I was reading the other day that plastic wrap cannot be recycled. I am not sure why this surprised me, but it did. This got me thinking, especially in light of my tupperware post a few weeks ago, that it would be cheaper and better for the environment to use aluminum foil.
First, foil can be recycled (as long as you wipe the food off) and reused. Do any of you reuse foil? I have been reusing ziplocs and bread bags for a long time, but I didn’t think about reusing foil. I try to store my food in containers, but sometimes I don’t have the right size, so I use foil or plastic wrap. Actually I love Glad Press and Seal, but that is too expensive.
I think I am going to stop using plastic wrap and use foil. Anyone care to join me? 
As a side note: I am also trying to think of thrifty ways to wrap my Christmas gifts this year, any suggestions?
While reading my Real Simple magazine this month I found an awesome resource. On their website, Real Simple has a guide on How to Recycle Anything. This list is huge and amazing. What I like best about it is that many of the recycling links actually are ways to donate your used items to people who need them. What a great idea! It also gives you tips on how to recycle as well of lots of links and resources. I definitely recommend this site!
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I reuse aluminum foil. I used to make fun of my parents for doing it, but it is ingrained in me and I can’t stop. Plus, now I see where it just makes sense.
Here is how my parents always washed theirs: Flattened used piece as much as possible, soak in hot soapy water, wipe with a wet rag on both sides (gently use an SOS pad for tough stains) drape over dishes in drying rack (or when there’s lots, hang on a clothes drying rack), fold up when dry. I swear they still use some that must be at least a few years old. My mom goes through one large box of aluminum foil every 2 years, that’s it. Once the foil is used beyond use, she recycles it.
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I reuse some foil, if it’s not too goopy.
As far as gift wrap, you can use the Sunday comics (they are colorful) – I did this in college, with masking tape and binder twine – for regular gifts. For Christmas, you can reuse old wrapping paper or have your kids decorate (paint, rubber stamp, crayon) butcher paper. I have a gift bow stash that would make you laugh – I save any ribbon that looks remotely reusable. Why not – after all, I mail most gifts and the bows get squashed anyway!
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I have started to wash the foil and would love to join in your challenge to use foil instead of plastic wrap.
As far as presents go, I reuse gift bags and also I have gotten an end roll from a newspaper which you can decorate with stamps, paint, stickers etc, plus it is recyclable. Which reminds me that I need another roll. Mine lasted about 3 years.
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Here is another idea for making wrapping paper. You can purchase a large roll of brown Kraft paper for very cheap at the store and have the kids decorate them with markers or crayons.
Or for the super frugal, grab some paper bags from the grocery store, cut them into a sheet, and decorate those and use for wrapping paper.
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From Julie-
Another idea for wrapping paper is to use paper grocery bags. You can decorate them like the buthcer paper or if it’s inexpensive you can get raffia from a local Pat Catan’s or Michael’s. The red and green look really nice at Christmas time. You can also use Christmas cookies for stencils to decorate the paper or to use an name tags.
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This is very interesting. I started thinking about it and I dont use either plastic wrap or foil on any regular basis. In fact I have a huge roll of plastic wrap (commerical size) that I probably bought 10 years ago at Costco and it is 3/4 full… plus around here foil is only used for BBQ grilling. I have been reusing the same Tupperware and Rubbermaid containers for more than a decade and even frozen foods dont get foil. I do admit to using Ziploc baggies and baggies for my vacuum sealer… but no foil and no plastic wrap. I really cant stand the stuff enough to use it. *giggle*
Anne
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This topic still baffles me. I use those glad reuseable containers to keep from buying plastic wrap, baggies, & foil, but sometimes you just have to have a baggie! I tried reusing bread bags and my bread began molding faster. My husband seems to think it’s from reusing. I confess I don’t wash them out if I’m finishing a loaf and immediately sticking another in. Hmmm. I’m not sure what to do! You have got me thinking though!
