How to Actually Use Your Reusable Grocery Bags

Reusable grocery bags are environmentally friendly, butonly if you actually use them, many times.

Meanwhile, you end up out somewhere and suddenly need a bag.

Your purse or backpack is already carrying whatever it usually carries.

So you use like five disposable plastic bags and you feel like a schmuck and your hands hurt.

You need a better bag.

A big bag that can hold almost anything, whether its bulky, fragile, or wet.

And it’s crucial that you have it on you at all times.

Buy the Right Bag

Youll only use a bag you actually like.

And youll like your bag if its:

Compact:Small enough to shove in your pocket.

Comfortable:With a long handle you might sling over your shoulder.

Self-contained:Rolls up into itself or a built-in little holder bag.

Big and strong:Can carry a heavy load of library books or groceries.

Pretty:Not embarrassing to carry.

I likeEnvirosax, which rolls up and snaps tight, but their designs are cheesy.

(I use theirOscar the Grouch bagbecause Im comfortable in my adulthood.)

Whatever you get, pay attention to the size.

Get a big one.

Because they dont hold much of a shape, theres not much downside to a bigger bag.

The Wirecutter recommends somemore structured bags, though youll sacrifice some compactness.

Dont get a bag you cant carry everywhere!

Avoid canvas totes, which are heavy and bulky.

But theyre terrible carry everywhere bags.

Keep your everywhere bag in your coat pocket, your backpack, or your purse.

Asometimesbag is almost as useless as no bag.

And you really need to wash them if youre carrying food in them.

Get two, so you might take one out while the other air-dries.

(Its OK, again, so long as youre really using them.)

Dont accept free bags from organizations and companies.

Theyre always bulky and ugly and cheaply made, so you wont end up using them.

Of course, you will get stuck with these bad bags against your will.

One charitymailedone to me, which is shameful.