How long do you keep lunch bags for?

[MilaMae]

Ours have a faint smell if I sniff up close.

I can't machine was them(I have done others)but I can't with these.

They're in ok condition,seems a bit wasteful to bin them but don't want to give the dc food poisoning

I have been wondering this. I only recently found out that the plastic lunch boxes we had as kids seem to be a thing of the past!

If the bag isn't damaged, then fill it with hot water which contains a drop of washing-up liquid and a LEEEETLE bit of bleach.

Swoosh that about the inside, scrub with a washing-up brush if possible, rinse, and rinse again, then hang outside to dry VERY thoroughly.

Store the bag open, to let the air get to it over the summer holidays.

Then you'll probably rush out in a panic 2 days before term starts again and buy a totally unsuitable replacement.

Ours normally last a year - and get a machine wash every school holiday (so every 6 weeks on average)
However, ds is at junior school and his have been lasting 2 years (with the same washing routine as above)
Not sure if the 2 years is due to the fact he keeps it a bit tidier (doubtful) or it is a better made lunchbox as I got him those Thermos ones.

You can't machine wash all of them can you? Or do you machine wash it even when it says not to?

Do you know, I have never even looked I tend to just lob them in the wash because the alternative is a smelly bag which will end up getting binned anyway...
I have washed the soft plasticy zipped up rectangular ones with the one handle on the top. Providing they don't have flashing lights or some such nonsense on the front (ds's one has a 'talking' dalek, that was not washable) they go in teh wash and tend to survive

ds had a talking dalek one, does not now (no longer 'cool' apparently )

Funnily enough I find the cheaper ones wash better than the expensive. DD has a Tyrell Katz one that says handwash only and as it's pvc on the front so I've never dared. The cheap material outside ones come up quite nice.

The boys have quite rigid nylon fronted ones with some kind of grey stuff inside that has a slight tear in one. They look a bit grease stained on the front. Errrr actually they sound mank.

I'd never thought about machine washing, do you use dishwasher or washing machine ? I despair of mine as DCs have packed lunch every day and they have to bring all their uneaten food back home so they often have loose yoghurt inside them for a few hours.
I give mine an occasional soak in Milton and they generally last about a year before the stiching goes. I agree about the Thermos ones lasting longer.

washing machine as I don't have a dishwasher

I put the lunch items in a small plastic box inside the lunch bag. Is this Very Wrong then?

I machine wash all of my DC's lunch boxes every week. Although they don't get too manky because i have trained them to put all left over bits/yog pots etc in the sandwich box.

At our school they have taken the bin away and they're told to put half eaten yogs,half drunk juice boxes,half eaten cheese dippers back-basically anything not eaten. I dread opening them!!!!!

Apparantly we need to know what's not eaten. Why do they think I want it all back, I can't make them eat it as I'm not there so totally pointless. If they're hungry enough they'll eat if not so what.

In Sep I'll have 1 in rec and 2 in Y1 it's going to be great fun opening 3 bags of spilt offerings can't wait!!!!!!!!!!

I dread it opening it too. school has same rules milamae. I have to wash out evryday with hot soapy water due to yogurt all over it, i then hang it on the kitchen sink tap to dry for the morning.
Weve gone through 2 bags since september and really need another now, but pointless as knew he only ha a few weeks left, so tommorrow night it gets binned yay!

will keep the dishwaher idea in mind though, neer thought of that

I make ds1 (just finished yr 1) empty out his own lunch, and have done so since he started.
He has a plastic box, but has a tupperware (ok ice cream) tub inside that and is instructed to put all leftovers in it and put the lid on.
Having to empty it out when he gets home reinforces this!

I put a zip up sandwich bag in DD's lunchbag every day where she puts the empty yoghurt pot, wrappers, drinks carton. Then when she gets home I just remove the whole bag and bin it. Jobs a good un.

She was in her first year at school this year and I was surprised that she managed to do this without any fuss.

I would always try washing it first. If you are going to buy one anyway, you might as well try it.