I’ve used the same Coles and Woolworths bags for years – here’s one mistake everyone makes

A mum has revealed the ultimate grocery hack – and she’s been using it for almost 20 years.

The New Zealand woman shared that she’s used the same four Coles shopping bags since 2006 but washes them regularly to keep them looking new and smelling fresh.

She only owns five grocery bags – including one insulated container – and has in turn saved hundreds on paper and plastic shopping bags.

‘Such a lovely sunny day here I thought I’d wash my shopping bags,’ she shared on Facebook alongside an image of her drying rack. 

‘I left them in the tub with hot water and detergent. Then drained it and let cold water run over while I gave them a light scrub with my laundry brush. Spun them in the washing machine and now they look like new again!’ 

The mum said that washing them by hand uses the least amount of water and electricity and does the job just as well as her washing machine.

Many checkout workers praised the mum for keeping her bags clean, and revealed horror stories about their experiences at the counter.

‘I remember my days on checkout, some bags smelt so revolting I had to hold my breath to prevent vomiting and scan as fast as possible,’ one shared. ‘I don’t know how anyone could eat food after being packed in those smelly bags.’

Another said, ‘As someone who works at Cole’s in the checkouts – thank you! The amount of smelly bags we deal with, whether urine-soaked or the stench of cigarettes, it’s so gross.’

Others revealed that many shoppers don’t even wipe out their freezer bags after meat and blood leaks out – with one even seeing a dead mouse in a customer’s grocery bag.  

The mum said that washing them by hand uses the least amount of water and electricity

Not only does washing your grocery bags keep them free of bacteria, but it’ll also save you a ton of money and inconvenience in the long run. 

Thousands of shoppers have constantly slammed the paper bags supermarkets have changed to with many claiming they are not as durable as the plastic bags.

Many also tend to leave reusable bags at home and buy the 25c shopping bags at the counter.

While the sum doesn’t seem like much in the moment, it definitely adds up over time.

Many others shared that they also wash their bags regularly – with one even admitting to using her mum’s grocery bags from the 1980s.

‘No need to keep buying bags, keep them clean and they will last forever,’ a woman said. ‘I love my mum’s ones, I do need to sew one of them up. It finally got a stress tear, but it is from the 80s – it’s done an amazing job.’

‘I use fridge bags for everything, and often get compliments from the checkout staff on how clean my bags are,’ another said. ‘I spray them with vanilla after use. Well done, yours look fantastic for bags from 2006.’

‘I have canvas ones that fold up and have snap buttons to hold them in their folded up state. Only three of them but they are nice and big, I’ve had them about 15 years and I pop them in the washing machine regularly,’ a mum said.