New Uses for Mesh Wash Bags | Family Economics

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

New Uses for Mesh Wash Bags | Family Economics

One of my favorite organizing solutions is coming up with new uses for items I already own. During one of my de-clutter sessions, I came across several mesh wash bags in my laundry room cabinet that had gone unused for some time. It was time to toss them out or find a new use for them. Being the penny-pinching mom that I am, I came up with several new uses for these soft and washable bags:

• Bath Toys. For years, the bottoms of my tubs and showers have been filled with bath toys until I discovered mesh wash bags are the perfect storage solution. The bags are also great for giving those much loved toys a cleaning – just toss the bag filled with toys in the top of the dishwasher for simple cleaning. This also works well for cleaning waterproof toys.

• Kid size dishes. A mesh wash bag became the perfect solution to use in the dishwasher filled with my children’s sippy cup lids, toddler utensils and other miscellaneous small items that I often find in the bottom of my dishwasher. I now can place them inside the lingerie bag, zip it closed and place on the top rack of my dishwasher.

• Closet Organizer. Swimsuits, scarves and gloves always seem to be floating around my dresser in an unorganized fashion. They can now have their own place in a mesh wash bag by simply hanging the bag from a skirt or pants hanger in your closet and filling with items that are difficult to keep organized in your dresser.

• Matching socks. Does your washer and dryer seem to make your socks disappear? Assign each of your family members a mesh wash bag to place their dirty socks into as well as other small clothing items, including undergarments, tights and sweat bands. Once they deliver their filled mesh wash bag to the laundry room it can easily be tossed into a load of laundry keeping their items together. No more mixed matched socks!

Have you found a new use for an unused item around your home?

7 Comments so far

On Thursday, September 01, 2011, Dawn from Riverside wrote

When we go on trips, I have my kids use those lovely mesh bags for socks & underware. You know, the stuff that gets lost in their suitcase. Worked well for my 8yo who went away to summer camp & didn't lose a single sock I also offer them to visiting guests who may want to throw something in with our family laundry, but may not want to scavenge through the pile of cleans.

On Thursday, September 01, 2011, JE from cluttered house. wrote

When you buy pillow cases or sheets, it comes in a clear zippered case. I use those cases just like how Trish uses the mesh bags. I put little toys in those cases. And usually the cases are clear so that makes it easy for the kids to see what's inside.

On Wednesday, August 31, 2011, Emily @ ReMarkable-home.blogspot.com wrote

Great Ideas! Love the kids dishes one!

On Wednesday, August 31, 2011, StuffSmart wrote

Thank you for some great ideas Trisha!

On Wednesday, August 31, 2011, monique from IL wrote

great ideas!

On Wednesday, August 31, 2011, Cathe Holden wrote

These are awesome ideas, especially the socks one! Excellent way to keep a family of 5 wearing their own socks and in actual matching pairs! (Even though for some kids, -namely mine, correctly pairing socks is not cool. Not sure what that's all about!)

On Wednesday, August 31, 2011, DMomma in Atlanta wrote

Oh gosh, I love to find new uses for stuff, too! I use empty paper towel rolls to make boots standing up. Inverted aerosol can tops make great holders for small items in the bathroom like safety pins, Q-tips, tubes of Neosporin, etc. My daughter is 8 years old, and I still have her old baby food jars. We use them to dip the brushes in during craft painting. You know the sturdy cardboard box that the Velveeta cheese block comes in? They make great junk drawer organizers in the kitchen. I use empty tissue boxes to store those extra disposable shower caps in the bathroom. Oh, I could go on, but I've got to get back to work.

Thank You

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