How to choose and use vacuum bags?

Using vacuum bags greatly simplifies housekeeping. Once you figure out the mechanism for using these covers, you can permanently solve the issue of storing rarely used items and stocks of products.

Vacuum bags are packings made of dense polyethylene, which are equipped with a special polypropylene valve with a protective membrane that allows you to remove air, as well as a convenient zip-lock clasp.

Packing cases were introduced into widespread production thanks to detection of special properties of vacuum. The bottom line is that with a decrease in pressure, and hence strong compression, a special environment is formed inside the bag, suitable for storing clothes and food. In a confined space, oxidative processes slow down, thermal conductivity decreases, and moisture absorption decreases. In addition, since with the traditional method of storage both air and things occupy a place, the use of vacuum bags, and hence the exclusion of one of the components, saves space by 2-4 times.

Apply packing cases accepted for seasonal wardrobe or overall clothing, and they also help out when organizing the storage of bed linen, blankets, textiles and soft toys. Separately considered the storage of food. It is important to emphasize that without air, the likelihood of developing fungi, mold and dust mites is significantly reduced.

Bags can vary in size, material thickness, and softness and elasticity.. Covers have different designs, but they always have a valve, a clasp and the bag itself. Hanging bags, equipped with a hanger, allow compact placement of clothes in the closet. There are even models with flavors soaking thing during storage with a pleasant smell.

Vacuum packaging has a lot of advantages. First of all, it is necessary to identify space saving in a closet, refrigerator or suitcase. Since the volume of objects inside the case is reduced somewhere by 60-70%, even in a small space it is possible to accommodate a much larger number of things. Vacuum bags Ideal for any item, regardless of shape or size. The package compactly accommodates both dimensional blankets and pillows, as well as children's clothes.

The contents of the case are protected not only from dust and moisture, but also from unpleasant odors. As mentioned above, in such an environment, all fungi and bacteria die. Airless packaging makes it possible to extend the shelf life of products. Vacuum bags are fairly easy to use, and they are reusable. In addition, the transparency of polyethylene allows you to quickly find the desired item.

Nevertheless, a number of disadvantages of this type of storage still have:

• not all products and materials can be placed in this way;
• once every six months, all the bags will have to be opened, and things should be aired, which for some may be an inconvenience;
• if even light damage occurs on the bag, then its tightness will be violated, which means that the storage properties will deteriorate;
• after a vacuum, things are removed wrinkled and with a large number of creases, which can be smoothed out only with the help of a steam generator.

There are several varieties of vacuum bags, which gives the hostess the opportunity to make one set, which will solve the storage issues in the entire apartment. Products differ not only in size, but also in the functions performed.

Disposable Vacuum Bags used for food and most often used in production. Direct packaging is carried out using a special device.

Reusable Vacuum Bags can be used both for food and for things. In the first case, after use, they must be washed and thoroughly dried.

Corrugated bags have increased strength, therefore suitable for different contents. However, again, they can only be operated with the participation of a vacuum packer. Corrugated bags with rigid protrusions are very close to heat-shrinkable ones, in which even meat and seafood are packaged in production.

Packaging with a manual pump model does not require additional use of a vacuum cleaner, as it was originally sold with a device pumping air.

Packing with valve suitable for organizing long-term storage, as the air inside is removed to the maximum. This variety is the most common and is available in different sizes. Often it is also suspended due to the fact that it comes with a hanger. Such models are not able to withstand heavy loads, but are suitable for things that can not be folded, for example, for a coat.

Exist metallized food bags providing additional protection against sunshine, and also smooth envelopes designed for chamber vacuum packers.

Compression pack devoid of valve, and therefore does not require additional use of a vacuum cleaner. The design is designed in such a way that the excess air leaves when the filled and not completely closed with a zipper package rolls upward into a tight roll. Having pushed out the remaining air with your hands, you must quickly slide the lock. This popular option is most often purchased for travel.

Flavor Packs used, as a rule, for storing bedding or clothing.