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We have sewed gift bags for a while now. We first started out using misc material that we had. My daughter would eyeball the gift and run up a gift bag on the sewing machine. We tied them with ribbon, yarn etc. We thought that we could reuse them next year because at gift giving time we were always cleaning up boxes, wrap, bows, etc… Not this time, everyone like the gift bags so much they took them with them. So, after Christmas we headed to Walmart and bought some of the Christmas clearance fabric so we are set to go another year. It was great for my 8yod to work on her sewing and ironing as well.
Bring on Christmas….
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Melissa-
I have never had bread go moldy in bread bags that I reuse. I wonder why that happens to you. I freeze my bags as soon as they are empty and then shake the frozen crumbs out later… perhaps that is why mine don’t mold? I do not wash my bread bags out because I don’t think they would last very long. I do wash out ziplocs and they last forever. Of course I would never reuse anything that contained raw meat.
Toni
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This probably isn’t very original, but you can use the Sunday comics to wrap Christmas presents. You’d be recycling them anyway but you’re just using them once before they go to the recycling center!
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My grandmother used to reuse her foil. She was green (and frugal) before it was cool!
Wrap your Christmas gifts in brown grocery bags. Cut them open along the fold, stamp or decorate them with a Christmas motif and use them to wrap your gifts. This is an old trick from my school teacher days…you know, we had to wrap those classroom-made hand print wreaths in something.
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I saw that Real Simple article, too. Great suggestions!
Yes, I use foil for everything, and I place it in my recycling container when done.
Re: gifts at Christmas, I wrap in newspaper with either green or red ribbon. It’s actually both classy and festive, and the newspaper can be recycled.
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Hi,
I agree with using store bags. Closer to Christmas when you do your shopping, often the bags are Christmasy or at least festive. If it’s a “cool” store, you can just add a ribbon and some tissue paper. Sometimes you can cover the store name with stickers, and bigger bags can be cut up to wrap smaller gifts. If you have access to anyone who works in an engineering firm you may be able to get large rolls of white paper…My husband brings them home when they change the size they use…or old plans.
I have been using your tip of putting bread bags in the freezer and it works great. I just shake the crumbs out and stick them in there.
I have a question…does anyone reuse the large yogurt containers for anything? It seems like they would be good for something but I’m not sure what. We go through 3 a week.
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I *hate* plastic wrap with a passion. You inspired me to post about it. LOL
http://raisingexplorers.wildchildreserve.com/?p=517
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Gosh I feel so bad. And depressed. I buy wrapping paper on sale, very seldom use bows, reuse gift bags, buy scotch tape buy the box (usually on sale). I have used the society page from the newspaper for wedding gifts, wrapped baby gifts in diapers or receiving blankets, crib sheets, etc. I refuse to reuse ziplock bags. I don’t use foil… it gets holes in it so easily, but I do have it in my drawer. I bought that spinning thing with 3 sizes of reusable containers and lids and I absolutely LOVE IT! I gave my tupperware away… it was a storage nightmare! I missed that article in REAL SIMPLE… excuse me while I go find it.
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I have never thought to reuse foil but now I will. On gift wrap – I always order from my nephews for the school fundraiser so I have no ideas.
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I love the idea of sewing gift bags! I was going to go with the Japanese form of gift wrapping called Furoshiki (http://www.env.go.jp/en/focus/attach/060403-5.html).
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I don’t know what they are called but you can buy reusable plastic covers….they look like shower caps. I’m going to see if I can find them in my area. I reuse my foil but I never heard of washing it out. I might have to try that.
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I heard the greatest tip for Christmas wrapping this year. Use reusable shopping bags! Buy a bunch at Meijer or Target or wherever you shop…heck, get some custom ones… And put your gifts in those! It’s like getting another gift because you can reuse it!
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My favourite Christmas wrap is brown paper (Kraft wrap) and a bright ribbon in red or green.
Cheap and looks beautiful.
Here in South Africa, brown paper is about R1,99 a roll, where Christmas wrap is R7,99 a roll – so HUGELY cost-effective
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