What Can You Do With Zip Ties Every Day Of The Year
What can you do with zip ties? I recently visited a local store called Harbor Freight right here in St. George, Utah. The store has a little of just about everything the handy person might want. I was looking for an emergency orange cone and some zip ties. While waiting in line to pay for my zip ties, I asked the clerk to tell me “what can you do with zip ties”? He started telling me a few ways to use zip ties, and before I knew it the guy behind me added a few more ideas.
MY LATEST VIDEOSOf course, then I started laughing because the guy behind me quickly added, “you need some longer ones to tackle someone to zip tie their hands in case of a break-in”……. Oh goodness, I was thinking of using some for emergency issues but quickly realized I really did need some longer ones.
Zip Ties In Many Sizes
Before you know it, I am now looking for longer ones at the store. Stronger ones…yep I found some. I bought them and then here comes a guy who is a retired Marine. I swear, those handsome Marines never give up their Marine haircut. He proceeded to show me how to put the zip ties on someone. THEN he shows me how you get out of them. Yep, I now know how to get out of them if my hands are zip tied in front of me or behind me. What a great night at the store. I just love it when people share their knowledge with me.
These zip ties come in so many colors, lengths, widths, and weights:
1. Use one for shoes with broken shoelaces in a pinch until you can purchase regular shoelaces-slip through the eyelet holes-pull through, but not too tight
2. Flower arranging keeps the flowers upright-tighten the branches ever so lightly
3. Use small ones to hold a button in place until you can sew it on in an emergency
4. Replace a missing zipper pull to look at all the colors you can choose from–WooHoo
5. Jewelry clasp is broken…keep some tiny zip ties in your purse to repair your favorite necklace in a pinch
6. Use larger ones to secure milk cartons together to keep them from shifting
7. Secure wire fencing to posts to keep the critters out of your back yard
8. Secure Christmas lights to bushes…easy peasy
9. Secure cables attached to your desktop and carefully tighten them with a zip tie to secure them together
10. Tents can be secured with zip ties to keep the flaps from flapping
11. The small ones are wonderful to use as a tag holder on gifts
12. Awesome for temporary ponytails for swimming
13. Use them to hang decorations from a small nail
14. Weave some together to make a small basket-great craft for kids who are old enough to make items with them
15. Use a certain color on your keys to hang them on your key holder board to distinguish one key from another
16. Great to secure a zip tie with tools to a peg board
17. Use one that will secure your pant leg when riding your bike or to keep bugs or mosquitoes off your legs
18. Handcuffs or ankle cuffs (only for use in dangerous situations)
19. Wind up and drain your garden hoses and zip tie them to securely store them for the winter
20. These are great to secure rain downspouts as a temporary fix….until the heat makes them too brittle-then you have to replace them
21. Use to keep a tent or small sleeping bag rolled up while transporting
22. They can help secure vines and other plants to a trestle
23. In a pinch can substitute for a worn out watch band
Please keep in mind the different zip ties that are reusable (I didn’t buy those) and these that come in so many sizes for so many different uses. Let’s be prepared for the unexpected.
US Marine Corps My nephew, Nicholas just graduated from Marine Boot Camp (love my nephew so proud of him)
Another great post Linda! Kuddos to you.
My husbands buy zip ties at yardsales and stashed them in a bin in the garage. There are always plenty around to use for all the projects that I might come across on my backyard farmyard.
Hi Donna, I had so much fun st the store just talking to everyoneon how they would use them. Great tip on the yard sales! Hugs! Linda
I never would have thought of all the uses for zip ties. Thanks
My son was in the Marine Corps. The graduation ceremony is so uplifting and impressive. Thank your nephew for his commitment and service.
Hi Debrah, congratulations on you sons commitment and service. It gives me chills just thinking how proud we are of our young men! Hugs! Linda
I don’t like messy repairs or wrapping things with a bundle of wire, cordage or tape as that never lasts, but these things are very neat looking and very light. They are one of those things like duct tape, binder clips, bungee cords, carabiners, alligator clamps and so on that are nice to have on hand and they won’t rust, rot or tarnish. When they get old you replace them and you’ll have used them for a long enough time to justify their cost.
Hi Frank, you are so right about this! Linda
In a pinch you can join zip ties together to make a longer one. It’s a great list but one item I notice you left out is that zip ties can be used to tie my cat to the chair so she doesn’t follow me all over the house.
Hi Dan, I love the tip on joining the zip ties together! Its hard to keep those cats in one place…Linda
Love zip ties!! I keep some in my quilting studio and I’m always finding something that needs a zip tie! Hubby is beginning to know that when he can’t find something he was sure was in the tool area to come up there and have a look!! Thank you for your nephew’s dedication to country and joining the Marine Corps (I was married to a Marine for 23 years). I know it is a family’s sacrifice that enables them to perform their best at all times (2 of my daughters are serving our country, Army and Air Force). I am so grateful for their willingness to make the sacrifices necessary to keep our country free!
Hi Susan, thanks for letting me know you were married to a Marine for 23 years. Blessings to your daughters serving our country. It is truly a sacrifice. Linda
I use the small ones to colour code wires and bundle them up when tidying cord messes in behind things. And you can always use one to bundle up a bunch of zip ties to keep some handy in the car emergency kit.
Hi Alice, good thought…put a few bundled together in the car with a ziptie. Great tip! Linda
Linda–It sounds like I need to go to my local Harbor Freight Tools! At least to buy some more zipties, in colors!
I’ve had some black ones in my Emergency Kit for awhile now, but you gave me some new ideas on how to use them. Thanks!
Be Well–The Lady Kay
Hi, I didn’t know there were so many colors available until I went there! LOL! It’s really amazing all the colors! Linda
I use the tiny ones to secure the outside pocket zippers on my checked luggage. It keeps them from catching on something & opening, keeps the semi-honest from “shopping” and yet the TSA can easily cut them off if they need to inspect.
Hi Lori, I had to laugh when I read your semi-honest comment about the TSA “shopping”!!! Great idea! Linda
I use them to secure the scuttle bones in my cockatiel cage.
Hi Marie, wow that is a new one, great comment! They can be used for so many things! Linda
Great list! I love the cat comment above. LOL!!!
I keep a pack of zip ties in my truck for securing hoses and wiring (short term) should something come loose.
We also used very thick zip ties to put up wire mesh on the inside of our iron fence. We have javelinas and all sorts of other wildlife that can fit through otherwise, but since we don’t own our home and move frequently, we wanted something that could be attached – and detached quickly. Next time we get orders, we’ll just clip the zip ties and roll the fencing back up to be reused elsewhere!
Hi Melonie, great tip on the fence to put up and remove!! My daughter had those in her neighborhood in Tuscan, AZ. Oh my gosh, they are fast little guys!! Plus they ate all her flowers. Great tip, thank you! Linda