13 Of The Most Useful Things You Can Do With A Paper Clip

uses for paperclips

I love being able to repurpose things I have lying around the house, and my collection of paper clips just got a bunch of new assignments after I learned about all these great ways to use them. When you find out some of the things you can do with this simple office supply, I’m sure you’ll be as amazed as I was!

13 Creative Uses For Paper Clips

uses for paperclips

1. Secure Wrapping Paper

Do your rolls of wrapping paper seem determined to unroll and unravel whenever you turn your back? A couple of paper clips can help you keep your stash of gift wrap much tidier—just add a paper clip at each end of a roll to secure the edge of the paper and prevent it from unraveling.

uses for paperclips

2. Clean Hair From A Brush

An unfolded paper clip can be a handy tool for cleaning things, including your hairbrush. Slide the edge of an unfolded paper clip under the hair wrapped in the bristles of your hairbrush and lift it up to remove the hair. (This works well on brooms too.)

uses for paperclips

3. Clean Small Spaces

Another handy use for an unfolded paper clip is to clean tight spaces. Just wrap a paper towel around the end of a paper clip and use it clean gunk out of the smallest nooks and crannies.

uses for paperclips

4. Unclog Shakers And Sprayers

Anything that has a sprayer or a shaker top can get clogged up in the course of regular use. But in many cases, an unfolded paper clip is all you need to dislodge whatever is blocking up the holes to get it working properly again.

uses for paperclips

5. Keep Bags Closed

Lost the twist tie from your loaf of bread? Grab a paper clip and use it to secure the bag closed. You can also use paper clips to keep bags of chips, pretzels, and other snacks closed.

uses for paperclips

6. Open A Letter

When you receive a nice letter or invitation, you may want to keep the envelope intact so you can save it. If you don’t happen to have a letter opener handy, just unfold a paper clip and use it to open the envelope without tearing it open.

uses for paperclips

7. Put On A Bracelet

If you’re trying to put on a bracelet and there’s no one around to give you a hand, grab a paper clip! First, grab the smaller hook of the paper clip and bend it the opposite way so that the clip forms an S shape, then slip the ring of your bracelet (as in the ring you attach the bracelet clip to) over the hook on one end of the paper clip.

Hold your arm out with your palm facing up, and position the paper clip so the bracelet ring is at the center of your wrist and the other end of the paperclip is resting on the heel of your palm. Curl your fingers to hold the paperclip in place, then grab the bracelet clip with your free hand, hook it onto the ring, and you’re done!

uses for paperclips

8. Create A Temporary Hem

Whether the bottoms of your pants are a bit too long or your skirt hem has started unraveling, you can use a few paper clips to secure your hem temporarily wherever you’d like it to go. You can also use a paper clip to hold up the sleeves of a long sleeve shirt so you don’t get them wet while doing dishes or washing your hands.

uses for paperclips

9. Mark The End Of Tape

When you’re using painter’s tape, duct tape, or packing tape, stick a paper clip to the sticky side of the end of the tape roll before storing it away again. The next time you go to use the tape, you won’t have to search around for the end or spend several minutes trying to pry the end up from the rest of the roll.

uses for paperclips

10. Attach To A Key

Need to give a friend a spare key to your house, but don’t have a spare keychain around? Hook the key onto a paper clip instead. They’ll still be able to use it to attach the key to their own keyring.

uses for paperclips

11. Wire Flowers Together

Florist wire can be expensive, so why not use a few unfolded paper clips instead? They’ll work in much the same way as florist wire and you’ll save a fair bit of money on your DIY floral arrangement.

uses for paperclips

12. Make A Bookmark

Need a way to mark the page in the book you’re reading? Thread a length of ribbon through the end of a paper clip to make a quick and easy makeshift bookmark.

uses for paperclips

13. Hang Up Photos

And finally, you can use paper clips and a damage-free way to hang up photos. Just push a pushpin into your wall where you want the photo to go, slide a paper clip onto the top of the photo, and hook the other side of the paper clip onto the end of the pushpin.

What other uses for papervclips would you add to this list?

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Jill Nystul Photo

Jill Nystul (aka Jillee)

Jill Nystul is an accomplished writer and author who founded the blog One Good Thing by Jillee in 2011. With over 30 years of experience in homemaking, she has become a trusted resource for contemporary homemakers by offering practical solutions to everyday household challenges.I share creative homemaking and lifestyle solutions that make your life easier and more enjoyable!

About Jillee

Jill Nystul

Jill’s 30 years of homemaking experience, make her the trusted source for practical household solutions.

About Jillee

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24 Comments

  1. My glasses kept fogging with my face mask. I straightened a paper clip, cut a tiny hole In the top seam of the mask and threaded I thru’. Then pressed the clip down on both sides of my mask. No more fogged glasses!

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    • From CJ —- pushe d clip on both sides of my nose….

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  2. Am in Weight Watchers and for every pound I lose i add a paper clip. It’s a great visual for weight loss.
    I have a long string of them.

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  3. I use the long end to poke in the tiny Part of my French whisk to clean it

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  4. At the moment, I have a paperclip chain attached to the flapper thing in my toilet and hooked to the top of the tank to flush it. (I’m redoing my bathroom soon and getting a new toilet, so I didn’t want to spend the money on buying a new flusher.)

    I also have a binder clip attached to a little shelf on my desk which holds my pen nicely.

    I love the idea of using it for my phone charger. I think that’s one idea I’ll be stealing!

