Throwing out the plastic bag that I didn't want in the first place...

Before you discard (or even recycle) another plastic bag, consider trying some of these ideas:

1. Save money by using plastic bags as trash can liners.

2. Don't buy expensive mailing fillers. Save plastic bags to protect and keep items from moving around.

3. Use plastic bags to protect Christmas decorations while storing.

4. Keep a couple plastic bags in a diaper bag for soiled clothing.

5. When traveling, use plastic bags in your suitcases for dirty underclothes.

6. Place your wet swim suits or other wet clothing inside plastic bags until you arrive home and can launder or hang out to dry.

7. When away from home, put dirty shoes or boots in a bag so you don't get dirt in your car. (That's assuming you have other shoes to wear.)

8. Place disposable diapers in a bag before tossing in the diaper pail. It helps diminish odors somewhat.

9. Keep several in your car, especially if you have children. If someone gets unexpectedly sick while on the highway and you're unable to stop, use double bags. You can knot and dispose%u2013better in the bag than all over the car.

10. Use for puzzles or other items which have small parts that may get lost. My elementary-age sons enjoy putting together (and taking apart) 500-piece puzzles. Unfortunately, some of the puzzle boxes have become worn out. I keep the puzzles in the boxes with a rubberband around the box. To prevent pieces from falling out and getting lost, I then place the puzzle inside a bag.

11. Place food inside a plastic bag before packing in a lunch bag. Even "airtight" containers can leak, especially if the lid is not on tightly.

12. Put sippy cups (even "spill-proof" ones) in a bag to prevent accidental spills in the diaper bag.

13. For easy cleanup, place a plastic bag inside a bucket or pot next to your sink when you peel fruits or vegetables. You can quickly dispose of the bag or place peelings in a compost pile.

14. Double line a bucket with plastic bags. When removing the skin and fat (or even bones) from chicken or other meat, place in bags for easy cleanup.

15. Place frozen ice packs in a plastic bags to prevent condensation from "puddling" in your lunch bag. When we travel, we freeze some water in our water bottles before filling them up with cold water. The bottles produce so much condensation, that it looks like a little lake in our cup dispensers. To prevent that, pack water bottles in a plastic bag.

16. Use for organization in a deep freezer. I stock up on frozen vegetables and place like vegetables together in a plastic bag. (Rotate by putting newest vegetables on the bottom of the bag.) I usually place my vegetables in the freezer in alphabetical order. Doing this helps me know exactly where to find certain vegetables. You can also use various colored bags to sort vegetables.

I like using bags to ensure no vegetables get "lost" in the freezer. Plus, I know exactly how many bags I have of each item, and unloading the freezer to defrost and clean is so much easier. Another hint is to list the contents of your deep freezer on a magnetic dry erase board (or keep a paper on top with a magnet). Every time you take out something, delete an item from the list. If you are diligent about this, you will know exactly what needs replacing when you go to the store.

17. When defrosting meats, place a paper towel in a plastic bag and put meats in the bag to prevent messy leaks and cleanups.

18. In the winter, use plastic bags over your children's snow boots to keep feet drier.

19. Carry a couple bags with you while you walk. You can use it to pick up trash and then dispose.

20. Take bags to the grocery store to reuse instead of getting new ones each time.

21. Donate bags to food pantries, used book stores, libraries, thrift shops, or other organizations. Instead of stuffing all the bags into one bag, flatten the plastic bags, fold them in half, and place in another plastic bag before donating.

22. Fill several bags with food or other items for a needy family. (This is one of the most rewarding ways to use those bags!)

23. Okay, I know I said 22 ideas, but if those bags are still overflowing in your closet, deposit the extras in a recycle bin at your local store.

To keep your plastic bags neat and available, you can purchase special cloth bags for storing them, make your own bag, or use an empty tissue box. I find empty tissue boxes to be the most convenient and economical (as well as environmentally friendly) for me. Keep several in different rooms (pantry, closet, basement, baby room for diapers, etc.) and pull out bags as needed.

Here's a hint while at the grocery store. Ask the bagger to put your cold items inside a paper bag. (You may want to have them put the frozen items in a plastic bag and then inside the paper bag.) The paper bag helps to keep the items colder longer, and when you arrive home, you'll know automatically which bags to empty first.

One last caution: Teach your children never to put a plastic bag over their head. If you have young children, keep plastic bags out of their reach to avoid suffocation.