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Frugal Fridays: Re-using Ziplock bags (drying tips)

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Ziplock bags (or, the off-brand zipper-sealing plastic bags) are so convenient! They take up less space in the fridge, and are always the "right size", whether completely full or only half full!

They're also quite expensive. Besides being conservative in my use of them (the cost does add up!), I re-use them as long as possible.

Here is my method for washing and drying ziplock bags!

1. I run the hottest water possible in my sink, and add a decent amount of soap. I usually do this when I am already going to wash dishes, so I am actually running my dishwater.

2. I wash the ziplock bags with a dish cloth, making sure to wash the entire inside. I don't put other dishes in my water, because I like to use the freshest water possible! :)

3. I rinse the bags in clean (soap-free) hot water.

4. I shake the excess water from the bag and stand it up to dry. If I'm in a hurry to get the bag dry, I might put a dish towel inside and dry it some before doing this. But usually I don't use a towel at all. :)

5. When the bag is completely dry, I fold it and place it back in my drawer!

Sounds simple, and it is! But what to do when you have 4 or 5 (or more!) ziplock bags that all need to dry? Here are some ways I allow mine to dry! (Besides taking them out and hanging them on the clothesline!) :)

A cleaned bag

I like to stand the bag over a spoon or tall spatula so that the sides don't close together. If I have several bags and several long spoons in my dish drainer, I put a bag over each! :)

Standing up to dry...

A pan-handle works for this drying position, also.

Hanging from a curtain... 

Or, you can hang the bags from the bottom with a clothespin, on your curtains. I hang bags from the bottom because otherwise the water runs down and doesn't drip off and you end up with an almost-dry bag that just has water in the very bottom and corners!

(Note: It's best to hang ziplock bags on your curtains only if you aren't having guests and your husband doesn't mind. I usually do mine overnight, and no one cares! :D)

Hanging from the blinds!

You can actually use a clothespin to hang your washed bags just about anywhere in the house. This one's pinned to part of the mini-blinds.

For more frugal tips, visit Biblical Womanhood!

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Comments

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2006-11-09 16:39.

Bag

Hi Tammy,

Thank you for the great tips. I currently do not wash out bags because I don't use very many and get them for pretty cheap. BUT every little bit counts! I think I WILL start doing this. A penny saved is a penny earned.

Take care,

Trixie

http://farmhomelife.blogspot.com/

Submitted by Tammy on Thu, 2006-11-09 16:46.
Tammy's picture

Hi, Trixie! :)

You're welcome! Well, washing out bags can be very annoying! But every time I have to buy a box, I remember why I hate running out!! :D Thanks for your comment! :)

Submitted by Scottishthistle on Thu, 2006-11-09 19:02.
Scottishthistle's picture

I've seen some really cool

I've seen some really cool bag dryers online if you are interested

Submitted by Lilyofthevalley on Thu, 2006-11-09 22:23.
Lilyofthevalley's picture

Good idea

I have reused mine as well, although I have gotten lazy lately... :( I've hung them to dry on the clothes line and on pot handles too. Never thought of the curtians!
~Tanya

Submitted by asourceofjoy on Thu, 2006-11-09 23:08.
asourceofjoy's picture

We always reuse bags, too.

We always reuse bags, too. The easiest way we've found to dry them (because we often have quite a few at a time) is to stick a magnet in the bag and have it hold the bag upside-down on the fridge or another metal surface. Just make sure you use a magnet that won't be damaged by water. :-)

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2006-11-09 23:26.

Thanks for the tip!

Hey, I think our kitchens might be twins! From the pics it looks as if we have the same color counters, same range, and even the same cupboards! Your curtains are WAY cuter though. :)

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2006-11-10 09:04.

Drying Rack...

One of the best drying racks EVER for ziplocks is the bread slicing guide that I use when I bake bread! I can line the bags up on the prongs and it keeps them apart while allowing me to dry several at once! IT works great!

We love to recycle these!

Tracy
www.LinesFromTheVine.com

Submitted by Tammy on Fri, 2006-11-10 17:09.
Tammy's picture

Drying plastic bags

Sara, I probably wouldn't ever buy a bag dryer, but you're more than welcome to share a link in case anyone else is interested!! :)

Abigail, using magnets to hold wet bags on the fridge is a great idea!!

