Yeah, I've been reading the 'spare parts pet peeves' thread!

I don't buy new vacuum cleaner bags!

A pack of 5, or 6 or whatever they come in, lasts me forever!!

You see, I carefully unstick the bottom of the bag the first time it needs emptying, empty it into the bin, then fold the bottom back up and put a peg on an angle to hold the fold in place!!! A 'new' bag lasts for AGES this way!

I had to do that at a place where I once worked who were too stingy/lazy/broke or all three to get new ones and it really does work. One bag would last months and it would get quite a work out.

My tip would be to get the vacuums that don't need replacement bags. Ours is like this, just has the filter thingy (it's a technical term ) and every now and then I blow it out with the air compressor (SUE!! A use for yours!) and it comes up good as new.

I never thought about doing that! Thanks for the tip. It has been easy to get new bags so far, because the store has always had them in stock when I go to get them. It is the $18 for 8 bags that chokes me up and makes me dread buying them. I am going to try this before buying new ones.

Agreed BabyMoo, that's why I do it - they're too darned expensive to just throw away each time one's full!

Also, this way, if your bag is half full and you want better suction for a particular job, you just empty the bag and the suction is back to top speed.

It is such a simpe concept I am annoyed at myself for not having thought of it before. I will do it in future, not because of the expense (everything else in this country seems to be expensive but this, so far, seems to have escaped) but it does seem environmentally sound. I put little air freshening sachets in my hoover bags that make my house smell nice and fresh but they always seem to last longer than the bag itself. Again looking after the planet and sparing our resources. FT strikes another blow for mankind!!!