Plastic bags are a hot commodity now that many grocery stores have switched to paper. Now that they’re harder to get your hands on, it’s even more important to make the most of them. One of the most frustrating things with plastic produce bags? That moment when the knot you tied in the bag to keep your fruit or veggies from rolling all over your cart ends up being tied too tight.
Luckily, Home Reimagined is here to help. The account recently shared a hack for untying tightly tied plastic produce bags on Instagram, and it’s pure genius. People in the comments had mixed reactions, with some pointing out that they’ve been doing this for years (and apparently gate-keeping this vital secret). But plenty of others had the same reaction I did, calling this a “game-changer” and echoing my inner thoughts with, “where has this knowledge been all my life?”
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Why Do You Need This Plastic Bag Hack?
Plastic produce bags can be used for so many different things beyond holding fruit and vegetables. These containers make excellent on-the-fly lunch bags, small trash can liners, dog poop bags and just designated stuff-holders, making it crucial to preserve them at all costs.
But when you’re faced with a tight knot, it’s easy to get frustrated and rip the whole thing open. Because who has the time to try to work that knot out? This hack lets you get inside the bag while preserving it in the process. It’s also a serious flex in the kitchen, in case you’re trying to impress someone (even if that someone is just you).
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How Does This Plastic Bag Hack Work?
The hack is surprisingly simple. When you’re faced with a tough knot, twist the top part of the bag and then press both ends leading to the knot together. The knot loosens easily, so you can get into the bag.
People in the comments who claim they already knew about this also say it works with tight shoelaces and other knots, making this really important knowledge to have in your arsenal.
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Keep These Things in Mind with This Plastic Bag Hack
This hack is perfect as is, but there are a few things to be aware of when you try this:
- You’ll want to tighten the other end of the knot, too. Because you’re pushing both ends of the knot together, having some resistance and tautness on the other end of the knot is helpful for moving the process along faster.
- This is easier with stiffer bags. You can absolutely do this with a flimsy produce bag, but knots seem to come out a little easier and faster if your bag is on the stiffer side.
- Twist with care. If you’re too aggressive with your twisting, you could easily puncture your bag, making your extra effort for nothing.
Now, tell everyone you know about this hack. It’s too good to keep to yourself!
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