I do use my reuseable bags if I remember to bring them into the store from the van. I am getting better at it, but when I first started using them I would finish the shopping and then realize I had the bags in the van still.
Even though it's only 4 or 5 cents each, it irks me to have to pay for a plastic bag, so that's motivating me to remember my cloth bags...
Suzan J

I use them sometimes, I even put a cardboard bottom in mine. The cashiers seem to hate them and they have no idea how to pack a bag. Some days its just not worth the bother. I have to find certain cashiers in order to not a a mess in my bags.

I just bought five with my company logo on them for 75 cents each...I have them in the vehicle...now if I can just remember to take them in and then put them back after I empty them...that'll be the hardest part!!

I've been using mine since last summer. I get mine from flylady where there's 3 regular and 2 that are insulated. Sometimes I forget to take them in with me, but not too often. It's like patti43 said that it takes fewer trips from the vehicle to my house, and the bags are easier for me to carry. I hang them on the door knob so I can't forget to take them back to the car. After my sister helped me in with groceries last year, she had me order a set for her.

Shirley

Yup, always. If I don't take them right away back to the car, I put them on the door knob, and hubby knows, they have to go in the car.

Now, hubby, he is a plastic bag shopper. First he wouldn't remember them, if he needed too, second, he says: It's easier that way.

I get enough plastic bags from his shopping trips to line the small trash cans all over the house.

Moni

No. I have too many re-uses for both paper and plastic bags.
My neighbor is a grocery cashier and says she can't believe how filthy some of the reusable bags people bring in are.

I can understand people using good quality totes they make or buy and launder often. The cheap ones at the checkout are a rip off both to the consumer and not so great for the environment either. Made in China of polypropylene (fossil fuel based plastic),shipped over here and dumped in landfills after a few uses because they can't be laundered.

Even cotton bags take their toll on the environment. It takes water and land to grow cotton. These resources could be used to grow food crops.

I love mine. The ones from my grocery store have a platic coated insert that goes in the bottom. Those work SO much better than the ones that don't have that. They keep their shape much better.

Mine get used for all sorts of things. I even take field lunches out in them (I saved some just for that - I don't put groceries in those to prevent contamination)

I use them if I'm walking, but otherwise, I get plastic bags. I use them as garbage bags in the kitchen, so I'd just have to buy other plastic bags if I stopped getting these at the grocery store.

I made myself some bags and I do have some of the store bought ones for 99 cents each.
When I forget to bring one into the store I will go back out to the car and get them, unless the weather is horrible.
The other day I forgot to bring one in with me, but only had 2 items, so didn't bother with a bag at all.
Kathy G in MI

I have several reusable bags that were given out by stores, but I don't use them.

I have one that I have had since long before plastic bags became common. It is rectangular, zips closed and sits on its bottom. That holds milk, ice cream, meat, etc. It has the old Coca Cola logo on it. Probably a collectible now.

Question: do you use your fabric bags in stores other than grocery stores?

Sue

I use them all of the time. I have several bags from Publix, as that is where I do 99% of my grocery shopping. I have a nice, big insulated bag from Sams that I keep in the back of my car constantly for meat and frozen items.

YES! I got mine free with a coupon offer the store had. I put meat in the plastic produce bags, then pack DH's sandwhichs in them(not if pork was in them)or use them to flour a chicken for frying, so "they" get reused. I really like the amount of food they hold...as you said.

Sue asked: Question: do you use your fabric bags in stores other than grocery stores?

Quite frequently.

Shirley

Yes, Sue, I use mine in ALL stores. I always take one or two in with me, unless I think I will buy a lot, then I take the bag that holds all bags, in.

I haven't had any problems from clerks, because I bring my own.

Moni

I have a couple different ones that I use.
The nicest one that I have, was given to me
at the bakery where I buy bread! I usually
take it in there with me if I'm going to
be buying more than one loaf of bread.
But I usually only use the reuseable bags
when shopping at Aldi's.

I bought three insulated (with zipper tops) and three cotton (open top) from the local grocery. I've had them over a year and have gotten in the *habit* of taking them into the store with me! There's stilll some plastic in use though; the bagger puts meat products in plastic before packing it in one of the insulated bags. I've learned to choose a lane where I know the cashier AND the bagger are above average. LOL (Really irritating when a bagger dumps the frozen goods and meat into an open top bag and puts something like paper towels into the insulated bag.)

You can wash the reusable bags. I have washed mine with no problem. I don't use the washing machine, I hand wash - they come out fine.

I have been using mine for over a year - and it is amazing how many disposable bags I used to accumulate. I do like to have a few on hand to reuse for trash bags, etc. though.

I put meat in the plastic produce bags, then pack DH's sandwhichs in them(not if pork was in them)or use them to flour a chicken for frying, so "they" get reused

One should never ever reuse a bag that was used to hold raw meat of any kind. Pork is feared for Trichina (relatively rare these days) but all raw meats can carry Salmonella,Listeria,Campylobacter or be contaminated with E Coli.

I have 5 of them - and when I remember to take them
into the store ,I always use them.

Not yet, I'm still getting the plastic ones since I use them for small waste baskets. I hope when I have to switch that I will remember to keep them in the car and take them into the store!

Yes, and I've been using them for 2-3 years and would never go back to plastic/paper bags.

My reusable bags much easier to handle, getting them from the shopping cart to the car and then from the car to the house.

When they start to wear out, the store gives me new ones for free, plus I get a 5 cents per bag discount every time I go, so they've paid for themselves many times over.

