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On one of our local news stations tonight was a piece about the "green" shopping bags that are so popular today. Do any of you wash yours with any regularity? After testing a bunch of them at random, they found that most of them had a high bacteria count along with mold due to being used over and over without cleaning them. So the Public Health Department had some suggestions.
1. Wash your bags at least once a month with soap and hot water. Then wipe inside with a wrung out cloth of warm water and bleach. Allow to dry completely. There may be moisture that you missed and this will increase the opportunity for mold to develop.
2. If using for groceries, then set each bag for a specific item. One for produce, one for dairy, one for meat, canned goods, soaps, cleaning supplies, etc.
3. If you use these bags for diapers, DO NOT use for food later.
4. To avoid cross contamination, do not store bags folded up inside another.
Who'd of thunk? And you thought you were doing your part for going green.
Once known for a brief time as Adele... Remember, Oh My is not God's first name nor is Da*m It God's last name.
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They recently did a story on that here in Atlanta too, but I missed the main part of it. Thanks, as always Addie for keeping us up to date....here we all are, saving the planet so to speak, and contaminating our groceries. When we shop at the commissary we try to remember to bring the paper bags back from the last time and reuse them. Maybe not such a great idea huh? I hate to see that kind of waste though, and recycling around here takes an act of congress--they don't pick up recycles, and the place to take it is only open a few hours a day.
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Are they machine safe? Interesting stuff. We usually bag meats and produce so I think we're safe there.
   Fiskateer #5734
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I have always asked my supermarket to use the plastic bags for my meats, I never have them put meat in the re-useable bags. Guess I was onto something there! I am also very particular about where I place my purse. I have a hook that hangs on the side of the table when I eat out. My family thought it was odd until a local TV station revealed how many germs were there, then people put their bags on their home counters...EEEEWWWW! Guess it pays to be a bit germ-a-phobic!
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Hobbyaholic wrote:Are they machine safe?
Interesting stuff. We usually bag meats and produce so I think we're safe there.
That's a good question. I think I would use the bathtub and soak them in there. You can use the spray hose from the shower to rinse them.
I have only one green bag. An ACM that was sent to me with yarn from a wonderful Forum member. I do use my plastic ones for my trash cans. They are just the right size and made for those grocery bags. They have a handle on each side to loop the handle of the plastic bags over.
Once known for a brief time as Adele... Remember, Oh My is not God's first name nor is Da*m It God's last name.
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with everyone selling them Iam afraid the store will try to recharge me for using them-thinking I just got it. Sounds strange huh?
Fiskateer#5524 Wife of scrapbooking hubby.  
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scrap4you wrote:with everyone selling them Iam afraid the store will try to recharge me for using them-thinking I just got it. Sounds strange huh?
Use a Sharpie or other marker and put what the bag is for on each of them. Dairy, produce, etc. I would put it on the handle so it is easier to see.
Once known for a brief time as Adele... Remember, Oh My is not God's first name nor is Da*m It God's last name.
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scrap4you wrote:with everyone selling them Iam afraid the store will try to recharge me for using them-thinking I just got it. Sounds strange huh? I write my last name on the handles of each one so that doesn't happen.
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Great thread! Informative for sure
Peace My Blog
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Excellent ideas everyone! It does sound a little disgusting, but then again, who knows where those plastic or paper bags we are using as "new" have been?
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