I used to have such a hard time remembering to bring my reusable grocery bags with me to the grocery store, but I’ve gotten a lot better about it. It’s not easy to change our routines, but taking reusable bags to the store helps reduce waste, save resources, and cut down on plastic pollution.
Speaking of which, did you know that a single set of reusable bags can eliminate as many as 20,000 disposable plastic bags? The benefits of using them are clear, but many people don’t realize how dirty their reusable bags can get if they don’t get cleaned regularly.
Researchers at the University of Arizona and Loma Linda University asked shoppers in California and Arizona, if they washed their reusable bags, and most shoppers—a whopping 97% of them—either said they didn’t wash them regularly or didn’t wash them at all.
After testing 84 of the shopper’s bags, high concentrations of bacteria were found on all but one bag, while coliform bacteria (often from raw meat) was found in about half of the bags. But on the bright side, the researchers also determined that washing the bags reduced the levels of harmful bacteria to next-to-none, which leads us to today’s post!
So in order to help us form better (not to mention safer) habits, today I’ll be sharing some simple methods for how to clean reusable grocery bags. That way, we can ensure they are both good for the planet and safe for us to use! :-)
How To Clean Reusable Grocery Bags
Cotton, Canvas, And Nylon Bags
Reusable grocery bags made of cotton, canvas, and nylon are the easiest to clean because you can toss them right in your washing machine. Keep in mind that printed designs may not fare well in the wash, but washing in cold water can help preserve them.
After washing, tumble dry cotton and canvas bags on low heat, but nylon bags should be allowed to air dry.
Polypropylene Bags
Reusable bags that have a crinkly, plasticky feel to them are usually made of one of two materials: nylon or polypropylene. Nylon bags are usually fairly thin and don’t support themselves well, while polypropylene bags are thicker and sturdier (like those big blue IKEA bags).
To clean reusable grocery bags made of polypropylene, wash them by hand in warm, soapy water. Rinse well after washing, wipe them down with a clean towel, and allow them to air dry completely. (Avoid the dryer as it may cause the material to melt.)
Insulated Bags
To clean reusable grocery bags that are insulated, your best bet is to hand wash them with warm, soapy water. The thermal lining is a bit delicate, and you wouldn’t want to accidentally ruin it by using a harsher cleaning method. Once your insulated bags are nice and clean, pat them dry and then leave them out to air dry for a while.
Dos And Don’ts For Reusable Grocery Bags
DO…
- Wrap raw meat in a disposable bag before putting it into your reusable bag to prevent the spread of bacteria.
- Consider using ice packs in your reusable bags to help keep refrigerated and frozen foods cold until you get home.
- Wipe down your bags after each use, and aim to wash them around once a month.
- Remind yourself to take your bags to the store by writing it on your shopping list (or use my printable shopping list, which has a reminder on it already!)
- Let your reusable grocery bags dry completely after cleaning them to discourage mold and mildew growth.
DON’T…
- Place raw meat, fresh produce, and ready-to-eat foods in the same bag. Keeping them separate is more sanitary.
- Keep reusable grocery bags in your car all the time, as a warm car can encourage bacterial growth.
- Use reusable grocery bags for other purposes. Keep a dedicated set of bags for grocery shopping, and assign a category to each bag to help keep them sanitary (like designating one for meats, one for produce, etc.)
What sort of reusable grocery bags do you like to use?
This is interesting. I work for a grocery store. Customers like CTY are our worst nightmare. We don’t mind if you want to bag your own groceries. However 3 carts full of stuff will make the checkers lane get backed up. I agree with the wrapping meat in plastic before putting it the bags.. We have a few customers who will actually go postal and give us a lecture. We have one lady who goes berserk because the meat is already in plastic. Please be considerate because customers have no idea what we have to put up with.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I resent having to pay for the plastic bags at the grocery store – especially the stores that don’t give a credit for using your own bags. If I forget to bring in my bags, I just simply put my unbagged groceries into the cart, and take them to the car. Its just my little rebellion at the attitude of some of these large chain grocery stores.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I do usually carry at least one “fold-up” bag in my purse – the one that you can fold into a tiny square and carry with you – so handy but easy to forget to wash. Also they don’t really hold a lot.
