How to choose and use vacuum bags?

Using vacuum bags makes housekeeping much easier. Having dealt with the mechanism of using these covers once, you can permanently solve the issue of storing rarely used things and stock of products.

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

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

Apply packing cases accepted for seasonal wardrobe or oversized clothes, and they also help out when organizing storage of bed linen, blankets, textiles and soft toys. The storage of food is considered separately. 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, softness and elasticity... Covers have different designs, but they always have a flap, a fastener and the bag itself. Hanging packages, equipped with a hanger, allow you to compactly place clothes in the closet. There are even models with flavors, impregnating a thing during storage with a pleasant smell.

Vacuum packaging has many advantages. First of all, it is necessary to designate saving space in a closet, refrigerator or suitcase. Since the volume of the items inside the cover is reduced by about 60-70%, even a small space can accommodate a much larger number of things. Vacuum bags ideal for any item, regardless of shape and size. The package contains space-saving blankets and pillows, as well as baby clothes.

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

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

• 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 will have to be ventilated, which may be inconvenient for someone;
• if even slight damage occurs on the package, then its tightness will be broken, which means that the storage properties will deteriorate;
• after vacuum, things are removed wrinkled and with a lot of creases, which can only be smoothed out with a steam generator.

There are several types of vacuum bags, which gives the hostess the opportunity to put together one set that will solve storage issues throughout the apartment. Products differ not only in size, but also in the functions they perform.

Disposable vacuum bags are used for food and are most often used in manufacturing. Direct packing is carried out using a special device.

Reusable vacuum bags can be used for both food and things. In the first case, after use, they must be rinsed and dried thoroughly.

Corrugated bags have increased strength, therefore suitable for different content. However, again, they can only be operated with the participation of a vacuum sealer. Corrugated bags with rigid protrusions are very close to shrink bags, in which even meat and seafood are packed in production.

Packing with a manual pump model does not require additional use of a vacuum cleaneras it is originally sold with an air pumping device.

Valve packaging suitable for organizing long-term storage, since the air is removed from the inside to the maximum. This variety is the most common and comes in a variety of 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 they are suitable for things that cannot be folded, for example, for a coat.

Exists metallized food bags, providing additional protection from the sun's rays, and smooth envelopes, designed for chamber vacuum sealers.

Compression packing lacks a valve, and therefore does not require additional use of a vacuum cleaner. The design is designed in such a way that excess air escapes when a filled and not completely closed bag with a zipper rolls upwards into a tight roll. Pushing out the remaining air with your hands, you must quickly push the lock. This popular option is most often purchased for travel.

Flavor bags used, as a rule, for storing bed linen or clothes.

Reliable vacuum bags are manufactured made of polyethylene or its mixture with polyamide or nylon... High quality is indicated by the marking PA + PE or PE + (PA / PET). Less quality samples are created from a mixture of polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate, which is confirmed 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, the total weight of which 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 are from 50x70 cm to 70x90 cm. Large bags marked L are selected for packing heavy winter clothes, blankets and pillows.

Bags with parameters 50x60 cm and 50x40 cm will fit comfortably in a regular closet or in a suitcase. Larger packages, but still not reaching a meter length, are recommended to be placed on the mezzanine. Packages with dimensions from 100x80 cm to 130x90 cm is most often used for storing large-sized heavy objects, so it is more logical to put them under the bed or in the sofa niches.

Though most often vacuum bags are used to store temporarily unused clothes, they are also suitable for other purposes... For example, covers are indispensable when moving, as well as when traveling, when a large number of items need to be placed in small spaces.

As for products, special vacuum-type packaging most often they are used for long-term storage, freezing or a special method of cooking in a multicooker. It is believed that the use of food bags increases the shelf life of food by about 2-3 times, and for 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, stuffed toys and even a mattress.... Completing the summer season, curtains, rugs and any other home textiles can be preserved in a similar way. If some things are no longer used, but the owners cannot say goodbye to them in any way, then vacuum bags will come to the rescue here too. 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 you start storing things in vacuum bags, manufacturers recommend to wash and dry them thoroughlyotherwise the unpleasant smell will ruin all the laundry. Followed by organize things by category: by size and by seasons. For example, it is rather stupid to pack bed linen for a summer residence, which is used from May to September, and winter down jackets in one bag.

Clothes with sharp fittings, rivets or piercing details should be folded in such a way that these elements are hidden inside. To do this, things must either be turned inside out, or put between layers of clothing. Important initially choose a cover of the required size, and also make sure that it is filled only 2/3, as a rule, for this there is a mark "fill to this line". In addition, it is necessary to maintain a 10 cm allowance around the zipper. The filled bag must be closed with a fastener, two times moving the slider back and forth.

Then the valve cover opens and All excess air is pumped out with the most tightly attached vacuum cleaner. As a rule, this takes about two minutes, but the time may vary depending on the volume of the packed clothes and the power of the device. While it is more convenient to operate using a dedicated vacuum pump, a conventional apartment cleaning device will do the job as well.

By quickly closing the valve, it is important to check the tightness of the package: it must be firm and not allow air to enter. If you hear any whistle, 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, you will have to proceed in the reverse order. The first step is to open the valve and wait for the air flow. Further, the fastener stripes are longitudinally shifted relative to each other. After taking things out of 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 to allow it to regain 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 in the largest package, it is not recommended to load more than 15 kilograms of things... The valve itself can be opened by either turning or pressing, which depends on the manufacturer. Filled vacuum bags can be placed on the shelves in the cabinet, and large ones can be hung on special hooks. Bags should not be placed next to sharp edges of other items or left in the cold, for example, on the balcony, or next to radiators at temperatures above 50 degrees.

For information on how to use vacuum bags, see the next video.