12 Clever Uses for Plastic Bags Around Your Home (With Pictures)
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Plastic bags are cheap and ubiquitous. You probably have plenty of them lurking in your kitchen cabinets. Like most people, you don’t feel you have enough uses for them. But it turns out you might!
Plastic bags can be helpful around your home. They can save you from spills, making them handy for storing wet or dirty items. You can use them as makeshift liners for litter boxes for cats and other small animals, and they can also do more than that!
We’ve compiled 12 different clever uses of plastic bags around your home. This will save you money and make your life much easier.
The 12 Clever Ways to Reuse Plastic Bags
1. Upcycled Plastic Kids’ Jump Rope
| Materials Needed: | Plastic grocery bags, duct tape, and masking tape |
| Tools Needed: | Scissors |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
If you have many plastic bags around your house, don’t let them sit in a landfill. Try making this upcycled jump rope! It can be a great DIY project for your kids as it will allow them to exercise while learning how to tie knots.
This project doesn’t need any expensive materials. Start by cutting off the handles of the plastic bags. Then, tie the sides of several plastic bags together using a double knot or wrapping yarn around them. The result is a fun jump rope for kids to keep them entertained for hours!
2. DIY Outdoor Pillows
| Materials Needed: | A table cloth and plastic bags |
| Tools Needed: | A pair of scissors and a tape measure |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
You can turn plastic bags into outdoor pillows by sewing them together with matching string or rope, then filling the DIY pillows with stuffing from plastic bags. Besides, you can fill them using foam from an old mattress if you want more support for your head while lying down outside on a nice day in the sun!
Start by laying your tablecloth on a flat surface. Then, cut equal square pieces. You can iron the parts to make them flat. After that, sew two pieces together. Then, stuff your plastic bags into the sewn pieces and sew the plastic cloth.
These DIY pillows make excellent gifts for friends and family members.
3. DIY Pom Pom Light
| Materials Needed: | Dome lids, plastic shopping bags, and double-sided tape |
| Tools Needed: | Scissors |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
If you have an old lampshade and don’t know what to do with it, try this DIY Pom Pom Light project! Pom poms are ideal decoration pieces for any occasion: birthdays, holidays, and more! You can make them out of anything, but plastic bags are easier to work with.
The best part is that since you’re making the pom-poms yourself, you can choose any color or pattern you want! You can use dome-shaped plastic cups to make these pom lights. First, cut your plastic bags, then snip off the dome lids using scissors. They’ll snap together to create a ball. Cover it with double-sided tape.
Once done, cut the plastic shopping bags into squares and wrap them around a pencil. The last step is to stick them onto the double-sided tape on the ball you formed. Hang your new lights outside for instant ambiance!
4. DIY Plastic Wallet
| Materials Needed: | Plastic bags, resealable sandwich bags, and greaseproof paper. Also, you need thread, a button, and some ribbon |
| Tools Needed: | An iron, a pair of scissors, a sewing machine, and a needle |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
If you’re looking for a small wallet or purse that doesn’t take up much space, consider making one using plastic shopping bags. DIY plastic wallets are durable, waterproof, and lightweight. Plus, they’re easy to customize with paint or markers if you want a fun new look.
First, fuse the plastic bags and iron them between two greaseproof paper sheets. Cut the fused plastic bags to a suitable size and lay your sandwich bags. Then, sew the bags and the fused plastic together.
The last step is to open the sealed sides of the resealable bags and attach a ribbon and a button to the plastic wallet.
5. A Plastic Bag Basket
| Materials Needed: | A white thread, all types of plastic bags, and a thimble |
| Tools Needed: | Sewing needles and a pair of scissors |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
Plastic bags are an excellent material for making baskets. You can make baskets of all sizes, from small to large. The only limit is your imagination! What’s more is that you don’t need any knitting or crocheting.
For this project, cut plastic bags into strips and weave them together like baskets. Use beads or ribbons as embellishments on your braided basket to make it look more attractive.
This project can save many plastic bags from ending up in the landfill. So, you’ll reduce your carbon footprint.
You can use the basket as a decorative piece for your home or as a gift, or even as storage for various items at home.
6. Recycled Plastic Water Bottle Holder
| Materials Needed: | White plastic bags |
| Tools Needed: | A pair of scissors and a crochet hook |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
Many plastic bags end up in landfills because they are not reused or recycled. If you love recycling, you can find new uses for all of the plastic bags you accumulate over time. For instance, try making this recycled plastic water bottle holder. It’s an excellent way to keep the bottle from getting dirty.
Just make your water bottle holder using a free crochet pattern. Let it have a shorter strap, but you can also use a long strap that can hang over your shoulder.
7. Plastic Bag Flower Craft
| Materials Needed: | Plastic bags with different colors and patterns and a Q-tip for every flower |
| Tools Needed: | Preschool training scissors or scissors |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
Plastic bags can be used to create flowers and also make great gifts. You can use them to make a bouquet that would last longer than fresh ones. It’s a great way to recycle those plastic bags that have been piling up under your sink!
