Up until quite recently, I was one of those people who could never manage to remember their reusable shopping bags. I tried everything! I hung them from a hook next to our garage door, I kept them in the back of my car, but none of my efforts made remembering them any easier. But now that I think back on it, I think it was more about the bags themselves than it was about the location I stored them in.
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Because I recently bought a set of reusable shopping bags on Amazon, and it has made all the difference in the world! These bags are superior to my other reusable shopping bags in every way. I really enjoy using these bags, which makes it easy to remember them when I’m heading out for a grocery shopping trip! (I also have a storage tip that helps too—see “How I Store My Shopping Bags” below for more on that.)
So today I thought I’d tell you all about my new reusable shopping bags. Because every once in a while, you buy something so good that you just can’t keep it to yourself! ;-)
5 Things I Love About My Reusable Shopping Bags
1. They’re Big
Each of these bags measures 13” x 10” x 11”, so you can carry a LOT in them! I mostly use them to carry my groceries, but you could use one as a beach bag, a picnic basket, to haul sports equipment, or whatever else you might need a big bag for!
2. They’re Collapsible
Possibly my favorite feature of these bags is that they fold down flat. When they’re collapsed, they take up hardly any space in the trunk of my car! Plus, there are a few handy pieces of velcro that keep the bags collapsed.
3. They’re Strong
Arguably, the most important feature of any shopping bag is how strong it is. And let me tell you, these babies are strong. Each one can support up to 50 pounds worth of stuff!
And it’s not just the bottom of the bags that hold up. The sides are nice and sturdy, which means it’s almost impossible for them to tip over or slide around in the back of your car when you’re on your way home from the store.
4. You Get Three Of Them
While one bag would certainly be enough for a quick jaunt to the store, it’s probably not big enough for your largest shopping trips. But the good news is that these bags come in a pack of three! That’s three big, collapsible, strong shopping bags. I’ve never needed more than these three bags, even when my shopping cart is completely full!
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5. There’s An Optional Trunk Organizer
If you want, Urban House also sells a trunk organizer that accommodates two of these shopping bags. This organizer would be perfect for keeping stuff from sliding or rolling around in your trunk. It also enables you to put your two shopping bags of groceries into it, then carry the whole organizer inside at once! (Your dream of bringing all the groceries inside in one trip can now become a reality!)
How I Store My Shopping Bags
I’ve never been great at remembering to take reusable shopping bags with me to the grocery store. So I decided that with these ones, the best solution would be to simply store them in my car! That way, I never forget them and they are always there, at the ready.
Instead of just throwing them in my trunk, I decided to store them on these nifty hooks that attach to the headrest in your car. You can position them to the side if you want them out of the way, or position them over the front or back of the seat as needed.
I keep them pointed towards the back of my car, so I can hang the collapsed bags from the back of my passenger-side seat. And ever since I started keeping my shopping bags on these helpful hooks, I haven’t forgotten them once! :-)
What could you use a big bag like these ones for?
I love those shopping bags. I would like to suggest another use for them I discovered while recovering from a fractured femur. I had to use a walker during that time, and it was difficult to do so many things. I found that one of these bags was so great to help! Just put it on the inside where you stand, and hook the handles over each walker handle. This gives a fairly level surface to carry your stuff. I used it to carry laundry, paperwork, supplies…anything really. But my favorite use for it was to carry my plates of… Read more »
Thanks for recommending this! Can’t wait to grab one for myself.
After giving two away to kind people I met at the grocery store, I had to buy a second set. Thanks for the heads up!
I like the concept of these shopping boxes and am now on the search for an American made version.
Re: Floppy bags: get, find, have cut, a piece of hard board, old election sign with the plastic corrugations between the advertising sides, thin plexiglass, you get the idea, to the size of the bottom of your bag or the size you want the bottom to be if the seams aren’t in the right places, whether it be square or rectagular. That will help your items to not fall over when they are packed properly. The hard ‘bottom’ will lay flat either on the bottom or sides when you fold the back for storage. You could make a cover for… Read more »
I meant to add that slightly rounding the corners of the hard bottom piece might be a good idea, so a pointed corner didn’t rub on your bag.
When I clicked on your site link the bags you are showing do not show up but 2 bags with linings and lids. The price was a heck of a lot more than $30.00. Did I click wrong?
Hi Linda! I’m so sorry! The link is actually correct, but the company has changed their product line and it looks like they no longer have these exact bags – so frustrating! However, I did find some other bags with all the same features and over 1,000 five star reviews: https://amzn.to/2Fex8jb
The link is incorrect….it goes to the two pack insulated cooler bags. I can’t find the ones you are talking about. Are they still available? If not, this shouldn’t have been posted.
Hi Heidi! I’m so sorry! The link is actually correct, but the company has changed their product line and it looks like they no longer have these exact bags – so frustrating! However, I did find some other bags with all the same features and over 1,000 five star reviews: https://amzn.to/2Fex8jb
Is there any way to clean the inside of the tote
I have similar totes. I fill them with water and dishwashing liquid (I use Dawn). Give it a good wash. I follow up with vinegar and water to rinse and then allow them to air dry. I think a small amount of bleach with the rinse water would also work to disinfect it.
Yes! For a quick, frequent cleaning, I spray them with hydrogen peroxide and leave them to dry. For a more thorough cleaning, I would use a stiff brush dipped in equal parts white vinegar and water. Just scrub, rinse the brush, scrub with a clean/wet brush, and let dry :-)
So disappointed. The link has all kinds of bags, just not the ones that Jillee promoted.
So, HOW do we get 4 of the ones shown???
I am SO sorry Bigitte! The company I bought these bags from has changed their product line suddenly, and I can’t find the same bags anywhere! I did some searching, and I finally found these with the same features, and tons of great reviews: https://amzn.to/2Fex8jb
Sorry again, and thanks for your patience :-)
Thank you, Jillee! I am happy to report that I ordered these bags just now, along with the hooks.
I’m so glad, enjoy! :-)
I googled Urban House shopping bags and found them at https://www.toyboxtech.com/urban-house-auh-sb4bk-large-collapsible-grocery-shopping-tote-box-with-reinforced-bottom-14l-x-11w-x-11h-pack-of-4-black-with-brown-trim/ They are the same price