Twist ties are those little metal strips covered in paper or plastic. Instead of throwing them out, try one of these ways to reuse them.
Twist Ties come on so many products that we buy, including foods that aren’t heavily packaged. You’ll sometimes find vegetables bound together with a twist tie. Or maybe your sandwich bread comes in a bag that’s closed with a twist tie.
Either way, unless you are growing your own food and making everything from scratch and bulk store buys, it’s almost impossible to avoid them. And they aren’t only on kitchen products, but almost every electronic comes with a twist tie (or rubber band) around the wires in the packaging.
Originally Published On: March 26, 2019
Last Updated On: August 14, 2020
What is a Twist Tie?
A twist tie is a metal wire that is encased in a thin strip of paper or plastic and is used to tie the openings of bags, such as garbage bags or bread bags. It is also called garden twist wire. A twist tie is used by wrapping it around the item to be fastened, then twisting the ends together (thus the name). They are often included with boxes of plastic food bags or trash bags, and are commonly available individually in pre-cut lengths, on large spools, or in perforated sheets called gangs.
Src: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twist_tie
The outer covering can be in a variety of colors with or without printing. Plain paper, metallic paper, plastic, poly, or custom coatings are popular for different applications. The plastic, poly, or metallic paper twist ties withstand water better than the uncoated paper versions. Different sizes and strengths are used for different applications
What can we do?
So, with all these twist ties, what can we do with them? Most places won’t recycle twist ties because they are often composed of different materials. And even if you were to pull the wire from the coating, it’s too small to be recycled.
Refuse: The first option would be to stop buying products that are bound with twist ties. But, sometimes, they are unavoidable.
Reduce: If you can’t go without a product using twist ties, try to reduce the amount you purchase and bring into the home.
Reuse: Find ways to reuse them around the house!
How to Reuse Twist Ties Around the House
Twist Ties in the Kitchen
Close Bags
I feel like this is the most obvious use of twist ties, since it’s the one they are typically used for when purchased. But they don’t only have to be used on plastic bags. If you have a paper bag or a cloth bag, you can still use a twist tie to seal it.
Bulk Shopping
If you regularly go bulk shopping, bring a few twist ties with you. Some places only allow you to use their plastic bags, then you have to close them. While the bag can’t always be avoided, the twist tie can if you bring old ones with you.
Group Like Products
Have you ever noticed that a lot of kitchen utensils have a hole in the handle? Those can be used for hanging items on pegboards or hooks. They can also be used to string a twist tie through to keep together. For example, it’s great for something such as measuring spoons since you can then take one off without much trouble.
Twist Ties in the Bathroom/Bedroom
Emergency Shoelace
A twist tie can be strung between the eyelets on a shoe to make an emergency shoelace. Just make sure to tuck the ends in well so they don’t poke your foot.
Necklace Clasp
Strip a twist tie down to the wire and it should be small enough to fit through the loops of almost any necklace. If your clasp has broken, it’s a quick fix to keep it together until you can have the clasp replaced.
Zipper Pulls
Sometimes, those pesky zippers can cause such a problem. We’ve had jackets and jeans that the large part of the zipper pull comes off. When that happens, you can use a twist tie to put through the small hole in the zipper and use it like a regular pull. It can also be used to wrap around a zipper and button if you have a pair of pants that the fly never seems to stay up!
Organize Hair Ties
I don’t know about you, but I have so many hair ties. In multiple sizes. One year I made a comment that most of mine had broken and I think every person in my family bought me a set of them. Twist ties are a great way to hold them together so they don’t make a mess in the closet.
Twist Ties in the Office
Organize Small Items
Paper clips, binder clips, and rubber bands all have small openings that a twist tie can fit through perfectly. Use it to keep like items together in the office so they don’t make a mess of your desk drawers.
Bind Loose Papers
My oldest son, Tyler, has started doing a lot of writing lately. Of course, he’s in kindergarten and doesn’t know how to spell many words yet, but he tries his hardest to sound them out. Then, after he’s written on a lot of pages, he wants them held together to make a book. Using a hole punch and twist ties, I can make his book for him, but it’s still easily expandable unlike if I was to staple it.
Bundle Cords
This is probably the most common way twist ties are reused in my house. We have a lot of electronics, and I can’t stand when the cords are all over the place. Twist ties are perfect to hold the cords together, but can easily be removed if you are rearranging or taking something with you when you travel.
