How to Wash Reusable Food Bags

If you’re looking for a simple way to reduce your impact on the environment, consider swapping out your wasteful single-use plastic food bags for reusable silicone bags in the kitchen. The sad reality is that half of all plastics produced are single-use, contributing to the nearly 300 million tons of plastic waste produced each year. 

Why do we love single-use plastic so much? When you break it down (which takes about a thousand years, by the way), you’ll see that it mostly comes down to convenience and cleanliness. It seems easier to throw away and start anew than to wash, care for and reuse stuff, even something as small as a plastic snack bag. 

But the reality is that washing your reusable food bags is shockingly quick and easy, especially if you choose ones made of high-quality LFGB-certified silicone, like our Porter Collection bags. 

The Best Way to Wash Reusable Food Bags

The best part about our reusable silicone bags is that they fit right into your regular cleaning routine, whether you prefer to wash by hand or machine. Because they’re made from a single piece of high-quality silicone with no chemicals, glues or adhesives, they’re completely dishwasher safe. 

If you prefer to hand wash, that’s cool, too! These are designed for easy cleaning — they even have rounded edges so you don’t have to wrestle with old food trapped in the corners — and they won’t degrade in the face of a little hot water or soap. 

Here’s our step-by-step guide to cleaning Porter bags the right way.

1. Empty the Contents. Step one of any good cleaning session is to start with a clean slate. Make sure your reusable food bags are completely empty before breaking out the cleaning supplies.
2. Flip the Bag Inside Out. Next, flip the bag inside out to expose the interior of the bag. The interior of your bag is a hotspot for excess peanut butter and jelly, condiments and salty snack seasonings, so make sure you’re completely exposing that dirty interior to get a deep clean. 
3. Rinse the Bag. A hardcore rinse isn’t necessary if you plan to toss your bags in the dishwasher. Just make sure there’s no gobbed on condiments or excess liquid in the bag before getting serious with the soap.
4. Wash the Bag. At this point, you have two choices. You can either toss your reusable food bags in the dishwasher or wash it by hand. 

• Put it in the Dishwasher. Your silicone food bags will do well on the regular cycle either on the top or bottom rack of the dishwasher. Just place it upside down on the rack, keeping it open so that it gets clean inside. No need for any fancy soaps or special cycles.
• Wash It By Hand. Silicone food bags will come clean fast with a little dish soap and your favorite dish sponge. If you want to give it an extra scrub, use a bottle brush and work up a lather inside.

5. Let Dry Completely. Before you put your bags away, make sure they’re completely dry. Because they seal at the top, moisture can get trapped in the bag if it’s not given the proper drying time. If there’s still moisture in the bag after your wash, set it upside down and open on your dish drying rack and let it air dry for an hour or two.

Simplify Food Storage

The key to going convenient and eco-friendly with your food storage containers is to start with the right products. Our brilliantly designed reusable bags are made for lasting use and easy care. The durable silicone can withstand serious messes and extreme elbow grease so you can reuse them again and again.