Do You Use Reusable Shopping Bags?
By Artemeis
@artemeis (4189)
China
October 20, 2015 12:41am CST
Since plastic bags have been found to be environmentally unfriendly and hazardous, I wonder how many of you have changed to using recyclable bags or repeat using the plastic bag you last purchased with your visit to the supermarket?
In both cases, do you clean wash them after each use or you simply keep it aside without care till the next use?
I read from CNET and just learned that these shopping bags are found to be one of our dirtiest personal possessions where and I quote: "Researchers at two universities recently found nasty bacteria in 99 percent of the reusable bags they tested; 8 percent carried E. coli and with signs of fecal contamination. Yikes!
Time to wash your shopping bags?
Image courtesy of digitalart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
13 people like this
15 responses
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
20 Oct 15
Our government has recently imposed a tax that forces shoppers to pay for new carrier bags so most shoppers now reuse old bags here. I carry a canvas bag with me most of the time anyway.
3 people like this
@artemeis (4189)
• China
22 Oct 15
It is sad that my country does not discourage the use of these eco-unfriendly plastic bags. Shoppers are just asked to pay according to the size needed for their purchases and since the amount is insignificant most shoppers just does not mind. I think this taxation is a really good idea where the amount will be significant enough for due consideration. People just need a pinch to start considering.
2 people like this
@poehere (15123)
• French Polynesia
20 Oct 15
Wow that's awful. Here I just make my own shopping bags out of left over material. Each time I shop I put them in the wash. I think your right. If you think about it and you buy meat or fish or chicken and it leaks then you reuse the bag yuck. I would rather wash mine after every use. This is great to know how dirty they really are.
4 people like this
@artemeis (4189)
• China
20 Oct 15
@poehere
I did not really realize this since I don't do much of the wet market shopping for fresh meats since my in-laws do not frozen meat in their meals. However, I could see my mother-in-law just folding it up and put it into one of the kitchen cabinet without first washing it.
I have to admit that after reading this I just sneaked into the kitchen and soaked it in a basin of hot water and detergent to wash it.
4 people like this
@Macarrosel (7498)
• Philippines
22 Oct 15
Ewww that's disgusting news. Anyway, I used recycled bags and I really clean and wash them before using back again. Thanks for the information.
3 people like this
@Sheilamarie78 (2586)
• Canada
22 Oct 15
I have several cloth shopping bags that I use when I remember to bring them into the store. I do wash them, though not after each use.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21849)
• Canada
24 Oct 15
I do use reusable bags because the plastic bags in Canada cost money now. I don't wash them but I will consider it in the future. I never put anything in the bag that is not covered first.
2 people like this
@tuttiharris (1338)
• Chattanooga, Tennessee
11 Nov 15
@artemeis (2347), I do use reusable shopping bags, and when I do get meat or veggies that are not pre-bagged, I do ask them to put them in a plastic bag before putting it in the cloth bag. Some of my bags are not cloth, and can be washed out with a damp cloth, they are waterproof I think I had heard this about cloth bags being full of germs, so I started washing the cloth ones. I just throw them in the washing machine.
2 people like this
@dorianna (509)
• United States
11 Nov 15
I do still use the plastic. If we listen to researchers there would be absolutely nothing we could use, consume or inhale. I use them mostly for trash bags where germs will already exist anyway. Besides, germs are necessary to keep an immune system working properly. One must come in contact with germs in order for the body to naturally produce the anti-body.
@artemeis (4189)
• China
11 Nov 15
I hope you will consider using recyclable bags because the plastic ones are potentially dangerous and damaging to the environment when they are not properly dealt with during disposal.
Also our bodies can never overcome E-coli or Salmonella with our antibodies alone. So, we just have to be wary and do the necessary.
@HebrewGreekStudies (1646)
• Canada
28 Oct 15
In general every time I go to the store I just buy what I can hold in my hands...so, no:)
1 person likes this
