Now that mud season is upon me here, I found myself constantly changing from shoes to mudboots and having the problem of cleaning the boots as well. Then it dawned on me that I have a sack of sacks and that two of them make the dandiest disposable mudboots I've ever tried. Just put your foot in and double tie the handles around your ankles. I first was afraid this might be slick but they haven't seemed to be. So I can walk out to the barn in my warm, comfortable gym shoes, take care of business there and untie my bags and leave them hanging bythe door at the house. Mud just slips off them so they're easily reusable until you spring a big hole in them. Maybe you all have discovered this trick a long time ago...but this "old dog" is so proud of herself for figuring it out she just had to share it.

-- Debbie in S IL (dc1253@hcis.net), January 21, 2002

Answers

Good idea Debbie! I will have to keep this in mind when I am cleaning out horse stalls. A messy job this time of year for sure.

-- Melissa (me@home.net), January 21, 2002.

Debbie thanks for such a great tip!

-- Katie (homesteader@accessnevada.com), January 21, 2002.

Ah, sounds like your barn attire is as creative as mine. I had heard of this before but had forgotten it. Thanks for reminding me, now I really will have to try it out. But don't you just hate it when company shows up when you're wearing your finest? heehee

-- Lenette (kigervixen@webtv.net), January 21, 2002.

We keep all bags for going in the garden to weed or pick when it's muddy and to put produce when we pick. We reuse them until there are too many holes.

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), January 22, 2002.

Whenever someone is coming to our house for the first time, I always tie a couple of blue Wal-mart bags at the end of our driveway so they will know where to turn. They work everytime:)

-- LaDena,Tx9 (littledena77458@yahoo.com), January 22, 2002.

I keep some in the truck for when we pick up the mail. It's easier to carry it in a bag than by hand if there is a lot of it. I also keep some upstairs and by the steps downstairs. It's so easy to carry a bunch of things that way.

-- Ardie /WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), January 22, 2002.

We use the wal-mart bags to line small wastecans in bathrooms and other rooms. When we need to empty trash, it's easy to pull the bag out of the wastecan, tie the top and carry out. I made a "holder" for the new bags. Folded and sewed a kitchen towel in half lengthwise, folded over and sewed a casing at each end. Ran elastic through the lower casing, leaving an opening about 2". Also ran elastic through the upper casing but left the opening larger, sewed ribbon hanger to top. Wad up the bags individually, stuff in from the top and pull out from the bottom. I hang this in the utility room. Am considering making others for bathrooms.

-- gibson girl in s.e. Illinois (bobtravous@email.com), January 24, 2002.

Poop bags when walking the dog on sidewalks and in parks. Put over hand like a mitten, grab offending item, invert the bag and drop it in the trash.

Bag for dirty/wet laundry while traveling, also.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 24, 2002.

I might a lady last summer that crocheted them into hats!!! I think she cut them in strips first. The colored designs on the bags give the finished project a speckled look...

-- Novina in ND (homespun@stellarnet.com), January 25, 2002.

Debbie, you reminded me of something I had forgotten. Years ago, the county repaved our road, but our moms didn't want us tracking in all that tar and oil. So we wore bread bags to cross the street! (This was before plastic shopping bags with handles; groceries still used all paper.)

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), January 27, 2002.