Plastic ties in everyday life: uses you never thought of

The plastic tie, or nylon clamp, turned 62 years old in 2020. Its creator, American design engineer Maurus Logan, back in 1958, had no idea how popular the invention would gain. Today, cable ties are not only used to fasten wires, but are also used in everyday life. Recently a competition was held for the best usage idea. That's what came out of it.

Handle for pot lid

Heated lid handles often leave burns on your hands. The need to take a towel or put on an oven mitt simply disappears from your mind. If buying a new lid is not yet in your plans, you can secure a plastic tie to the handle. Like this:

Now you don't have to worry about burns.

Anti-ice

Ice is a common phenomenon in Russia in winter. In such conditions, moving around in regular shoes becomes difficult. No matter how hard the wipers try to sprinkle sand or salt on the paths, bare areas still occur. Ice climbers come to the rescue.

You can make shoe linings with your own hands. You need to tighten the shoes with ties and make a weave on the sole. You can add nuts.

The simple design will protect you from falling and possibly from injury.

In a similar way, bicycle tires are made for winter - the wheel is tightened with thick plastic ties in increments of 5–10 cm. The bicycle slides much less.

Slider tongue

The zippers always break at the wrong moment. It’s not always possible to run to the studio right away and change the slider. A plastic tie will help. You need to thread it into the groove of the slider and tighten it. You will get an improvised tongue. With the help of a simple device you can quickly repair a zipper on a bag, boots, or jacket.

Stand (holder) for phone

Two clamps, 1 minute of time - and the smartphone stand is ready. Need to:

1. Tighten the first clamp at the bottom of the screen.
2. Tighten the second clamp at the top of the screen.
3. Turn the phone on its side and rest it on the plastic ends of the tie.

Or you can make a phone holder for a charger from three plastic ties. It will help out in a situation where the charging cord is too short and does not reach the table.

Secure the first tape to the block. Hook the other two clamps onto the first one and make loops. Slide the phone inside and tighten the locks if necessary.

Bubble wand

Everyone loves soap bubbles: both adults and children. Today they are sold in beautiful and convenient jars. Many people have forgotten how to make bubbles themselves. Let us remind you:

1. You need to mix 150 ml of water, 50 ml of shampoo or dishwashing detergent.
2. To make the bubbles stronger, add 25 ml of glycerin to the soap solution.
3. Instead of a stick, arm yourself with a plastic tie (tighten it so that you get a ring with a handle).

Hanger organizer

A nylon clamp is useful for organizing clothing storage. If you run out of space for hangers in your closet, make a chain of zip ties:

1. Tighten the first tie into the ring.
2. Thread the next ribbon through it.
3. Fasten it into a ring.
4. Make a chain of 5-6 links.
5. Trim the ends.
6. Place the first ring on the hanger hook.
7. Insert a clothes hanger into each link.

Wicker fruit bowl

The next idea will appeal to those who like to make creative things with their own hands. Using a simple weave of plastic ties you can make a vase.

Photo instructions:

The vase is easy to clean. For a country house this is what you need. And you can make a creative cactus sculpture for your garden using an old green hose and white nylon clamps.

Protection from thieves

A nylon clamp can be used to fasten vehicles (bicycles, scooters) to the bars of a metal fence. To make a cable, you need to connect several ties into one long one. Of course, a thief can cut through such protection. But not everyone carries scissors or wire cutters with them. And fussing around the vehicle can attract unnecessary attention.

You can also use a zip tie to connect a double-sided lock to a backpack or suitcase. It will no longer be possible to open luggage unnoticed and quietly.

Plastic binding

If you print books from the Internet or your child wants to make a notebook, plastic ties will come in handy.

1. Punch holes in the stack of papers with a hole punch.
2. Pull the nylon tie through and fasten with a ring.
3. Trim the ends.

Plant garter

Plastic ties are convenient for securing climbing plants to the support: flowers, tomatoes, cucumbers, grapes. The clamps do not pinch the stem and do not rot. Gartering is quick and easy.

Even more ideas for using plastic ties at home:

Questions and answers

What to do if plastic ties break?

Experienced craftsmen in such a situation advise keeping the ties in water for 30–60 minutes. They are saturated with moisture and become elastic. After this, repair work can be carried out even in frosty temperatures of -15–18 degrees.

How to reuse disposable zip ties?

If the lock does not have an opening button, the clamp is considered disposable. However, it can be reused. To do this, you need to carefully bend the tongue with a flat, narrow object (nail file, tweezers) and, holding it, stick out the tape. The second method is to cut the tape at the lock. The tie will become shorter, but sometimes a longer length is not needed.

Plastic ties are a simple and at the same time ingenious invention. Almost the same as duct tape and superglue. They can be used not only for fastening wires, but for everything in general. The lock securely holds the durable nylon tape. You can tighten any parts, make a reliable chain, a handle for a door, or a phone holder from zip ties. Using long 40-centimeter clamps, you can build a hut in the forest. A huge advantage of the device is that you can fasten it with one hand. The second hand remains free.