10 Innovated Uses for Binder Clips

Who knew binder clips could be so helpful, and a lot less cheaper than buying the actual tools you need!  Binder clips are cheap and always accessible, and even though they were created for one purpose, here are many other ideas on how binder clips can make life a little easier!

Step 1: Organize Your Wires

Got a ton of mixed up wires at your computer? Binder clips work as excellent organizers! Depending on the size of the cord, use different sized clips.

Step 2: I-Pod Stand

Who would have known binder clips make excellent i-pod stands! Clip two binder clips together and put your i-pod down while watching shows, playing games etc.

Step 3: Tooth Paste

Keep a binder clip at the bottom of the new toothpaste tube and use it to keep the rolled up tube in place. You’ll make the toothpaste last longer.

Step 4: Kids Doodle Pad

Grab a handful of blank pages, and hold them together with a binder clip and a sheet of thick card stock for sturdiness. Now tie a pen or pencil to a piece of string and tie that to the binder clip a simple doodle pad that always has a pen attached. Quick and easy.

 

Step 5: Artwork Hanger

Any art work you don't want to get holes in? Use a binder clip! Attach it to the page, and simply put a tack trough the binder clip.

Step 6: Bookmark

Use a small binder clip to mark your page, other than to dog-ear your pages.

Step 7: Recipy Card Holder

Hold up your recipes while your cooking with a sturdy base.

Step 8: Card Holder

Holds cards up real nice on the counter. If you have plain black clips, paint them or hot glue on a decoration to add style to your card.

Step 9: Wrapping Paper Clip

Keep your wrapping paper clean and tidy by putting a small clip on each end of the roll.

Comments

[webbmark1]

I love this use of binder clips, I'm going to do it right now.

[rblee]

You missed my favourite:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Binder-Clip-Phone-Car-Mount/

These work better than commercial phone holders :)

[nmvb]

Nice, great ideas

[redknight1971]

i love binder clips.between these and zip ties, i can fix almost anything. lol

[metrometro]

Also: Hang a wire with some tension horizontally, add binder clips and photos, and you've got slightly hip picture frames.

[metrometro]

Missing from list: the binder clip wallet. A large binder clip is perfectly good at holding credit cards, ID, business cards and bills (folded in half).

[Anlina]

thanks for that!

[rbeforee]

Great ideas. I saw a funny pic on the cheezburger network using a large clip on the fridge top shelf/rack to keep beer bottles from rolling (stacked 3,2,1 rows.) LOL

[Celine1107]

Ya that's a great ideas too! LOL :D

[susanrm]

These are great ideas. Another one is to clip together pages that are glued to make a block in an altered book.

I'd be cautious about clipping artwork and books, just because if you care about them, they could get dented or damaged by the very strong springs in the clips.

On a side note, as much as I'd love you to have an entry in the Office Supplies challenge, you should know that the earilest publication date had to be last Sunday, 11/21.

http://www.instructables.com/community/OFFICIAL-RULES-Weekly-Make-It-Challenge-Office-/

[Celine1107]

That's true about the art work...
But I've done it for many years and it didn't seem to do any harm, but I guess its is how big the binder clip is, and how much force it is pushing onto the paper. I use the small sized ones, and you can even get ones that are like as tall as 2cm!
~Celina

[LMJPR]

awesome! thanks for the great ideas!

[rrares]

i use it as a money clip.

[TheGeek1984]

I use a little one as a money clip. So possible #11...

[chistevemac]

Throw in a few more people that use them as a money clip - I like to keep cash and my wallet separate (don't know why), but I've never found a decent money clip that would make me want to switch from a simple binder clip.

[kc8hps]

Yes I have done the same thing, its a great way to keep money from roaming around and getting lost. Nice post.

[Celine1107]

Good idea....mind if I use it?

[TheGeek1984]

Sure!

[happi cat #71]

Very cool. I use a binder clip to hang up my calender because the hole in the paper ends up ripping after hanging it up. Attach the clip at the top of the wimpy paper, thread a piece of yarn through the clip, tie a knot, and hang on a nail or tack, or...errrr..find a stronger calender. =^..^=

[capricorn]

Easy, cheap, logic, effective. An 'Ible like you love to read. Two thumbs up and thank you for sharing :)

[SQUEEKY1]

And the arms come in handy for office warfare weapons, they make good stabilizers when you have something like your stapler being used as a catapult. Billions of uses and counting. I like the picture idea, I have to try that, I also have one holding my air-card up at the ceiling with minimal interference. works great and takes no time to move it to a different location as the sun moves.
Thanks everyone; you're all so awesome.

[killbox]

Remember you can squeeze the arms and take them off too! especially nice when doing things like picture hanging, or i use fairly large ones to tack cords to the edge of a desk, (rather than running it through the arms, i run it through the clip and then clip it on the pressboard, and then remove the arms. (good to keep them tucked away somewhere. in case you want to reuse them.

[SQUEEKY1]

I've used the BIG binder clips to hold up curtains until I could get a rod hung up. Just take the binder clip put the top of the drape in the "jaws" and clip to any stationary part of the window frame. Keeps the window covered for privacy and you can remove easily without issues of poking a safety pin into nicer fabric or silk. I've also used them to hold up the shower curtain, to tie back curtains, hold a towel on .... the list goes on and on and on and ...

[Celine1107]

Brilliant!

[chistevemac]

Chip clip alternative - chips, bags of coffee/tea, frozen veggies...

[Celine1107]

Great idea! Mind if I use it?

[chistevemac]

Please do! :)

[aobešlová]

Smart! In Czech Republic we used term "donkey-ear" :-) I like this idea!

[HoneyPossum]

These are all really great ideas!!

[knife141]

Binder clips are great. I keep a bunch of them in my shop to use as small clamps and to hold wires for soldering. Nice instructable!

[rimar2000]

Interesting. I can add two more uses:

1. support little pieces to weld. Example: perpendicular tabs using this speed square;
2. close half used sauce sachets in the frodge.