Other Ways to Reuse Twist Ties
Crafts
Twist ties can be used to organize craft supplies, such as ribbon and strings. Or, they can be used to make crafts. Use twist ties with children to make rings or bracelets (just watch the pointy ends) or make wire people out of a bunch of them.
Garage Organization
There are so many small pieces out in the garage, and twist ties can be used to keep them together. For example, string a twist tie through washers so they don’t separate. If you have a pegboard, twist ties can go around objects to then hang from the pegs.
Holiday Decorating
When you run out of ornament hangers, use twist ties instead. String them through the ornament then twist around the tree branch. Twist ties are also great for holding up string lights.
Organize Your Keys
Most people have multiple keys on their key ring, but sometimes, they all look similar. Use colored twist ties or ones with wide enough coverings to write on to wrap around the end of each key so you know which is which key. Also, a twist tie can make an emergency key ring if you need one, and it’s easier to get that apart to add a key than a regular metal one.
Zipper Lock when Traveling
Most airlines don’t allow actual locks on luggage anymore in case they need to do a search for security purposes. But, if you want to make sure your zippers stay together during travel, use a twist tie. This can easily be removed and replaced at security if needed, and is cheap if it ends up breaking.
Gardening
Whether you have plants that need a trellis or a support stake, twist ties are a great way to hold the plants to their support beams. You can slowly loosen the twist tie as needed when the plant grows, and remove it later once the plant is more secure. Just make sure the twist tie is never too tight or it could damage the plant.
Your Turn
Twist ties can have a variety of reuses, and it’s always better to reuse than to throw things away.
- What ways have you reused a twist tie before?
- Have you tried any of these uses?
- Do you have any others to add to the list?
- Which item do you regularly purchase that has a twist tie on it?
These are genius!!! I would of never thought of this many uses for twisty ties! I’m going to save this because I have a ton of them laying around!
It’s amazing how many ways we can find to reuse something as simple as twist ties when you think about it!
This are such smart things to do! Especially to cut down on so much waste.
We try not to buy products with these on them, but if we have to, at least they can be reused!
I love the way it goes from refuse to reduce and then to reuse. Very helpful collection of ways for reusing twist-tiers! Bookmarking this 🙂
Yes, the order of the 5 Rs makes a difference! We try not to get them, but when we can’t avoid it, there are many ways to reuse twist ties.
I don’t tend to buy to many things that have twist ties. Bread occasionally but usually that has the plastic tabs and I am never sure how to reuse those. I tend to reuse twist ties in the kitchen on other things I’m wrapping up.
I’ve noticed it really depends on the brand of bread whether it has twist ties or the plastic tabs. I am trying to find ways to reuse those as well, and once we have enough I want to make a post with ideas for those, too.
Ohhhhh I LOVE the luggage-lock one (and have done that many times before!). Besides keeping cords, earbuds, etc. neat and untangled, I donate extras to our local secondhand-craft-supply store for kiddos to use in craft projects.
I never thought to try to find a second-hand craft store. I wonder if we have one around here because I would probably have quite a few things I could bring them.
These little thingys really annoy me! Like you said I mostly refuse to buy stuff using twist ties. The only one thing I still buy that have them is my children favourite sliced bread. I will definitely try to reuse them instead of disposing of them.
Ours almost all come from sliced bread, too. I make homemade bread, but it doesn’t always last long enough.
There are so many great ideas here! It’s so important o find sustainability through creativity.
It definitely takes creativity sometimes! But, the most important part is making an effort.
I loveeeee hearing about reusing and recycling anything and everything! I use them for grouping wires too!
There are so many ways to reuse something if you just get creative and think outside the box! We use them for wires most of the time, but there are so many more uses.
These are some great uses for twist ties. I wouldn’t have thought using them to tie plants to beams but I can see how they would work really well for smaller plants. Very cool.
I agree, it would have to be smaller plants, like tomato vines. Our blackberry bush is on a large structure, so we used an old tshirt and cut it into strips to tie that up.
I am not so familiar on the twist ties and thanks for letting me know that. It’s totally cool for me.
They come on a lot of baked goods. At least, that’s where I commonly see twist ties.
We always keep twist ties and find things to use them for! I love this so much!