You know how I love giving new use to thrown out or old stuff. I collect containers (don’t even get my started on my Crystal Light container collection) and found the perfect reuse for old Lysol wipes containers.
This is the perfect little gift to give yourself or a friend for the summer…a grocery bag container. These are wonderful to throw in a beach bag for wet suits. They are perfect to have in your car for summer road trips.
Whatever you reuse plastic bags for having a container full of them looks a heck of a lot better than stuffed in a drawer. Plus they are so much more portable this way.
Before we start, I should tell you that you can use baby wipes, empty baby wipe container, and baby wipes lid to innovate further.
I figured out how to fold them so that they are interconnected and one bag comes out at a time but pulls the next one out a little.
Supplies:
12 plastic grocery bags (I used Target ones)
coordinating fabric
Empty wipe container
Fabric Mod Podge
Foam brush
Spray adhesive
scissors or rotary cutter
quilting ruler
1. Grab a dozen bags and flatten them out pushing all the air out.
2. Fold them in half again pressing all the air out.
3. Overlap the handles onto the top of the previous bag. Do this for all 11 bags lining them all up into one big row.
4. Fold the first bag’s handle upward. This will be your middle and the first bag you pull out of the container. All the other bags will be connected to this first one.
5. Now tightly roll up your bags tucking in the new handles as you roll.
6. After you roll up 12 bags you are ready to insert them into your wipes container.
7. Tuck the first bag’s handles through the top. Now you are done.
Done?
What do you mean done?
Don’t ya make it pretty?
Well okay if you insist!
8. Cut out a piece of fabric roughly 8” x 10”. With your foam brush “paint” Fabric Mod Podge onto the fabric.
The Mod Podge seals the edges and gives the fabric a durable water resistant surface.
9. After it is dry cut it to size. For one of the Lysol wipes containers I cut mine 7 1/8” x 10 3/8”.
Then glue it in place. It doesn’t need to be in perfect size. Just make based on what you like.
I use a spray adhesive because it is quick and easy but it is just as easy to use Mod Podge.
Overlap the pieces one over another. Adorable and practical!
I LOVE IT!
Some more customization tips:
- You can decorate the reused wipes container with beads, stickers, and glitter.
- The size needs to be customized based on what you store inside – medicines, legos, toys, snacks, or bandages for your first aid kit.
- Introduce this tutorial as a craft to your kids and play with different sizes of wipes containers and turn them into drawer organizers to place in laundry room, bathroom, or in other storage spaces.
Clever girl
Thanks 😉
Becky–love this, however, I have SO MANY bags I would need about 30 containers!! We use them in all the bath wastebaskets so we save alot. I could really use some for the car–especially with road trips. Really a great idea! Woa! What is up with the posts from months ago??? Can you see those? Odd. It looks like they belong on another site as I have never witnessed such back and forth on a blog. Wierd!
I use bags all the time, but I should do this for my car. I’m always needing one there…. That long ago conversation is crazy! 🙂
Ha! 😉 Yah, not sure what all that was about.
These are awesome for road trips. You totally need to make one (or 30!), and let me know if you do. Not too sure what all that was about…
well I am not sure where my comment went but I really like it and fb,tweet and pinned it. I can just imagine these showing up with all the dog walkers across the country,
Very clever, Beckie! Love this idea! They would be perfect to stash in my glove box! (I made sure not to refer to you as “girl” )
Gah! 😉 And, yes, it is perfect for the glove box. I am telling you it’s a lifesaver!
Thanks for all the love, Brenda. I don’t have pets so hadn’t even thought of using it for pets, but that’s an awesome idea.
Beckie,
How clever!! Thank-you for the idea and instructions on how to. Going to give this a try today! I use those bags for all sorts of things now, I know how to store them neatly!
Again, Thank-you!
I would love to know how it works for you, Brandy!
Kristin Marvin,
I too had many bags saved back and use them for all sorts of reasons. When you do not have enough containers to store them in; as I quickly found out, lol! What I did was just place a wide rubber band or you could use a soft hair band about half way up the roll to keep it secure until you need a refill. this way they can be stored in a box, basket, or on a shelf until you need them.
Beckie,
I’m so grateful you shared the how to on these bags. I love to recycle and save money, these bags have so many uses, but can be messy to store. Your idea is amazing and works really well. I showed my daughter this trick also and she was ecstatic. Both of us no longer have bags taking up space looking messy, instead we have bags neatly in their proper place awaiting use! Thank-you so much!
Yay! I am so glad you and your daughter found this trick helpful, Brandi!