Janet > wrote:
>wayneboatwright says...
>>Cheri told us...
>> > <penmart01 wrote:
>> >
>> >> I have a pile of those insulated bags for perishables and also a
>> >> heap of plain canvas bags. But still I have groceries placed in
>> >> plastic bags, prevents leakers from fercockting up my cloth bags,
>> >> and also I use the plastic bags for used cat litter... and still
>> >> I buy cartons of a thousand plastic bags for cat litter, BJs
>> >> sells them a thousand for $9.99. Those plastic bags decompose
>> >> rather quickly when exposed to the elements especially UV... I
>> >> use several in my garden and at best they last three months in
>> >> the sun.
>> >
>> > The canvas bags are easily laundered if they happen to get messy.
>> >
>> > Cheri
>>
>> IME, after laundering canvas bags (no bleach), they become as limp as a
>> rag and begin to deteriorate more quickly afterwards.
>
> You must have some other definition of "canvas". Canvas is so tough
>they use it to make sails; it takes years of wear and brine soaking
>before canvas sails deteriorate.

Canvas is a very generic term... the canvas used for ship's sails and
for tents is typically of a superior grade, however there are many
types/grades of canvas... often the canvas used for shopping totes is
a rather poor grade, often stiffened with sizing that washes out with
the first laundering. I've purchased canvas tarps that were rated as
'heavy duty' with a heavy duty price tag yet didn't last a year
outdoors. Today the best quality ship's sails and tents are made of
of synthetic fiber rather than natural plant fiber, or generally a
blend. Some better quality tarps are rated as 'ballistic' material,
used for the better quality luggage... I've purchased some to make
slip covers for my computer chair, excellent for preventing cat claw
damage.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/canvas
Here you'll find a large variety of quality fabric for many uses, I
buy from them as I prefer to make my own tarps and such:
http://www.seattlefabrics.com/nylons.html
In the future when my cloth shopping totes wear out I will make my
own... I have a good sewing machine and I know how to use it.

BTW, nowadays when traveling with good quality soft luggage made of
ballistic material keep in mind that it can be used as a shield
against gun fire while backing away to cover rather than lay on the
floor and become an easy target.




> Even cotton bags, a much lighter material than canvas, still
>withstand many washings. Our cotton bags came free from the supermarket
> when plastic bag charges began, to encourage customers to re-use a
>sustainable bag. That was years ago and they still haven't worn out.
>
> Janet UK