If you’re anything like me, you’ll find these clothespin hacks invaluable. If you don’t have these little workhorses, go out and pick up a pack.
Clothespins are super cheap, and you can easily find them in the laundry section of most discount stores. You can also these wooden clothespins from Amazon.
Back in the day, one of the biggest uses for clothespins was hanging laundry out to dry on the clothesline. Now that most of us have electric or gas dryers that do the job, we don’t air our laundry for all the neighbors to see.
Wooden Clothespin Hacks
Even though we’ve graduated from outdoor laundry drying, we don’t have to toss our clothespins into the recycle pile. In fact, we can actually put them to good use.
Clothespins are ideal tools for a number of things:
- Holding things together
- Closing bags and other articles
- Putting items on display
- Variety of craft projects
Clothespin Hacks in the Kitchen
You’ll find a variety of uses for clothespins in the kitchen. Without a doubt, you’ll find more uses that you can ever imagine for these little workhorses.
Here are some uses I’ve found for clothespins in the kitchen:
Chip clip – You don’t need a designated chip clip to seal bags of chips, nuts, and other snacks. A clothespin works just as well.
Bag clip – After using a partial bag of frozen vegetables, use a clothespin to close the bag before putting them back into the freezer.
Cookbook placeholder – Having two clothespins is especially convenient when you’re trying to follow a recipe in a cookbook.
Refrigerator magnet – Attach a magnet to one side of a clothespin and pop it up onto the refrigerator. Now you can hang your children’s artwork and change them out when they create new masterpieces. If you want to get fancy, hand the kids markers or paintbrushes and let them decorate the clothespins.
Trash bag holder – Secure the trash bag to the edge of the garbage can with a clothespin to prevent it from falling into the can.
Clothespin Hacks for the Bedroom or Bathroom
Keep a stash of clothespins in the bedroom and bathroom. Here’s a list of ideas I’ve found:
Hang accessories – You can hang scarves, gloves, socks, and other soft accessories by clipping them with clothespins. Basically, all you have to do is attach one side of the clothespin to a board or other flat surface that you hang on the wall. Another way to hang them is to clip the clothespins to the bottoms of wire hangers.
Pants hangers – You don’t need a designated pants hanger if you have clothespins and a regular hanger. All you have to do is slip the clothespins over the bottom of the hanger, clip your pants, and you’re good to go.
Makeshift toothbrush holders – If you’re traveling, you don’t have to worry about your toothbrush touching the countertop. As long as you have a clothespin, you have a toothbrush holder.
Toothpaste saver – Squeeze your toothpaste from the end and secure with a clothespin to prevent the paste from oozing back into the tube.
Curtain holder – You can close a gap in hotel room blackout curtains if you have a couple of clothespins in your suitcase. All you have to do is clip the drapes together in the middle where the light typically shines through.
Outdoor Clothespin Hacks
Not only can you use clothespins indoors, but you can also take them outside. Here are a few ideas I’ve discovered:
Plant marker – When you plant seeds or seedlings, you can keep track of each item by jotting it on the end of the clothespins and pushing them into the ground near the plant.
Protection from sun – Use clothespins to hang a towel or blanket over an umbrella or overhang to keep the sun from shining in your eyes.
Finger protector – If you don’t have a long lighter or matches, use a clothespin to hold a shorter match to light the grill.
Tablecloth holder – Keep a tablecloth in place and prevent the wind from blowing it away by clipping it to the edge of the picnic table with clothespins.
More Clothespin Hacks
There are so many things you’ll discover that clothespins can do you’ll wonder how you ever got along without them. Drop a few clothespins into your toolbox, your desk drawer, and your suitcase for those times when they might come in handy.
Here are even more uses I’ve found for clothespins:
Thumb protector – When you have to hammer a nail, use a clothespin to help get you started. This will keep your thumb out of the way, so if the hammer slips, you’ll be just fine.
Paperwork organizer – Using a Sharpie, label each clothespin with what you plan to clip before you place it in your “in” basket. Some of the labels might be “paid bills,” “unpaid bills,” and “to be filed.” You can also color code them by covering them with paint.
Wire separator – Label the clothespins with the types of wires you’re storing or securing and clip them near the plug so you’ll know which goes to each device or appliance.
Card hanger – Clip clothespins to a piece of rope and hang in doorways or across the mantle. This makes it easy to hang your birthday and holiday cards.
Bookmark – If you don’t have a bookmark, don’t bend the pages. Instead, use a clothespin to hold your place.
Miscellaneous Clothes Pin Hacks
Crafts – Create fun kids’ crafts using clothespins. Also, a clothespin makes an excellent clamp to hold your craft items together while the glue dries.
Craft clip – If you do crafts, you can use them to hold items in place. For example, organize embroidery thread by hanging it with clothespins to help you find the one you want.
Note clip – Clip a reminder note to a folder, placemat, car visor or any other flat item.
Genius Hacks for Using Clothespins
You’ll be amazed by all the uses you’ll find for wooden clothespins. Keep a pack in each room of the house, and reach for them when you need to clamp anything.
Although they’re super inexpensive, you’ll find them useful in a variety of ways.
Frequently Asked Questions About Clothespins
Clothespins have been around for many years. People have taken them for granted, yet they are such helpful little workhorses.
What Are Clothespins Made Of?
Originally, clothespins were made of wood and connected by a thin piece of wire. Now you can also find them made of other materials, such as plastic or resin.
How Long and Wide is a Typical Wooden Clothespin?
The standard size of a clothespin is 3-1/2 inches long by 3/8 inches wide.
Where Can You Find Clothespins?
You can find clothespins in most discount stores, such as Walmart or Target. Many dollar stores also carry them.
Who Invented the Clothespin?
The first patent of the clothespin similar to the one we currently have went to a Vermont inventor named David Smith, in 1853.
Old-Fashioned Clothespins
As a young girl, I loved helping my grandma hang clothes and sheets on the clothesline. We wore aprons with large pockets that held the clothespins.
Not only was it a cathartic experience everything had a fresh smell from the sun and gentle breeze. That probably wouldn’t be the case where we live now because there are so many cars and other city smells.
Automobile fumes don’t have quite the same appeal as the country air where my grandparents lived in Mississippi.
More Hacks You’ll Love
One of the things I like to do is find solutions to time issues. If you’d like to save time in the kitchen, here’s something that should help: 10 Quick and Easy Cooking Hacks.
These dryer sheet hacks are helpful, even if you don’t use them for their original purpose. They’re really good for repelling dust and many other things.
If you’re like me, you enjoy kitchen hacks that save a ton of time while you’re cooking. Besides, most of them are fun to use.
Did you know that you can use foil outside the kitchen? Check out these aluminum foil hacks to see what all you can do.
You might have heard about how to repair a wall with toothpaste. But there are quite a few more toothpaste hacks that sure do come in handy.
These pool noodle hacks prove that they’re good for much more than just being flotation devices. Stock up during the summer because you never know when you might need them.
Don’t let laundry get the best of you. Yes, it can be quite a chore, but these laundry hacks can make the job so much easier.
Also check out the Pin Junkie’s Pin Party for a few tips and recipes from other bloggers.
Jean | Delightful Repast
Thursday 2nd of July 2020
Love finding new uses for my wooden clothespins! I have a small clothesline on my covered patio by the kitchen and use it to airdry certain items (like black tee shirts that come out of the dryer looking gray!).
Miz Helen
Friday 27th of September 2019
I love my wooden clothespins. I still hang clothes on a clothes line. Thanks for sharing & have a good day! Miz Helen