A woman has ignited a lively discussion online after revealing she regularly washes her reusable shopping bags in the washing machine. Lorna Cooper shared a post on the 'Feed your family for about £20 a week' Facebook page, prompting hundreds of reactions from shoppers with opposing views.
What Did Lorna Cooper Say?
In her post, Lorna wrote: "Tell me I am not the only person who periodically washes her shopping bags in the washing machine? John was shaking his head at me as I was hanging them out on the line lol." She included a photo of her 'bags for life' drying on a clothesline, which sparked a flurry of comments.
Divided Opinions Among Shoppers
Many users supported Lorna's habit. One commented: "You are not alone, but I tend to randomly do one at a time when I notice it’s not looking/smelling great. I wish more people would as a lot of my customers (I work in a supermarket) don’t air out the bags they put fridge and freezer stuff in, just shoving them all in a cupboard damp after shopping and the mouldy smell when you open them to pack is most unpleasant."
Another agreed: "Yup! I do this too. In the winter I tend to give them a wipe down rather than washing machine and hang out though." A third added: "Well yes, of course. Always have done. You mean other people don't?"
However, others confessed they had never considered cleaning their bags. One shopper said: "No, I seem to own about 100 different ones so they don’t have time to get grubby, they’re on rotation." Another stated: "No, if they get grubby and worn I get a new one." A third admitted: "Never knew this was a thing!"
Cleaning Methods Vary
Standard 'bags for life' typically cost between 40p and 65p and are designed for repeated use. Some shoppers prefer to wipe them down with anti-bacterial spray instead of machine washing. Others only wash canvas or thicker fabric bags, leaving the standard plastic ones untouched.
The debate highlights differing attitudes towards hygiene and sustainability. While some see washing as essential to prevent mould and odours, others view the bags as disposable or simply rotate them to avoid dirt buildup.
