Do you want to save money?
Do you want to do your small part to save the environment?
Has anyone ever told you that you can wash and reuse disposable zip top bags as a way to do both?
Many years ago, I walked into a friend’s home and noticed a zip top bag air drying over a glass. Turns out, her mom washed and reused her disposable zip top bags.
Over the years, that small seed of frugality stuck with me.
Fast forward to the trend towards replacing disposable with reusable zip top bags as both a way to save money and reduce waste.
Until several of my pricier bags went missing, were ruined, or were simply inferior, I was completely on board with the trend.
After reverting to using disposable zip top bags, I found my thoughts circling back to that long ago memory of the bag drying on the glass.
And I posed the question, is it possible to wash and reuse disposable zip top bags?
Turns out, that yes, in a lot of instances, it is very realistic to wash and reuse disposable zip top bags.
Start by choosing the right bag.
Not all disposable zip top bags are created equal.
If washing and reusing disposable zip top bags is going to be an option, then the bag is going to need to be worthy of the task.
Choose a sturdy, not flimsy, zip top storage bag.
Check out freezer bags.
The primary job of a freezer bag is to protect food and keep it from getting freezer burn. By design, a freezer bag is sturdier than the average plastic zip top bag.
Avoid the chemicals often found in plastic.
One reason to move to reusable bags is to eliminate the chemicals often found in plastic.
I assumed that all disposable zip top bags would contain those very chemicals.
Never assume.
The website of the brand with which I am most familiar, Ziploc, states that not only are their products BPA and Dioxin free, but they can also be recycled.
When you have used the bag for the last time, Ziploc brand bags can be disposed of in the same recycle bin in which you put other plastics.
If you prefer a different brand, check the website and see if that brand has the same benefits.
Know when to toss the bag in the garbage.
Whether you reuse a bag should be based on what the bag was previously used for.
Most often, zip top bags are a convenience choice for lunches, snacks, vegetables, and even items that are non-edible.
However, there are times that disposable bags should not be reused.
A bag which contained raw meat or food that has spoiled is a deal breaker for me.
The risk of contamination is just too great.
That’s the case whether it’s a reusable or disposable zip top bag. It is possible the bag would be able to be cleaned and sanitized well enough for reuse. However, I’m not willing to take the chance.
The bag has served its purpose and should be disposed of properly.
When the bag is showing signs of wear, throw it out.
If a bag is used twice, you have reduced your usage by half.
However, at a certain point, any zip top bag has served its purpose and it’s time to toss or recycle it.
Washing and storing a reusable bag is the biggest deterrent to reusing any kind of bag.
Whether you switch to a reusable bag or reuse a disposable bag, some convenience will be lost.
It will be necessary to wash, dry and store the zip top bag.
My preference for washing and storing both disposable and reusable zip top bags is pretty simple.
The best way to wash a zip top bag:
Put a small amount of very warm water and a drop or two of dish detergent in the bag.
Put a clean dishrag inside the bag.
Seal the bag and swish the water and cloth all around.
Dump the soapy water and rinse the bag well.
The best way to dry a zip top bag:
If you have time and space, put the bag over a glass or some other object to air dry.
Since I don’t like anything on my counters, I choose to dry the inside of the bag with a clean dish towel.
After drying, place a paper towel in the bag to soak up any lingering dampness. (I reuse these as well. They aren’t dirty)
The best way to store a zip top bag:
Leave the bag unsealed with the paper towel left inside.
Fold and put the zip top bag back in the box from which it came.
The disposable zip top bag is now ready for the next use.
Don’t make caring for a zip top bag too complicated or your bags will become counter clutter and you will quickly abandon the desire to reuse any kind of a storage bag.
Do you want to save money?
Do you want to have a positive impact on the environment?
Consider washing and reusing your disposable zip top bags.
It’s a small thing that can make a big difference!
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