RecycleCoup: Plastic Bedding Bags

I don't just buy things; I also try to recycle and re-use things. Today I want to share a little tip I learned from my mom - re-use those plastic bags your bedding comes in!

One of my plastic bedding bags

These plastic bags are really strong, clear, flexible plastic and they usually even have a handle built-in, which makes them perfect for storage. When I was little, I had a few of these plastic bags to store my toys in; I remember one was full of Barbie and Ken dolls, and another one was filled with their clothes and accessories. I loved this method of storage because I didn't have to be super-organized - when I was done, I just shoved everything into the bags and put them back into my closet. I also loved that they were clear, because I could see all my stuff inside and knew what was where. In addition, they were great for when I wanted to being my Barbies to a friend's house, because everything was already sealed and ready to go.

Now that I'm an adult, I continue to use these bags for storage. I even have two of them on a high closet shelf right now! One is for storing cute clothes that don't fit anymore (but a girl can dream they'll fit again someday, right?), and another is for storing miscellaneous stuff I don't have another place for, and am too lazy to go through and start throwing out.

Left bag, miscellaneous stuff; right bag, clothes

I also have a bag next to my dresser that holds my decorative bed pillows when the bed is unmade (which is basically always, unless company comes to visit). I love that I can store them in the bag because it keeps them clean until I'm ready to use them.

Decorative bed pillows for when the bed is made

Since these bags are flexible (meaning they squish really well), I just store them in my coat/vacuum closet until I have a need for another one.

Waiting to be put to use

These are also great for moving, because they hold so much stuff and are really flexible. My husband and I have moved many times over the years and always in our cars (someday we hope to be able to rent a moving van), so flexibility is great when you're just shoving things in your car willy-nilly, trying to fit as much stuff as possible. 

They also last for years - eventually the plastic might tear or the zipper will probably break, but I remember continuing to use my Barbie bags for my own accessories (belts, scarves, etc) as I grew up and started going to high school. 

So if you have any of these bags around your house that you've been meaning to throw away, or you've just been storing (empty) for your bedding but your bedding is in use or in a linen closet, try using them to store other things around your house like old clothes, shoes, accessories, pillows, toys, or whatever, and let me know what you think :)