I am with the majority – I don’t wash my bags often enough.
I wash my shopping bags every month in the washing machine & hang them to air dry. I rotate & leave them in my car so they are there to use.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Smart!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Like others, I don’t always remember my reusable bags, but I have ways to reuse the plastic bags that I haven’t seen in the comments. I make “bags of bags” and take them to the dog parks so owners can clean up after their dogs. I tie them to the chain link fence so they don’t blow away. My local library is always glad to get bags to make it easier for people to take a stack of books home. Thrift stores and such always need bags. I also use them to line trash cans as others have said. Good topic, Jillee.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I keep mine in the trunk – guess I will have to rethink that! I have been using the reuseable bags for at least 5 years, I love them. I remember the old paper sacks that were much sturdier and held more than the ubiquitus plastic bags, which I cannot stand. I have washed my bags once or twice, though I need to wash them more often. And I agree that baggers do not know how to fill the bags; I remember there used to be a bagging competition among the baggers in some stores and store chains, and there was an “art” to filling the sacks. Sometimes I get dark, resigned looks when I hand over my bags….that “this is such a pain” look. LOL
I also place a camping cooler in the trunk in which to place cold and freezer items to help presreve them on the long drive home, especially in the summer. I know military retirees do this as they sometime live far away from the commissary and only shop there once a month.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.837300 190321This Los angeles Weight Loss diet happens to be an low and flexible going on a diet application meant for typically trying to drop the weight as properly within the have a significantly healthier lifetime. shed weight 441725
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Washing canvas reusables: I wash them when I have a couple days until the next trip or don’t wash them all at once, then stretch and smooth them out and just dry flat or hang them by their handles somewhere to dry. They don’t have to look 100% perfect, you’re just tossing purchases in them. The non woven bags, I remove any inserts, wash then tumble dry low (no softeners in any bag laundry loads by the way); they turn out softer and kinda fluffy-feeling but no worse for the wear. If you lose an insert, remember most bags will stand up just because of their shape anyway, and unless you have a long way to go when you get home with them they will hold up fine even full. Haven’t had occasion to wash the new plastic-y ones yet, but I theorize I would do better with a cloth wet with an antibacterial cleaner or using an antibacterial spray than washing them, though knowing me I will try at least once. I always put meat in one of those clear bags, then just use the same bag to dispose of that day’s trash once I am home. Another thing I feel I should bag is fruit and veggies; although they are washed before eaten, I am still kind of squeamish about those things getting contaminated from other things.. I keep a styrofoam cooler (got it with an order of chocolates years ago) in the trunk at all times, and put anything cold in there right away. The cooler doesn’t add any weight to the car. I just put my bags on top of the first items I put on the conveyor, and the cashiers always seem to use them; my only peeve is, I also separate everything into categories and bag sized piles to make it quicker and easier (learned how to bag in retail so it is second nature for me to do this)-if they just bag is as they ring it they don’t even have to think. BUT, they bag so dumb sometimes…who puts something heavy in with bread or eggs? Sigh…OH! one more thing: I was in the dollar store one day and they had little laptop and tablet cases made of neoprene-I splurged a whole dollar and got one, I fold some of my bags and put them in so all I have to do is pick them up and go. I had just seen something similar, a tote bag case, selling for about $12. So if you have a spare at home you can use it for that-the neoprene is so stretchy you can fit quite a few bags in!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I always spray a little Clorox Anywhere Spray inside the bag and let it dry for a few hours.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I simply spray mine with Young Living’s Thieves Household Cleaner. Works great.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have my master shopping list in my computer, I hang it on the fridge and all one has to do is circle what we need. I’m adding shopping bags to the top of the list so I remember to take them.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.DON’T put canvas shopping bags in your dryer, they will shrink tremendously! hang them outside on a sunny day.
