10 Creative Ways to Give Reusable Shopping Bags New Life

Use the largest and sturdiest of your reusable shopping bags to serve as the designated storage vessel for the rest of the bags. Keep it in the car or by the front door so it’s always handy to put used bags back. Stack folded bags vertically to save space and keep the collection visible—it’ll make selecting the right bag for any given shopping trip faster and easier.

Repurpose a reusable shopping bag as a travel shoe bag. Make sure the interior is clean, then place shoes inside and fold the bag over to close. It’s a win-win: Your shoes won’t get scratched and scuffed, and your packed clothing won’t get dirtied or punctured by the shoes.

Here’s a cost-free travel hack: Transform reusable shopping bags into on-the-go laundry bags. Inspect the bags for dirt, holes, and stains. Use more than one bag either to sort laundry by type, or if you’re traveling as a family, give each person their own laundry bag.

Think of a plain, unbranded canvas shopping bag as a blank canvas for a craft project! Personalize bags with monograms, paint designs using fabric paint, stitch a cool picture with colorful thread, or adorn the bags with colorful beads, buttons, and sequins.

Make your own gift bag for a bouquet of flowers or small present using a clean, unbranded reusable shopping bag. Check for any interior and exterior stains and ensure the seams are intact. Keep it plain or get creative with a gift tag or ribbon tied to the handle and a painted or stitched design to fit the gifting occasion.

Keep a reusable shopping bag in your closet so that as you get rid of clothing and accessories that no longer fit or you don’t wear anymore, you can contain them in one spot. It also streamlines the thrift store donation process, since you can drop items off in the shopping bag instead of having to unbox or re-bag them.

Large reusable shopping bags make excellent beach and pool bags. Canvas bags especially are stretchy, sturdy, and breathable. Before you throw in your bathing suit and towel, discard any dirt and old receipts, and wash the bag. Bring a plastic bag to separate wet items and prevent them from ruining any books or magazines you packed.

Store produce such as apples, onions, and potatoes in reusable shopping bags. Cloth, mesh, and muslin bags are ideal for produce storage, as they are breathable. It’s a good way to avoid plastic while keeping produce contained and organized by type. Check on the fruits and veggies frequently to prevent mold from forming and wash bags regularly.