Sure, we use them to keep stacks of paper together, but why limit these ingenious little devices? Here are some tips and tricks for using binder clips while RVing.
A little history of binder clips
The inventor of the binder clip was Louis E. Baltzley. Louis came up with his unique clip in hopes of helping his father—a prolific inventor and writer. It was 1910, and binding together multiple pieces of paper was done by hand. First, holes were punched along one side of the sheaf of papers. Then, the holes were used to sew and bind the papers together. Not only was this method time-consuming, but it was impractical. If an additional page needed to be added to the pile of paper, or an existing page repositioned, the entire bundle had to be disassembled and then sewn back together.
Louis Baltzley wasn’t the first inventor in the Baltzley family. His father, grandfather, and uncle also held patents. What’s unusual about the binder clip is that it remains in use today in the same basic form and for the same purpose as when Louis invented it.
One clip, many uses
Louis E. Baltzley never would have guessed his invention could be used in so many unique and different ways. Here are just a few.
- Awning lights. Use these clips to fasten a string of lights to your RV awning. (Just be sure to turn them off when you retire for the night!)
- Razor saver. Use a binder clip to protect your razor while in transit. (Not all razors may fit, but test yours because if it fits, this is a great trick.)
- Chip clips. A binder clip will keep your bagged chips crunchy. Plus, they are much less likely to break like the flimsy, plastic chip clips tend to do.
- Fridge helper. Use these clips to keep refrigerated items from rolling around as you travel, like in the photo below.
- Trash liner. A binder clip or two will hold your trash can plastic liner in place until it’s time to dispose of the garbage. Just fasten the binder clip to the top of your trash can, over the liner.
- Tablecloth gripper. A large binder clip will hold your picnic tablecloth securely in place on those windy days. We store four binder clips with our tablecloth so they are always at hand.
- Pants hanger. Attach two binder clips to the bottom of a clothes hanger. Now you have a pants hanger!
- Pen/pencil holder. Clip a pen or pencil to your travel notebook or journal and you’ll always be ready to write.
- Glove hanger. I like to hang up my kitchen gloves to dry. A binder clip helps. Just fasten the gloves to a binder clip and hang them from a hook mounted on the inside of the RV kitchen sink cabinet. (If you want to find some tips for using kitchen gloves while RVing, check out this article.)
- Freezer friend. Use binder clips to keep bags of frozen veggies organized. This will also free up space for other frozen items.
- Money clip. When we plan to be in a highly populated venue, like an RV show or popular sightseeing spot, I don’t like to take my purse. I use a binder clip instead. I fasten a credit card and some paper money to the binder clip. Then I slip our RV key or truck key onto the wire part of the binder. (You’ll need to remove one wire in order to thread your key on. Then put the wire back in place.) This trick enables me to safely carry everything I need inside my front jeans pocket.
Do you have tips and tricks for using binder clips while RVing? Share your ideas in the comments below.
Thinking you could use some binder clips around your RV? Here are a ton of options and sizes.
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RVDT2304
Well, we recently cleaned out our offices at work and we must have boxed up 25,000 binder clips. Our office has been in place since the 80s, but now we generate so much less paper. I’m glad we’re finding use fo these clips now!
The refrigerator tricks alone were worth the read! The other tips were a bonus. Thank you.
Thanks, Lou. Happy and safe travels!
I use wooden clothes pins for lots of TBE same things.
Use a clip on toothpaste tube or denture cream tube as you roll them up.
Great idea, Norm! Thanks.
I always have a couple in my travel bag…ya’ never know when one will come in handy. When staying at a hotel I always use a couple to keep the curtains closed together tight. Seems as tho’ there is always a street lamp shining in through the crack of the curtain.
We have used binder clips of various sizes in so many ways I haven’t kept track. We keep a bag full in each of the TT RVs and in the house. The most common use is as some form of temporary clamp. Maybe until an adhesive sets or to hold pieces in place while I mechanically attach them with tacks or staples. Can’t tell you how often I keep wires neatly bundled or separated where I know I will periodically need to add or subtract from the bundle. I’ve used them to prop small parts or wires I need to solder together. I’ve made temporary props by clipping them together into new shapes. I’ve used just the legs to replace adjustable legs on a keyboard.
Thank you, Gail! We do use them in some of the described ways, but no others. 🙁 Thanks again! Safe travels! 🙂