20 Creative Uses for Paper Clips
Here’s a list of 20 creative uses for paper clips that you didn’t even know that you needed!
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They may be called paper clips, but there are more uses for these bent pieces of wire than just holding paper together.
If you’re like me, paper clips are all over your house and office. There’s always a single paper clip lying around somewhere. I swear they get up and walk around in the middle of the night.
We don’t always think of paper clips as something we can use to solve common everyday problems. I’m going to share with you some great ways to use paper clips that you probably never thought of before!
20 Creative Uses for Paper Clips
1. Make a keyring – Create a circle by wrapping a paper clip around a marker twice, then slide it off and add your keys to it.
2. Fix a zipper – Hook one end of a paper clip through the end of the zipper pull and the other around the button on your pants.
3. Tiny screwdriver – Tighten tiny screws in glasses with a paper clip.
4. Keep wrapping paper from unrolling – Slide a paper clip over each end of the wrapping paper tube to hold the paper in place.
5. Hide bra straps – Pull both of the back straps together and fasten them with a paper clip to hide the straps.
6. Unclog small holes – This is great for clogged salt shakers, glue bottles, spray bottles, and anything that has a small hole that can become clogged. Just stick the paper clip in the hole and give it a little swirl.
7. Bookmark – tie a small piece of ribbon around one end of a paper clip and slide it over a page in a book for a cute bookmark DIY!
8. Remove hair from a hairbrush – Open a paper clip and run it along the bristles of a brush to remove stubborn hair.
9. Close opened bread bags – Unravel a paper clip and wrap it around a bread bag like a twist tie to keep bread fresh.
10. Hang decorative plates – Use a strong adhesive like E6000 to attach paper clips to the back of plates, then hang them from nails to create a gallery wall.
11. Pit a cherry – Unbend a paper clip until it looks like an ‘S’, then use it as a scoop to remove the pit from the cherry.
12. Find the end of the tape – Stick a paper clip at the end of the tape after using it to easily find the end the next time you need it.
13. Clean a keyboard – Wrap a tissue, paper towel, or felt around the end of a paper clip to create a mini brush to easily clean around the keys of a keyboard.
14. Make a smartphone stand – Straighten out all the bends in a large paper clip and fold it in half to create a ‘U’ shape. Bend each “leg” of the clip forward to make a stand to place your phone.
15. Hang ornaments – Slide one end of a paper clip through an ornament loop, then use the other end to hang the ornament with.
16. Dye Easter eggs – Create a spoon shape by twisting a paper clip around. Then use it to lower the eggs into the dye cups.
17. Secure chips and cereal bags – Clip a paper clip on both sides of a bag of chips or a cereal bag to keep the food fresh.
18. Create a bouquet of flowers – Unbend a few paper clips and wrap around several flowers to create a bouget. Wrap a ribbon around the bouquet to hide the clips.
19. Reset electronics – The reset button on most electronics is super tiny, so a paper clip is perfect for this job!
20. Hang photos – Use paper clips to hang photos of friends and family or kids’ artwork.
Paper clip use goes well beyond the office. Who knew that the simplest object had so many uses?
Now that you know how many things paper clips can be used for, you might want to stock up. These little pieces of bent wire are quite inexpensive and really come in handy in an emergency.
Can you think of other uses for paper clips? Let me know in the comments!
Check out these other amazing home hacks:
Amazing Uses for Hydrogen Peroxide
20 Incredible Uses for Safety Pins
Baking Soda Benefits
Vinegar Hacks
12 Ways to Use a Toothbrush for Cleaning
10 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do With Lemons
I do use them for some odd jobs like the ones you’ve listed but others… my mind has been blown! Got to grab my Tangle Teezer because I can’t pull all the hair out of it anymore, going to see if I can work some magic with a paperclip ?xx
I hope the paper clip works for you!! 😀 Thank you for reading!
There are all great tips! I especially liked the bookmark idea! 🙂
Thank you so much! I like that one, too. 🙂
I do that! ??
Reminds me of some survival shows showing all the uses of little things like this! ??
I love those shows! 😀
Awesome ?
What a lovely idea you had here to write this post! I love it because it’s so unusual. I’ll take the tip on spotting the end of tape and removing hair from hairbrush 🙂
Thank you so much! Both of those are so helpful! 😀
WOW!!! I didn’t even think of the many different uses you have here, and I can’t think of anything else that they can be used for. Great tips Michelle, now I’ll have to stop throwing them out LOL
Thank you! Now you can save them and stock up for tiny emergencies. 😀
The whole time I was reading these good tips I was thinking of one thing that shouldn’t be done. Our neighbor’s kid inserted one into an electrical outlet no long ago. No one was hurt, but damage was done…
Oh no! I’m glad no one was hurt but sorry to hear there was damage. Maybe I should write a post on how not to use paper clips. 🙂
I had no idea paperclip had all these dual purposes. Very informative.
