Throw a Cleat Hitch
Throwing each turn of a cleat hitch over the horns instead of passing it by hand, with the locking turn aimed to land with a twist in it.
Twist Both Handles Outward to Close a Plastic Bag So It Still Unties
Twist each handle of a carrier bag outward around the bag, reach through the loop each twist creates, and pull the opposite handle through. It holds like a knot but pulls apart with one tug instead of needing scissors.
tie a grocery bag shut, shopping bag knot easy to undo, quick release bag tie
The Problem
Tying the two handles of a carrier bag in a square knot closes it, but the knot pulls down into itself as the bag gets carried. On a bag of rice, flour, or anything heavy enough to swing, that means picking at a knot the size of a pea, or giving up and cutting the handles off. Cut the handles and the bag can't be closed again.
The Technique
Start with the bag sitting upright and both handles standing up, one on each side.
- Take the far side of the right-hand handle and twist it away from you, clockwise, so it travels around the outside of the bag and the far side ends up nearest you.
- Do the same on the left, counterclockwise. Each twist leaves a loop standing open above the bag.
- Put a finger through each loop.
- Reach through the right loop and take hold of the back strand of the left handle. At the same time, reach through the left loop and take the front strand of the right handle.
- Pull both hands apart, the way you snug an overhand knot when you tie a shoe.
The two twisted handles lock against each other and the bag is closed.
Pro tip: To open it, pull one handle straight up. The twists unwind in the order they were made and the bag opens flat, with both handles intact for the next time.
Pro tip: This is a technique worth watching rather than reading — the hand motion in step 4 takes about two seconds on video and a paragraph in text. The source reel shows it at full speed with no talking.
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