Organizing: Where do you keep your reusable shopping bags?

[Anonymous]

We keep ours in the kitchen banquette that has storage underneath. You can also install some sort of organizer inside a kitchen cabinet door to store them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the trunk of the car.

This. I keep one that folds small in my purse as well, just in case.

+1. Yet sometimes I still forget to bring them into the store!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have these bags. A pack of 6 fits in my purse, so they're always with me.

http://www.urbanmarketbags.com

I have had these bags for years--they used to be manufactured under another name. They hold up well and are easy to keep together. It's been 6+ years and I still get regular compliments on them.

Are the straps long enough to carry the bags on your shoulder?

PP here. The straps are long enough.

[Anonymous]

We have tons. We have gotten bags from so many festivals and conventions, street fairs, etc. We probably have like 30. We've also bought a few large ones on travel.

I keep 5 in the trunk of the car for the weekly shopping trip. When we come home, we unload them, I fold them up and put them on a shelf next to the garage door. The next time I go out to the car, I take them and dump them back in the trunk.

We have a ton that we keep in regular use. One is the "medical bag" which has notebooks, papers, medical test results, a crossword puzzle book for waiting rooms, etc. One is the travel bag and has things we only use on car trips. One is a kids grab and go bag (preschooler twins) that has an extra change of clothes for the kids, and a couple of small things that can keep them occupied (aquadoodles, magnetic sketch pads, dollar store sticker books and stickers). If we need to run out in a hurry, we toss that in the car to make sure that if the kids get antsy we can keep them occupied. One has the swim clothes for swim lessons for the weekend. After we wash the swim clothes, we pack it up and its ready to go agin when we leave. I work an evening job once night a week. I have a bag for that job and anything I need for the job, I toss in the bag so it is ready to go. Since I am normally in a rush that night, picking up the kids from preschool, taking them home, getting them ready for dinner that my wife makes (she WAH and ends her work day 30 minutes before we get home) and then grabbing stuff to go, I would forget things if I didn't have them ready to go. We probably have a dozen or so bags that are always filled and ready to go, or can be packed quickly to go. We also have a ton for when we do something we don't do regularly, like go to the zoo, we grab a bag and toss the insulated lunch cooler and water bottles for the kids. We have a hard enough time getting the kids out the door, prepacking bags and having some ready to go for regular events helps a lot.

After all those, the leftovers, we have a plastic tub that we keep on the top shelf of the coat closet by the garage door (in an alcove between the garage door and kitchen). We toss the rest in there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I keep mine in the mudroom. On a hook in a large bag. We call it the "bag of bags." I weed through and throw them out periodically. OP you don't need that many right? Don't become a bag hoarder!

+1 We have the bag of bags. I hang the bag of bags on a coat hanger suspended from the wire shelving that run high up in the laundry room. I go through them every six months or so and throw out any that are getting super worn (tears, holes, super gross).

Bag of bags is on a doorknob in the kitchen -- harder to forget because I see it as I walk out with my list.

I would love a set of self-pouch bags that can go over my shoulder (I usually walk to the store), ideally not manufactured by children. Any suggestions? Anyone?

The envirosax I mentioned earlier don't self pouch, but, similar in concept, they roll up small and have an attached strap that snaps closed around the roll. These omnisax ones are the patterns http://www.envirosax.com/omnisax-bags/ and the greengrocer ones are solid colors http://www.envirosax.com/greengrocer-bags/ . You can buy individually, or in sets of 3 or 5 with a small carrying pouch (small enough to go in a purse). You can also find them on Amazon and some other websites (red envelope used to have some), I think usually at the same price as the envirosax website, and I've seen a few brick and mortar stores carrying them (none that I recall in the DC area though). I really love these bags.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I keep mine in the mudroom. On a hook in a large bag. We call it the "bag of bags." I weed through and throw them out periodically. OP you don't need that many right? Don't become a bag hoarder!

+1 We have the bag of bags. I hang the bag of bags on a coat hanger suspended from the wire shelving that run high up in the laundry room. I go through them every six months or so and throw out any that are getting super worn (tears, holes, super gross).

Bag of bags is on a doorknob in the kitchen -- harder to forget because I see it as I walk out with my list.

I would love a set of self-pouch bags that can go over my shoulder (I usually walk to the store), ideally not manufactured by children. Any suggestions? Anyone?

The envirosax I mentioned earlier don't self pouch, but, similar in concept, they roll up small and have an attached strap that snaps closed around the roll. These omnisax ones are the patterns http://www.envirosax.com/omnisax-bags/ and the greengrocer ones are solid colors http://www.envirosax.com/greengrocer-bags/ . You can buy individually, or in sets of 3 or 5 with a small carrying pouch (small enough to go in a purse). You can also find them on Amazon and some other websites (red envelope used to have some), I think usually at the same price as the envirosax website, and I've seen a few brick and mortar stores carrying them (none that I recall in the DC area though). I really love these bags.

