What would we do without plastic bags? Very few people remember what it was like before plastic bags became an icon of convenience and practicality. (And now art, remember the beautiful swirling, floating bag in American Beauty?)

You bring them home from Stop and Shop, buy you don't toss them. Everyone knows they are used around the house as garbage or storage bags, or convenient pet cleanups but do you use them in the garden as knee protectors or seed holders? Here are more ideas that can help your summer vacation:

Help Keep Things Dry

For extra protection from leaky shampoo bottles, a lot of people stuff their shower kits into a plastic bag. If you don’t want that expensive digital camera or cell phone to be soaked when near the water, you can wrap it up in a plastic bag with a knot; then when your trip is done, reuse the bag again -- and use it to store your soaked bathing suits and stinky socks for the trip home.

”Sort of" Nice Laundry Bag

When you’re out of town, plastic bags can make great laundry bags. You can use one for whites, one for colors, one for delicates, and one to store your shoes in. This will save time sorting when you return.

Character Building Litter Bag

On your vacation, hang one on the back seat of your car to use as a litter bag. It’s not the trash’s fault that trash ends up on the roadside -- we all have a personal responsibility to put trash in its place. And when you get home, remember to recycle the water, juice, and soda bottles.

Salve for Injuries

If you get injured while on vacation, a plastic bag may become your best friend. You can make one into a cold pack for swollen ankles or achy knees. Fill with ice and wrap with a towel.

Sentimental Journey Protection

Scrunch up plastic bags to make soft packing material for breakable souvenirs, or store clippings of interesting plants you’ve found and want to grow at home. Put the cut end in a damp paper towel, wrap plastic around the end, and seal it with a rubber band. Children (always provide adult supervision) can fill a small bag with objects found during their trip, including seashells, rocks, placemats or museum pins. Back at home use the contents to make a scrapbook or collage. This simple project teaches kids you don’t need to buy a T-shirt to remember the trip!

Plastic bags have many unusual uses. And when you run out of them, don't forget to recycle the bags. It’s not commonly known, but one of the largest uses of recycled plastic bags is plastic lumber, like the Trex decking lumber.

If you have your own unusual use for plastic bags, the American Plastics Council would like to hear about it. These ideas were published recently in AAA World Magazine, so let them know if you have other uses, especially those that help keep our families healthy and safe. Send an email to info@plastics.org or call (800) 243-5790. They'll send you a free, unbranded kid’s safety poster reminding kids to wear their plastic safety helmets and sports safety gear to protect their future dreams, and possibly even publish your idea on their website. Article courtesy of ARA Content

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