Brilliant Home Hack: A Slick Way to Manage the Mess of Plastic Bags

Sometimes a small trick can make a material difference in housekeeping. For me, this is one of those tricks.

Plastic shopping bags tend to build up in an untidy blob, taking up space — most of it air — in the pantry.

But they can be quickly folded and secured using the technique demonstrated in this video, which takes just seconds.

If you were ever a Boy Scout or Girl Scout, the folding process might seem familiar — it’s basically the same as folding an American flag. It’s also the same method many of us used to create paper “footballs” to shoot across the cafeteria in middle school.

The result: The unwieldy plastic bag becomes a compact little triangle, which can be stored easily or put in a purse or pocket to reuse at the store.

If you fold plastic bags like this before dropping them in the recycling, the folks at your local facility will be grateful. Securing the bags in this way helps prevent them from flying around at the plant and getting caught in the machinery.

What are your favorite kitchen and pantry hacks? Share with us in comments below or on our Facebook page.