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Every home has a box of Ziploc bags at the ready. This is just the way of the world. You need to have them on hand because it is better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them.

What would you say if we told you that the way you are using them needs some work? You may have been closing them incorrectly this entire time, whether you realize it or not. Improperly closing them can result in spills, leaks, and food going bad much quicker than necessary. Thankfully, there’s an easy solution to correctly closing Ziploc bags.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Slate is responsible for sharing the hack, and for best results, they recommend sealing the Ziploc in the same manner that you normally would, but with a catch: you’ll want to leave a small opening (roughly the size of your finger) at the top of the bag. You’ll then want to use your mouth or a straw to suck the air from the opening. Once this step is done, close up the opening and you are good to go.

If you would like to see it in action, please be sure to check out the video below. Your food is going to last much longer and your pantry will have so much more space! This hack is a true game-changer and we can’t wait to use it.