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Exploding shopping bags

(47 Posts)
Casdon Wed 26-Apr-23 17:03:51

Is it just me, or do reusable shopping bags drive you mad too? I can’t ever get them to fold up perfectly so I can get three or four of them into one bag to hang on the trolley when I’m at the supermarket without them looking as though they are going to explode out at any minute. The worst are the Sainsburys orange ones and the M&S frozen food ones. If anybody has found any that fold compliantly into quarters and fit together in another bag, please tell me what they are!

NotAGran55 Wed 26-Apr-23 17:06:30

I scan my shopping and everything goes straight into the bags in the trolley.
Could you get one bag with a zipper closure of some sort to store them in?

Callistemon21 Wed 26-Apr-23 17:24:10

I was going to suggest the green Waitrose ones which fold flat and will then fit into a large (exploding!) bag but I've just searched and think they've been discontinued.

You could see if they have any in a local store, perhaps.

Germanshepherdsmum Wed 26-Apr-23 17:35:16

I bought some plain hessian ones years ago - somewhere online, unfortunately I can’t remember where, but they fold up beautifully and look set to see me out,

Tenko Wed 26-Apr-23 19:17:05

I put about 4 or. 5 bags in my trolley and self scan and put the items straight into the bags . I have a selection of bags for life from different supermarkets.

Blondiescot Wed 26-Apr-23 19:26:55

I've got bags from various supermarkets too. I just put one inside the other and then hang them from the hook on the trolley, or if it's one of the supermarkets where I can do self-scan, I just put them in the trolley, scan the items and put them straight into the bags. The ones I've got fold up no problem.

Marydoll Wed 26-Apr-23 20:06:40

I am another, who does a Smart Shop. Before I begin shopping, I open out my trolley bags and everything is packed as I go round the store. So much easier than feeling rushed at the checkout.

Norah Wed 26-Apr-23 22:51:59

We use jute bags, husband's company logo screened on.

Bodach Wed 26-Apr-23 23:09:30

Oh, Casdon: I won't have anyone say a word against my favourite and extremely strong and hard-wearing orange and yellow Elephant bags from Sainsbury's!! I never try to hang them from the trolley. I simply lay them in the trolley and place all the shopping on top of them. Then, at the check-out, all the shopping is removed from the trolley and placed on the conveyer belt to reveal once again (Hey Presto!) my beautiful Elephants, ready to be filled with the scanned purchases.

harrigran Wed 26-Apr-23 23:13:47

I have Aldi bags folded into quarters and carried in a cotton bag, I also carry several bottle carriers in the same cotton carrier, probably about 7 bags.

Oreo Thu 27-Apr-23 08:21:18

Bodach

Oh, Casdon: I won't have anyone say a word against my favourite and extremely strong and hard-wearing orange and yellow Elephant bags from Sainsbury's!! I never try to hang them from the trolley. I simply lay them in the trolley and place all the shopping on top of them. Then, at the check-out, all the shopping is removed from the trolley and placed on the conveyer belt to reveal once again (Hey Presto!) my beautiful Elephants, ready to be filled with the scanned purchases.

That’s what I do too. With all manner of bags, no need to hang any on the trolley at all.

Casdon Thu 27-Apr-23 08:32:20

Thanks all, some good ideas here. I struggle with scan and shop because I forget and put things in the bag without scanning, but I need to persist I think, because it does save the checkout scramble.

The bags are still an issue exploding in the car though if they don’t fold down, so I’ll see if I can get some of the Waitrose green bags or hessian. The Aldi ones are made of the same material as the dreaded Sainsbury's orange bags I think though?

NanaDana Thu 27-Apr-23 08:34:48

We have a garage full of these re-useable bags... I really must stop buying them! When we're off to the supermarket I just grab 3 or 4 at random, then jam them inside each other to hang over the back of the trolley. Never felt that they're about to "explode" out. Like Bodach's idea of laying them out flat in the trolley, and putting the shopping on top of them. That would work for me, as I steadfastly refuse to use self scan. They're trying to cut costs again by phasing out human check-out operators. More jobs lost. Thin end of the wedge, as we move inexorably towards a world where A.I. rules our lives...

Aveline Thu 27-Apr-23 08:54:34

I've got two old fashioned stiff shopping baskets. Easy to pack and use.
When I used to use carrier bags I had a plastic crate in the boot of my car to put them in so everything stayed upright.

dragonfly46 Thu 27-Apr-23 09:01:25

I have 4 tiny folding bags from M&S which fit in my handbag and expand when needed. The only problem is I tend to lend them to friends who come out without a bag and never get them back.

shysal Thu 27-Apr-23 10:17:53

I find these bags ideal. They do a deep set for standard trolleys and a shallower version for small trolleys. They roll up together so that they hang from one set of handles. Available from several different sites.
Trolley bag set

Nannapat1 Sat 29-Apr-23 11:28:16

Like Callistemon21 I've found that the Waitrose green ones fold well and didn't realise they'd been discontinued: I'd better hold on to the ones I've got!

madeleine45 Sat 29-Apr-23 11:53:19

I totally agree that I will not scan stuff. I am not doing their work for them. Besides I have a bad back and use the disability scooter anyway. Stick the bags - have some hessian plus supermarket large one in the trolley nearest to me,but have never hung them on a hook, as I hate them swinging into me in any case! I am quite organised and write my shopping list aisle by aisle, but of course make a beeline for the reduced area first so lists can alter too depending on what I find. Then at check out, I put appropriate bags in front of the shopping I want put into that bag, so that one might be washing powder soap etc and do not want any food going near that. I also have more bags as have difficulty carrying especially heavy weights and so tend to have probably 4 bags spaced out amongst the shopping. The checkout at my local supermarket know me and are happy to put it through and then put into the bags for me and then I pay and can put the bags in the order I want in my boot. So if not feeling good, I just take food and any frozen stuff in and the rest can wait until I feel up to sorting it. I do use delivery for some stuff occasionally but I want to choose my own shopping and dont like anyone else picking my fruit and veg especially.

nomoreusernames Sat 29-Apr-23 12:00:50

I use Aldi freezer bags,got 3 of them.Had them 2/3yrs now,hold loads of stuff not just for freezer and fold up perfectly after use.They're zipped and very strong.

nomoreusernames Sat 29-Apr-23 12:02:42

Theyreped* should be....
'They're zipped'grin

Nannashirlz Sat 29-Apr-23 13:06:24

I bought mine off qvc ages ago i like that they can fold down and go into my bag when not in use check out qvc I’m sure they got some on a Tsv today

ayse Sat 29-Apr-23 13:26:22

I have two foldable shopping bags that I keep in my backpack for shopping. I rarely buy any bags from supermarkets anymore. I leave that to DH 😁

Nannan2 Sat 29-Apr-23 13:26:33

I cannot use any kind of self- scanning without something going wrong - so i persevere with the bags.Son just piles everything back in trolley so we've more time to put in bags at the packing area.some shops no longer have this area now.Once home i pop all other bags back into a 'freezer' zipped bag ready for son to put back in the car boot.Inevitably he forgets to so we have to buy again!🤨

Purpledaffodil Sat 29-Apr-23 13:30:11

As a side note, I’ve found the elephant type bags can go in the washing machine and then are line dried. Come out fresh and clean 😬

Dizzyribs Sat 29-Apr-23 13:33:19

I fold my “explosive” Aldi etc. bags in 4 and secure with an elastic band which keeps them from exploding. The elastic band goes into the bottom of each bag as I pack it, then back on after emptying at home so I can fit it neatly into the drawer with its “friends”.