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I Found Something Even Better Than Hooks to Store My Reusable Bags

Shifrah Combiths
Shifrah Combiths
With five children, Shifrah is learning a thing or two about how to keep a fairly organized and pretty clean house with a grateful heart in a way that leaves plenty of time for the people who matter most. Shifrah grew up in San Francisco, but has come to appreciate smaller town life in Tallahassee, Florida, which she now calls home. She's been writing professionally for twenty years and she loves lifestyle photography, memory keeping, gardening, reading, and going to the beach with her husband and children.
updated May 21, 2023
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reusable grocery bags on the floor in the kitchen filled with groceries
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Credit: Joe Lingeman

I write a ton about cleaning and organizing, but that certainly does not mean I have all the answers. But I do pay attention to organizing strategies — and just might get a touch more excited about innovative storage solutions than the average person. What I’m talking about is lidless storage bins set on their sides on a shelf or on top of a garage storage bin.

One of my recent storage puzzles is related to my collection of reusable bags. I have a robust collection because, I admit it, I have a bag problem. Not only do I fall for any useful and cute travel bag, but I simply cannot resist a practical yet charming canvas bag (have you seen Trader Joe’s new pickle and waffle bags?!) or cooler bag. Anyway, my family had our bag stash hanging on a large hook in the garage. Some of the bags were hung individually, and some were stuffed inside others.

What’s It Like To Have Many Reusable Bags

But none of the bags were easy to grab. Any time I needed one, I’d wrestle and reach and get so frustrated. I recently discovered a super practical solution using items I already had on hand. It allows me to reach exactly the bag I want in an instant, with zero shuffling or grumbling. And it’s one of those storage solutions that’s visually pleasing, too.

The answer to the question of how to make a collection of reusable bags orderly and accessible lies in lidless storage bins set on their sides on a shelf or, in my case, on top of our garage storage cabinets. Folding rather than hanging the bags allows easy access to each individual bag without having to get tangled up in them.

Tips on Folding and Filing Your Bags in Bins

  • Purge before you store. No sense in storing bags you never use!
  • Tuck straps into each bag before folding.
  • Fold the bags into the same size and shape, as much possible.
  • Stack small bags on top of each other.
  • Fold larger bags, such as cooler bags, in half and insert vertically into bins.
  • Remember to wash your reusable bags periodically.

Taking a little time to set this up will make your life SO much easier in the long run — especially when you’re running out the door in a hurry.

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