Do 'vacuum' storage bags work for you ?

morganlefay

I want to pack up summer clothes and store them in as small a space as possible. I tried those bags that you suck air out of a few years ago and they just re inflated. Waste of money ! Has anyone successfully used them recently, and if so what brand should I look for ? They aren't cheap, but would be worth it if they worked ( big IF !)

Lilyplonk

Those darn things have never worked for ME - though my sister uses them regularly with great success!. No idea what, if anything, I'm doing wrong.

I've had cheap 'uns and expensive 'uns - and it's always the same thing. They re-inflate within 24hrs :mad:.

I really DO think it's me that's doing summat wrong ........... :undecided.

happydays89

I use them,I put the bag in a suitcase then fill with clothes,suck the air out then zip the case closed that way the bag can't get damaged,it can then be stored somewhere.

PasturesNew

I've got loads. I've been using them for the past 5 years, when I bought the first ones, to minimise space when I was moving house. Some of those bags were still inflated 5 years later, when I undid them.

I've only really bought "cheap" ones, including some £1 shop ones. Most expensive were from Argos. I've bigguns and little uns.

I'd say 10% of them do reinflate - this can be because it's got a tiny leak, or, sometimes, just running the plastic "peg" very slowly/carefully along the zip line 2-3x fixes it.

I've even got one that takes a whole double duvet, with its cover, and two pillows with covers - and makes it so tiny, it's easy to move. My tip for huge bags is, if you can, fold them over once you've started deflating them .... they're easier to handle folded in half, than in their original size.

I've kept clothes in them, bedding, towels, everything.

YORKSHIRELASS

Good question, have been thinking the same myself. I dithered about thinking I might get some of the Lakeland ones then wondered if they were really worth the money. We need more thoughts and opinions please!

torbrex

I have found that the 'zip-lock' bags that you roll up rather than vacuum out worked best for me.
I got 3 of them for my trip last year where space was at a premium in my hold-all and the last one opened was still sealed after almost 12 days being bashed about.

monnagran

I've used them for storing clothes and moving. I think the trick is to run the little plastic closing clip BOTH ways to make sure that they are completely closed and then suck, suck, suck much longer than you think you should. Even when you are sure that you've got every bit of air out suck some more.

Works for me.

angela110660

Yes they work well but dont over pack them is my advice. Met a lady on the train last weekend who was taking her daughter to uni and they had packed 2 cases of clothes using them and had managed to pack loads of stuff.

building_with_lego

I've had some of the Lakeland ones and they re-inflated under the bed, making it very difficult indeed to get them out again!

I've given up with vacuum bags entirely in favour of those jumbo bags from dotcomgiftshop but I rather like the idea of deflating them inside suitcases...

CH27

I use them.
Once i've deflated them I put them in a bin bag or suitcase so they can't reinflate.

I put the winter duvets in them as well clothes.

System

I bought a couple to stick the extra bedding in that we use in the caravan. The drawers under the bed were rammed so I came up with the idea of using storage bags. Brilliant idea except that I forgot about the weight. Yes I could stick more stuff in the drawers but I'm surprised the bottom didn't fall out of the drawers. Oh and not only that, they reflated making it difficult to get the drawers open.