How to Make Vacuum Sealer Bags

Vacuum sealer bags are a great way to store items like clothes, linens and pillows. Removing the air from soft, bulky items like these shrinks them down to a fraction of their normal size. Vacuum sealer bags can be expensive in the store, however. Here's a cheaper way to make them yourself.

Things You'll Need

• Heavy, strong plastic trash bags
• Vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment
• Rubber bands

Instructions

Making Your Own Vacuum Sealer Bags

1. Fold up the clothes, blankets and any other items you wish to store.

2. Pack the items into a trash bag, filling it no more than 3/4 of the way full.

3. Wrap the ends of the garbage bag around the vacuum cleaner hose. Hold the trash bag tight against the vacuum cleaner hose with your hands.

4. Turn on the vacuum cleaner. Your clothes/blankets will shrink like magic.

5. Once you have removed all of the air from the bag, slide the hose out, holding the bag closed tight with your hands to to keep air from getting back in.

6. Secure the bag by tightly wrapping a rubber band around the end.

Tips & Warnings

• Use high-quality trash bags. Cheaper bags may have leaks, which would allow air to seep back into the bags and cause the bags to slowly re-inflate.