|
Knee
Pads |
Need
to kneel in your garden to pull weeds, or on the street to
change a tire, but don't want to preserve the memory eternally
on your pant legs? Grab a couple of plastic bags and tie one
around each knee, covering the entire area that will be exposed
to dirt and grime. |
|
Fact:
There are some things you'd just as soon not touch with your
bare hands. Use bags as gloves to handle what's messy (say,
chicken carcasses) or just plain gross (like the little "presents"
the dog leaves in the front yard), then turn them inside out
to trap the offending matter inside for easy disposal. |
|
Paint
Preservers |
You're
painting the kitchen when an emergency calls you off the job.
To keep brushes and rollers from drying out, place them in
bags and tie them or wrap them with rubber bands to keep air
out. The tools will stay moist and protected for a day or
so. |
|
Makeshift
Rain Hats |
A 30 percent
chance of rain…hmm. Do you tote around an umbrella (maybe
for nothing) or head out sans protection (and risk getting
drenched)? Third option: Tuck a plastic bag into your pocket
or purse. Then, if you're caught in a downpour, you can use
it as a makeshift rain hat to protect your hair do. |
|
Easy
Kitchen Clean-Ups |
For easy
cleanup, instead of peeling fruits and vegetables over a cutting
board or into the sink, do it over a plastic bag. When you're
done, flip the peelings into the garbage or compost bin and
rinse the bag to reuse another day, or simply toss the bag
into the trash. |
|
Plastic
Bags as Wrapping Paper |
No time
to make an emergency pre-party run for wrapping paper? Riffle
through your bags to find the prettiest and most colorful
— or just ones without writing. Triple-bag the gift,
then tie all three sets of handles into a knot. Cut the tops
of the loops and fan the pieces out to make a plume. |
|
Wet
Umbrella Holders |
To avoid
dripping water all over your (or anyone else's) house on a
rainy day, pop your wet umbrella into a bag as you cross the
threshold. You can even tie the handles snugly and throw it
back into your purse. |
|
Shoe
Protectors |
It will
never be a fashion trend, but tying bags over your shoes can
keep you from tracking mud into the house when you come in,
or protect slippers from dirt, snow, or rain when you run
out to fetch the paper from the front lawn. (Be careful when
walking on smooth surfaces, as the plastic won't give you
any traction.) |
|
Cookbook
Protectors |
To keep
the cookbook clean while attempting that "easy to follow"
seven-layer-cake recipe, wrap a bag around everything but
the page you're using. Although it won't keep you from inevitably
spattering the list of ingredients with vanilla extract, the
rest of the book, at least, will remain clean. |
| Planter
Fillers |
Crumple bags to fill the bottom
of a large pot that's too deep for your plant (but be sure not
to cover the drainage hole, if it has one). You can cut down
on the amount of potting soil needed, and since plastic packs
less heft than dirt, you'll be able to move a big planter around
with a bit less grunting. |
