Infamous Brown Bag
Move over, plastic—there’s a retro, crinkly king back in town, and it's holding your life together one handle at a time! We’re talking about the humble paper bag. Eco-friendly, satisfyingly structured, and blessed with that iconic acoustic crinkle, it’s time to give some serious credit to that brown multi-tasking paper bag!
Need something to carry your lunch? Done! Need to store an avocado so it lasts longer? No problem! Need a last-minute puppet for an impromptu living room theater production? No problem. Paper bags a blank canvas of pure utility to handle all of these needs! Here are 7 additional things you can do with a paper bag:
Clean Windows - If you’re like most people, you probably use paper towels to clean your windows. But did you know that using a paper bag works much better? When used with white vinegar, cleaning your windows with a paper bag leaves behind a streak-free shine. When cleaning your windows, you can either tear up a paper bag into sheets or scrunch it up.
Collect Recycling - A paper bag is the perfect thing to collect all your recyclables in. Paper bags work great to carry newspapers, plastic bottles, and other things you’re taking to the recycling center. The best part is, you can leave the paper bag behind to be recycled, too!
Freshen Stale Bread - Has your bread already gone stale? If so, freshen it up by placing the loaf of bread or buns in a paper bag. Put a little bit of water on the paper bag and then pop it in the oven. The bag creates a steaming effect and will help moisten the stale bread.
Store Onions and Garlic - Wouldn’t you love to store your garlic and onions for months at a time? You can if you use a paper bag! To keep onions and garlic fresh for at least 3 months, punch holes in the paper bag. This will allow air to circulate. You’ll then want to fill the bag half full with either onions or garlic and fold over the top. Put the bags in a cool, dry place. Be sure to label your bag so you know what’s inside.
Make Compost - Paper bags are considered a brown compost material, which is a source of carbon. Simply shred the paper bag into small pieces before adding it to your compost pile. You can also use your paper bag to collect items for composting. Along with compost, paper bags can be used as mulch as well.
Pack Belongings - Brown paper bags come in handy when packing for a move. You can use crumpled up brown paper bags to pack items securely in a box. This will ensure the items won’t move around which reduces the chances of breaking. You can also shred the paper bag and use it for filler material.
Cool Your Cookies - The next time you pull a freshly baked batch of cookies out of the oven, cool them on a paper bag instead of a wire rack. A paper bag prevents the air from fully circulating around the cookie. This helps to remove moisture so that the cookie retains some crispiness. A paper bag also helps to absorb excess grease as the cookies cool.