Most people use zip ties to help organize the cables and wiring around their home. This is a good thing, especially when cleaning up the area behind your computer or TV. In fact, zip ties work well in a variety of other situations as well.
One area where zip ties come in handy is in making minor, temporary repairs around your home. Zip ties work great in a pinch if something is broken or if you need to secure something in place. When you are ready to properly repair the item, you can easily remove the zip ties using a pair of scissors.
Regardless of what use you find for zip ties, you can rely on them to be a durable fix. Chances are, you might even come across some other uses for zip ties not even mentioned here. Check out these innovative uses for zip ties in and around your home.
1) Make a Key Ring
Keep all your keys in one place with a zip tie. Start by placing your keys on the tie. Next, zip the tie to the size that you want it and cut off the excess. Leave a little bit of the tie sticking out so that you can undo it, as shown here, and add more keys.
With this simple hack you can make a hanging herb garden on some outside stairs at your home. Start by drilling some drainage holes and filling a tin can with soil. Add the herbs and drill a hole in the top of the can. Hang the can from the stair railing using a zip tie.
Make sure the labels you attach to a basket stay in place by using two zip ties. Make a hole in the two top corners of your label and then attach it to the basket using the zip ties. The label should stay on the basket without coming off.
Zip tie some milk crates together with zip ties to create a storage wall. Arrange the milk crates in whatever configuration you want before securing them together with zip ties. You can even add crates later on if you want to add to your storage solution.
If mosquitoes, ticks, and other disease-carrying insects are a problem around your property, you can use zip ties to secure your pants legs to keep them out. As an alternative to rubber bands, you can use zip ties to secure your pants around your ankles.
As a part of the consignment sale process, many sellers often secure pants to wire hangers using safety pins as a part of their presentation. Zip ties provide an alternative to safety pins, which often result in pricked fingers. To secure the pants using zip ties, pass the tie through the front and back belt loop on each side before securing it to the hanger.
Putting zip ties onto your bike tires can help you navigate the snow. The zip ties bite into the slick surface of the ice and snow, providing traction. Make sure to tighten the zip ties securely, but avoid over tightening.
To clean up your workshop and make it clutter free, use zip ties to help secure your tools and other implements. Simply thread the tie through two holes in a pegboard and secure it in the back. Make sure to leave it loose enough to slip the handle of your tool through.
Even the direst of hair emergencies is no match for a zip tie. If you find yourself in need of quickly securing your hair, grab a zip tie and fix it into a ponytail. When you are finished, easily remove the zip tie by cutting it with a pair of scissors.
What do you do when your zipper tab breaks off and you need an impromptu replacement? Use a zip tie. Simply pass the zip tie through the loop where the broken tab attached to the zipper and zip it closed. Replace it when you find something more appropriate.
Zip ties provide an efficient way to close bags of all sorts. Whether you need an effective means to secure a trash bag or need something to keep your bread from getting stale, a zip tie should do the job. You can even use a zip tie to secure a bag of potting soil to keep it moist and mold-free.
You can even weave a zip tie basket to keep your zip ties in. All it takes is a bunch of zip ties, zip tie anchors, and the ability to weave. You can find the tutorial on how to make a zip tie basket at Instructables.
Zip ties work great during the holiday season when you’re trying to hang lights and decorations. Quickly secure decorations, such as garland, to a staircase by securing the decorations around the handrails using zip ties. Then secure other ornaments to the garland.
To keep children out of low cabinets where they can get a hold of dangerous chemicals, use zip ties. Simply close the cabinet doors and then secure them with a zip tie. The zip tie should keep a child from opening the doors.
Zip ties come in handy when making a wide variety of art projects. You can even buy zip ties in multiple colors to give your art a more appealing look. Or, make a zip tie sculpture of your favorite animal, such as a polar bear.
You zip ties as an easy solution for directing the growth of climbing plants. Secure the vines to your lattice work in the direction you want them to grow, Make sure not to tighten the zip ties too much to avoid damaging the plant.
Believe it or not, people actually make rings using nothing more than a zip tie. Depending on the material and the design, zip tie rings can look really nice. Just make sure not to make it too tight or it might be hard to get off.
Ever find yourself with a broken toilet handle? Attach some zip ties to the chain in your toilet to make it flush again. This should provide an easy way to flush your toilet until you can get the parts to properly fix it.
If your chair seat comes off and you need a quick fix, try some zip ties. Simply drill two holes close together through the various layers of the seat cushion and thread a zip tie through the hole. Loop it back around, and cinch it tight underneath. Place a matching button over the exposed zip tie.
Zip ties give you an easy way to install a baby gate. The zip ties allow you to attach the gate to a rail without using any damaging hardware. Best of all, once you no longer need the gate, you can take it down, leaving no marks behind.
Zip ties can help the plants in your garden stay tall and straight. Simply place a zip lie around the plant and a pole stuck in the ground. As the plant grows, add more zip ties to keep it growing straight. Make sure not to over tighten the zip tie to avoid damaging the plant.
