So, there I was, shopping in the cramped checkout stands of HEB. As I’m swiping my credit card to pay, I see the bagger start putting items into Plastic Bags. Argh! Despite my best planning, I didn’t bring enough reusable bags with me to the store. I hesitantly loaded up my groceries and returned home, scratching my head about how to use these plastic bags.

I really do try to limit single-use plastics wherever I can. I’m not the best at it, but hey, I’m trying. One way to limit plastic bags is to bring reusable bags wherever you go. Despite the best laid plans, however, occasionally I find myself on the receiving end of a plastic bag, and going bagless isn’t an option.

How can we extend the life of these plastic bags, beyond just holding our groceries for 10 minutes before being chucked into the trash? I compiled my top 14 favorite ways to give plastic bags a second life. The best part? Many of these can be combined, reusing the bags in multiple ways.

Add your favorite plastic bag uses in the comments!

1. Trash bags

I love using plastic bags for trash. They’re too small for the kitchen trash, but they’re fantastic for the bathrooms. I don’t need to buy small trash bags, which helps me save more money while extending the life of these plastic bags. Win!

2. Lunch bags

In high school I didn’t have a lunch box. I exclusively carried my food in leftover Wal-Mart plastic bags. It meant I had one less thing to carry home each day, and I also got to reuse the same bag a few times.

If you’re feeling really frugal, you can carry your lunch in a bag a few times, and then reuse it as a trash bag.

3. Kitty litter / dog doo sacks

I’m not above doing the litterbox and chunking the remnants into a plastic bag. If you walk your dog regularly, it’s always a good idea to carry around a misfit plastic bag. You never know when you might need to pick up some “presents.” There’s no need to buy baggies, either, since many of us have a huge supply of plastic bags already.

4. Cover trees

Texas isn’t known for its freezing weather, but this past winter we actually got snow! I didn’t believe Mr. Picky Pincher when he said it was snowing. It wasn’t until I caught the hint of fluffy white out of the corner of the window. Of course, this was right after our fruit trees had started to take off. We frantically covered the trees with plastic bags. We slit the bags down the middle and taped them together to make a snow barrier.

This probably won’t work if you’re in an area with heavy snowfall, but it works great for pesky ice storms.

5. Cheap insulation

It’s ruh-diculously hot in Texas right now. Occasionally we’ll get warm, blustery drafts coming through the doors and windows. That the A/C unit is trying to pull double duty and our energy bill spikes. Bleh!

You can prevent drafty doors and windows by making your own (redneck-style) insulation. It’s a good solution if you’re renting! Just roll up a plastic bag and shove it into drafty areas.

6. Donate or recycle

Some thrift stores will actually accept plastic bag donations. I’ve heard of this happening in other areas, but haven’t seen it for myself. Still, if you have a collection of plastic bags that you don’t want to junk, call up your local thrift stores to see if they accept them.

You can also try to recycle plastic bags. This is an expensive process, so not many places offer this, unfortunately. I’ve seen donation bins inside Wal-Mart before, so it’s worth looking!

7. Newspaper substitute

During college, I learned every weird moving hack known to man. I used bits of newspaper, styrofoam, and packing peanuts to cushion valuables during the move. One day I realized I had zero newspaper left and a whole pile of plastic bags, so I used them instead. They worked like a charm! In fact, they add some gentle cushioning that newspaper just doesn’t provide.

You can even reuse the plastic bags after using them to move, which is a big win.

8. Rugs

Yup! You can make rugs from plastic bags. I kid you not. I remember some of my friends doing this in elementary school. You can make the rugs in any design you please, and it actually comes out looking really good. Weird, huh? Here’s a neat tutorial on how to make the plastic bag rugs:

9. Faux-brella

This isn’t going to make a fashion statement or anything, but paper bags can make excellent MacGyvered umbrellas. Once upon a time, I was 16 years old. I went to JC Penny to get an updo for a school dance. After dropping a ridiculous $60 on my hair, what happens when I go outside? An infamous Texas downpour of monsoon proportions.

Fortunately I had bought some hairspray and had a plastic bag on hand. I tucked the bag over my head, securing the handles under my chin in a bow. I sprinted to the car and the updo was saved, thanks to the plastic bag.

You are NEVER below putting a plastic bag on your head, friends.

10. Shoe covers

I hate, hate, hate getting big clods of dirt on my pristine kitchen floors. When I work outside in the mud, now I encase my shoes in plastic bags before bringing them inside. You can also tie the plastic bags over your shoes while you’re painting to keep your shoes clean.

11. Sub for latex gloves

Zap is a cat, which means he occasionally has hairballs. I don’t do well around hairballs and get super grossed out. I try to wear latex gloves when cleaning it up, but it seems like a waste to me. Now I just use a plastic bag to pick up the hair ball and dispose of it all in one go. Plastic bags are awesome for quickly cleaning up grime.

Of course, this depends on what you’re doing. Don’t use a plastic bag for medical stuff!

12. Cover your car

This is another ice storm hack, but it can easily be used if you live in an area with dust storms. Protect your car’s side mirrors by taping a plastic bag over them. This prevents gunk from getting onto your windows and causing early-morning delays.

If you want to protect your windshield, a few pieces of cardboard work wonders.

13. Car bags

Have you ever been out and about and caught yourself saying, “Dang, I wish I had a bag right now.” I’ve definitely had that happen, whether it’s needing to contain a melting popsicle, muddy shoes, or carsick passengers. Keep a couple plastic bags in the car and I guarantee you’ll find a use for them. I keep a few behind the passenger seat just in case.

14. Bathing suit storage

Nothing ruins a vacation more than moldy clothes. Don’t toss your bikini in with your jeans! Use plastic bags to sequester wet clothes for mildew-free traveling. Heck, I do this with my dirty clothes, too. As I go through clothes, I cinch them inside a plastic bag. When I get home, all I have to do is chunk the contents into the washer.

We want to know: How do you extend the life of single-use plastics?