Anonymous, I wouldn't be surprised if our kitchens were "twins"... my countertop is quite common (I think it used to be popular, oh, 15 years ago ;D). Thanks for the compliment on my curtains :D

Tracy, your bread-slicing guide sounds like a great tool for drying bags! Isn't it fun to come up with multiple purposes for things we already have? :)

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2006-11-10 18:18.

We re-use our baggies too!

We re-use our baggies too! Great tip!

Submitted by Jaclynn on Fri, 2006-11-10 18:19.
Jaclynn's picture

oops, that was me. =0

oops, that was me. =0

Submitted by Ruth on Sun, 2006-11-12 21:36.
Ruth's picture

I usually reuse Ziplock

I usually reuse Ziplock bags, unless I have had them in the freezer with raw meat in them. I love your idea about pinning them to the curtains! = )

Submitted by Tammy on Sun, 2006-11-12 22:02.
Tammy's picture

Meat in re-used bags

Thanks, Jaclynn!

Ruth, is it okay to wash and re-use bags that have held cooked meat but not raw? And does only refrigerated vs. frozen in the bag make a difference, do you know? :)

Yes, my kitchen looks rather funny sometimes with bags clipped to the curtains! :D

Submitted by foxxyroxie on Thu, 2007-02-08 02:35.

Reusing Zipper Storage Bags

I wash and reuse zipper storage bags too...have for years.

I use hot soapy water, swish them with the dishrag and turn them inside out and swish with the dishrag again. This way I get all the little food particles that might be on them. I stand them upright till the outside is dry and then turn them right side out and dry them till they're completely dry.

I even reuse ones that I have stored raw meats in... what's the difference if I reuse a storage bag with raw meat store in them, or reuse a plate that raw meat was on?

Submitted by Joshua on Thu, 2007-02-08 03:46.
Joshua's picture

Plastic can become contaminated

Hi Roxie :)

The difference is in the material. Plates are designed to be cleaned/scrubbed (even steralized) and any surface contamination is easly washed away. Not so with many plastics, which can be contaminated by the bacteria in the raw meat. Plastics are prone to micro-scratches which can harbor bacterial, like salmonella, that can make you quite sick. On a related note, this is why we have to toss our 16oz water bottles every month or so. We buy them in bulk and refill them from 1gal. jugs of bottled water from the store. After a month or so of use, even after being washed after every use, the small bottles begin to stink and nothing you do can rid the bottle of the smell and taste it departs to the water. They are bacterially contaminated and even boiling and bleach are not guaranteed to destroy all the bacteria (and boiling water has its own risks with certain plastics). All the material I have read on the topic (and even a quick Google, example result) seem to indicate the consensus is that you should dispose of plastic bags that have contained raw meat.

Submitted by Court on Thu, 2007-02-08 10:45.

I must be the odd one...

The only bags I reuse are ziplock bags that had just bread or biscuits in them. If it involves washing them, I throw them out instead. You may wonder at my seemingly wasteful trend... :) BUT, when it's in my kitchen and I can decide what happens there, I say there's a reason they're called disposable. Plus, I only buy the really cheap bags and we really don't go through them very fast at all. I like to use reusable plastic freezer containers for a lot of my freezer food.

This is just me though! My mom never was one to wash out bags so I never had to practice this at home either. Plus, in observation, I always thought that people who did wash bags, had messier kitchens because they were always waiting for the droplets in their little bags to dry. LOL

Submitted by Court on Thu, 2007-02-08 10:48.

oh and one more thing...

I LOVE your curtains Tammy! Lady bugs are one of my favorites. :)

Submitted by Tammy on Fri, 2007-02-09 01:16.
Tammy's picture

Well, Court, I would have to say...

Well, Court, I would have to say that just not using very many bags is better than using a lot and having to wash a bunch! :)

Funny you should mention your mom... I think we pick up so much from our moms! I know there are things my mom never did, and it was a challenge for me to start doing those things or even just learn how! It's much easier when you've been exposed to it... like crock pot cooking. I'm sure it's easy, I'm just not good at it! :)

I was using 3-4 in Joshua's lunch every day, but lately I've been trying to use containers as much as possible. There is usually still one bag from his lunch thouh... like from cookies or something. :)

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