If you are in dire need of a carrying handle, then a zip tie might do the job. Replace a worn or broken handle easily by using a zip tie. Take a longer zip tie, and place it through a loop on your bag. Cinch the zip tie to the length you want.
If you truly have the zip ties and the time, then you can make a chair. While results will differ, you can make a chair of any design you can conceive of, including this large couple’s lounger. Try using different colors to make beautiful patterns in your chair design.
Run a zip tie between the zippers on your luggage to prevent anyone for breaking into it. This method is approved by the TSA. Take extra zip ties with you in case they ask you to open your bag.
Save yourself from slippery conditions by placing a few zip ties around your shoes before stepping outside. The zip ties should give you a little more grip and can keep you from taking a nasty fall. Once the snows have receded, simply cut off the zip ties.
Hubcaps, while usually firmly attached to a car’s wheels, occasionally do come off. Never lose a hubcap again by securing them with zip ties. Attach the hubcap to the rim of your wheel using zip ties, and cinch them tight.
To really save space in your luggage, roll up your T-shirts and jeans. Then wrap a zip tie around each end and cinch it tight. This should compact your clothing even more, giving you even more space in your luggage.
Keep your flower bouquets tightly in place with a zip tie. Once you have trimmed your flowers, wrap a zip tie around the stems. Pull the zip tie tight, but make sure to leave it loose enough so that it doesn’t damage the stems.
If you want to add some color and fun to your next kid’s party, think about crafting a balloon sculpture using zip ties. Blow up the balloons, and tie them off. Then, poke a zip tie through the tail of the balloon. Continue to add balloons until you get the look you want, before pulling it tight to secure them. Use more zip ties for larger designs.
What do you do when you have a clogged drain and no way to fix it? Cut some slits into a zip tie and use it to unclog your drain. Learn how to do it here.
While pulling out a wine cork is usually a simple process, sometimes the cork breaks off and falls down into the bottle. If this happens to you, use a few zip ties to easily remove it. Create a loop using two or three zip ties and push them down into the bottle. The idea is to trap the cork between the two sides of the zip tie and pull it out.
Did your shoelaces break? Use some zip ties if you’re in a bind. To remove them, simply use a pair of scissors to cut them. You can even use zip ties in different colors, such as those of your favorite sports team, for a fashionable effect.
If you find yourself in need of a lamp shade, use zip ties. Learn how to make a lamp shade from zip ties here. Only use with fluorescent light bulbs as hotter bulbs might melt the zip ties.
If you have a basket that needs repair, consider using zip ties as a temporary solution. An example of a basket you might use zip ties to repair includes the silverware basket in your dishwasher. Place a few zip ties in the damaged area, and you have an instant fix.
Just like with the lamp shade, you can use zip ties to make a wonderful effect using a florescent light bulb. Check some of Steve Haulenbeek’s other work at Inhabitat for even more ideas for making these beautiful lights using zip ties.
While you might initially think of using zip ties in your fashion as a dumb move, if done properly, they can create a glamorous effect. One example is this high-heeled shoe complete with zip ties by Antonio Berardi at London Fashion Week in 2011.
To make a small notebook for the kids, take some clear paper and punch two holes on one side. Then, slip a small zip tie through each hole and tighten. Make sure to snip off the sharp ends before giving it to your kid.
A great way to entertain your kids is by making them a bubble wand using zip ties. Simply make a small loop in the end of a large zip tie. Then give it to your kid to use as a makeshift bubble wand.
You can also use zip ties instead of rubber bands to make tie-dye shirts. Twist a white T-shirt, and secure it with zip ties at regular intervals along its length. Apply different-colored dyes to each section of the shirt. Undo the zip ties, and hang the shirt up to dry.
Shower curtain rings can become grimy and covered in mildew and soap scum. Eliminate the problem altogether by replacing them with hardly-noticeable zip ties. Just lay your shower curtain and rod out on a flat surface. Loop a zip tie through the ring hole, over the rod, then secure the tie – make sure to leave a bit of give. The end result looks great!
Nothing is more annoying than eating a bowl of soup, setting the spoon down, then having the spoon slide entirely into the bowl. In the future, prevent having to fish it out with this zip tie trick. Wrap a zip tie around the end of the handle. Lock it tightly and make sure the square of the lock sits on either side of the spoon. Then – cut off any excess tie. Now the spoon will rest at the edge of the bowl!
This hack isn’t exactly a shocker for most people, but let’s face it – zip ties are the perfect tool for securing cables together and keeping them organized. If you have multiple cables running in the same area, keep them nice and tidy by tying them together with zip ties in regular intervals. They’ll run in one straight, neat line.
Does your favorite pair of pants happen to have a zipper that just won’t stay up? Fix it with a zip tie! Loop a zip tie through the end of the zipper, zip up your pants, then hook the loop over the button! Now, button your pants like normal and no one will be the wiser.
