13 Everyday Problems That Are No Match For Binder Clips

A collage of pictures of clothes, towels, and other items held together by binder clips.

I used to use binder clips regularly to keep all kinds of paperwork organized, from my big pile of annual tax documents to small stacks of coupon clippings. But now that most of our bills, documents, and coupons have gone digital, you might think binder clips would be relegated to the status of other artifacts of our analog past.

But that’s just not the case! The super strong grip and unique wings characteristic of binder clips remain as useful today as they ever were, and I’ve found plenty of other ways to put them to good use around the house.

13 Genius Uses For Binder Clips Around The House

uses for binder clips

1. Display Photos Without A Frame

No frame? No problem. There are 2 ways to display photos, prints, or other pictures using a binder clip:

  • Clip your photo at the top with a binder clip, then use a thumbtack to hang the photo on the wall.
  • Clip your photo on the bottom with a large binder clip, then set it upright on a tabletop or other flat surface.

Related: 7 Fun Ways To Show Off Your Photos

uses for binder clips

2. Hang Holiday Lights

Looking to add a little festive fun to your home or office? Use binder clips to attach holiday lights to the edge of a shelf or bookcase, or along the top of your cubicle. The best part about using binder clips for lights is that you don’t need any special tools to hang them, and you won’t have to make any permanent holes either.

uses for binder clips

3. Cover Your Razor

It can be tough to find what you’re looking for in a densely-packed toiletry bag, and cutting your hand on your razor as you rummage around in there only adds injury to insult. Cover the blade of your razor with a binder clip when packing to avoid this problem altogether.

uses for binder clips

4. Secure The End Of Your Toothpaste Tube

Of course you want to use every last bit of toothpaste in the tube, but that doesn’t mean you need to squeeze or roll the tube every time you brush your teeth. Instead, roll the end of the tube up to push the remaining toothpaste toward the opening, then use a binder clip to secure the end of the tube in place.

uses for binder clips

5. Clip Snacks Closed

Most chip clips are made of cheap plastic that can either break at any moment, or don’t actually clip strongly enough to seal bags up properly. Ditch those plastic clips in favor of a binder clip, which won’t budge once you’ve used it to clip your bags of snacks closed.

uses for binder clips

6. Keep Spice Packets Organized

I use binder clips to keep packets and envelopes tidy in my pantry. Just clip spice mixes and sauce packets together with a binder clip, then hang the clip from a Command hook in your pantry to keep them organized and to use your space more efficiently.

uses for binder clips

7. Corral Cords And Cables

Keep charging cables tidy and easily accessible by clipping them to the edge of your desk. Binder clips are also great for keeping headphone wires neatly wrapped so they can’t become hopelessly tangled in your drawer or bag.

Related: 7 Easy Ways To Hide Ugly Cords And Cables

uses for binder clips

8. Secure Your Trash Bag

Tired of your trash bag slipping off the rim of your trash can? Prevent trash bag slippage by using a binder clip to secure the bag to the rim of the bin to keep it from sliding off.

uses for binder clips

9. Keep Wrapping Paper Rolled Up

If your wrapping paper keeps trying to unroll itself off its cardboard tube between uses, clip the roll at both ends with binder clips. The clips will keep the paper in place so your rolls are easy to organize, but without the the risk of tearing that you get when you secure them with tape.

uses for binder clips

10. Hang Pants

You don’t need a special hanger to hang your slacks—use a couple of large binder clips secure the waistband of the pants to any old hanger.

uses for binder clips

11. Put A Duvet Cover On Easily

Putting a duvet cover on can be quite challenging, especially if the corners of the blanket refuse to stay put in the corners while you’re doing it. Make the whole process easier by tucking the corners of the duvet into the corners of the duvet cover and clipping binder clips onto them, which will keep them in place while you adjust the rest of it.

uses for binder clips

12. Keep Your Pen And Journal Together

If you’re someone who has a favorite pen (personally, I’m devoted to Zebra brand ballpoint pens), it can be frustrating and even heartbreaking when it suddenly vanishes without a trace. But you can keep track of your pen more easily by using a binder clip to attach it to your journal or notebook.

uses for binder clips

13. Hang Your Dish Gloves

Wearing gloves to clean or wash dishes is a must for me during the especially dry winter months. I like to keep my gloves handy (pun intended by clipping them together and hanging them on a hook on the inside of a kitchen cabinet. It makes them easier to keep track of, but hanging them up also allows them to drip dry after each use.

How do you use binder clips at home?

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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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7 Comments

  1. We use the jumbo binder clips to hold parchment paper to the edge of a baking pan so we can add cookies to be baked without the paper rolling up. Once the cookies are placed, we remove the clips before putting the pan in the oven.

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  2. I love the duvet cover Idea, however here is an easy way my mom taught me to put on the cover.
    1 Put your blanket, comforter etc flat on top of your bed
    2 lay the cover on top the comforter inside out.
    3 At this point you can use your clips on the bottom attaching both the comforter and the cover together.
    4 put your hands inside the comforter cover and grab the bottom of the comforter and cover combo by the corners and flip it to the right side.
    5 remove the clips.
    Give it a try
    You will see how easily it will work for you as it does for me.
    Enjoy!

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  3. I must have seen Sandra’s post because I started doing that very thing. I clip them to the roll of paper like the wrapping paper suggestion when not in use. If the roll is too big I clip to the end of the sheets so they are with the paper.

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  4. Binder clip on the 4 sides of a cake pan that is lined with parchment paper to keep it in place.
    Be sure to mount them on the corner edges so that there is room for your hands to be able to grip the pan to either turn it around (for even baking or browning ) or for taking the pan out of the oven with your pot holders. You don’t want to accidentally bump into these clips!

    Sandra W.

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  5. Just be careful as binder clips have a tendency to rust. Maybe a coat of clear fingernail polish would be a good idea if you know you are going to be using one for damp things.

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