Happy shopping!
a lot of stores crush their boxes, if you call ahead, they can save some for you and you can use them, when thru, you can put them in recycling centers. you don’t have to worry about washing bags or contamination.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.As soon as I empty them out I get them ready for my next trip to the store and put them in my trunk. If I forget to bring them in to the store – since most stores around here you have to bag your own groceries. I just take the cart out to the car and empty it there so I can also enjoy the weather!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My sister gave me some awesome bags this spring. They are vinyl outside and aluminum lined inside. Very easy to wash and keep clean. They are insulated and have a zipper so they keep food cold for a very long time (it is 40 miles to our store). Plus they fold and snap for very easy storage. I bring them home, wipe with a bleach/water solution and let them dry then fold and put away. Bleach is the ONLY know product that kills e-coli (as a previous meat processor we were required to bleach EVERYTHING nightly to prevent e-coli).
The bags were bought these from QVC, but unfortunately I am unable to find them to purchase more. Mabye if enough of us requested them we could get them to restock them. I have several others that I use and wash for non-perishibles but these are far and away the best I have ever seen.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love the dog food bag idea! I do clean my bags, but probably not enough – however, lately I’ve been using large totes from Thirty One. They rock! They hold a lot, wipe clean easily, fit nicely in the top of the cart and on the bottom, and they keep things from moving around in my truck area (SUV). I usually buy them when there is a discontinued print sale (my cousin sells them). They are super stylish and have many uses! I put a soft sided insulated cooler in the child seat area for frozen items. I use the scanner as I shop and do self checkout so I bag according to my needs as I shop (double time saver). It’s become habit to bring them with me, and after I unload and wipe down they go by the door to get brought back out to the vehicle. When u did forget to bring them into the store, my young son was a helpful reminder :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I never forget to bring them back to the vehicle, because I make sure they are blocking the door out to the driveway so I’d have to trip over them if I didn’t pick them up and move them out. Love, love, love this blog, Jillee! Thanks to everyone for sharing, too!
Thank you for your beautiful testimony, Tracy! It has to be cathartic to not keep this “secret” bundled up inside you. I’ve learned that by sharing our stories, we don’t give them power over us, and we’re not wasting energy trying to keep it secret. And too many of us (myself included) are numbing ourselves with food…M&M’s do make you feel better, don’t they? God bless you and keep you and family. May your daughter be healed, and if that is not part of the divine plan, may your and your family provide comfort and love to her, and may you find joy in your time together.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I hope that while your husband goes to his three meetings a week, you will consider attending Alanon, many groups have them at the same time. Alanon will help you deal with the ups and downs.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Well, I gave all my reusable bags a bath today (I believe I counted 30) and hung them outside to air dry. I think I heard a thank you whisper from my bags as it has been the first time, (Yes, embarassingly, I am admitting, my first time) to get them washed.
I am going to start washing them the same day I wash my towels as a reminder. I also happend to post this reminder on my Facebook and surprisingly, I have a friend comment saying she refuses to use reusable bags for the reason that she does not think they are sanitary.
Well thank you for the reminder!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.About the bags…I wash often (those that can be) and those that can’t, I spray with rubbing alcohol…..turn them inside out and spray and hang to dry (dries quickly) I don’t think that you should store in your purse as most don’t get washed often enough (personnel opinion) referring to the purses getting washed/cleaned….I have also had checkers comment on my clean bags (and those that aren’t)…..For a reminder to take bags you could put it first or last on your grocery list and for those that don’t use a list (or need an extra reminder) you could put a note on your dash or the center of the steering wheel, with a sticky tab or something more permanent…….I also store my bags in the car, but am thinking of storing by front door as well…..I hook my bags over the headrest of the middle seats of my suv and have them hang over the back (out of the way but still accessible)…….Last but hardly least, I greatly appreciate all the comments, as they are quite helpful…..thank you and thank you Jillee for your time and commitment…In case you haven’t heard it enough, YOU ARE AWESOME !!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I live in New England and I HATE going to Big Y b/c the baggers always put my cold stuff in the canvas bags and the hot stuff in the insulated bags! Grr! It’s not hard to figure out that the insulated bag is for cold stuff. So i always have to re-pack my bags. Hence, I try not to go to Big Y anymore.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My husband refuses to use the reusable bags and since he usually ends up going to the grocery store every day he allays gets the plastic bags and they just pile up. we do use them in the bathroom trash can, but I really need to recycle the rest!
