forget plastic bags!
Think reusable and fashionable!
Let’s be clear….. there is no reason to still be using plastic bags to take your groceries home!
Honestly, my random collection of bright green and orange totes from the grocery store are so ugly and worn out that I needed an alternative, and it might as well be environmentally friendly too! I go to the grocery store almost everyday and desperately wanted reusable grocery totes that were 100% functional, casual and attractive, not just to take to the grocery store but also to take with me to the farmers market on the weekend!!
I ended up buying two large matching black linen totes with leather accents to replace those plastic or nylon bags to carry my purchases in. Love, love, LOVE these linen bags for groceries! The black fabric helps hide any possible dirt or stains, and the design of the bags allows for them to lay flat and take up no space at all in the back of my car, or even in my luggage if I’m traveling. They’re washable to boot!
The size of my bags are 19” wide by 17” deep from the zipper to the bottom of the bag, and 23” in overall height, including the handle. I found these on Etsy.
Get some reusable produce bags too while you’re at it!
I also have a set of mesh fabric bags for produce that I keep tossed in the bottom of my linen totes in case I need them. I use them for smaller pieces of produce, like grapes. They are 5 reusable mesh bags that are fully recyclable, and they’re 10″x12″, which is the ideal size. You can even use them to store your fruits and veggies in at home in refrigerator to increase the lifespan of your produce.
Just a note: There are solid drawstring fabric bags for produce, but I like the mesh bags so you can actually see what’s in your buggy, and verify you have bought everything you need from your store visit. Don’t laugh but there are days I make a grocery list and I “think” I bought everything I need, only to get home and realize that, nope, I didn’t! So being able to see inside the mesh produce bags helps me do a final visual check of my items before I get to the cash register.
What to do with your old totes??!? I’m glad you asked.
To my random collection of old raggedy grocery totes, I say good riddance! They were washed and given away! Trust me someone will want them! Please do not throw them away. Worst case scenario wash them and drop them off at your local grocery store for the cashiers to pass along to customers who forgot their totes.
Folks, the goal is to look for well priced grocery totes that represent who you are and what you love. These bags are just small details that bring a little bit of joy to an everyday routine of buying groceries. Oh, and when you find a bag you love buy at least two!
Send me pictures of your new grocery totes!! What are you using everyday that you absolutely love?? What small detail is bringing you joy?
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