How to Clean Reusable Grocery Bags & Tips to Disinfect Bags
Cleaning and disinfecting grocery bags is important to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria that can cause illness. Grocery bags can pick up bacteria and viruses from various surfaces, including grocery store carts, checkout counters, and even other items in your home. Therefore, it is recommended to clean and disinfect your grocery bags after every use to ensure that they are safe to use again. You can use soap and water to clean them, or you can use a disinfectant spray or wipe to kill any germs that may be present on the bags.
The Difference between Cleaning & Disinfecting
Before we get down and dirty with the how to wash reusable bags tips, it’s good to understand the difference between cleaning and disinfecting. There’s an important distinction that is especially pertinent right now:
- Cleaning: removes germs, dirt, and grime from objects and surfaces. You can clean it with soap or detergent and water. You can’t count on cleaning to kill germs, but it will lower the amount of them on the surface or object.
- Disinfecting: kills germs on objects and surfaces. This lowers the risk of spreading germs or infections but does not necessarily clean the objects or surfaces.
The takeaway here is that it’s a two-step process: first, clean your grocery bags, and then disinfect them.
How to Wash Reusable Grocery Bags
Up first: let’s put on our gloves and get those reusable grocery bags clean!
The cleaning method really depends on the type of bag you have:
Non-Woven Reusable Bags
What are non-woven bags, exactly? They are made from non-woven polypropylene, which is a type of plastic that doesn’t hold up well when in the washer or dryer. Wash them by hand in warm soapy water and line dry.
Cotton Totes & Canvas Grocery Bags
Cotton and canvas reusable grocery bags are the easiest to clean! Throw them in the washer with detergent and hot water and you’re good to go. They’re even dryer friendly.
Insulated Bags
Be especially thorough when cleaning insulated bags, as they are typically used to keep meat and dairy items cool on your way back from the grocery store. Wash by hand in warm soapy water, followed by an anti-bacterial wipe, taking extra care with the seams. Line dry.
Polyester Reusable Bags
The tip on how to clean nylon grocery bags is to hand wash in warm soapy water, turn inside out, and line dry.
How to Disinfect Grocery Bags
Disinfecting your reusable bags should always be your second and final step. Remember, washing is the key to cleaning the bags and disinfecting is how you remove the germs.
How to disinfect grocery bags is exactly how you would disinfect any object or surface:
- Put on your gloves.
- Take an antibacterial wipe to the bag.
- Get the bag wet enough to stay visibly wet for four minutes.
- Wipe off with a paper towel.
And, you’re done! You have now learned how to clean and disinfect reusable grocery bags, which is a safe practice to always use.
TLPPACKAGING FOR SHOPPING BAGS
