This is the worst nightmare of every man in the supermarket: opening a plastic grocery bag when you're in a hurry at the self service checkout and there are no helpful cashiers around to help you. And usually the standard "rub the bag" method never works.
What method can I use to open them quickly and efficiently?
Breathe on your finger tips (not blow; breathe. like breathing on a cold window to fog it up.) before using them to pull at the plastic bag. Slightly moistening your fingertips provides greater friction and therefore a better chance of success.
You can also attempt to dig in to the bag with your fingernails if they are sufficiently sharp.
Same answer, different version - stick the tip of your tongue out, touch it between index finger and thumb, then separate the bags. Works every time, so long as you're not too worried about what bacteria or virus particles might be present on your fingers at the time... I don't do this any more, I always re-use the more expensive, bag for life, plastic bags, always got one folded up in a pocket or somewhere, which are bigger and stronger. And never stick together!
I actually used to work in a supermarket where I would face this problem almost every single day and there were a few different methods that I and other people used to help separate the darned bags:
Although you have said it doesn't work, the rubbing method has always been a favourite with most people and works depending on how you do it, there are two methods:
If I'm in the produce section, I touch a piece of wet produce to moisten my finger tips and open the produce bag.
If I'm checking out, I either touch some moist produce in my cart, or hold a small section of the bag opening area taunt and wiggle it back and forth until that section becomes separated. I then blow on it; creating a small opening to work with.
I have also used the "pull the handles apart" method. If I cannot get the bag open, I go for the paper bags.
The classic way is to moisten the your index and thumb and then do the rubbing methos, usually with saliva, but of course there's germs because who knows what you've touched while picking up groceries.
Another way to get some quick moisture on your finger that does not include your mouth: If you happened to have picked up some items from the refrigerated/frozen section, like cold beverages, a jug of milk, plastic wrapped meats/food, a tub of ice cream, perhaps a six pack of beer, often there will be condensation on the outside of these items. Just swipe your fingers across the item to pick up some moisture and get to bag separation!
This seems to be more common in Asian grocery stores, but often at the checkout lanes, I've noticed the cashier and/or baggers have a small container of this stuff:
Essentially a waxy substances that you dip your fingers into to get a better grip on stuff- bags, paper, money, whatever.
I'm surprised no one mentioned this. I know this is not a direct answer to your question, but another answer is to take your own bags! I know, I know, but hear me out - if the issue is simply that you forget to take your bags (which is commonly my issue), then here's a fix for that: have a bunch of bags always in your car (if you own one), and stick a piece of masking tape on your door handle with a "remember your bag!" note. Alternatively, hang them on a hook next to your door at home so you always see them before you leave.
If all else fails, then breathing out onto your fingers to get them moist before squeezing the bags apart should work, as others have already mentioned.
One Method I saw recently was to have a small try (could be a jar lid or a gum tin) with a wet paper towel inside. You merely have to dab at it with you finger tips and you are good to open the bags. In a super market this would be a much better option then licking you dirty fingers.
If you are not afraid to pull a little piece of a rubber glove out of your pocket or purse, this works very well. Place the small piece between your fingers and rub on both sides of the bag and the bag immediately has an opening. Very easy and works every time. I also use this method to get a better "grip" to open jars--no slip grip!
I struggle with this, and will not lick my fingers, etc.
I bought some Silicone Key Wraps, and put an extra one on my key chain. I just rub that silicone ring down on the bag, and POOF, it separates perfectly.
You could use one of those Silicone Wrist bands as well. It tends to grab/stick to the plastic easily enough.
Look at the edges of the bag. Don't mess with the end of the bag where the opening is. The edges are often folded in an accordion-like way. If you put the edge between your fingers and rub, you can often get the accordion folds to open up. Once you get a little bit of an opening, you can often pull the folds apart which opens up the whole bag. Then, the end of the bag with the opening will open.
I realized today after a friend's post about this that my method seems uncommon yet easy. I see only one person mentioned it among other methods within their post. Put the bag flat between hands with your palms pressed together, then rub your hands together vigorously like one might do to warm cold hands and generate heat quickly. The friction will create multiple areas with air pockets that you can easily separate with two fingers. If there's still a lot of static but you see the air bubbled, hold the opening side with a few quick shakes to allow more air to push through inside the bag opening.
Take the bag with your both hands and blow at the place where you want to open it. The air will penetrate inside the bag and will open it. Downside of this method is that you need to catch the bag with two hands, and sometimes when blowing you may produce strange squeaking sound.
Quick solution which is more hygienic than licking your finger: touch your tongue to a spot near the cut edge of the bag. I figure that the bag, having just come off the roll or the stack, must be cleaner than your finger is in a grocery store environment.
I could never bring myself to lick my fingers. Just me I guess.
How about grasping the bottom of your shirt or blouse and rubbing the top edges of the plastic bag with it. That might give enough friction. I haven't tried it yet.
I don't want to use saliva anyway, because I think of the clerk having to touch the bag that I put spit on.
Hold the bag to your lips where you want to open.. then take a breath & blow hard .. should separate bag enough to open fully ... of course the manufacturer could make one edge oversized or one layer plastic at the preformation .. but would not bet on it 😀too expensive for grocer or customer ..
Similar to going to the produce section and touching wet produce. You can go to the produce section and touch one of the sprayers that keeps the vegetables wet. Also, there are hand sanitizer dispensers placed at the door of the store. Some store will have disposable wipes for the purpose of sanitizing your cart. Take one of these into the store with you.
Well in the current pandemic situation, it is impossible to blow through a mask or to lick your fingers. The lick method is so unhygienic. I used to just rub them and struggle or use wet produce like others have mentioned. Even anything refrigerated or frozen will be in your trolley/cart long enough to sweat enough to be moist on the outer packaging.
When I worked as a checkout operator, we had a wet sponge at our disposal should any plastic bags get stuck. But even that has been done away with in recent years with recycled plastic bags with green handles and cloth bags becoming the new norm. But I can definitely relate to the produce bags as they are much like freezer bags. I swear I have dry hands and they can never open for me!
