Household Uses for Zip Ties That Most People Never Think Of

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Most people think of zip ties as something you keep in the garage for cords or quick fixes, but I’ve come to see them as one of those small household items that can solve far more problems than you’d expect. They’re inexpensive, easy to store, and surprisingly handy when something needs to be secured, bundled, hung, or temporarily fixed.

They’re obviously useful for organizing wires, but that’s only the beginning. Around the house, zip ties can help with everything from storage and gardening to broken hardware and everyday clutter. Once you start using them this way, it makes sense to keep a pack in a kitchen drawer, utility bin, or toolbox.

Here are some household uses for zip ties that most people never think of.

Bundle charging cords and loose cables

This is the classic use, but it’s still one of the most useful. Zip ties make it easy to keep charging cables, extension cords, and appliance cords from becoming tangled.

Related: How to Hide Those Annoying, Ugly Cords Without Tearing Up the Walls

Secure a loose shower curtain

If a shower curtain ring breaks or disappears, a zip tie can step in as a quick replacement and keep the curtain hanging properly.

Unclog a bathroom drain

A long zip tie can be turned into a simple drain cleaner by cutting small, angled notches into the sides to help catch hair and buildup.

Related: 7 Quick and Easy Ways to Unclog a Garbage Disposal

Attach labels to baskets and storage bins

If you use baskets or bins for toys, tools, pantry goods, or craft supplies, zip ties make it easy to attach tags or labels that won’t fall off.

Secure the lids on storage totes

For seasonal storage or long-term bins, zip ties can help keep lids tightly shut, keeping contents contained and protected.

Make a quick zipper pull

If a zipper pull breaks off a jacket, lunch bag, cushion cover, or suitcase, a zip tie works as an easy replacement until you get around to fixing it properly.

Hang lightweight tools in the garage or shed

Many hand tools already have a hole in the handle. Thread a zip tie through and create a loop so you can hang them on hooks and keep them off the floor.

Keep patio cushions from sliding around

Outdoor cushions have a way of shifting every time someone sits down. A zip tie can help hold them in place on patio furniture.

Hold a bouquet or flower arrangement in place

Whether you’re arranging fresh flowers from the yard or putting together a grocery store bouquet, a loose zip tie around the stems helps keep everything together.

Train vines or support floppy garden plants

Zip ties can be helpful in the garden for loosely attaching plants to stakes, cages, or trellises so they stay upright as they grow.

Reattach netting or fencing

Whether it’s a garden fence, a small piece of chicken wire, or loose netting, zip ties are useful for quick outdoor household repairs.

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