Mesh produce bags — onions, lemons, oranges, avocados. No matter how you acquire them, they’re yet another piece of packaging that those of us who are eco-conscious need to consider.
Yes, I would love to only purchase what I need of these items and transport them home in reusable produce bags, but unfortunately that option is not always available. Personally, I do most of my shopping at Aldi, which — I think — uses a lot of packaging for produce. They do, however have some good goals in regard to going green that they plan to accomplish prior to 2025. I’ve already seen some good steps in the right direction in the past couple of years.
But back to mesh bags.
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Like most items headed for our trash can, I tried to find a way to reuse, recycle, or compost it before tossing. I thought that perhaps these bags would have a good use in the garden, so I asked posted the questions in a gardening group and got some really interesting ideas.
But first… a big DON’T
The biggest lesson I learned was to NOT use them as bird feeders or a place to provide nesting materials for birds. While many in these groups seemed to use them as such, many people stated that bird feet can be stuck in them and you could arrive home to a trapped and frightened —or even deceased — bird. Additionally, providing nesting materials such as hair or yarn can cut off circulation to their feet/toes, risking loss of limbs, so please do not offer these materials. Instead consider a mud hole to help with nest building.
But here are some happier reuses.
Let’s start with my favorite:
In the garden
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Compost tea
I’ve heard of saving pasta water for my garden and soaking banana peels for my houseplants, but had never considered putting all my kitchen scraps in a bucket of water. Alas, there it is and this is the perfect tool to help accomplish it.
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Cover drainage holes in pots
Just bunch it up in the bottom of your pot
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Storing bulbs
No need to worry about mold! Lots of airflow with these.
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Hang a bar of soap from the faucet in your gardening sink to wash hands
And a great way to use all those soap scraps.
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Bags for heavy climbing fruit/veggies (squash, melons, etc.)
Make a hammock or tie it to a pole or fence post.
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Fill with cut lemon to deter carpenter bees.
I’m pro-pollinator all the way, but sometimes you don’t want them around. This is a simple, eco-friendly way to keep them at bay.
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Secure a gazing ball
They sure are pretty, but lightweight gazing balls can be blown away in the wind.
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Storing and washing potatoes
Pull, shake off the dirt, and rinse straight from the garden.
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Protect potted seedlings from chickens
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Put a bar of soap in them to deter deer
Irish Springs seemed to be the preferred, deterring scent.
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Storing onions & garlic
Again, straight from the garden or farmers market.
Cleaning:
A resounding theme was that they’re GREAT for cleaning. Simply bunch them together inside one bag and you have yourself a hearty scrubby for cleaning. The abrasive can be used on:
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Dishes
Obviously! -
Terra cotta/clay potsThey’re perfect for such a rough surface, which can quickly eat up an old sponge.
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Yourself!
Use as a loofah or braid them together for a back scrubber.
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Veggies
Great for tough, dirty skins.
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Rocks
Just put them in the bag and use it as a sieve!
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Bird bath
What better way to scrub an old, dirty concrete bird bath?
Ours is one of our favorite kitchen appliances, but can get so grungy.
Storage & reuse:
These mesh bags are perfect for storing items as the airflow ensures that mold and slime won’t grow. They also allow dirt to fall right through when foraging or collecting.
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Reuse for produce at the store or farmers market
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Store kids bath toysJust hang it on an adhesive hook.
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Mushroom huntingDirt and spores can fall right through!
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Store dog treatsNo need to worry about moisture build up.
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Store yarn ballsPerfect to keep them from rolling around and tangling.
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Use on downspouts to catch leaves & debris from clogging rain barrels
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Hold clothespinsRain will drip right through.
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Collect seashellsNo need to worry about carrying extra sand to your car!
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Hold pool toys No need to dry them before storing!
Miscellaneous
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Make into a cat toy.
Tie off the end and insert a jingle bell. Repeat the knot, bell, knot, bell, knot pattern until desired length. (I don’t have a cat, but would recommend supervising play.)
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Kokedama
Check out these rad houseplants!
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Make egg salad
Peel your eggs and squish through the net — no tedious, messy chopping necessary.
Do you reuse mesh produce bags? If so, I’d love to learn what you do with them. Tell me in the comments below!
The cleaning ideas are interesting for the plastic nets. But will it shed micro plastic fibres into the sewer? I hate these nets. and it is frustrating that to buy “odd bunch” vegetables (from Woolworths) you often have to get extra packaging. so I have to choose: divert food from landfill or reduce packaging waste?
I feel this so much. I only wish that those who don’t suffer from eco-guilt would at least try to understand and help alleviate the mental burdens that we carry.