How to Untie a Plastic Bag

The Easy Way

You've put the garbage in a plastic bag, but now you've found more to throw out in the freezer. How do you untie a plastic bag once the top is tied shut?

We still use plastic bags in our daily lives, even though they are now a pariah, and not as available as they used to be.

Until quite recently, a trip to the grocery store would net you several or many plastic bags. Now, many people use reusable bags for their grocery shopping and other shopping, or buy a paper bag for the check out person to put your groceries in.

All this to say that sometimes you need a plastic bag from your stash to put things in. If they are tied at the top, with the wings of the bag tied together in a knot, it can be hard to undo them.

It's actually easy to do, once you know how. Simply find the end that goes through the knot (there are two, but one is easier to find). Then twist it, until you can push it back through the knot.

Easy, and no tearing of the bag, spilling the contents. No finding yet another bag to replace it, making even more garbage in the landfill.

Untying a plastic bag can be challenging, especially if the knot is tight. Here are some other steps you can follow to untie it:

1. Loosen the Knot: Gently pull on the ends of the knot to try to loosen it. If there's any slack, you might be able to gradually work the knot apart.

2. Twist the Ends: Twist the ends of the plastic bag where the knot is tied. This can sometimes make it easier to loosen the knot.

3. Use a Tool: If the knot is too tight to untie with your fingers, use a flat tool like a fork, pen, or a blunt butter knife to work between the loops of the knot. Be careful not to tear the plastic.

4. Pinch and Pull: Pinch the knot with your fingers and pull gently. Try to find any loose loops and pull them through the knot.

5. Apply Some Moisture: Sometimes moistening the knot with a little water can help make the plastic more pliable, allowing you to untie it more easily.

6. Work Slowly and Patiently: Work slowly and patiently, as forcing the plastic can cause it to tighten further or even tear.

If the knot proves too difficult to untie, you could consider cutting the knot with scissors as a last resort, keeping in mind that this could damage the bag.

It makes no difference how you tie the bag; use the ears to tie together, or twist the whole top together and tie. Either way, use these methods to untie it.