three colorful binder clips

Why I Keep Binder Clips in Every Room (and You Might Want To)

/15 Comments/in , , , /by Mary Hunt

I never thought a tiny office supply could take over my home, but binder clips have. From sealing snack bags to keeping cords tidy, these little clamps showcase just how many clever binder clip uses exist around the house. Affordable, versatile, and surprisingly strong, binder clips earn their place in every room. They’re the tool you didn’t know you needed, turning everyday chaos into manageable (and even fun) solutions.

three colorful binder clips

If you had told me back in my spendthrift years that one of my most-used household tools wouldn’t be fancy or expensive, but a humble little office supply, I probably would’ve smiled politely and gone back to reorganizing my bevy of credit cards. But here we are.

Binder clips. The unsung hero of the home. Those little black clamps with silver arms that come in myriad sizes and even colors now? I keep them in nearly every room of my house, and not because I’m overly sentimental about organizing stuff. It’s because they work. They solve problems. And they do it on the cheap. You could call it a binder clip obsession. I call it a lifestyle.

In the Kitchen: Clamp and Conquer

The kitchen is where binder clips earn their stripes.

  • Chip Bag Savior: There’s nothing glamorous about a stale tortilla chip. Binder clips keep snack bags sealed tight. I don’t care what the packaging says… “resealable” rarely means “will stay shut.”
  • Freezer Organization: Half-used bags of frozen vegetables? Binder clip them together by type or purpose. You can even hang them from wire freezer shelves using the handles.
  • Fridge Tidy-Up: Small snack bags, condiment packets, or rogue string cheeses all get clipped and corralled before they vanish into the back of the fridge, never to be seen again.
  • Recipe Display: I print recipes (yes, still) and clip them to my cabinet handle at eye level. It’s like having my own test kitchen without the splatters on my iPad.

In the Bathroom: Surprisingly Handy

You wouldn’t think the bathroom would be a hotspot for binder clip action, but oh, it is.

  • Toothpaste Squeezer: Clip the tail of the tube and roll it forward as you go. You’ll be squeezing out that last pea-sized dot long after your spouse has opened a new tube.
  • Cord Control for Hair Tools: I wrap and clip cords for my hairdryer, curling iron, and straightener so they don’t morph into one big angry noodle pile.
  • Shower Curtain Trick: If your liner creeps toward you like it’s trying to start a conversation, clip it to the heavier outer curtain. No more clingy plastic surprises.

In the Home Office: Naturally Useful

Of course, binder clips belong in the office, but not just for holding stacks of paper.

  • Cable Wrangler: Clip one to the edge of your desk and thread your phone charger or USB cable through the handles. That charger will never again dive off the desk like a bungee jumper.
  • Mini Easel: Stand up a business card, sticky note, or even a photo by flipping the handles up. Instant desktop display.
  • Keyboard Stand Fix: When the little foot snapped off my keyboard, I propped it up with a medium-sized binder clip. Still using it years later. It works better than the original.

In the Bedroom: Unexpected Helpers

I never thought I’d keep binder clips in my nightstand, but they’ve earned their place.

  • Curtain Closer: If your blackout curtains don’t quite meet in the middle, a clip will bridge the gap and help you sleep past sunrise. I consider this a public service.
  • Cord Keeper: Clip a charger cable to the back of your nightstand or headboard. The cord stays put, and you won’t have to go fishing with your arm halfway behind the bed.
  • Sock Security: I clip sock pairs together before they go in the laundry hamper. They come out as the couple they went in as. Marriage counseling not required.

In the Closet: Tame the Chaos

Closets love to get cluttered. Binder clips fight back.

  • Scarf Organizer: Use pants hangers and binder clips to hang scarves in plain sight. If I can see it, I might actually wear it.
  • Shoe Pair Keeper: Clip the backs of flats, sandals, or kids’ shoes so they don’t wander off from their sole mate.
  • Air-Drying Assistant: For delicates like bras or hand-washables, clip them to a hanger and hang that from the shower rod. Voilà! Instant drying rack.

In the Laundry Room: Clip and Sort

  • Lint Bag Hanger: I clip an old grocery bag to the wall to collect lint from the dryer. When it’s full, I toss the whole thing (bag included) into the trash.
  • Drying Rack Assistant: I’ve used binder clips to hang dishcloths, wet socks, or random fabric swatches from drying racks when I run out of pegs.
  • Lost Sock Station: One clip on the wall becomes the temporary holding zone for solo socks. When their partner shows up, the reunion is glorious.

In the Garage & Car: Portable Genius

These little clips can handle heavier jobs, too.

  • Car Phone Mount: Clip two large binder clips together and wedge them into your car’s air vent. Add your phone, and you’ve got a DIY mount that costs pennies and takes 30 seconds to install.
  • Glove Box Paper Clamp: I use a binder clip to keep my registration, insurance card, and roadside assistance info all together. Easy to find, especially when it matters.
  • Tool Tagging: If you use plastic bins or baskets for screws, bolts, or craft supplies, clip a labeled index card to the side instead of using sticky labels that peel off.

