Wash your reusable baggage—your grocery cashier will thanks. 

Reusable grocery baggage could also be saving the planet, however they’re not doing all your well being any favors should you don’t wash them. A Sept. 6, 2026, TikTok from creator Kaylen (@kaylenhailey) has began a hygiene dialog after she admitted it by no means occurred to her to wash the baggage.

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“Am I disgusting? It’s never once crossed my mind to wash a grocery bag… is everybody washing them except for me?” she requested.

Grocery retailer cashiers and commenters rapidly chimed in with warnings concerning the micro organism and mess they’ve seen inside clients’ totes, leaving many questioning how clear their very own “eco-friendly” baggage actually are.

Kaylen’s video has over 526,000 views on TikTok. One person identified, “If you wash your hands with soap, you should wash your bags with soap! There’s so much bacteria from chicken, raw meats, produce, the boxes from the warehouse, etc.”

“Yes wash them!!!! I used to work at Trader Joe’s and I’ve seen gross stuff in the bags. She was definitely hinting for you to wash it but trying to be nice! 💀”

Why reusable baggage could be dirtier than you assume

Kaylen stated, “Okay so I just went to Trader Joe’s, and now I’m very confused.” She went on to elucidate that when she handed her reusable baggage over to the cashier, the Trader Joe’s worker commented, “Oh, these are just the best bags.” Kaylen stated after she agreed, the cashier advised, “yeah, and they wash so well too.”

“Sorry what?” Kaylen demanded. She requested TikTok, “Are we washing grocery bags now? Am I disgusting? It’s never once crossed my mind to wash a grocery bag. Are you guys washing them? Is everybody washing them except for me?”

@kaylenhailey This is the place I draw the road.  Grocery baggage are usually not laundry #traderjoes #reusablebag #laundry #fyp #relatable ♬ authentic sound – kaylen

People on the thread revealed their reusable bag hygiene routines, and made some good factors about why you would possibly need to hold your grocery baggage clear. Some commenters thought Kaylen’s cashier was sending her a message by tactfully mentioning the baggage “wash so well.” She assured commenters that her baggage are usually not soiled. 

“Was yours filthy? That was probably shade 😂.”

“As a former cashier. Some peoples bags reeked, were sticky and over disgusting. Wash or wipe them at least pls.”

“I’ve never washed mine… but in my defense… they’re all brand new. I forget them at home and have to buy new ones everytime 😅.”

“The canvas cloth one? Yea ill wash if needed. The rectangular one, nah lol.”

“So disposable bags were meant to be disposed of, like disposable straws or spoons. But reusable bags need to be washed every once in a while… you know… like reusable straws or spoons lol.”

How to scrub reusable grocery baggage

Here are a number of suggestions for retaining your reusable grocery baggage contemporary and clear.

• Throw the fabric ones in with the laundry. Check the care directions, however chilly water wash and air dry is often a protected wager. 

• If your baggage are produced from recycled plastic or stiff arduous supplies, wash them with cleaning soap and water, or use a disinfecting wipe. 
• Make positive baggage are fully dry earlier than you retailer them. This will forestall micro organism development and mildew.

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