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  5. Thanks so much for sharing my paperclip heart earrings! This is such a great collection. :)

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  6. Love this. I love the cards and earrings. Some of these ideas are great for keeping the kiddos entertained- when my nieces and nephews come to visit.

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  7. When I was a kid , we took 3m colored tape wrapped it a round each paper clip and linked them together to make necklaces and hangers for Glasses.

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  8. I use the metal big binder clips to hold parchment paper on the sides of my baking pans when making fudge, brownies, bar cookies, etc… I also always pack a few of the large clips when traveling to hold hotel curtains together or to close half eaten chip bags. I also have a binder clip clamped on my bedside table that I string the end of my phone charger thru (so much easier that hanging out of the bed trying to find the end of the phone charger).

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  9. A uunbend large paper clip can be used to pop the lock on a bathroom door. (Toddler rescue) also can be used to manually eject a CD/DVD/blueray etc with out power to the unit

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  10. More brilliant ideas…thanks Jillee! I used binder clips to keep a cloth bag attached to a tall wicker hamper for laundry. While it worked really well…somehow, I ended up with rust spots on the cloth bag. I never ever EVER put wet laundry in the hamper, so I’m at a loss as to how it happened :(

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • Put clear fingernail polish on the binder clip to stop rust or discoloration. Or you can use colored fingernail polish and decorate the clip. Hope that helps

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  11. I would not use rubber bands to hang a plate, They rot too quickly

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • Maybe try a similar method with a string or chord?

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  12. I do the binder clip on the toothpaste tube one. It works! I use a really large comb to flatten out the toothpaste tube about once a week and push up/roll up the flattened part, then put the binder clip on over the rolled up part to hold it there.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • I use the toothpaste thing, too. Then I hang the tube by the binder clip. A tiny Command hook in the medicine cabinet does the trick! Takes up less room than having the tube laying on the shelf.

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
      • Clever!

  13. I’ve used them for Christmas ornament hangers, when I didn’t have quite enough.
    No fireplace, but have legal bookcases with the flip-up glass doors. I use paperclips to hang Christmas stockings on the bookcase doors. (A fireplace screen with votive candles behind it, placed at the base of the bookcase, and a little imagination makes a nice Christmas fire.)
    Also use them to hang a calendar on the front of a cupboard door.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  14. Just want you to know I absolutely love your Blogs. I look forward to receiving them in my inbox.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.

Leave a Comment

24 Comments

  1. My glasses kept fogging with my face mask. I straightened a paper clip, cut a tiny hole In the top seam of the mask and threaded I thru’. Then pressed the clip down on both sides of my mask. No more fogged glasses!

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • From CJ —- pushe d clip on both sides of my nose….

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  2. Am in Weight Watchers and for every pound I lose i add a paper clip. It’s a great visual for weight loss.
    I have a long string of them.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  3. I use the long end to poke in the tiny Part of my French whisk to clean it

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  4. At the moment, I have a paperclip chain attached to the flapper thing in my toilet and hooked to the top of the tank to flush it. (I’m redoing my bathroom soon and getting a new toilet, so I didn’t want to spend the money on buying a new flusher.)

    I also have a binder clip attached to a little shelf on my desk which holds my pen nicely.

    I love the idea of using it for my phone charger. I think that’s one idea I’ll be stealing!

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  5. Thanks so much for sharing my paperclip heart earrings! This is such a great collection. :)

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  6. Love this. I love the cards and earrings. Some of these ideas are great for keeping the kiddos entertained- when my nieces and nephews come to visit.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  7. When I was a kid , we took 3m colored tape wrapped it a round each paper clip and linked them together to make necklaces and hangers for Glasses.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  8. I use the metal big binder clips to hold parchment paper on the sides of my baking pans when making fudge, brownies, bar cookies, etc… I also always pack a few of the large clips when traveling to hold hotel curtains together or to close half eaten chip bags. I also have a binder clip clamped on my bedside table that I string the end of my phone charger thru (so much easier that hanging out of the bed trying to find the end of the phone charger).

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  9. A uunbend large paper clip can be used to pop the lock on a bathroom door. (Toddler rescue) also can be used to manually eject a CD/DVD/blueray etc with out power to the unit

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  10. More brilliant ideas…thanks Jillee! I used binder clips to keep a cloth bag attached to a tall wicker hamper for laundry. While it worked really well…somehow, I ended up with rust spots on the cloth bag. I never ever EVER put wet laundry in the hamper, so I’m at a loss as to how it happened :(

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • Put clear fingernail polish on the binder clip to stop rust or discoloration. Or you can use colored fingernail polish and decorate the clip. Hope that helps

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  11. I would not use rubber bands to hang a plate, They rot too quickly

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • Maybe try a similar method with a string or chord?

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  12. I do the binder clip on the toothpaste tube one. It works! I use a really large comb to flatten out the toothpaste tube about once a week and push up/roll up the flattened part, then put the binder clip on over the rolled up part to hold it there.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
    • I use the toothpaste thing, too. Then I hang the tube by the binder clip. A tiny Command hook in the medicine cabinet does the trick! Takes up less room than having the tube laying on the shelf.

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
      • Clever!

  13. I’ve used them for Christmas ornament hangers, when I didn’t have quite enough.
    No fireplace, but have legal bookcases with the flip-up glass doors. I use paperclips to hang Christmas stockings on the bookcase doors. (A fireplace screen with votive candles behind it, placed at the base of the bookcase, and a little imagination makes a nice Christmas fire.)
    Also use them to hang a calendar on the front of a cupboard door.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.
  14. Just want you to know I absolutely love your Blogs. I look forward to receiving them in my inbox.

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.