# Uses for hoarded plastic supermarket bags **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 10, 2010, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-hoarded-plastic-supermarket-bags/549784 "2010-08-10T02:54:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-hoarded-plastic-supermarket-bags/549784/1 "2010-08-10T02:54:54Z")
I just thought I’d fire one out there. Some strawberries started to grow mold in my refrigerator. I don’t want to take the trash out today, but I don’t want to just leave mold in the fridge either. So, unleash the hoarded plastic supermarket bags! Wrap it up and that thing will be good in the trash for at least 2 days. Do you have any uses for hoarded plastic supermarket bags that you’d like to share? ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-hoarded-plastic-supermarket-bags/549784/2 "2010-08-10T02:57:02Z")
I use them as garbage bags (for my bathroom garbage can, which is quite small). Or if I just want to throw something out quickly without throwing it in the general garbage can…which is also quite small. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-hoarded-plastic-supermarket-bags/549784/3 "2010-08-10T02:57:05Z")
Packing material once you’ve run out of newspaper. Trash can liners. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-hoarded-plastic-supermarket-bags/549784/4 "2010-08-10T03:07:16Z")
Dog crap bags. Make sure they don’t have holes first. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-hoarded-plastic-supermarket-bags/549784/5 "2010-08-10T03:13:04Z")
I’ve seen mats made from them. They were cut into strips and crocheted. ---
**Author:** ![Rahne\_McCloud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@Rahne\_McCloud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rahne_McCloud)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-hoarded-plastic-supermarket-bags/549784/6 "2010-08-10T03:32:09Z")
They can be used in faux finishes in painting walls or furniture. My son found a website that shows how to make “fabric” by ironing the bags in layers to produce a leather like look. He tried it and the results were pretty cool looking. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-hoarded-plastic-supermarket-bags/549784/7 "2010-08-10T03:43:55Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Dog crap bags. Make sure they don’t have holes first. This. If you have a lot of them, leave them at the local dog park, where they will inevitably run out of the park-supplied poop bags. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-hoarded-plastic-supermarket-bags/549784/8 "2010-08-10T03:50:06Z")
Have a baby. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-hoarded-plastic-supermarket-bags/549784/9 "2010-08-10T03:56:58Z")
Lot’s of practical uses: 1. Murder weapon (multiple ways). 2. Tied together to make an emergency parachute. 3. Underwear 4. Swimming cap 5. Woven to create a toe rope 6. Flotation device 7. Handcuffs 8. Sling for a broken arm 9. Gag 10. Popping noise maker Those things are valuable. Don’t get rid of then. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-hoarded-plastic-supermarket-bags/549784/10 "2010-08-10T04:04:04Z")
Okay, after **Shagnasty** ’s list, may I add a bit to my previous post? For dirty diapers, you bozos! ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-hoarded-plastic-supermarket-bags/549784/11 "2010-08-10T04:23:08Z")
Lawn trash bags. I hook them between the bars of the lawn mower and pick up debris from trees as I mow. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-hoarded-plastic-supermarket-bags/549784/12 "2010-08-10T04:32:53Z")
Still got all yer fingertips? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-hoarded-plastic-supermarket-bags/549784/13 "2010-08-10T04:36:26Z")
Dog poo. My wife collects them from her coworkers, maybe hundreds a month…we still run out. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-hoarded-plastic-supermarket-bags/549784/14 "2010-08-10T04:56:00Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Dog poo. My wife collects them from her coworkers, maybe hundreds a month…we still run out. How many dogs do you have? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-hoarded-plastic-supermarket-bags/549784/15 "2010-08-10T05:09:09Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > > [@Superhal](#): > > > > Dog poo. My wife collects them from her coworkers, maybe hundreds a month…we still run out. > > How many dogs do you have? :eek: Just a pair of schitzus. Why? ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-hoarded-plastic-supermarket-bags/549784/16 "2010-08-10T05:12:50Z")
Emergency shower cap. To dispose of buried treasure from the kitty litter box. (You need to hang a loop of handle over something so it gapes open.) ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-hoarded-plastic-supermarket-bags/549784/17 "2010-08-10T05:21:27Z")
When I have too much, I take them to my local Goodwill. They use them to bag their clients purchases. Double recycle win! ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-hoarded-plastic-supermarket-bags/549784/18 "2010-08-10T05:25:05Z")
I use them as garbage bags but I also return some to the store for recycling. Where I work we receive some plain yellow bags every week with supply orders, every once in a while they send a blue or red bag. I save these for crafts. I have already made a huge ball of “yarn” with some and I am going to try fusing bags into fabric. With both the yarn and fused fabric I will try making shopping bags so I will eventually get less plastic bags from the stores. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-hoarded-plastic-supermarket-bags/549784/19 "2010-08-10T06:33:46Z")
Plastic bag inflatable [sculptures](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH6xCT2aTSo)! ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-hoarded-plastic-supermarket-bags/549784/20 "2010-08-10T06:47:52Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > I use them as garbage bags but I also return some to the store for recycling. > > Where I work we receive some plain yellow bags every week with supply orders, every once in a while they send a blue or red bag. I save these for crafts. I have already made a huge ball of “yarn” with some and I am going to try fusing bags into fabric. With both the yarn and fused fabric I will try making shopping bags so I will eventually get less plastic bags from the stores. Brilliant! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uses-for-hoarded-plastic-supermarket-bags/549784.md?page=2)