Having a barrage of plastic bags fly out of your cabinet every time you open it can be downright maddening. Put an end to the madness and make yourself a plastic bag organizer. Here are 10 styles you can choose from.
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Sleeve Pouch
Those sleeve pouches that you buy at the store to organize your plastic grocery bags are actually super easy to make. And there is no sewing required! Make one that will go perfect with your kitchen decor by selecting an 18-inch by 22-inch piece of fabric or a dish towel that matches your kitchen’s color scheme.
Fold your material in half and glue it down the side. You’ll leave the top open to place your bags inside and attach an elastic or drawstring at the bottom so your bags don’t fall out. Glue a ribbon or loop at the top so you can hang your sleeve pouch on the inside of a cabinet or from a hook somewhere in your kitchen. If you’d rather buy one than make one, here’s a four-pack for less than $9!
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Baby Wipe Container
Baby wipe containers are a great storage solution for lots of household items (think craft supplies and batteries). They also work especially well as a plastic bag organizer. Both cylinder and box-shaped baby wipe containers work fine for this task.
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To use a baby wipe container for plastic bag storage, use the roll method: Lay out a bag and fold it in half. Place a second bag, with its handle over the bottom of the first bag. Continuing making this bag chain with all of your bags, and then roll your bags the long way, leaving the handle of the first bag sticking out.
Here is a photo tutorial to help you see how this is done. Place your roll of bags inside the plastic container. Pull the bag handle through the top of the lid where the baby wipes would come out. When you pull out one bag, a new one will pop out of the top. Decorate your container, if that’s important to you.
To simplify, here is an extremely popular plastic bag dispenser on Amazon.
Tissue Box Container
Keep your cabinets free of plastic bag clutter by repurposing a tissue box. Just stuff your grocery bags into the hole of an empty tissue box. You can also use the roll method mentioned above if you want your bags to come out of the box smoothly. Keep this plastic bag organizer out of sight by attaching a Command strip to it and adhering it to the inside of a cabinet.
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Jar
Are you looking for a no-fuss DIY plastic bag organizer? Just ball up your bags and stick them in a jar. You can open the jar up and grab one when you need them or leave the lid off for easy access. It’s a simple solution and a lot better than chaotically shoving them into a cabinet or another plastic bag. Or, try this plastic bag organizer, for less than $10, on Amazon.
Juice Jug
Fashion a large juice jug into a plastic bag organizer by cutting off the bottom of the jug and stuffing that end with plastic bags. Pull your bags through the spout. Use a knife to cut a hole into the side of your jug so you can hang it from a hook or use a Command strip to hang it on the inside of your cabinet. This 2-pack of mesh bag holders can store your plastic bags or garbage bags.
Coffee Can
Lots of people hang on to their coffee cans for small-item storage or to keep loose change. But, these handy tins can also be transformed into a fantastic plastic bag organizer. Just place your plastic bags inside your coffee can. You can use the rolled method or just ball them up and place them inside. Cut a hole into the top of your lid and pull a bag through. Coffee cans are also very easy to decorate!
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Plastic Jug With Handle
This plastic bag organizer is super cute and does double duty as a dish towel holder. Make this all-in-one dish towel holder and plastic bag organizer by cutting the top of your jug off. Put a Command strip on the back of it and hang it upside down on a wall, the side of your refrigerator or on the inside or outside of a cabinet. Stuff plastic grocery bags through the hole on top. Pull the bags through the spout on the bottom, then hang your towel through the handle.
Want a plastic bag organizer that will stay out of sight? This over-the-door model hides on the inside of your cabinet.
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Soda Bottle
Upcycle a plastic soda bottle into a plastic bag organizer. Use a pair of scissors or utility knife to cut off the bottom of the soda bottle. Flip the bottle upside down and use a Command strip to affix your organizer wherever you’d like. Shove your bags through the large hole you cut and pull them through the spout.
This Pop-A-Bag plastic bag organizer easily fits inside your cabinet or on your wall with double-sided tape or screws and it costs less than $5.
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Pringles Can
Pringles cans work great for organizing a reasonable amount of bags. Use the roll method (above), and place a plastic bag roll inside your Pringles can. Use a utility knife to cut a hole in the lid so you can pull a bag through. Cover the can with something decorative, if it won’t be kept inside a cabinet or closet.
This wall-mounted cylinder plastic bag organizer is a sturdier option available on Amazon.
Soda Can Box
An empty soda can box is another super-simple and free place to organize your plastic grocery bags. Shove plastic bags into the hole that dispenses the cans. Wrap the box in heavy-duty wrapping or contact paper to make it a bit sturdier.
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The post 10 Ways to Organize and Store Plastic Bags appeared first on Taste of Home.
D.G. Sciortino