apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

This is an incredibly easy DIY. I am doing it with my recently-ripped laundry bag - another *reuse*. Although I can understand it's easier with a serger to avoid nylon hairs...

This is a great idea. These look so much nicer than other bags intended for bulk bins. I think it's important to make using reusable bags look better than using plastic. You're more likely to use something nice-looking, and other people are more likely to ask you about it.

Disturbing question I hope no one ever has to deal with: can mice chew through the bags?

I have a couple of cotton bags for the same purpose (from reusablebags.com), but these are MUCH cuter.

i don't know if mice can chew through that, but they can certainly chew through plastic.

you could wrap a wire mesh around the bags for mouse proofness.

would nylon be better than cotton for any reason?

How airtight are these? They're adorable, but I would be concerned about the aforementioned mice and spices going stale...

am i the only one who thinks the name is a little odd? kootsac? sounds kind of naughty. :)

great idea though!

The store where I buy my bulk products lets me bring in my own containers with their weight marked on the lid. They subtract the weight when ringing up the sale. No more bags of any kind! You might ask your local bulk foods store/grocery to do the same.

I'd be worried about pantry moths, who apparently can eat through, or wiggle into, just about everything. And bulk bins are totally breeding grounds for those moths! I suppose you could just chuck all your bulk goods in the freezer for a few days to kill any possible larvae.

Sorry to gross everyone out!

AimeeRoo,

Koot is for Kootenays. It is a region in British Columbia, Canada.

I would use these for purchase/transport only and then transfer flour, etc. into glass jars at home for longer term storage. (I got great jars at a dollar store and they line my open shelves)

Agreed, ValHalla. That was the first thought in my mind when reading this post. That way, I could use them the next week even if we haven't gone through all the couscous (or whatever) we bought the week before. Seems like these would be great for farmer's market stuff, too - luckily the vendors there don't tend to give me weird looks when I come up to the register with two giant handfuls of tiny squash or brussels sprouts!

They told me at Central Market here in Austin that for bulk items you're not supposed to bring your own bags or reuse bags as per health code stipulations. I still do it covertly, but was just wondering if anyone else in the US has heard this.