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Original poster

Anyone used those vacuum bags which are meant to reduce all your clothing to the size of a peanut?

29 replies

MrsThierryHenry · 02/08/2008 21:10

Am I the only one who appears to have overstuffed the bag? It hasn't burst or anything, it just hasn't reduced very much. Looks like I'll have to buy about 20 of them to cope with the amount of clothing our DS had!

OP posts:
Dragonbutter · 02/08/2008 21:13

I'm not that impressed with them either.
I guess there's not that much air in clothing, maybe they work better for duvets, pillow etc

Glad your saturday night is as exciting as mine

SueW · 02/08/2008 21:17

Haven't used for clothing but it did a great job on duvet and two pillows.

(Saturday night here: Don't Forget The Lyrics or mumsnet. No contest )

SueW · 02/08/2008 21:18

Mind you, I am still recovering from yesterday/last night.

DiscoDizzy · 02/08/2008 21:18

we used them a while ago. They were good really, but made them heavy when putting them in the loft. Only problem was that as time has passed by, they've reinflated themselves.

Dragonbutter · 02/08/2008 21:21

saturday night here: we've got a woody allen film on, a bottle of wine and a cheesecake. it's not so bad really.
but i will not be clicking on any more threads about laundry.

mrsTH, i'm disappointed in you.

onepieceoflollipop · 02/08/2008 21:21

Dizzy they may have a "slow puncture" - that's what happened to ours. We found that they are rather fragile and delicate, they rip/tear very easily.

paolosgirl · 02/08/2008 21:23

Save your money - stick everything in a black bin liner (or a double layer), put an elastic band tightly round the top and stick your hoover noozle in to suck out the air.

expatinscotland · 02/08/2008 21:23

they're all shite.

OurHamsterisevil · 02/08/2008 21:24

If it is cotton clothing then not much air to take out. Jumpers would vacuum well. I use them mostly for pillows, duvets etc. But i do have baby clothes in them too and it makes a bit of difference

Sidge · 02/08/2008 21:24

They're good for duvets and pillows but not so good for clothes.

They tear easily as well.

onepieceoflollipop · 02/08/2008 21:25

Trouble is expat (ime anyway) is that if you spend £18 on two from Lakeland, you kind of expect a bit more than glorified binbags (cos that is what they are really)

expatinscotland · 02/08/2008 21:45

well, i did, onepiece.

but had to admit to being had.

onepieceoflollipop · 02/08/2008 21:51

We still have one of our 2 bags remaining - stuffed full of duvet in the loft. I shriek at dh when he goes in the loft - I just know that it is waiting to pop if we nudge/bump into it!

Generally impressed with other Lakeland stuff, but this was a lame duck (or whatever the phrase is)

expatinscotland · 02/08/2008 21:54

lakeland's website now allows for customer reviews.

i'd write one in, onepiece.

i check them now whenever i want to buy stuff from there.

onepieceoflollipop · 02/08/2008 21:56

Thanks for that tip expat.

I look at that bag and think "that cost £9 that did" and it makes me a bit

(but I don't lost sleep over it! )

expatinscotland · 02/08/2008 22:00

i bought cheap cotton laundry bags in £Stretcher and put cedar balls in them and store the duvets in there so they can breathe.

onepieceoflollipop · 02/08/2008 22:02

You are full of good ideas.

tbh I did wonder if they might get a bit damp in all that sweaty plastic. You are meant to open the bags and shake the stuff about a bit every 6 months or so, then reinflate. I can barely look at the bag as I know it is waiting to puncture itself.

pamplemousse · 02/08/2008 22:03

I thought I had reject ones but am relieved to hear that others are reinflating themselves willy nilly.
They do tear very easily, particularly when applying 'firm' pressure with that stupid plastic thing for sealing them.
I had such high hope for tiny bags of flat clothes being stacked on top of my wardrobe.

expatinscotland · 02/08/2008 22:05

it can damage a non-synthetic duvet, one, if it's not able to breathe.

the cheapo laundry bag is the way to go with cedar or lavendar balls tossed in so beasties aren't attracted.

then air them out every quarter or so on the line.

i have to have our heavy ones laundered because they won't fit in the machine here. make sure you launder them before storing as that makes them less attractive to beasties.

then air them before putting the cover back on.

SimpleAsABC · 02/08/2008 22:07

If the lo wasn't sleeping i'd go and take a photo of his bag like this!

Was stuffed to the brim and has reduced massively... Now have no where to put the damn thing tho!

onepieceoflollipop · 02/08/2008 22:08

rofl at "reinflating themselves willy nilly"

Pre-dcs most of us would have been out partying on a Saturday night, but here we all are exchangine very interesting tips about duvet storage.

I like to launder ours at the launderette expat when it is a boiling hot day, then dry them thoroughly on the line before storing. They are still fresh and white when I get them out of storage, but as you say best to air them before putting the cover on.

princessglitter · 02/08/2008 22:11

Mine burst. None too impressed...

expatinscotland · 02/08/2008 22:11

if you have a feather one, it's actually better to finish it off in a tumble dryer and it really gets the air going inside the sewn pockets, which is great for a down duvet.

and then give it a good air before using it again - it's quite airy here so i just pick a nice windy day.

the girls' winter duvets are synthetic and far less hassle, but i love our down one. have had it for over a decade and it's going strong. it's been well looked after.

nah, i wouldn't want my old Saturday nights pre-moving here, DH and kids for any amount of money.

don't remember a lot of 'em .

suedonim · 02/08/2008 22:21

I've been lured in by the claims for these bags and, as others found, they reinflate themselves. I've also used the travel ones and the stresses of cases being chucked about on/off planes meant they tore or were otherwise unusable a second time. However, hope still wins over experience and I've just bought an M&S version, to see if that's any better.

giraffescantdancethetango · 02/08/2008 22:28

they are shite aren't they?

but I have found something that really really works....charity shops - yup give it all away when my bag burst I went through it all and thought omg what is all this stuff just kept 2 things for sentimental value and sold/gave away the rest

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