For Kids and Pets: Yes, Really

  • Crayon and Marker Clamp: I keep a small bunch clipped together in my purse or car bag for emergencies. No more rogue crayons melting into upholstery.
  • Snack Sealer for Littles: I clip individual snack bags closed and toss them into my car’s Snack Bag. (Grandma of the Year Award anyone?) Kid-friendly and keeps Goldfish from turning to powder.
  • Pet Food Bag Helper: Fold and clip a big bag of dog food closed instead of trying to use a built-in zipper that doesn’t work. It’s critter-safe and keeps the food fresher.

On the Go: Travel Hacks with Binder Clips

I keep a few binder clips in my suitcase and carry-on. Here’s why:

  • Hotel Curtain Closer: Hotel curtains never seem to meet all the way. One clip fixes that light leak in seconds.
  • Toothbrush Stand: Clip one to the counter edge and stand your toothbrush upright through the handles.
  • Laundry Line: A bit of twine and two binder clips gives you a travel clothesline for drying swimsuits or hand-washed unmentionables.

Bonus: If your suitcase zipper loses its pull-tab mid-trip (ask me how I know), thread on a binder clip and zip like nothing happened.

The Binder Clip Philosophy

There’s a quiet satisfaction in finding new uses for something simple. Binder clips don’t beep or buzz. They don’t need charging or syncing. They just work.

In a world of overcomplicated solutions and overpriced gadgets, the humble binder clip reminds me to pause, look around, and use what I already have. It’s the Everyday Cheapskate way.

I’ve always said that living frugally doesn’t mean living without. It means being creative, paying attention, and maybe even having a little fun in the process.

So yes, I keep binder clips in nearly every room. They’re tucked in drawers, clipped to hangers, holding up art projects and charging cables alike. And every time I find a new use, I can’t help but smile at the cleverness of it all.

If you’ve got a favorite binder clip trick (or discover one after this) send it my way. I’ll be the one organizing socks, sealing snack bags, and trying not to clip my fingers in the process.

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Question: What’s the most unexpected way you’ve used a binder clip at home? Drop your smart uses in the comments below.

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15 replies
  1. Linda says:

    I use a binder clip to keep my yard flag from blowing off the pole and another to keep our suet feeder closed. Without it, the birds and squirrels would run off with the suet!

    Reply
  2. Deb says:

    I use binder clips as a security measure on windows to stop the sash from moving up more than a few inches. The clips are easy to use, hold very well, and give a measure of safety.

    Reply
  3. Susan Locke says:

    I use a medium sized binder clip on my travel razor; it stays put unlike the plastic caps that come with the blades.

    Reply
  4. jd wolfe says:

    most creative use? my granddaughter’s long, very curly hair – instant hair clip. i can’t stand that hair in her mouth when she’s eating. plus i love seeing her pretty 7 year old face.

    Reply
  5. Connie says:

    For the dryer lint, if you are a camper, save it. Put in a ziplock bag to keep dry. Excellent for starting your campfire.

    Reply
  6. Cathy says:

    Hello, I already use binder clips in many of the ways you describe. One unique use for me is for my windows. There is a lip on the top and bottom of my double hung windows. I use binder clips on these to hang vinyl sheets in the winter block cold, window blankets if the temperatures are below zero (for minimizing cold creep from outside) and putting up extra screens (outside) in the summer to cut the heat.

    Reply
  7. Laura L Loudermilk says:

    My daughter works nights, so when she housesits, I use an extension rod on each window (blinds don’t make it dark enough) in the guest bedroom and attach oversized dark towels to them to keep the room dark during the day while she sleeps.

    Reply
  8. Ellen says:

    I use binder clips to hang my yearly wall calendar. Sometimes the holes in the calendar are too small for the nail in the calendar holder. I use a clip to hold the calendar, and clip it to the nail. I also use it for our “rebate” envelope, clipped to a nail above my computer. No more lost receipts or rebate forms.
    I also periodically use them while sewing very thick fabrics-such as fleece and wool. Cheaper than the sewing clips available online for sewing!

    Reply
  9. Beth Herndon says:

    I have a pair of needle nose pliers which I use to help unclog my paper shredder. These pliers have a spring design that keeps them open. I put them through a binder clip to keep them shut while in the drawer!

    Reply
  10. Sue Smith says:

    A good use for binder clips in baking? Use them on metal baking pans to hold parchment paper lifts to easily remove baking from a pan.

    Reply
  11. Annie G. says:

    Hi Mary!
    Happy New Year!! I love the ideas for using office clips! I’ve been using good old-fashioned wooden clothes pins for years as clips. I get a pack of 50 for less than $2.00, and they last a long time. But, because they’re wooden, I can’t use them for anything wet, so I love hearing about the office clips! Thank you for sharing!!

    Reply
  12. Joan Wyatt says:

    After I fold each of my large reusable shopping bags that I keep in the car, I clip each one closed with a binder clip so they don’t come unfolded and slide all over.

    Reply
  14. Sally Davison says:

    Instead of binder clips, I use wooden clothes pins that I buy from the dollar store. They are great for older people since they are easy to grip. I always have plenty on hand. They are super cheap.

    Reply
  15. linda says:

    i read a lot. on my night stand, i have a wire rack which gives me a ‘book shelf’. my bible and devotional go on the bottom and the current novel on top. it does tend to slide off, though. but by putting two large clips on the edge of the nightstand, that doesn’t happen. the other use is i put binder clips on bookshelves in every room and hang a flashlight on the handles so i can find it easily during a blackout. this in addition to many of the uses you have listed.

    Reply

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