Zip ties should most definitely be part of your camping kit or bin. They are so versatile and are handy for so many tasks – you’ll be glad you have them. Use them to fix broken loops and hooks on tents, secure a tablecloth to the picnic table during a windy day, or keep your bin sealed tight from animals.
If the strings on your weed wacker have broken and you’re in a pinch – zip ties are a great alternative solution. Simply replace a zip tie with where the strings would go and voila! You can find a full video tutorial on YouTube if you’d like step-by-step instructions.
A genius and creative Pinterest user came up with the super easy way to fix a sagging sofa and all you’ll need is a pack of zip ties. “Fix it easy (and for under $20) with zip-ties! I uses the 11-inch long ones (100 pack for about $8) and it took 1.5 bags for a regular sofa. First pull off the bottom batting/fabric. Check the springs and make sure there are no broken ones. Start by zip-tying the S springs around the wooden frame (at the top and bottom of each S spring.) Then start on one side and zip-tie diagonally all the way across. Try it!” they say.
Here’s another fun trick from a Pinterest user that we must say is quite clever. No Command hooks or tape! “Take a picture hanger, trim the hook, and add a zip-tie loop. To use, slip the hook under a siding lap and it locks into place. To remove just twist 90 degrees and pull. I looked all over for ideas and finally came up with my own. Enjoy and happy hanging!” they wrote.
No one wants to be involved in a car accident – no matter how severe. However, if you’ve found yourself in a fender bender and your bumper has become loose, zip ties can secure it until you’re able to get it fixed. Proof that zip ties can pretty much hold your entire life together if needed.
If you have a chain link or wire fence that looks a bit drab – spruce it up with some zip ties. As seen in the photo below, you can get as creative as you’d like! Find zip ties in multiple vivid colors and make something original and eye-catching. The possibilities are truly endless.
Chores aren’t the most fun thing to do in the world, but they certainly don’t have to be difficult. Make ironing a breeze by securing a power strip underneath the table with some zip ties. This will prevent the iron cord from getting tangled or wrapped around your feet.
Who says that chandeliers have to be expensive and fancy? Create your own unique, handmade chandelier with a few dozen zip ties. Just by a ring and hang as many zip ties as you’d like for a chic yet budget-conscious piece of home decor.
53) Or hide an ugly or dated chandelier or light fixture
Or, if you’re sick of the dated and bland chandelier that currently hangs in your home, you could hide it with a shade using a bit of help from zip ties. Head over to Young House Love to see how they pulled it off.
Using sections of pool noodles and some zip ties, a trampoline becomes exponentially safer by hiding those skin-pinching and dangerous springs. Plus, if one ends up become dislodged and flying off – it now has a bit of cushion if it accidentally ends up hitting someone.
If you’ve just cleaned your counters or sink area, the last thing you want to have is a wet scrubber brush sitting right on it. Keep the dish brush off your counter (and easy to reach) by hanging it on the wall using a Command hook and a zip tie. It’s also great to use in the shower.
Make it easy to reach and store your cleaning supplies by looping a zip tie through the handle of all your tools – like brooms, mops, and dustpans. Using a sticky hook secured to the wall, you can now hang those cleaning supplies on the wall. Making them easy to grab come ‘chore day’.
You had the perfect necklace picked out for your outfit, when you go to put it on, only to find that the clasp has broken. For a temporary fix, just use a small clear zip tie. You’ll need to use some pliers to close the clasp shut, then run the cable tie through. Simply cut it off when you are done wearing it.
Shipping something across a long distance? Or perhaps you’re shipping something that needs to be securely stored in place. Zip ties are the perfect answer and solution for you. After wrapping and boxing your package – add an extra layer of protection by securing the entire package with long (or multiple) zip ties.
The Zip Tie Guy shared this fun project and we absolutely love it! “This cactus creation is made from an old garden hose held together with standard nylon cable ties. The pattern of the hose and zip ties resembles a cactus, and to finish things off he added some artificial cactus blossoms on the top, which are nothing more than garden hose nozzles,” they wrote. Here’s the tutorial.
Sometimes we have so many cords and wires running to one power cord, it’s hard to know what’s what. But securing a colored zip tie at the source and at the outlet can help you determine which is which. Once again, zip ties to the rescue!
Zip ties have a lot of uses outside of keeping cables and wires organized. They come in handy when making repairs, crafting beautiful works of art, or building DIY projects around the home. Zip ties are handy for making your everyday life easier.
60 Nifty Ways To Use Zip Ties At Home
Ashley Fike
02.06.19
Most people use zip ties to help organize the cables and wiring around their home. This is a good thing, especially when cleaning up the area behind your computer or TV. In fact, zip ties work well in a variety of other situations as well.
One area where zip ties come in handy is in making minor, temporary repairs around your home. Zip ties work great in a pinch if something is broken or if you need to secure something in place. When you are ready to properly repair the item, you can easily remove the zip ties using a pair of scissors.
Regardless of what use you find for zip ties, you can rely on them to be a durable fix. Chances are, you might even come across some other uses for zip ties not even mentioned here. Check out these innovative uses for zip ties in and around your home.
