A load of old rubbish! (Sainsbury's Basics Refuse Sacks)

Member Name: i_am_joy

Product:	Sainsbury's Basics Refuse Sacks
Date:	23/08/09 (35 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Better when doubled up, although still not perfect

Disadvantages: Weak, thin and prone to tearing at the slightest pressure

It wasn't actually my fault that I ended up with these refuse sacks. I have used very cheap brands in the past and not been impressed, however when I sent my granddaughter into the supermarket the other day and asked her to get black bags these are what she came out with.

At 71p for 30 bags, these are very reasonably priced compared to the refuse sacks I usually buy which generally cost around £1.60 for 10. I knew they were useless as I've used them in the past, but to be fair they are alright providing you don't overfill them or put anything even slightly sharp into a bin lined with these bags.

Of course, being as she'd bought them I thought I might as well use them otherwise it really would be 71p wasted so although the first couple I used singly, I doubled the rest up. Even allowing for using two bags for each bin full there is still a saving to be made as in effect you are paying 71p for 15 refuse sacks.

The perforations which hold the bags together in a roll are fine, I have often had trouble with more expensive brands where the perforations will tear to such a degree that the bottom of the bag becomes ripped and renders the whole thing useless. I have not had a problem with these tearing anywhere other than along the perforations so that's a definite plus point for these bags.

They are so thin and weak though. The single bag I used was to line a bin which eventually only held some plastic packaging from a large item I had ordered from the catalogue. Even folding the rubbish into smooth packets resulted in the bag splitting as I took it out of the bin, and even the action of gripping the bag enough to pull it out of the bin caused handfuls of the plastic bag to come away in my hand.

When doubling the bags up they work slightly better. Be aware that you really are getting what you pay for so they are still going to be weaker than bags which are up to three times more expensive. At least they don't dump my rubbish all over my kitchen floor when using two bags, although I still felt a little cheated at having to actually use two when one really should suffice however cheap they are.

Summary: These refuse sacks are fine providing you don't want to put anything sharp or slightly heavy in them