Reality check - Page 2 - Orchid Board

stonedragonfarms · #11 08-03-2008, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiki-do

I'm horrible about throwing out and wasting. I am consciously trying not to do that, but it's so hard when it has become such a mindless habit. I try to use tupperware type products and reuse them. Baggies I just can't make myself bother to wash, so I try and avoid them alltogether.
Paper towels are also something that I need to curb on using.

world! I will try to clean up my act!

At least you can compost paper towels

JennS · #12 08-04-2008, 05:38 PM

Wash and reuse, repeat, repeat, repeat! At least that many times. Heck, I save them from everywhere I find them. I have taken home baggies from work that carried office supplies or something non-food related. I don't know who said it, but I do not use the ones that had raw chicken in them. I guess that goes for all raw meat, but couldn't think or another raw meat I have in a bag.

Anyway, I kept up the trend that I saw first with my Mom. My brother got his wife to do it too! I reuse them until I can't anymore.

shakkai · #13 08-04-2008, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ross

I already know Shannon will say she washes out her plastic bags

No, I don't!!!

I don't use any plastic baggies.

Glad this got bumped up again.. I almost missed it!!

shakkai · #14 08-04-2008, 05:56 PM

Seriously though... its not that I am so ultra virtuous!

Its a combination of things... First off, the fridge/freezers here in the UK are a lot smaller (or at least they *were* when we were shopping for a fridge/freezer 8 years ago) than the ones in the US that I was used to, so we don't store a whole lot of food to begin with. Also, we don't really ever have leftovers - my husband is one of those people who believes in eating everything on your plate, so everything gets eaten.

So, in the end, there isn't a whole lot of stuff to use plastic baggies for...

susiep · #15 08-04-2008, 06:14 PM

OMG, I love zip lock baggies. If I could only take one thing with me to a desert island ... it might be a zip lock baggie. I only reuse them if they had something dry in them the first time (I don't wash them). That doesn't seem too sanitary. I only reuse them for non food items. But that being said, I reuse them all the time (just not for food). Tupperware for food since it can be cleaned better in the dishwasher. Also, I don't use near as many paper towels as I used to. I have about 25 dish towels and use them more. Just use paper towels for really messy stuff.

Swamper · #16 08-04-2008, 06:26 PM

Re-use. Never wash it though since I never put anything in them that needs washing. If I did I'd throw it out. Im not washing a plastic bag. I do recycle, and I always ask for paper bags instead of plastic @ publix or whatever store it may be.

cirillonb · #17 08-04-2008, 06:35 PM

I don't think a "rinse" will clean a used plastic bag. Certainly not with meats but be careful of vegetables...witness the problem with salmonella on tomatoes, or is it jalapeños etc. If you are bent on ecological means use containers to store things as they are more easily cleaned (I can't vouch for plastic containers however.) Are you ready to go back to glass to store things?
Just my thoughts.
Nick C. (MD)

Grandma M · #18 08-05-2008, 07:47 AM

I wash some of them, if they had dry things in them, never bags used for meat. My favorite is to buy muffins at Costco (4.99 a dozen), pack them individually in baggies so I always have a muffin ready if I want it for breakfast..... and wash the bag. I can't live without baggies.

Marilyn

Djarum Black · #19 08-05-2008, 03:50 PM

I don't think I have ever re-used the zip lock or plastic sandwich baggies. I have a really terrible phobia of germs in the kitchen. I just can't do it.

However, I do re-use the plastic and paper bags from the grocery store. I have a drawer in my house where I store them for later use. Also, I love to re-use the big plastic tub containers that ice cream comes in. It makes great pot material for really large catts, or great soak bucket for recently deflasked seedlings. Plus they can go in the dishwasher and stand up to my super hot sanitize setting (nasty germs be gone!)

JennS · #20 08-05-2008, 04:07 PM

I don't know why, but other then with raw meat, I don't think germs are much of a concern. However, I don't know what other people do, but I do not just rinse my baggies. I actually submerge them in a sink full of water and dish soap and then wash them with the abrasive side of the sponge. I then rinse and set on something to dry with the inside open. I usually use the knife block and open a baggie over two knife handles to dry. I do them all at one time so I don't have drying baggies everywhere.

I also try to use tupperware or glad or whatever other containers as much as possible, but soemtimes they just don't work. I can't see counting out my 15 almonds for my snack at work and taking them to work in a tupperwear. Even my tiniest tupperwear would be too big for that!

I woudl also like to say that I have been reusing plastic baggies and my family has since I was born (24 years ago) and I have never gotten food posioning from my home (eating out I have) or any other food related illness (I probably will now though!). Just my thought though...maybe i was introduced to the bacteria young and developed an immunity..maybe I am superhuman! JK...I am at work and got up really early so I am a bit looney....