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Here's to Your Health:  Reusable Shopping Bags  |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 21 2010 : 08:21:31 AM
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My step dad told me something last weekend I had never even thought about. He heard that people who use these reusable totes need to wash them after each use. Because they ran tests on some and they had all kinds of bacteria and salmonella. I have never washed mine at all. Never even crossed my mind. But I will now. I don't buy alot of meat but that makes sense. And meat isn't the only carrier of salmonella. Veggies are too.
So ya'll wash your totes!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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MerryHeartSister
True Blue Farmgirl
158 Posts
Christy
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
USA
158 Posts |
Posted - Aug 21 2010 : 08:35:09 AM
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Great reminder!
Farmgirl #1951
Home is a gift that should be opened every day. |
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melanie47601
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Melanie
Boonville
IN
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Aug 21 2010 : 10:17:38 AM
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I think about it, but then forget. Same with my potholders.  Thanks for the reminder, Kris!
Melanie
Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning the devil says "Oh Crap, She's up!"
Blog~ http://wheelsarealwaysturning.blogspot.com/
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Aug 21 2010 : 10:43:27 AM
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Eeewwww! I never thought about that before! I'm so glad you posted this, Kristen! Thank you! BTW - I do wash down our bottled and canned products from the grocer before opening. When I was in high school, a friend's mother told me a horror story about her sister who had become poisoned from rat urine on her canned goods. It was a loooong time ago, but that story stuck. This post will, too. I figure it's better to be safe than sorry, and with the flu viruses going around, better to be extra careful! I will definitely share the info with friends and family! Thanks again - Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Aug 21 2010 : 10:55:03 AM
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And don't put your purse down on the bathroom floor! Bad stuff down there.
Nini, that's awful! I don't buy canned stuff anymore but never thought about that either. Yuck! There's just no telling what we bring home from the store. I know roaches are all over in the stores and in the bags and they get brought home. And if a potato is spoiled it has little maggots that get snuck in also. That's happened to me before. We just have to be careful.
Melanie, thanks for that reminder about potholders. Also if you use sponges they need to be sanitized a lot. I don't use them but I have heard to run them through the dish washer every few days. I hate the way they smell so I can't use them.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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melanie47601
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Melanie
Boonville
IN
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Aug 22 2010 : 06:14:10 AM
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Yeah I don't do sponges either unless I have to and it's a one time use. I scrub everything I can with one and then pitch it. Lots of nasties can grow in those.
A couple more I thought of nylon dish scrubbies, scouring pads and bath/shower scrubs. Just kinda makes me wonder what else in my house will grow all kinds of nasty stuff that I don't normally think of. ????
Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning the devil says "Oh Crap, She's up!"
Blog~ http://wheelsarealwaysturning.blogspot.com/
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jill skane
True Blue Farmgirl
853 Posts
jill lillian
stacyville
maine
USA
853 Posts |
Posted - Aug 22 2010 : 06:28:34 AM
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Things no one ever thinks about, thanks for sharing that with us. I put my sponge in the dishwasher,and use one more time.
Jill Lillian |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Aug 22 2010 : 08:30:33 AM
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Melanie - I read that if you put your sponge in the microwave on high for 1 minute and then let it sit to dry all the germs and bacteria are killed and then it's safe to re-use. I've done this with no problem. The only thing is that the sponges kind of fall apart after a few "nukings." Funny, but come to think of it, it's really the only thing we ever use the microwave for! Kinda ridiculous when you think about it. My husband insisted on taking home this microwave given to him, and we only use it for sponges... Hmm... Gonna have a chat with my hubby today. I need counter space...
Jill - I never heard of putting the sponge in the dishwasher - does that kill everything, too? Maybe it would save me on sponges!
I would use a dish towel/rag, but I was told you can't kill all of the germs on those, either... Not sure about that, though.
Kristin - it's so funny you say that about roaches in the grocery store bags. Part of the reason we started using re-usables was because the grocer started recycling bags and we noticed that they were heavily "perfumed" with what smelled a lot like Raid! Ick on MANY levels! I've never had a problem with potato salad (eeeewwww - you poor thing!), but I did come home with a brown rice bag filled with tiny livestock once. It was disgusting.
Now I've got the crawlies... eeeeewwww! LOL! You're right, Jill... stuff we never think about - and for good reason! LOL!!!
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Aug 22 2010 : 09:23:36 AM
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Nini, I cannot believe a grocery store would reuse the bags and spray them. That is horrible. There are so many people allergic to that spray. That's really strange. All the more reason to make your own bags and use them. I have seen where you can bring your used plastic shooping bags to a recycle bin in alot of stores. I just wonder what they do with them. I am going to make rugs with all mine that my mother saves for me. She's such a sweetie, she is. There's no telling how many icky bugs are out in my storage room now.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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woolgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
901 Posts
Elizabeth
Great Lakes
IL
USA
901 Posts |
Posted - Aug 22 2010 : 10:00:27 AM
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I never thought of that!
Farmgirl #1947 |
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Aug 22 2010 : 1:55:20 PM
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Kris:
I have always washed mine. Before I started using them, my sister had mentioned about the bacteria, etc... I have a couple of reusable bags that I have to iron after they are washed. LOL. And- when I take the reusable bags to the grocery store, the clerks look at me in a peculiar way. I guess not too many people around here are using the reusable bags. LOL
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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melanie47601
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Melanie
Boonville
IN
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Aug 22 2010 : 2:04:24 PM
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I know what you mean, Marly. Or they look at me like I just peed in their wheaties. They say the reusables are harder to load the groceries into. I just tell them if it's that much of a problem, I'll pack my groceries myself.
