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Identifying Dangers
Freezer bags aren̵7;t as easy to clean as boxes and they are nearly impossible to sterilize. Boiling would melt the bags and chemicals such as bleach are liable to leave residues, which at the least taste nasty and could be dangerous in their own right. This means bacteria may multiply on the bag in between defrosting one meal and freezing the next -- freezing doesn̵7;t kill all bacteria; it just stops them from growing.
Selecting the Safe Ones
You can safely reuse bags that you̵7;ve used for vegetables, fruit, bread and anything cooked. Do not reuse bags that have contained raw meat or fish, which often harbor a variety of illness-inducing organisms. Plastic bags might become stained from colored sauces, such as tomato-based pasta sauces, but this is more of a cosmetic nuisance than an actual problem. They sometimes also become imbued with the aroma of highly flavored foods, for example garlicky sauces.
Cleaning Your Bags
To clean your bags, whether for reuse or recycling, run a bowl of lukewarm water with a few squirts of dish washing liquid. Begin with the bags you wish to reuse. Turn each bag inside out and wash them in the bowl, wiping down the sides with a sponge. Rinse them and leave them to dry. Repeat the process with any bags that you̵7;ve used for meat or fish, putting them somewhere else to drain once you̵7;ve finished.
Going Further
Aside from reusing purpose-made freezer bags, your green/money-saving efforts could include saving other plastic bags, such as bread bags, reusing them once or twice and then recycling them or using them to pick up after your dog. Boxes are much more durable, and you don̵7;t need to buy them. Just save ice-cream tubs and so on, clean them and use them to store your meals. If they ever do become so stained that you̵7;d rather not carry on using them, try repurposing the containers as plant pots and finally, when they crack, recycling them as normal.