Now that the reusable shopping bag law has been instituted in so many states, we all have lots of sturdy bags with handles stuffed in various places. The backseat of the car, the trunk, the kitchen cabinet, the mudroom, etc.
What to do with all of these bags? It’s time to go beyond grocery shopping and think outside the box, or bag.
Ideas for what to do with all of those reusable grocery bags:
1 – Stash some in the trunk of the car to bag & transport items as needed.
2 – Store off-season shoes in them.
3 – Use one as an emergency summertime fun bag. Stock it with sunscreen in a resealable bag, a couple of extra beach towels, flip-flops and sun hats.
4 – Use them to carry and transport party food next time you are invited to an event.
5 – Store one in the back of the trunk with jumper cables, a flashlight, bungee cord, and extra wiper blades.
6 – Stock one with your dog’s toys, balls and blankets to keep in the closet.
7 – Pack an overnight emergency bag or spontaneous sleepover bag to grab from the bedroom closet as needed. Add a blanket, pair of pajamas, toiletries and personal items.
8 – Keep a knitting or crochet bag with your latest project at the ready. When gal Pals plan a fiber art tonight or you get an opportunity to attend the local Knitters meeting at the library, you can just grab your nifty knitting bag and go.
9 – Yoga to go. Set aside a reusable shopping bag for your yoga mat, essential oils spray, bolster, blocks and strap.
10 – Games to go. How many times have you wished you had your checkerboard, Uno or a simple deck of cards well at the park, enjoying a hot drink at a cafe or just hanging out with a friend? Dedicate a bag to your favorite family games. No matter where you travel, you’ll never be bored.
11 – Turn them into trick or treat bags. Lots have seasonal designs and the fall ones are specially pretty with colored leaves and the bright golden crimson fall color palette.
12 – Stash Christmas gifts in them and tuck away in the back corners of your closets, attic or shelf in the basement. You can even throw off sneaky searchers by mixing up the theme i e hiding Christmas wrapped presents in Spring and fall themed bags.
13 – Put a couple of reusable bags in the recycling bin of your kitchen. When the bin gets full, fill up the bags, carry them out, empty the recycling into the big can and then bring the bags back in for reuse.
14 – Keep two in the backseat of your car. One reusable bag for packaged snacks, handy wipes and paper towels. The other, line with a regular garbage bag and have your kids toss their trash in there after they eat the snacks and wipe up with the wipes and paper towels.
15 – Fill a reusable bag with craft supplies that you can take along to visit friends who have same aged kids. No need to go crazy, just a few coloring books and some markers or crayons, and a puzzle or two should keep them busy while the mom spend some time enjoying a cup of tea and catching up.
16 – Dedicate a reusable bag for storage of electronic cords, adapters and chargers. When someone says have you seen my phone charger tell them to look in the spot where you keep the bag.
17 – Fill up a bag with seasonal tablecloths. Put it up on a shelf in the linen closet. When it’s time to freshen up the table for a new season or holiday, you’ll have nice clean tablecloths at the ready.
18 – Tired of your children’s musical instrument collection being scattered about the playroom? Get organized with reusable shopping bags. The ones with handles are the perfect size for holding child sized flutes, toy drums, percussion sticks, triangles, symbols and all of those delightfully noisy musical toys.
19 – Got Girl Scouts in the house? Repurpose reusable shopping bags deliciously. Use them to transport Girl Scout cookies friends and family.
20 – No more double bagging when bringing a casserole to a potluck party. Thanks to your surplus stash of reusable bags, you’ll have lots of festive looking food carriers, no accidental spells on the floor of the back seat.
