Cable ties, or zip ties, are typically used by people to… well… tie cables. But did you know that there are plenty of innovative and creative ways to them? What follows is a number of innovative ways to utilize this great product. Some of these used may not even have occurred to some of us.
Hubcaps: A rough road can sometimes pop your hubcaps from your wheels. Tie them with zip lock and you would have nothing to worry about next time.
While gardening: Need help in keeping your plants upright? Worry not. Tie them around your plants loosely to gardening stakes so you would not be hurting the stems with the sharp edges. It is suggested that you also use cable ties that can withstand overexposure to sunlight if you have those at hand so it could be longer lasting.
On your truck: Heavy duty zip ties are truckers’ best friend. They can help fastening your stuff on your truck bed so they would not fall off while you drive. They are much more efficient than ropes.
Arts and crafts: Did you know that you can actually weave baskets with zip ties? All you need is a little creativity and a colorful bunch of these wonderful items and you can transform it into a hobby or even a handicraft business.
For flower decorations: In arranging flowers the way you want to, you can’t avoid having some that would not stay in place. Take a few zip ties and tie them. Just organize them according to your design and then tie them securely, but not too tightly to avoid cutting the stems, before putting them in a vase.
Christmas lights and ornaments: It may be a bit late for this advice since the Yuletide season had already passed, but when this year’s Christmas comes, you can actually use the ties to hold your Christmas lights in place. For Christmas decorations whose attaching hooks wore off, use these ties as a replacement instead of running into the store to buy new decors.
Additional storage space: Running out of space to store, or hang something? Using your zip ties, make hoops that you can then hang on a pegboard. You can now use this to hang some of your stull and you would also have easier time organizing things. A milk crate and zip tie could give you additional storage boxes as well that you can place wherever you want.
As locks: Padlocks and chains are now not needed in securing your cupboard where you keep the medicine or other stuff that must be kept out of the kids’ reach. These stainless steel cable ties are cheaper and more handy for you. And you don’t have to remember where you put the key.
In transporting your bike: Do you get annoyed by how your bike’s wheels would point here and there while you are carrying it? Just tie them with a zip tie and they would stay in place and cut if you would ride your bike once more.
On your tent: To make sure that no animals would get inside your tent when you have to leave it, use a zip tie to lock its door flaps in place.
for your drain: Stop wasting money on removing clogs in your drain pipes. The cable ties could do that trick for you. Just get a cable tie, the longer the better, and cut diagonal lines along its edge with a knife. You don’t need to cut it all the way from tip to tip; halfway its length would be enough. After doing that, you just have to insert it into the drain and pull whatever clogs the pipe.
Cable Tie Guide 