Wait, Should You Actually Wash and Reuse Ziploc Bags?

Zip-top plastic storage bags, like Ziploc, are staples in my house. We pretty much have all the sizes, from sandwich to gallon. They’re great for leftover chopped vegetables , spaghetti, soup , you made it.

When times are tight, we may not have $5–$10 to spend on a few boxes of plastic storage bags, plus some of us are looking for ways to reduce plastic waste. So should do as your grandmother might have done and wash and reuse Ziploc bags or is that a thrifty tip that's best left in the past? We did some digging around to find out what you need to know.

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Can You Wash and Reuse Ziploc Bags?

The answer is yes, but there are some important considerations to keep in mind. If you want to reduce your carbon footprint, you might want to try a few bags to see if this method is a keeper for your household.

How to Properly Wash and Reuse Ziploc Bags

To make sure the plastic bag is thoroughly clean, follow these three simple steps.

1. Empty it out. The first step is to empty the bag completely. To help get crumbs out of the corners, you might want to turn the bag inside out to make that process easier.

2. Give it a scrub. Once the bag is empty, it's time to wash it. We like to turn the bag inside out and scrub it with warm, soapy water to remove any grease or grime, paying special attention to the corners and the slider or zipper, where food can get stuck. Another option is to do like the experts at America's Test Kitchen do and put a bit of soapy water in the bag and smoosh it around.

3. Rinse and dry. Make sure all the soap is rinsed off, then let the bags air dry on a dish rack or dish towel. To make sure the bag dries completely, it's a good idea to turn it upside down on a drying rack or prop it open with something (invert it over a jar set on top of a kitchen towel, for example). Drying the bags completely helps prevent bacteria or mold from growing.

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When Not to Reuse Ziploc Bags

While you can usually wash and reuse your plastic bags, there are some times when you're going to want to toss it. According to the Ziploc website, they “don’t recommend reusing the bag if it was used to store raw meat, fish or any allergy-triggering foods—safety first! When it comes to non-food storage, the sky is the limit!” If your bag has holes, tears or a broken slider or zipper, it's probably time to toss it too.

Overall, washing and reusing Ziploc bags is a great step to becoming more eco-friendly. And maybe over time, it can likely help you save money over time. Who doesn’t love that?

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