You can make this flower craft with your kids. Allow them to match different sizes and colors to create beautiful blooming flowers.
First, cut circles of different sizes using your scissors. Also, cut one tip of your cotton swab. The Q-tip acts as the middle and the plastic flower’s stem. Stack the circles together and poke holes at the center.
The last step is to sew the plastic bag circles to the Q-tip. Start with the smallest to the largest one. And there you have it- a beautiful flower.
8. Crochet Fun Beach Bags and Totes from Recycled Plastic Bags
| Materials Needed: | Plastic grocery bags |
| Tools Needed: | A crochet hook |
| Difficulty Level: | Advanced |
It’s summertime, so you’ll want to get out and enjoy the warm weather. A beach bag is a must-have item for any trip to the shore. If you don’t have the money to buy a new one, repurpose some old plastic bags into a fun beach tote. The best part about this DIY project is that you can use any color or design.
Take the plastic bag and crochet yourself with a fun beach bag or tote! You can use any plastic bag size. If you don’t have any small or medium-sized plastic bags on hand, you can easily create this DIY project out of larger-sized shopping bags.
Simply smooth out your plastic bag and fold it severally. Cut the plastic bag’s handles at the top and bottom using scissors. Cut the plastic bag and form a continuous strip that you’ll use to create the crochet bag by knitting it.
9. Rug Made from Plastic Grocery Bags
| Materials Needed: | Plastic grocery bags with different colors, straight pins, and wax paper |
| Tools Needed: | A pair of scissors and an iron |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
If you have extra plastic grocery bags, you can turn them into a soft and warm rug. It’s an eco-friendly way to use those old plastic grocery bags. A rug made of plastic bags doesn’t contain any allergens like wool or cotton; thus, it is excellent for people with allergies.
Cut the plastic grocery bags into strips. Sort them out if you want to sew the rug in a pattern. But if you don’t want to follow a pattern, there is no need to sort them out. Then, weave them together using a sewing machine or needle and thread.
It’s an easy DIY project that will give your room a unique look while saving you money.
10. Crafty Wreath from Plastic Bags
| Materials Needed: | Colored plastic bags and a wire coat hanger |
| Tools Needed: | Scissors and a ruler |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
If you have some leftover plastic bags lying around, why not make your decoration wreath? This easy to make crafty wreath will look great hanging on your front door all year long!
The wreath looks like it’s made from flowers and leaves, but it’s made from plastic bags and wire hangers. Form a circle by bending your coat hanger. Then, cut your plastic bags into strips and wrap them around the circular wire coat hanger.
You can customize it using plastic bags with different shapes and colors. Then, add embellishments like glitter or beads. You could even decorate your wreath with ribbons or bows for extra cheeriness around your home during the holidays.
11. Recycled Plastic Bag Coasters
| Materials Needed: | Four plastic bags, a circular object, and parchment paper |
| Tools Needed: | Iron, scissors, and a pen |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
It’s almost impossible to go through life without getting a drink on a coaster. Although buying a set of coasters is a viable decision, they can be expensive. Also, they can take up lots of storage space. That’s where plastic bags come in handy. They’re inexpensive and reusable, and you can use them to create your custom set of coasters.
Plastic bag coasters are waterproof, and their flexibility makes them easy to wipe off. Also, they do not absorb moisture and they protect surfaces from heat damage. You can even use them as disposable placemats or table napkins at picnics or barbecues.
Start by cutting the bottom part of your plastic bag. Then, layer on top of each other and iron. Take a circular object such as glass, and trace it using a pen on the plastic bags. Trace out as many coasters as you want. After that, cut them out.
12. Plastic Bag DIY Kite Craft for Children
| Materials Needed: | Sticks or wooden dowels, one trash bag, fishing line, kite string, and a ribbon. |
| Tools Needed: | Markers and a pair of scissors |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
If you have children, you know they can be creative. That is why you should encourage them to get out their kite supplies and create this DIY plastic bag kite. Plastic bags make excellent kites because they’re thin and lightweight, which gives them more flexibility in the wind compared to heavier materials such as paper or cardboard.
Remove the handles and drawstring of the plastic bag using scissors. Then, use the sticks or wooden dowels to create a t-shape. Use the fishing line to fasten the dowels. The next step is to trace the kite shape around the dowels and cut out the shapes. Repeat the process on all four corners of the kite.
It’s fun for the entire family, especially if you have kids old enough to handle scissors. Let them make all kinds of shapes and designs with colorful plastic bags and attach them to the kite string to create an amazing kite.
Conclusion
Next time you get a sack of groceries, do not dump all the plastic bags for recycling or trash. Take a few minutes to think about other uses for them. It’s surprising what you can come up with as there are plenty of practical DIY uses around your home. The best part is that most of these DIY projects are easy.
Reusing your plastic bags will also help the environment. Given the above clever plastic bag uses, surely there is one or two you can pick up and put into use. Have fun being creative!
Featured Image Credit: cocoparisienne, Pixabay
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