When people think about cable ties, the first things that come to mind are usually bundling wires or tying up packages. But cable ties can do much more than that. In everyday life, a single cable tie can solve a surprising number of small problems.
Here are 7 simple, practical cable tie tricks that might come in handy when you least expect them.
1) Lock Your Luggage Zippers
If your suitcase or travel bag has two zipper pulls, you can thread a self-locking cable tie through both pull loops and tighten it.
This makes it easy to spot whether the bag has been opened—useful for checked luggage or temporary storage at a hotel.
2) A Temporary Zipper Pull
Zipper pulls can break or fall off (jackets and backpacks are common victims). When that happens, use a small cable tie—for example, 2.5 × 100 mm—and thread it through the zipper slider where the pull used to be. Tighten it, and you instantly get a usable “handle” to open and close the zipper.
3) DIY Bubble Wand
Want to make bubbles at home for kids? Bubble solution is easy (dish soap + water), but you still need a wand.
Use a longer tie and form a loop by adjusting the tie diameter. Make the loop size small enough to dip into the container. That loop becomes a simple bubble wand—dip, lift, and blow or swing to make bubbles.
4) Reseal Food Bags with Reusable Cable Ties
For opened food bags (flour, sugar, baking ingredients), keeping moisture out is important. A reusable cable tie is a simple way to seal the bag tightly.
Roll or twist the bag opening, wrap the releasable cable tie around it, and tighten. The advantage of a releasable type is that you can open and re-close it without cutting.
5) Unclog a Sink Drain (Hair & Debris)
If your sink drain is blocked—especially with hair—you can use a long, wide cable tie as an emergency tool. Something like 12 × 300 mm works well, and you don’t need chemical drain cleaners.
How to do it:
- Modify the tie: Use a sharp knife to cut small angled notches along both edges (like little barbs).
- Insert & rotate: Push the notched end into the drain and twist it back and forth.
- Pull out debris: Slowly pull it out—the barbs will catch hair and gunk and bring it out with the tie.
6) Hang Red Lanterns Securely
During festivals and holidays, red lanterns are often hung at doors or along walkways. A heavy-duty cable tie makes it fast and secure. One quick tie is usually enough to prevent the lantern from dropping or shifting in the wind.
7) Secure Anti-Collision Padding
Worried kids might bump into sharp table corners? Wrap the corner with soft padding, then use cable ties at key connection points to hold the padding firmly in place so it won’t slide off.
Safety note: Always trim the excess tail flush with Flush Cut Pliers or scissors to avoid sharp edges that could scratch someone, especially children.
Quick Summary
These small tricks are all real, practical uses of cable ties in everyday life. They’re cheap, lightweight, and surprisingly effective when used the right way.
If you have your own clever cable tie tips, share them—we can all make this “tiny tool” even more useful.
