freezer storage. I refuse to pay for bags so if I forget them I just put all my groceries into my trunk 1 item at a time. But I have kids and they are the ones that are supposed to put the empty bags back into my trunk so if they forget then its on them to unload. :)
This is on of the longer threads...about plastic bags lol.
Karol
I try and recycle them as packing material when I store things. They are much better than using paper or newsprint which draw silverfish. I'd love to say that I send the rest back to the store like a good person would, but it never happens. It's like cutting coupons. I cut them, organize them, and then leave them at home when I go grocery shopping.
Monica
Karen, I don't know how you haven't seen this--
http://en.colette.fr/kitchen-bag-etelvina-black-white.html
Tonia
I don't see that anyone has mentioned what I use and love which is the wall mount simple human bag holder. I have used it for years and it's great. It's slim, so it doesn't take up a ton of space in my pantry, and it's tidier to use than the one that stands on a shelf since you can use it one handed. It's also less expensive but looks so nice and sleek. Good luck with your search for the perfect bag holder! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007ZF638G/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007ZF638G&linkCode=as2&tag=tharofdost-20&linkId=22DFDAVR74FDDMMS
Karen
You're the third or fourth mention of it Tonia, lol. (there are a lot of comments today, don't blame you for missing it) It looks like a good one. ~ karen!
Sara
Ikea bag holders are the bomb! We love ours, and it holds a lot of bags. We keep it in the laundry room because that's where we keep the litter boxes.
Mel
I saw this somewhere--Family Handyman? some other similar ilk? not Pinterest, I don't think.
I cut the bottom off of a 2 liter soda bottle & cut the neck off, too. I poked two holes across from each other at the bottom end, stuck in a hanger made from a wire clothes hanger, cut off with wire cutters and hung it up, bottoms up.
I stuff the bags into the top (wide-cut bottom end up) bottle and pull ONE AT A TIME out of the neck end, on the bottom.
Kathryn
I have a big bag from when I bought towels or something looped over a hanger in my closet. I call it the Bag Bag. Everything that I can't recycle goes in there.
Mary Ellen
I use one that was made by Tupperware years ago.....I have it screwed on the inside of a bottom cabinet that we use for recycling. It's white, almost circle shaped and holds a ton.....just jam them in the top and take them out the same way. Possibly could be found on eBay or a yardsale.
Shauna
We use the simple human trash bag dispenser. It's easy, it's cheap and all we have to do is shove the bags in. Also, it's not huge so it fits under my small sink perfectly. Here's a link to one: http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/foodservice/cleaning-supplies/tools/simplehuman-174-upright-grocery-bag-holder?infoParam.campaignId=T9F&gclid=CPW9i7-pt8MCFQgJvAod-VwAEw
Karen
Someone else linked to that one Shauna and said they love it. I found a similar one on Amazon that looks like it'll take up a bit less space. Also by Simple Human. They make nice, simple stuff. :) ~ karen!
Shauna
Ah yes, that looks like a good one that will take up less space for sure. I like mine because it just sits on the floor. I didn't want to have to screw anything in to the wall. They in both is that you can just shove those bags in and not think about it. They hold a lot of bags too. I use mine when I do craft fairs, great way to transport and hold them all in one place without them flying everywhere.
Berry
Another vote for the tube with elastic at the top and bottom. Works brilliantly. Cram in the top, pull out the bottom. Make sure the holding strap is strong though.
Michelle
My mom made a bag holder from a tea towel. Folded in half length-wise, then sewed it up. She made an elastic casing top and bottom about 2" from the edge, threaded the elastic, added a bit of twill tape as a hanger at one end then hung from a hook behind the door. Works great. stuff in the top, pull out the bottom. We do a quick fold over and loose knot in our bags so they are not so gangly.
Lavada
I use an empty Kleenex box (the Puffs kind, taller, not flat). I just stuff them in as I get them. Because this worked so well for me, I covered the box in duct tape, then cut the hole out, to make it durable (so I can overstuff it and it won't fall apart). I have one in the kitchen, one in my bedroom, and one in my truck. Occasionally, I'll get that "two bags at once" that creep out. Cheap, easy, compact -- it works for me!
Keelea LeJeune
I had a sweet lady sew me a "windsock" sort of thingy with elastic at both ends and a handle at the top. I shove the bags in and pull them out the bottom one at a time as I need them. They sell them on etsy, of course. Google: grocery bag holder. I'm sure with your DIY skills, you could knock one out in no time. And, they can be as cute as the fabric you choose! Mine stays in the pantry though, so who cares.
Lauren from Winnipeg
I recycled a plastic kitty litter bucket. Fits nicely under my sink and keeps the bags contained yet easy to reach should you need one. I must admit that I only save the Walmart bags. Safeway bags are crap. I think they purposely poke holes in the bottom of their bags. I guess they are concerned about their bags being unglamorously recommissioned to hold used kitty litter.
Jasmine
This is a really ingenious idea. I have a large plastic bag from Target from buying new pillows. I stuff all my plastic bags into that large plastic bag. Ideally I'd hang it up but for now and forever it occupies nearly an entire shelf in my pantry instead. :)
Angela
I saved a cardboard refrigerator dispenser box that soda comes in and shove my plastic bags in there. After I was tired of seeing the bright red Coke box sitting on top of my dryer, I did like we used to in school and cut open a brown paper bag and used that to cover the soda box. Now I can shove my bags into a perfectly-sized, non-denominational dispenser.
In the car, I fold and stack all my reusable bags inside another reusable bag and carry the whole thing into the store, that way I always have enough bags no matter what I buy.
Sheri
I keep plastic bags in three places. In the bathroom where I use the bags as wastebasket liners, I have a tube with elastic on both ends hanging on the door - it is my favorite method. In the kitchen I have one of those "doll" things - my mother made it, I don't like it. I keep some of the produce bags in a paint can behind the basement door (near the kitchen) - it holds a lot. Near the front door I am still experimenting. I use the plastic bags that protect our newspaper to clean up after my dog. I put some in a shoe pocket on the wall, along with gloves, hats, leashes, etc. Can't put many bags in a pocket. I recently put some in a tissue box. It also doesn't hold enough as I get my bags from relatives in bunches, not one at a time. I think I will be using the tube with elastic on both ends for all of my bag storage as soon as I can figure out how/where to hang them.