Do any ever really work?
I love them: you put the hoover on and the thing shrinks like magic. Then I manage to fit the extra duvet and pillows in the under-the-bed storage. But when I need to get it out again, it has reinflated and is almost impossible to get out from under the bed.
Is there any kind that really does work? Are there really expensive ones? Or should I just accept that it’s one of those things that seem more promising than the reality?
Mine are whatever the As Seen On TV* brand is, and I’ve not had any problems with them reinflating. The problems I have had: (a) I overfill them, forgetting that removing the air doesn’t = removing the weight and so I end up with these flat hard bricks of comforter and (b) oh, man, the wrinkling. My sister, meanwhile, says that she’s had several of them rip, which of course would probably lead to reinflation, but frankly one of her cats is rather bad-tempered and it wouldn’t surprise me if she is sabotaging my sister’s vacuum bags. Do you happen to have a cat that secretly hates you?
*In the U.S.
I’ve had clients who stuff way too much bedding or clothing into them. The seams split before they even close them up. If the bags don’t split, they’re likely to be forgotten about as soon as they’re put away.
I don’t remember having a re-inflation issue, either. But I never stored anything in them long term - I used to use them when packing for a ski trip, to reduce the space my puffy ski clothes would take in my suitcase.
I bought a package before I moved, to reduce my cubic footage. They did work, except for one that reinflated itself. I’d use them again.
Slow reinflation is a problem, both with the original Space Bag brand and imitations bought at Aldi.
I did, however, find a Jumbo size tote that, after deflated, had a sort of canvas enclosure that zipped it into a permanent shape about 12 x 20 x 26 inches. It’s heavy enough to have carrying handles, but works well for the stuff needed only once a year when my sister’s family visits.