Melanie
Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning the devil says "Oh Crap, She's up!"
Blog~ http://wheelsarealwaysturning.blogspot.com/
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Aug 22 2010 : 3:05:53 PM
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There are 2 stores I have been to that take .5 off for every bag you bring. That's not much but it adds up. And those places look at you funny if you DON'T bring your own bag. So I make sure I have mine when I go there. I usually bag my own anyway. I hate the way these people are bagging anymore. I like all my cold stuff together since I have so far to go. I even put it all together on the counter and it somehow manages to get put in different bags. Oh well. If ya want it done right ya just gotta do it yourself!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Karen Olson
True Blue Farmgirl
60 Posts
Karen
Racine
WI
USA
60 Posts |
Posted - Aug 22 2010 : 7:27:38 PM
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Thanks for the useful information, I appreciate it!
Karen O.
walkin in the woods! |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Aug 22 2010 : 8:18:44 PM
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Karen, if you have any more to add, feel free. I have learned alot since I posted this. I should change the title to "I had no idea!" Really. There are so many more things to watch out for that we never even think about.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Canadian farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
482 Posts
Lori
Ontario
Canada
482 Posts |
Posted - Aug 28 2010 : 06:12:25 AM
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One of the store clerks here got bad spider bites from a spider in a customer's filthy reuseable shopping bag! She says it's a real eye-opener, seeing what dirty bags people give her to put their groceries in. I wash my bags, they're all wrinkly (laughed about ironing them!) but I know they are clean! The stores here charge you 5 cents for a plastic bag if you didn't bring your own. One store chain has a "bag for life" policy that if the bag you bought from them wears out you just hand it in and get a new one, free! Forever!
Caution about washing sponges in the dishwasher...make sure they are secure, because my mom did that years ago and it got caught up underneath and caused a major repair bill that my dad wasn't too happy about!
Lori
Farmgirl Sister #183 |
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Homekeepn
Farmgirl in Training
42 Posts
Cathy
West Gardiner
Maine
USA
42 Posts |
Posted - Sep 02 2010 : 05:37:24 AM
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Thanks for the reminder. I usually put any packages of meat into those lightweight bags that they have at the meat counter before placing it into my cart. I have one larger bag that is more insulated that is used for only meats also. That alone may cut down on the bacteria, but it would be a good idea to wash all the bags at least once a month.
I also nuke my sponges for a few minutes. I place it in a small bowl of water. Not only does that clean the sponge, but helps to steam cleans the microwave so all I have to do is wipe it down. Quick and simple.
---Cathy--- |
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Hallie
Video Sister
79 Posts
Hallie
Pullman
WA
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - Sep 02 2010 : 10:22:21 AM
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Lori, your story reminded me of my good friend who lives in Uganda. Everyone irons all their clothes to prevent bug bites from the critters that get on the clothes off the clothesline!
I wish I had a microwave -- seems a lot easier to nuke that sponge than boil it or wait until the dishwasher's full. Maybe I should just throw them out sooner. 
I think I'm going to wash all my grocery bags (and my purse) when I get home tonight. Thanks for keeping me clean, sisters!
Hallie
Sister #1112
www.maryjanesfarm.tv |
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csmartyonline
True Blue Farmgirl
247 Posts
Carole
Clarksville
TN
USA
247 Posts |
Posted - Sep 02 2010 : 2:15:25 PM
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| And don't sit bags in your countertops and then eat off them without a good wipedown. Be it purses or shopping bags or whatever. Germs, germs, germs. They are dirty and no telling where they've been before groceries went into them. |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Sep 15 2010 : 03:32:05 AM
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I think that's my biggest gripe.....all this talk about reusable this and that and saving everything, but when you take the effort to do so you end up getting "the look"
some days I carry all cloth jsut to "get 'em"
Thanks for the tip on washing too. I do that anyway to get the dirt off from being stord in the car.
If I ever do but meat from the grocer (very rare) it's usually double bagged in the same bags for produce. I don't trust the thin packaging at all. That's just gross.
And I think I read somewhere where the average piece of fruit or veggie in the bins is handled by other people at least 8 or more times!?! THAT is truly gross! |
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Tina Kay
True Blue Farmgirl
107 Posts
Tina Kay
Deary
ID
USA
107 Posts |
Posted - Sep 15 2010 : 12:47:19 PM
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My friend was just telling us at yarn club about the germs in the bags. I really never thought of that. It does make sense. So I have crocheted up bags I can reuse and wash on a regular basis.
Lori, ugh spiders, how gross! That poor clerk. I just cannot think that people would let it get that far. I do end up throwing the nasty ones out.
Take Care,
Tina Kay
"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." ~ George Eliot |
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CCChristen
True Blue Farmgirl
180 Posts
Cynthia
Lockwood
CA
USA
180 Posts |
Posted - Sep 19 2010 : 2:25:18 PM
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Thanks for the reminder, we get so busy sometimes we don't think about the small things. I'm going to clean my bag right now.
Line Shack Farmgirl #1570
Cynthia
Happy Trails and a clean bag! |
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Here's to Your Health: Reusable Shopping Bags |
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Reusable Shopping Bags
