This thread has a lot of proponents on both sides...Thought I would kick in, for what it's worth...As Craig has said, we wash and re-use many types of Storage containers, I got a cabinet full of Qt and Pt Chinese Soup Containers. Proper Hot, Soapy water washing will clean them and Sanitize (reduce Bacteria to a safe level) the bags...To Sterilize (Kill 'em ALL) a rinse in a mix of 1-2Tbs Bleach to 1 Gallon Water and Air drying or 30 Seconds in the Microwave will do the Job nicely...I don't re-use bags I heat food in, I don't know if repeated heating effects the Plastic and would not want to find 10, one pound bags of PP freezer burned 'cause the bags broke open...JJ