Reusable bags for groceries

[bas71873]

I would like to purchase a few, but don't know what to get. I have a few "plasticky" ones and really thin "clothish" ones that I've been give or have acquired one way or the other, but I would like to get a few, and at least one or two insulated ones, to take to the grocery with me. Any suggestions on what to get and where?

 

[NAB]

Make sure you get cloth ones that you can throw in the wash machine. Bacteria builds up in them if you don't.

I think you can find these type anywhere you shop, even Walmart has reuseable bags here. Some of our stores here have baskets, love these too to pack bottles of pop and big box food.

Costco here also has a great cooler type bag that holds a lot and fold us nice.

 

[TTFN]

I love the bags that Whole Foods sells. Really sturdy (my last batch lasted over 3 years), roomy, and the handles are long enough that I can put the bag over my shoulder if I don't have too much weight in it. I just bought 3 more, but only because we were passing through a town that has a Whole Foods....I don't have one in my town.

 

[Ephany]

We really like the ones from Trader Joes. They're washable and don't fall apart. For refrigerables, we bought ours from Costco. They look almost like beach totes and hold so much stuff.

 

[tvguy]

All the stores here sell them.

I hate them, just because so many that use them clearly never wash them, and they are stained with meat juice, and lord only knows what, yuck.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I use some fabric ones that I got at the Yellow Daisy Festival here in Georgia. 2 nice ones that I bought, 3 that were free and will probably fall apart after a year or two of use.

Plus I have other fabric ones that were free from various places. And I have 2 from Publix.

All are washable and dryable. Except the Publix ones - those have to be air dryed I think.

 

[spacemountainmom]

I've been seeing more and more people using the utility totes from Thirty-one. I am debating getting one myself.

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

I cleaned out my hall closet and found tons of those wdw bags - you know the ones that they sell for $10 with a $50 purchase that I can never resist? I use those now and they are so much better than the ones the local stores sell. They are sturdy, have long straps and are washable. Finally I can justify every bag I buy from wdw now I haven't found an insulated bag that I like so I am still on the hunt for one.

 

[Kat77]

I have some insulated ones from Aldi's that I have been pretty happy with. I want to say I only paid $2 for them but I'm not sure, definately less than $5. They are easy to clean with a clorox wipe.

I gave away my insulated bag from costco thinking I could buy another. No more in stock . That thing kept my frozen food nicely insulated.

 

[TifffanyD]

All the stores here sell them.

I hate them, just because so many that use them clearly never wash them, and they are stained with meat juice, and lord only knows what, yuck.

I have my meat wrapped in a plastic bag first (then use those few bags as bin liners)

 

[leeer1]

I would recommend chico bags. The compress into a self storage bag, and you don't have to fold.it a certain way to get it back in. I like that compressed I can put it in a jacket it pants pocket. My wife Carries one in her purse. The thing I see is people just forget to bring them when shopping. They are small but carry a lot. Not too expensive around $5.

 

[BearcatsFan]

I have a few of the large cloth ones from Aldi. The handles are sturdy and they hold a LOT. Throw them in the washer as needed.

 

[bas71873]

OP here. A follow up question. For the canvas bags, do you guys prefer an insert for the bottom so that the bad stands upright, or does that not bother you one way or the other? I'm thinking it would be nice to have a removable insert at the bottom so the bag will stand in the card while you shop and not slouch, but could be taken out for washing?

 

[cornflake]

Seconding the Whole Foods bags - they have a big variety, from much thicker canvas to insulated, rolling, and their standard $.99 ones (below), which really hold up well and are washable, really big, sturdy and stand up flat on their own without a piece of cardboard or anything, in my experience.

 

[bas71873]

Seconding the Whole Foods bags - they have a big variety, from much thicker canvas to insulated, rolling, and their standard $.99 ones (below), which really hold up well and are washable, really big, sturdy and stand up flat on their own without a piece of cardboard or anything, in my experience.

So when you say these (the picture) are washable, do you mean machine washable or wipe down washable?

 

[cornflake]

So when you say these (the picture) are washable, do you mean machine washable or wipe down washable?

I think those in the pic are the ones that have the plasticy coating and I'm not sure. The others like that, which are a light canvas-type material, same size and construction, are machine washable.

Like these are the plain and I've chucked them in the machine and they come out fine -

The designs change all the time.

They also make even sturdier ones (though the kind above I've had for years, washed, and carry a ridiculous amt of stuff from the farmer's market in and they're still going strong), like their kind of iconic FEED bag, which has a burlap bottom, is washable, folds up and costs like $10 but it goes to charity -

There are other options there too. If there's one near you, I'd say that's your best bet.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I have a variety-

Most of my bags are canvas bags that people get at conventions/trade shows/etc. They usually have some product advertised on them. These are often at Goodwill for a buck or two. I run them in the washer and dryer.

I have some of simlar to these:

http://www.amazon.com/Waste-Less-Ba...115685&sr=8-4&keywords=reusable+bags+foldable

They roll up into almost nothing. I keep a couple in my purse for quick shopping trips. I throw them in the washer and hang dry, since they are nylon, they dry in about 10 minutes. I've had mine 5 years and haven't ripped any yet.

I also have some big LLBean Boat and Tote bags- not washable, but I used these for canned goods and big boxed stuff like cereal.

 

[BearcatsFan]

OP here. A follow up question. For the canvas bags, do you guys prefer an insert for the bottom so that the bad stands upright, or does that not bother you one way or the other? I'm thinking it would be nice to have a removable insert at the bottom so the bag will stand in the card while you shop and not slouch, but could be taken out for washing?

I prefer not having the insert. I've had ones in the past with thick plastic pieces for the bottom and they seemed more of a bother than anything. If something got spilled inside, the insert had to be removed and wiped off (then I always worried if I got it cleaned enough if it was meat juices ). I ended up removing all of them and throwing them away.

A cloth bag with no insert can just be thrown in the washer - no muss, no fuss.

 

[*JoGo*]

I want some whole food bags! Who's going to buy and send me some??

I have some from diff stores w the rectangle of plastic in them. They are nice so the bottom is flat and not all lumpy and won't sit right after you pick it up. But my bottoms seem to go missing after my boys have used a bag.

I have a couple of the bigger, thicker target bags that have the sturdy bottom built in and them it all folds up and snaps. And one from kohls like that. Those are nice for the heavier items.

I have a $10 thermal bag from Sams, assume its the same as the one at Costco. Very large and insulated. I think I will purchase another since we have a small chest freezer now and I can buy more.

I love my reusable bags. I do not ever put meat in them. And my veg/fruit are always in a produce bag first. I've thrown them in the wash, then just hang dry. The only ones that have torn are the disney Halloween ones that drug on the ground after being weighed down by candy.

 

[bas71873]

I think I will make a trip out to Whole Foods this weekend and check them out. I really don't care to shoop at WF, but Trader Joe's is next door and Tom Leonard's across the street, so I can knock it all out in one swoop