Zip ties are one of those things I like keeping around because they seem unimportant until you suddenly need one. Most people probably reach for them when they have a mess of cords to deal with, but a small pack can be useful for plenty of other jobs around the house.

They’re inexpensive, take up almost no space, and can hold things together, secure loose pieces, or provide a temporary fix when something breaks. I wouldn’t use them for every repair, but for simple jobs where you need something held in place, they’re hard to beat.

I’ve found uses for them in the garage, garden, bathroom, and even around storage bins. Once you start looking at them as more than just cable ties, you start noticing all kinds of little jobs where one can save you a trip to the hardware store.

Here are some of the ways I use zip ties around the house.

Bundle Charging Cords and Loose Cables

This is probably the most obvious use, but it’s still one of my favorites. A few zip ties can turn a pile of tangled charging cables, extension cords, or appliance cords into something much easier to manage.

I like using them to group cords by where I use them, especially behind a desk or entertainment center. Just don’t pull them so tightly that you damage the cord insulation.

Secure a Loose Shower Curtain

A broken shower curtain ring doesn’t have to mean a trip to the store right away. If the curtain itself is still in good shape, a zip tie can temporarily hold it to the rod.

Thread the tie through the curtain’s opening and around the rod, then trim off the excess. It may not look as nice as a regular curtain ring, but it can keep the curtain hanging until you replace the broken piece.

Unclog a Bathroom Drain

A long plastic zip tie can work as a simple tool for pulling hair out of a slow bathroom drain. You can make small angled cuts along the sides of the tie, leaving the center intact, to give it edges that can catch hair as you pull it back out.

Go slowly so you don’t push the clog farther into the drain. This is better suited to small hair clogs near the drain opening than a serious blockage deep in the plumbing.

Attach Labels to Baskets and Storage Bins

I like being able to tell what’s inside a storage bin without opening it, especially when several containers look exactly alike. A zip tie gives you an easy way to attach a label or small tag to a basket, bin, or crate.

This works well for toys, tools, pantry supplies, or craft supplies. You can also replace the label without putting holes in the storage container itself.

Secure the Lids on Storage Totes

If you have storage totes filled with seasonal decorations, clothes, or other things you don’t use often, zip ties can help keep the lids from popping off.

This can be useful when you’re moving bins around, storing them in a garage, or keeping them on a shelf. Just keep in mind that a zip tie makes the container harder to open, so I wouldn’t use one on a bin you need to access regularly.

Make a Quick Zipper Pull

A missing zipper pull can make an otherwise perfectly usable item frustrating to use. A small zip tie can work as a temporary replacement on a jacket, lunch bag, cushion cover, backpack, or suitcase.

Thread the tie through the zipper slider and leave a small loop for your fingers. Trim the excess plastic, and you’ve got a simple pull that’ll last until you find a proper replacement.

Hang Lightweight Tools in the Garage or Shed

Many hand tools already have holes in their handles for hanging. If you don’t have a convenient loop, you can thread a zip tie through the hole and make one yourself.

This works well for lightweight items such as small garden tools, measuring tapes, brushes, and other items that tend to get scattered around the garage. I wouldn’t use zip ties as the sole support for heavy tools or anything that could cause an injury if it fell.

Keep Patio Cushions From Sliding Around

Outdoor cushions tend to move around whenever someone sits down. A zip tie can help keep a cushion attached to a chair or prevent two pieces from constantly sliding apart.

For anything exposed to the weather, use ties made for outdoor use. Check them from time to time because sunlight can make some types of plastic brittle.

Hold a Bouquet or Flower Arrangement in Place

A loose zip tie around the stems can make arranging flowers much easier. I use this trick when putting together fresh flowers from the yard or trying to keep a grocery store bouquet from falling apart.

Keep the tie loose enough that you don’t crush the stems. Once the flowers are in the vase, you can usually hide the tie beneath the leaves and blooms.

Train Vines or Support Floppy Garden Plants

Zip ties can be useful for giving climbing plants a little help as they grow. You can loosely attach a vine or stem to a stake, trellis, or garden cage and adjust the tie as the plant gets larger.

The key is not to wrap the tie tightly around a growing stem. Leave enough room for the plant to grow, and check it regularly so the plastic doesn’t start cutting into the stem.

Reattach Netting or Fencing

Loose garden netting, chicken wire, and small sections of fencing can be frustrating to secure with regular string. Zip ties make quick work of connecting two pieces or fastening loose netting to a post.

They’re especially handy for temporary garden repairs. For a permanent fence repair or anything that needs to withstand heavy pressure, use hardware that’s made for that job instead.