Using Ziploc bags is just a routine thing in most of our households for decades now. Everything works perfectly fine. It does not cost too much. You buy Ziploc bags by boxload in Costco and put them in the drawer.

However, there is something to think about at this stage of life. Those bags make you pay for something each year. Not too much, but noticeable enough if you are on a pension. Speaking of environmental concerns, it becomes more bothering when your children begin asking you why you do what you do.

Silicone bags are a switch you should think about making. No, I am not talking about weak zip-top bags that get unusable after a couple of washings. I am talking about quality silicone bags by such brands as Stasher, Zip Top or Homelux Theory. Those are items to last for years to come and survive freezing, microwaving and dishwashing.

You can make this switch easier than you expect. There is no need to get rid of all your plastic bags at once. Just choose several silicone bags and start using them for your most common tasks. For instance, it can be sandwiches, slices of fruits, leftover pieces of pot roast, etc.

Stasher Sandwich bags and 1-Cup bags are just great for a start. They are sealed really tight, which is important when you pack lunches for your doctor’s appointments in a tote bag. Mid-size Stand-Up bags are just great for marinating chicken and storing a big portion of soup. Zip Top bags have a special feature of being flat-bottomed, which helps when packing.

And here comes the truth. Silicone bags cost more than plastic ones and you can not change that. One Stasher bag will cost you twelve to fifteen dollars versus a box with fifty Ziplocs for four dollars. However, do the math over the course of a year and it will become clear that you save a lot of money. A person who buys two boxes of sandwich bags per month pays a hundred dollars per year to pack garbage.

Cleaning them is easier than you may imagine. The majority of those bags goes directly to the dishwasher and it is helpful especially if your hands are not as strong anymore. If something is sticky, just turn them inside out and let them soak in warm soapy water for a little while. With a bottle brush you can reach all the corners and it will dry rather quickly placed open.

A piece of advice from people who have already made this switch. Put the date on a piece of tape when you put some frozen food into a silicone bag. It is harder to see what is inside of a tinted silicone bag than plastic one. Store them standing up to keep their shape.

There is no worry about the lingering smell. Paste made of baking soda and water left overnight will solve this problem any time. It works for anything from strong garlic marinade to the day before fish. It is like magic and cheaper than buying some deodorizing sprays.

The amazing thing is that you make this switch really quick. In about a week or two you stop thinking about doing that. You use the silicone bag just like you used to use the plastic one. But instead of putting it into the trash you just rinse it, dry and put it back in the drawer.

Kids also pay attention to this kind of changes. They notice things more than other people can imagine. This is another switch that makes you feel satisfaction with the passing of time. And, honestly speaking, there is something pleasant about opening the kitchen drawer and not seeing a bunch of plastic bags to throw away.