I have been using Environsax for about four years....my DDIL gave them to me. I love them because they fold up small enough to carry in my purse but large enough to carry about 40 pounds of groceries. They are very sturdy and easily washed. And they are so colorful!
They have a little hook on the back so they fit on the rack just like the plastic bags so the checkers love them. I get lots of compliments from checkers and observers, too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Environsax

I've been doing it for years and I finally see lots of other shoppers with them too. I have about 10 that I have gotten free from various stores, DH's work conferences etc. One of the grocery stores near us gives us a 5 cent credit for each bag we use. Not much, but I'll certainly take it!

I am also able to carry much more then the flimsy plastic bags. There were times I'd come home with 10 items and 7 bags! Drove me crazy! Nice when I only have to make one trip from the car to fridge. I try to remember to take them to Target or Wal-mart, but if I forget, I can also make good use of the plastic bags for trash can liners etc.

I've washed my bags a few times (in the washing machine) and they come out fine. I usually wrap a plastic bag around meat in case of a leak too.

Absolutely..I have close to a dozen of them - all made from recycled materials.

The checkers at my supermarket(Wegmans') are trained on how to bag(they do their own bagging), and they pack meats in separate bags, and also pack frozen and refrigerator items in different bags from boxed and canned goods.

I will say that I ALWAYS use my own bags at every store. When I get out of my car, I grab my bags. I became so accustomed to doing it, I refuse to shop without them! I love how easy they are to pack/unpack, and carry. They don't tip over or spill stuff out in my car when I'm driving.

I also want to mention that I always offer to pack my own bags. Cashiers seem irritated with resuables, but I want to make sure all of my cold stuff goes in one, produce in another, paper/box/cans in another, etc. Makes my life easier when unpacking, so I don't mind packing them myself.

I've been using them for at least 3 years and even though they were only 99 cents they have held up well. I have hand washed a few and hung them up to dry. I'll never go back - these hold more, they stay square and best of all the handles don't dig into your palms when you carry them.

Looks like only a couple of you use the fabric bags in other than grocery stores. I should make my self use them every where.

I have a big bag of plastic bags that I intend to take to Krogers. They have a bin outside where you can leave them. Just keep forgetting to do it.

I also should have mentioned that my Coca Cola bag is insulated, and I do keep it in the car.

I'm going to try to get in the habit of taking the fabric bags with me.

Sue

NOPE not until I have to.

I have them but prefer the plastic ones since I can reuse them aroud the house for a lot of things. I have crocheted some realy good ones to use when the time comes

I had a few and used them around the house and for traveling and then one store put them on sale for 49¢ and gave 5¢ credit for using it right away, and of course 5¢ credit each time you use them. The older female cashiers are pretty chintzy on how many bags they'll credit you so you need to watch for that at these stores although another nickel or dime isn't *that* big a deal. I also got a bunch for free from Menards so I have a bunch now and I use them for a lot of things.

I was skeptical at first about whether I would use them consistently. At first it was just Rainbow that gave the credit but that's my preferred store most of the time anyway. I wondered if I'd remember them when I needed them but I started just leaving them in the vehicle and then just had to remember to bring them in. There's been a time or two I forgot to bring them in but that's not often. I've probably paid for them now from the credit. And I do line them for messy things. I usually prefer to pack my own groceries.

Mine have the plastic card for the bottom and are very easy to clean. I can't help but think that the poly version would be more sanitary than canvas but who knows. A quick spray with cleaner, a wipe around and I usually let the cleaner sit on it for a bit then a rinse off and hang them up. Who says they're not washable? :)

But even with the regular plastic bags, doesn't anyone else carry more than one at a time? Depending on the weight and bulk I can carry 4 or 5 in each hand pretty easily if they're not too heavy and bulky so I don't see how I can carry more in the reusable ones. I can often carry a couple of the reuseable ones in each hand too.

I use them especially since the grocery stores now charge 5 cent a bag to pack your groceries in. Money down the drain because by the time you get the bag home there are holes in the bottom and the bag cannot be reused for garbage or cat litter, etc.

I always put the meat I buy in plastic veggie bags you get at the store so when they are put in my reusable bags they don't contaminate them. I also wipe mine out with a Lysol wipe or a cloth dipped in bleach after every use. I also keep a fabric bag that folds up in my purse which I use for non food items. Much easier on the hands at the mall than carrying small plastic shopping bags they put the item you purchased into at the store. Last week my brother gave me an insulated bag from his grocery store to put my frozen products into.

I miss the plastic grocery bags only because I used them for kitchen garbage and hung the bag on a hook on the landing so my don't couldn't get into it. Last weekend I had to buy a plastic step on can with a liner and white bags to put my kitchen garbage in and hope my dog can't figure out how to lift up the lid. LOL

Anne

Not so much. I have had reusable bags for some years now, before most stores started having them. However, my bags are bigger and to take them in and try and have the cashier fill them is too much of a hassle. They don't fit on the bag holder and then they fill them too full and I can not lift them out of the cart to put them in the truck. Most of my bags are insulated as we shop some miles away from home and in the summer take ice packs to put in with the cold stuff as it would soon spoil in the summer heat. I do not throw away the plastic bags I get at the grocery but save them and use them. All but one of my bags zip shut and the one has velcro closing. I guess I don't shop much where I would think to take a bag into the store. I would not think to take an insulated bag into a fabric store or Goodwill.

Sue

One reason why I like the reusable bags is the handles - I can carry 3-4 full bags, from the car, hanging on my forearms, while my hands aren't strong enough to carry more then 2 at the most.

I have not paid for any of my bags. Many of the stores around here gave one away for free when they first came out, and i've picked a few up at boots at shows(car/travel, etc).

Since our Wegman's store is a new one - they designed the checker's area to hold the bags, so they can have 3-4 bags open while checking, and they have a system they're taught to bag like things in the same bag.

The lines really move fast.

We use plastic, and I send them to daycare. They use the bags to send home soiled clothes from potty training.

Generally no, because I use the plastic bags as poop bags for when I walk Mason.