Thank you so much! It’s amazing how such a small item can have so many uses. 🙂
I used them once to hold my bangs back(when I had some) instead of a barrette!! Does that count? LOL! Never thought to use them to hang photos. I’ll need to try that! Great ideas, Michelle! Good thing I bought plenty of paper clips for my office!
Holding your hair back is a good idea! I’ve done that before but forgot to add it to my list. 😀
wow!
Thank you!!
I love these hacks! Thanks so much for sharing. Now to score some paper clips for those little emergencies!
Thank you so much! Time to stock up! 😀
#12 I’ve never thought of that and it’s brilliant. Thanks
Thank you so much!!
Great ideas! Thanks for the inspiration. 🙂
Thank you so much!
I never realised just how versatile paperclips are! Great tips.
Thank you! It’s amazing how such a small item can have so many uses. 🙂
I like the fact that paper clips come in so many colors, too. ?
Me, too! My favorite paper clips are the ones with the stripes. 🙂
I had no idea! Now I’m going to look for them. lol ?
Who knew a paper clip could be so handy! These are great tips!
Right? It’s amazing how such a small thing can have so many uses! Thank you!
Very interesting! Great tips!
Thank you so much!
An item that every lady should have in her purse/handbag.
Yes, I agree! 🙂
Sometimes the handiest things are the cheapest. 🙂
Thanks for the good list!
I agree! 🙂 Thank you!!
Paper clips certainly have many uses. Thanks for more ideas.
Yes, they do! 🙂
These are helpful tips! I really like the smartphone stand idea.
Thank you so much! I thought that was neat, too. 🙂
Great tips Michelle! All I know is when I need one of those little guys they’re nowhere to be found!
Thank you!! Right? I finally bought a box of them and keep them in my office. Whenever I find one I have to put it up right away or it’s going to get lost. lol!
So many useful tips!!! Thank you Michelle!
Thank you so much!!!
I myself used paper clips in practice, when the slider with a zipper flew off and everything was fine. Lots of good advice. thanks
That’s a great idea! Thank you so much!
Wow. So many great ideas in here! I’ll have to try some of the .
Thank you so much!!
I’ve used the nice coloured ones to create a nice look on the front of a greeting card and attach a decorative note for the appropriate greeting
What a creative idea!! Thank you for sharing!
I had not even the tiniest clue that you could do all of this with paper clips! Get out of town! ? Thanks to you, I am now going to be trying some of these. Using them as DIY bookmarks is actually a pretty brilliant idea! I like that you can jazz it up with a little ribbon or other material too. Huh! You’ve gotten my ol’ creative brain spinning this morning my friend. Thank you!
Sending all my very best love and big hugs your way this Monday morning! Hope you & yours are well! ?
Isn’t it amazing what those little things can do? I’m always losing bookmarks and paper clips work great!
I hope you have a wonderful Monday!! Many hugs to you! Thank you so much!!!
I used them for Christmas ornament hooks and to clip together snack bags. Great tips Michelle!
Those are great ideas! Thank you!!
I like the idea of using paperclips and ribbon to make bookmarks – a good craft for the kids in our after-school clubs. Blessings Michelle! ♥
Thank you! The kids would have a lot of fun making those. 🙂
Yes, and it will be the perfect craft to do when we give them Bibles. Thanks again! ♥
There are all great tips!
Thank you so much!
#4 is a really good idea, instead of using tape, like I do. I can never get the tape off and end up making a mess.
I used to do the same thing! And then it all sticks together. Thank you for reading!
Who knows that this tiny thing can bring so many uses! Great list Michelle!
Thank you so much!
This is very helpful! ❤️
Thank you! I’m so glad you found it helpful!
Good ideas!!!!
Thank you so much!
Awesome post. Some of the things you listed, I do already but never thought to stop the tape. Good one! ?
Thank you so much! Glad to help! 🙂
I really liked the information on how to clip Easter eggs with the help of paper clips and at the same time not to get your fingers and hands dirty. Thanks a lot! Your tips are great!
Thank you! I’m so glad you found them helpful!
Wow! Such creative uses of the humble paper clips….I’m impressed Michelle!
Thank you so much!
Paper clips have many unique uses. When I was teaching, I sometimes had to confiscate rubber bands and paper clips. I enjoyed ruining their mischievous fun.
This brought a smile to my face! 😀
Cool! ? I only knew about Half of these ?
Thank you! Now you know even more. 😀
Oh wow! Really creative ?
Sometimes I needed it to use it to fix a zipper ?
Thank you so much! 🙂
Great ideas for paper clips! I love posts like this! Thanks for linking up with us at the GATHERING OF FRIENDS LINK PARTY 13
Thank you so much! I enjoy finding uses for the smallest items. ?
Some of these is genius! Holding bra straps back to hide them – OMG I never thought of that before!
Thank you! It’s amazing what a paper clip can do. 😀