Those zipper-close baggies are usually used for sandwiches, and they’re perfect for that. But guess what? There are tons of other ways to use them around the house. From the kitchen to the backyard, these little plastic gems can make your life a lot easier. Here are 15 funky ways to use them.
1. Store pantyhose
I don’t know anyone who likes wearing pantyhose, but when you find a pair with a run, it’s still a bummer. Store them in plastic baggies and you’ll keep them protected, visible, and organized.
2. Knead dough
With larger bags, you can use them to knead dough. Either put the dough inside or slip the bag over your hand. No more sticky fingers!
3. Frost a cake
Making a cake and want some fancy piping or lettering? Cut the tip off of a plastic bag and you won’t need a piping bag. Best of all, when you’re done you can just throw it away.
4. Clean up chewing gum
No, really! Got gum stuck in carpet, upholstery, or other fabric? Rub the gum with a plastic baggie filed with ice until it hardens. Then whack it with a rolling pin or other blunt object. You should be able to vacuum up the little chips when it breaks apart. Nifty huh? You can use the same idea with wax, but pry it up with a spatula instead.
5. Packing fragiles
If you don’t have bubble wrap or packing peanuts, inflate some Ziploc bags and pack them around precious cargo. You can also fill them with straw or newspaper, and the print won’t transfer onto whatever you’re packing.
6. Smashing in the kitchen
Need to make a graham cracker or other crumb crust? Grab a large Ziploc and smash your crumbs inside it. No mess!
7. Keep makeup contained
Any makeup with a powder base can get all over your handbag or bathroom drawer, resulting in ugly stains. Keep the mess contained by storing cosmetics in a sealed plastic bag. Beautiful!
8. Freeze herbs
Small sandwich baggies are the perfect size for storing herbs from your garden. Make sure they’re dry, then label and  freeze them to store them for months to come!
9. Make drinks to go
Why not? Make your favorite drink portable and disposable. Pour into a water-tight Ziploc. Adding a straw later will be easy. If you’re not going to drink it for a while, freeze it first. Then just throw the bag away when you’re done.
10. No-mess finger painting
The kids love finger paints, but you hate the mess. No problem! Simply dot the paper with paint, then put it inside a large plastic bag. Let your kids go crazy moving the paint around without getting any on their fingers.
11. Freeze by the serving
Don’t dump half a pot of leftover chili into a large container for the freezer. It’ll become one large brick and take forever to thaw! Instead, make individual portions and freeze them that way for an easy lunch…whenever!
12. The old paintbrush trick
When you’re finished with the first coat, don’t bother to wash your paintbrush when you’ll just need it later. Instead, seal it up in a zipper bag and keep it ready for next time.
13. Protect your phone
On a recent trip to San Diego, we knew we’d get soaked on a speedboat adventure. Instead of worrying our phones would be ruined, we zipped them up in plastic bags and enjoyed the ride! Try it at the pool or beach.
14. Clean your shower head
WHAT? Yes, you can make cleaning your shower head a breeze. Grab a plastic baggie and fill it maybe half way (probably less) with equal parts water and vinegar. Put it over your shower head, using an elastic, and let it sit for 20 minutes or so. Voila! No more hard water.
15. Keep game pieces together
How many times have you opened the Monopoly box to find missing money, cards, or game pieces? Don’t let them get lost. Seal them up in a plastic bag before you put away the game, and it’ll all stay where you put it.
