Here Are 20 Epic Things You Can Do With That Pile Of Plastic Bags In Your House

Do you have an overload of plastic bags at home? I know I do. Not every recycling program takes them, so many people end up throwing them out. Plastic bags are bad for the environment and often wind up sitting in landfills for years. Before you toss those totes in the trash, check out the 20 ways you can upcycle them below. From simple solutions to annoying problems, and even gorgeous artwork, one of these DIYs is sure to inspire you.

1. When shipping a package, use plastic bags to wrap up fragile items.

When shipping a package, use plastic bags to wrap up fragile items.

Lifehacker

2. The best way to reuse plastic bags is to recycle them.

The best way to reuse plastic bags is to recycle them.

SF Gate

Most recycling centers have plastic bag receptacles, but if yours doesn’t, you can find a drop-off location here.

3. If you have a fruit tree in your yard, put a plastic bag around ripe fruits to keep them from falling off or getting damaged.

If you have a fruit tree in your yard, put a plastic bag around ripe fruits to keep them from falling off or getting damaged.

Grow It Eat It

4. Use a little bit of glue to turn plastic bags into beads.

Use a little bit of glue to turn plastic bags into beads.

Planet Forward

Read the tutorial here.

5. Keep your cereals and snacks crunchy by turning plastic bags into nifty dispensers.

Keep your cereals and snacks crunchy by turning plastic bags into nifty dispensers.

Cut Out and Keep

Learn how to do this here.

6. Instead of buying pillows for your patio, buy pillow cases and fill them with plastic bags.

Instead of buying pillows for your patio, buy pillow cases and fill them with plastic bags.

Mama Ging

If they get wet or moldy, you can wash the cover and put new plastic bags inside!

7. You can also make a washable pet bed using this same concept.

You can also make a washable pet bed using this same concept.

A Mom Knows

8. When you’re painting, put a plastic bag over the paint tray. Then when you’re finished, just throw the bag away for easy cleanup.

When you're painting, put a plastic bag over the paint tray. Then when you're finished, just throw the bag away for easy cleanup.

Coffee With Us 3

9. Fashion a kite out of an old plastic bag.

Fashion a kite out of an old plastic bag.

Alanna George

Learn how here.

10. Make wire hangers less slippery by wrapping them in strips of plastic bags.

Make wire hangers less slippery by wrapping them in strips of plastic bags.

My Recycled Bags

11. Braid them up to make a jump rope.

Braid them up to make a jump rope.

Childhood List

Get the step-by-step here.

12. Turn a plastic bag into a placemat.

Turn a plastic bag into a placemat.

Glue and Glitter

Get more detailed instructions here.

13. Fashion disposable plastic bags into a reusable tote.

Fashion disposable plastic bags into a reusable tote.

Etsy Labs

Read how it’s done here.

14. Make a cool hanging lamp.

Make a cool hanging lamp.

Matsutake Blog

You’ll also need a few dome lids and some glue.

15. Weave a basket from old plastic bags.

Weave a basket from old plastic bags.

Rad Megan

Read a full step-by-step here.

16. Instead of using embroidery floss, use plastic bags to braid friendship bracelets.

Instead of using embroidery floss, use plastic bags to braid friendship bracelets.

Make It Easy Crafts

You can add ribbon for more color.

17. Many people who knit and crochet make eco-friendly yarn from plastic bags called “plarn.” You can make a lot of cool things with plarn, like this backpack.

Many people who knit and crochet make eco-friendly yarn from plastic bags called "plarn." You can make a lot of cool things with plarn, like this backpack.

Bags Be Gone

18. These sandals are made from plarn.

These sandals are made from plarn.

Craftster

19. And these neat hanging planters are, too.

And these neat hanging planters are, too.

Etsy / SundriesByCrystal

20. These coasters are made from crocheted plarn.

These coasters are made from crocheted plarn.

Country Woman Magazine / Jobyna Carpenter

The plarn possibilities are endless!

(via Distractify)

Making a pet bed or patio pillows from plastic bags is genius! I can’t believe I’d never thought of that before. I can’t wait to start getting more use out of my collection of plastic bags. Which of these ideas spoke to your creative side?

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