Grocery bags are one of the dirtiest objects to ever set foot in our homes. This is especially true of the reusable variety commonly found at most markets. This is because few people rarely, if ever, wash them.
Most of us would agree that disposable plastic bags are terrible for the environment. We think we are doing a good thing by buying the inexpensive grocery store reusable bags and keeping them in the car for every trip to the store. Most people do not wash them, but simply throw them away when they get too dirty (so much or reducing our landfills). But have you ever tried to wash one of those reusable bags in the washing machine? They tend to disintegrate within a couple of washings leading them to end up in the landfill anyway.
This week, I used two of my handmade cotton bags at the grocery store, and not only was complemented on how strong they were, but thanked profusely for actually washing them. The stories the cashier told me about the things she’d seen come out of a customer’s bag made my skin crawl. Think about all of the bacteria on and in your grocery bags as they come in contact with the shopping cart, meats, veggies, etc. Not only are your exposing yourself and your newly purchases groceries to that bacteria, but the store employees who handle your bags are also being exposed.
The reusable bags that I make and sell on my Etsy store are a practical alternative. Yes, they are more expensive then the store purchased alternative, but they can easily be washed and reused many times over their alternative. This will eliminate the bacteria and keep them out of landfills. Isn’t it worth it to keep your family healthier, as well as the families of the store employees who handle them?