Many of us remember to bring our own tote bags to the store these days, yet you probably still have a stash of plastic bags taking up room at home. So what's an eco-friendly person to do? Here are 10 easy ways to reuse those plastic bags:

1. Keep several in the glove box of your car to use as on-the-go garbage bags. (If you have kids or pets with motion sickness, chances are your car is already stocked with plastic bags.)

2. Do away with packing peanuts. Use plastic bags as cushioning material when mailing packages.

3. Surprised by a muddy day? Tie plastic bags around your shoes to protect them from water and dirt. (Be careful - the bags can be slippery.)

4. Save time during a painting project. Wrap your wet brush in a plastic bag to keep it damp until you get back to painting. You can also line your paint tray with a plastic bag for quick clean-up.

5. Create something new. Search the Internet for "plastic bag crafts" to discover instructions for a wide range of fun, surprising projects such as woven purses and plastic rope.

6. Keep extra bags in your suitcase to separate clean duds from dirty or to keep your running shoes away from your work clothes. Plastic bags are handy for hauling wet swimsuits back home, too.

7. Entertain your kids. Take a small doll or action figure and tie the handles of a plastic bag onto its arms. Drop the doll from a height. Instant parachute.

8. Plastic bags are just the right size for bathroom or bedroom wastebaskets. Hint: Place several in the bottom of the basket first for quick changes.

9. Wrap frozen foods such as Michelina's in plastic bags on your commute. The bag prevents condensation from leaking onto other foods in your lunchbox.

10. Why buy brand new totes, when you can reuse the plastic bags you have on hand? They were created to carry groceries, so put them back to work during your next trip to the store.

Reusing plastic bags helps keep them out of our landfills and water supplies. Small changes like these add up to a big difference in our environment.