How to Store Reusable Bags

Co-authored by Eric McClure

Last Updated: June 13, 2020 References

Reusable plastic bags are a great way to cut back on the need for pesky disposable plastics that harm the environment. Unfortunately, they can be quite easy to lose and can get tangled up when stored haphazardly. To store your reusable bags efficiently, fold them flat so that you can stack them together. Keep your bags in a small box, drawer, or large reusable bag. If you want a space-saving option, get a wall-mounted file box and store them on your wall. If you find yourself forgetting to bring your bags to the store, keep your bags in your car to ensure that you always have them handy.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Folding Reusable Bags

1
Sort your bags and discard any damaged totes. To efficiently declutter your reusable bags, set your bags out on a table. You can sort them by material, purpose, or size. Count how many of each type that you have and consider giving away or donating any excess bags. When you create an organizational system, group similar bags together to make it easier to find what you need. Throw out any bags that are ripped, worn down, or missing handles.^{[1]
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- If you have dozens of bags, give some away. You probably only need 5-10 bags.
- There is no right or wrong way to sort bags. Think about how you use your bags and choose a method that works best for you.
- For example, if you rely on differently-sized bags for different things, sort them by size. If you use certain bags for groceries and others for carrying clothes, sort them by purpose. You can also sort bags by the material that they’re made out of to keep things easy.
2
Spread your bag out on a flat surface and fold the sides in. Lay your reusable bag on a clean table. Orient the bag so that the broad side is facing up. If the thinner sides of the bag automatically fold in, allow them to naturally bend inwards. If you have a softer bag, gently tuck the middle of each side into the center of the bag. Spread any wrinkles away with the palm of your hand to smooth the material out.^{[2]
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- Alternatively, you can roll the reusable bags up and tie a rubber band around them if you want to store them side by side in a vertical container.
- If your reusable bag has straps, stuff them into the center of the bag.^{[3]
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- You can fold plastic shopping bags the same way as reusable bags to declutter your home and store all of your bags in the same place.
Tip: If you have one of those stiff plastic bags that stands up on its own and folds easily, simply follow the natural creases of the bag to fold it up. Typically, the sides of these bags fold in towards the center and the base of the bag wraps up into the middle. Fold the top over the base to fold it naturally.

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3
Fold the top third of the bag over the center. Grab the top of your bag where the opening is and hold the 2 corners at the top. Fold the opening of the bag towards the center and align the sides of the bag so that they’re flush. Adjust the fold as needed until the top third is laying on top the center third. Press down on the crease at the top of your new fold to hold the bag in place.^{[4]
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4
Wrap the bottom third of the bag over the top and middle. Gently lift the bottom third of the bag up by the edge. Brace the center and top third by pressing them down if necessary. Fold the bottom of the bag on top of the center of the bag. Push down on each crease to secure the bag.^{[5]
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- If you fold the bottom up first, the opening at the mouth of the bag can spread out while you store the bag.
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Fold the bag in half and flatten it down if you want to make it smaller. Turn your bag on its side so that the top and bottom are pointing away from you. Hold the center of the bag at the top and the bottom. Fold the bag over in the middle so that the 2 thinner sides meet. Flatten the entire bag with your palms and smooth it out.^{[6]
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- This will make the bag smaller if you want to store them in a tighter area. Skip this step if you are planning on storing your bags vertically.
- This step is optional. If you want to store your bags flat on top of one another, it is probably easier to not fold them in the middle.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Creating a Storage System

1
Store the folded bags on their sides in a small box to save space. A toy box, cardboard box, or fabric storage box will work fine for this. Set the box up on its short side and lay your first storage bag horizontally at the bottom. Lay as many bags on top of the first bag until you can lower the box down without the bags unravelling or falling over. The more bags you can fit, the more secure the bags will be!^{[7]
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- To keep the bags from unfolding in the box, lay them down with the open folded side facing down.
- This is a good option if you don’t have a lot of room in your home and want to condense the bags into as small a space as possible.
- Store your box in a drawer, under your sink, or in a storage cube. Anywhere is fine so long as it’s easy for you to keep track of the bags and store them.
2
Fill a large reusable bag with your folded bags to keep things easy. Take your largest, firmest reusable bag and sit it up on your table. If you folded your reusable bags in half after folding the thirds over, lay your first bag flat at the bottom of the big bag. Then, lay your additional bags on top of the bag at the bottom to stack your bags horizontally. You can also stack the vertically by not folding the thirds in half and laying each bag on its thin side.^{[8]
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- You can also store the bags vertically like this by rolling the individual bags into tubes and wrapping them with rubber bands.
Tip: This is a really easy way to store your bags since you don’t need any additional boxes or anything. It can also make the bags easier to find if you’re storing them long term since you’ll be able to easily identify the bag.
3
Lay the bags on top of one another in a drawer to hide them. If you only have a few bags that you need to store and don’t want them taking up space, stack them in a drawer. Find an empty drawer in your kitchen or living room and lay your first folded bag on its broadest side. Then, lay another bag on top of it the same way. Continue laying your bags on top of one another and close the drawer.^{[9]
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- Set a heavy object on top of your bags to keep them from shifting around when you open or close the door.
- If your drawer is really wide, you don’t need to fold the bags at all! You can simply lay them flat on top of one another.
- If you have a bunch of bags of different sizes, fold the smaller bags in half after folding them in thirds and group them into size-specific boxes.
- If you have more than 6-7 bags, you’ll probably need to use a deeper drawer, like a filing cabinet.
4
Use a wall-mounted file box to store them on the wall. If you want easy access to your reusable bags, get a hanging file box online or from an office supply store. Use command hooks, Velcro strips, or screws to secure the box to the wall near your door or in your kitchen. Store 4-5 folded bags in the file box to give yourself easy access to the bags.^{[10]
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- This is a great choice if you have some wall space available and don’t want to dig around under your sink or in your basement to look for a bag.
- This is not the ideal way to store a large amount of bags. It is a great storage hack if you like to keep your floors, drawers, and counters clean, though.
- These file boxes are typically made out of cardboard or plastic. They are extremely light and pretty easy to install.
- If your bags have handles, you can hang a single wall-mounted hook in an inconspicuous place and simply hang the bags from their handles.
5
Keep your grocery store tote bags in your trunk so you never forget them. If you use reusable bags to go grocery shopping, keeping them in your trunk is a great way to ensure that you never need to use plastic bags. Fold the bags and put them in a box or larger bag. Set the bags in your vehicle. You can even lay them loose in the trunk if you aren’t worried about them getting a little dirty!

Warnings

Wash your reusable bags after using them—especially if you’re using them for groceries. Cloth reusable bags can be machine-washed and tumble dried. Plastic bags must be washed by hand using soap and warm water. Air dry plastic bags on a clothing line.^{[11]
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