12 Surprising Ways to Use Zip Ties

Zip ties make convenient and effective solutions for a variety of apparel malfunctions. Strategically deployed zip ties can replace a missing zipper pull, temporarily hold a loose button in place, or serve as substitutes for broken straps on backpacks and book bags.

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Keep curious little children away from dangerous materials, such as cleaning supplies, medicines, or knives, by putting the hazardous items in a cabinet and securing the cabinet doors together with zip ties. The reusable ties are great for this purpose, because they allow you to access the necessary items and then easily “lock” the cabinet doors when children are present.

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Thread heavy-duty zip ties through a sheet of pegboard to hold containers that you can use to store tools, office supplies, or other DIY essentials. This customized organizational solution lets you keep all your must-haves off the floor but close at hand.

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Use zip ties in the garden to give your plants some steady support. Small trees, tomatoes, cucumbers, roses, bougainvillea, and other “floppy” flowers can be gently secured to garden stakes or trellises with zip ties to maximize their growth. 

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Keep a handful of zip ties in the bathroom to address a variety of issues, most notably clogged drains. The next time you need to clear a drain, use a wire cutter to snip diagonal slots into the sides of a long, wide zip tie or several shorter ones linked together. Cut about halfway through the strip, angling toward the bottom, and then bend the slits out to create a series of barbs. Remove the drain stopper, and carefully feed the zip ties down into the drain as far as they will go. Pull up slowly—the hair and other gunk will get stuck on the barbs, and then all you have to do is throw it away!

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Zip ties can be extremely handy on a camping trip. For example, you can “lock” your tent by threading a zip tie through the zipper, a precaution that should be enough to stymie unwanted forest friends like raccoons or snakes. You can also use zip ties to hang food packs or other necessities in trees to keep them away from bears, and to attach extra items to your backpack for transport. Secure zip ties around the bottoms of your pants legs to hold them closed, protecting against ticks, mosquitoes, and snakebites. 

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Zip ties can help you create professional-looking floral arrangements with ease. To make a bouquet for a vase, simply stand up all the flowers and loosely loop a couple of ties around the stems. Once you have the blossoms arranged in a pleasing manner, tighten the zip ties to keep them in place. (Be sure not to over-tighten. You don’t want the ties to cut into the stems.) Then just place the arrangement in a vase for the decorative finish.

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With most airlines charging extra for luggage these days, you probably want to pack as tightly as possible. Use zip ties to corral items compactly so they’ll take up less space. Organize your wardrobe for the trip by snugly rolling together sets of clothes (shirt, pants, socks, and underwear) and securing with zip ties. 

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Never lose an expensive hubcap again! Securely attach each one to its wheel by placing clear zip ties at several key points around the hubcap. You can also use zip ties to hold down a trunk lid when transporting bulky or awkwardly shaped items, to affix cargo to a rooftop carrier, and to make a temporary repair on a loose battery strap.

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Zip ties can be invaluable when it’s time to deck the halls for the holidays. Attach ties at regular intervals to hold decorations in place along a banister, roofline, or window frame, or even in trees or bushes. At the end of the season, arrange your lights in neat bundles and secure with zip ties so you don’t have a mess of unruly wires to untangle next year. And if you need a hook for your favorite tree ornament, use a zip tie as a makeshift hanger to display the bauble in just the right spot!

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While their actual intended purpose is to put an end to
cord chaos, zip ties are great organizational solutions for almost any room in the house, including the kitchen and workshop. Keep bags of bread or snacks fresh by twisting their wrappers and securing them with removable zip ties. Or, thread zip ties through wrench handles to ensure that you’ll never have to scramble to find loose tools again.

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Boaters use zip ties for myriad applications, including as depth markers for anchor chains. Measure the chain in 10-foot increments and affix the corresponding number of zip ties at those spots (two ties for 20 feet, three ties for 30 feet, etc.) You also can use zip ties to hold nonslip mats or rugs in place on the swim platform, and as a quick fix for broken zippers on canvas.

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These handy ties can solve a lot of problems around the house.