Haha, I have had the same problem at other stores! I can never figure out why they do this. I have even had them put regular non perishables in the insulated bag and cold stuff in the canvas. I am happy to bag my own, prefer it in fact and will go to self check out whenever it’s available but they don’t take well to you doing that and I don’t want to step on toes so I often end up re packing bags when I go through the regular check out. When they use the plastic they put two items in each bag and I end up with 10 or more bags of stuff I could pack in one or two of my good canvas ones. I don’t mean to bash all packers though they are usually very nice often young and learning…I think it’s more of an indication of how little training or direction they get, I doubt it’s as easy as one thinks to make everyone happy. Just reading through here I realize different people prefer different things when it comes to packing their grocery bags.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you for this. I am a grocery bagger/checker and you have NOOOOO idea what we go through with your bags lol. I was once bagging a person’s groceries and went to put her can of green beans in her reusable bag and saw that there was something black and green on the bottom of it. I said to her, “I think there might be mold growing in your bag. I don’t think I feel comfortable continuing with my bagging process being given this bag.” She was super embarrassed and vowed to go home and wash her bags immediately. No actually she didn’t seemed shocked at all and just asked for me to use another one…. Aside from that, I deal with bags all the time that have pet hair on them (I’m allergic to animals), tobacco smoke, and bags that obviously haven’t been washed since you got them. I know it seems silly but thank you for posting this and I really hope that people listen and clean their bags frequently and properly.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The heavy plastic red bags from Trader Joe’s can be wiped with Clorox or Lysol wipes, or sprayed with any anti-bac kitchen surface cleaner and allowed to air dry. Or even sprayed with Lysol. Those bags are GREAT for that reason alone.
The cheapy common type of reusable bags that are often free on Earth Day or $1 at the grocery store CAN go in the washing machine and air dry, even though they are thin and not very resilient. The lettering usually fades and they get soft and wrinkly, but they are still perfectly useable.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I just toss them all in the washer every couple of trips to the store and let them air dry. My daughter put her Trader Joe’s bag in the dryer after laundering and it shrunk to the size of a lunch bag!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I don’t like cloth bags. The handles tend to be too long for me to carry without them touching the ground. The bags are often big and the cashiers will usually pack them full. This leads to too much weight and sometimes items get squished. And then there was the inconvenience of letting them air out (especially if there is condensation), washing them, and folding up a dozen bags that are all different sizes. So, I use plastic bags from stores that still provide them. I use them for garbage once they have transported meat and throw them away when they get a hole. I never run out and I never pay for bags.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes, I do regularly wash mine, and the check out staff often comment that they appreciate a clean bag.
I have a homemade bag made from old jeans that is my fav, then several of those bags youbuyfrom the store in that mystery fabric. I find those bags somehow attract pet fur. I am slowly trying to replace with homemade.
When you are able to bag your own, you can put items in the bag that are stored in the same area, I find this really speeds up put away time.
I do get plastic bags on occasion but we find many uses for them. Trash can liners, dog poop bag for walks, stuff like that. I also use the bag that my newspaper comes in for ths type of stuff.
I am an RN and I manage the Quality departments in 2 large hospitals so infection prevention is near and dear to my heart. Yes, keep those bags clean and dry!
Amie
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Oh my! I feel famous!! Thanks for the link! :)
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