To add: these are perfect for walking home from the store carrying groceries. They hold a ton, and are comfortable carrying on your shoulder if you don't mind the weight of the groceries. We finally live within walking distance to a grocery store, and these are the only bags I have that I'd use for that. I can pack an entire $200 shopping trip into 3-4 of these. I probably wouldn't carry that much weight walking home with them, but I love being able to get the groceries out of the car and carry inside in one trip.

Sorry to go on and on about these - but I really do love them. I'm surprised I'm the only person to have mentioned them in this thread.

[Anonymous]

In my car. And at least two in my purse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I keep mine in the mudroom. On a hook in a large bag. We call it the "bag of bags." I weed through and throw them out periodically. OP you don't need that many right? Don't become a bag hoarder!

+1 We have the bag of bags. I hang the bag of bags on a coat hanger suspended from the wire shelving that run high up in the laundry room. I go through them every six months or so and throw out any that are getting super worn (tears, holes, super gross).

Bag of bags is on a doorknob in the kitchen -- harder to forget because I see it as I walk out with my list.

I would love a set of self-pouch bags that can go over my shoulder (I usually walk to the store), ideally not manufactured by children. Any suggestions? Anyone?

The envirosax I mentioned earlier don't self pouch, but, similar in concept, they roll up small and have an attached strap that snaps closed around the roll. These omnisax ones are the patterns http://www.envirosax.com/omnisax-bags/ and the greengrocer ones are solid colors http://www.envirosax.com/greengrocer-bags/ . You can buy individually, or in sets of 3 or 5 with a small carrying pouch (small enough to go in a purse). You can also find them on Amazon and some other websites (red envelope used to have some), I think usually at the same price as the envirosax website, and I've seen a few brick and mortar stores carrying them (none that I recall in the DC area though). I really love these bags.

To add: these are perfect for walking home from the store carrying groceries. They hold a ton, and are comfortable carrying on your shoulder if you don't mind the weight of the groceries. We finally live within walking distance to a grocery store, and these are the only bags I have that I'd use for that. I can pack an entire $200 shopping trip into 3-4 of these. I probably wouldn't carry that much weight walking home with them, but I love being able to get the groceries out of the car and carry inside in one trip.

Sorry to go on and on about these - but I really do love them. I'm surprised I'm the only person to have mentioned them in this thread.

+1 I'm also a huge fan of the envirosax. I also like that they are washable, in the event that I have something spill or just got in the habit when carrying raw meat. I don't love all the patterns that they have right now, but they've had great ones in the past.

I recently saw a jar of them at Strosoniders in Bethesda (I'm pretty sure) and I've also seen them in the past at Eastern Market - both for individual purchase, though they can be pricey one by one, I previously bought the 5 pack for the pouch and the savings. I keep one in my purse at all times and the other four are in the pocket of the drivers side door, of my car.

[Anonymous]

I keep them in the trunk of both the cars.

I have two huge IKEA bags for taking clothes to the cleaners, they are kept in the laundry room.

I have a huge insulated zipper bag that is hung in the laundry room as well. I don't keep stuff in the garage because of the spiders.

Extra bags are also hung in the laundry room.

Two soft cloth bags in my purse (for shopping for clothes).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have tons. We have gotten bags from so many festivals and conventions, street fairs, etc. We probably have like 30. We've also bought a few large ones on travel.

I keep 5 in the trunk of the car for the weekly shopping trip. When we come home, we unload them, I fold them up and put them on a shelf next to the garage door. The next time I go out to the car, I take them and dump them back in the trunk.

We have a ton that we keep in regular use. One is the "medical bag" which has notebooks, papers, medical test results, a crossword puzzle book for waiting rooms, etc. One is the travel bag and has things we only use on car trips. One is a kids grab and go bag (preschooler twins) that has an extra change of clothes for the kids, and a couple of small things that can keep them occupied (aquadoodles, magnetic sketch pads, dollar store sticker books and stickers). If we need to run out in a hurry, we toss that in the car to make sure that if the kids get antsy we can keep them occupied. One has the swim clothes for swim lessons for the weekend. After we wash the swim clothes, we pack it up and its ready to go agin when we leave. I work an evening job once night a week. I have a bag for that job and anything I need for the job, I toss in the bag so it is ready to go. Since I am normally in a rush that night, picking up the kids from preschool, taking them home, getting them ready for dinner that my wife makes (she WAH and ends her work day 30 minutes before we get home) and then grabbing stuff to go, I would forget things if I didn't have them ready to go. We probably have a dozen or so bags that are always filled and ready to go, or can be packed quickly to go. We also have a ton for when we do something we don't do regularly, like go to the zoo, we grab a bag and toss the insulated lunch cooler and water bottles for the kids. We have a hard enough time getting the kids out the door, prepacking bags and having some ready to go for regular events helps a lot.

After all those, the leftovers, we have a plastic tub that we keep on the top shelf of the coat closet by the garage door (in an alcove between the garage door and kitchen). We toss the rest in there.

Where do you store all of these filled bags?

[Anonymous]

I keep 3 in the space between my front console and the passenger seat in my car. Those are the ones I grab for the grocery store. I've got a ton in my laundry room closet (which is between my garage and kitchen) and a bunch in the pantry.