Reliable vacuum bags are made from polyethylene or its mixture with polyamide or nylon. High quality is indicated by marking PA + PE or PE + (PA / PET). Less quality designs are created. from a mixture of polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate, as evidenced by the PVC marking.

The smallest bags are marked with the letter S and have dimensions from 45x35 cm to 50x60 cm. Such options are suitable for small items whose total weight does not exceed 3 kg. Size M means that the package will accommodate larger items weighing up to 5 kg. As a rule, its dimensions range from 50x70 cm to 70x90 cm. Large bags marked L selected for packing heavy winter items, blankets and pillows.

Bags with parameters 50x60 cm and 50x40 cm conveniently fit in a conventional closet or in a suitcase. Packages are larger, but still not reaching a meter long, it is recommended to place them on mezzanines. Bags with dimensions from 100x80 cm to 130x90 cm are most often used to store large-sized heavy objects, so it’s more logical to put them under a bed or in sofa niches.

Although most often, vacuum bags are used to store temporarily unused clothes, they are suitable for other purposes. For example, you can not do without covers during the move, as well as on travel, when a large number of objects need to be placed in small spaces.

In terms of products, special vacuum-type packaging most often used for long-term storage, freezing, or a special way of cooking in a slow cooker. It is believed that the use of food bags increases the shelf life of products by about 2-3 times, and in frozen semi-finished products, the shelf life is extended from 6 months to 2 years.

In addition to seasonal outerwear, vacuum bags are suitable for packing excess bedding, warm blankets and pillows, soft toys and even a mattress. Finishing the summer season, in the same way you can save curtains, rugs and any other home textiles. If some things are no longer used, but the owners can’t say goodbye to them at all, then vacuum bags will come to the rescue here. For example, in this case we are talking about “pregnant” or “thin” clothes, as well as children's things from which their owners have already grown.

Before starting to store things in vacuum bags, manufacturers recommend washing them and thoroughly drying themotherwise an unpleasant odor will ruin all the laundry. Followed by organize things into categories: by size and by season. For example, it’s rather silly to pack bed linen for a summer cottage, which is used from May to September, and winter down jackets.

Clothing with sharp fittings, rivets or stitching details should be folded so that these elements are hidden inside. For this, things need to be either turned inside out or laid between layers of clothing. Important initially pick up a cover of the required size, and also make sure that it is filled only by 2/3, as a rule, there is a mark “fill to this line” for this. In addition, it is necessary to withstand a 10-centimeter allowance around the zipper. The filled bag must be closed with a fastener, two times running the slider forward and backward.

Next, the valve cover opens, and with the most tightly attached vacuum cleaner, all excess air is pumped out. As a rule, this takes about two minutes, but time may vary depending on the volume of packaged clothes and the capacity of the device. Although it’s more convenient to work using a special vacuum pump, a conventional apartment cleaning device will also do the job.

Quickly closing the valve, it is important to check the tightness of the package: it must be solid and not allow air to enter. If any whistle is heard, then this indicates that either the lightning is not closed, or a hole has appeared on the surface.

When the vacuum bag needs to be opened, it will be necessary to act in the opposite order. The first step is to open the valve and wait for the flow of air. Further, the fastener stripes are longitudinally shifted relative to each other. Having taken things from the package, they must be hung on hangers, and then processed with a steamer. Outerwear should be removed a couple of weeks before the start of the season so that it can restore its original shape. By the way, it is more convenient to carry out all work on a straight horizontal surface - on a table, sofa or floor.

Even the largest package does not recommend loading more than 15 kilograms of things. The valve itself can be opened both by rotation and by pressure, which depends on the manufacturer. Filled vacuum bags can be placed on shelves in the cabinet, and large ones can be hung on special hooks. Bags should not be placed near the sharp edges of other objects, nor should they be left in the cold, for example, on the balcony, or next to radiators at temperatures above 50 degrees.

See how to use vacuum bags in the next video.