Unusual uses for safety pins while RVing

Walter Hunt is not what I would call a household name. Most people have never heard of Hunt, even though they routinely use his clever invention—the safety pin. Today’s safety pins come in a variety of sizes and colors. They are generally used by seamstresses and quilters and new parents using cloth diapers. I’m sure Mr. Hunt never would have guessed that there could be so many unusual uses for the safety pin. But here they are!

Unusual uses for safety pins around your home and RV

• Pair up. Before tossing socks, mittens, or gloves into the campground washing machine, use safety pins to fasten matched pairs together. You’ll eliminate precious time spent matching up the items when they come out of the dryer and have more time to hike, sightsee, or relax.
• Emergency zip pull. A safety pin can be used as an emergency zipper pull. Just thread the pin through the hole on the zip fastener.
• Protect RV furniture. Use safety pins to fasten fabric armchair covers to the RV chairs and sofa. The pins will keep the protective fabric in place until it’s time to launder them.
• Key keeper. When the grandchildren RV with us I put an extra RV key on a large safety pin. Then I tell the oldest teen to fasten the pin to the inside of their jacket. If the children return to the camper while I’m walking or doing laundry, they can get into the RV using the key.
• First aid kit. Sterilize a few safety pins and put them into your first aid kit where they will be ready to remove a splinter. Keep two or three larger safety pins in the kit too. That way, you will be able to secure an emergency bandage, if necessary.
• Rethread drawstrings. A safety pin can help you rethread your hoodie’s drawstring. Attach the safety pin to one end of the drawstring and then push the pin into the hole. Bunch fabric up over the pin as you push the pin forward through the drawstring’s tunnel. Repeat the procedure until the pin appears at the hole on the other side of the hood. When you’re finished, you can remove the safety pin. (Watch a YouTube video tutorial here.)
• Pickpocket preventer. If your purse has a zipper closure, you can make it more secure using a safety pin. Just thread the pin through the hole in the zipper pull, close the zipper, and then pin through the purse lining or strap.

• Clothespin substitution. You can use safety pins in place of clothes pins when hanging lightweight clothes to dry. The pins take up much less space and are just as effective. (Hint: Be sure to pin the clothing in unobtrusive places, like seams and such.)
• Keep buttons together. Loose buttons will stay in one place if you use a safety pin to hold them together. Takes up much less space than a button box!

• Substitute a button. If you lose a shirt or jacket button when you’re away from the RV, just affix a safety pin to the place where the button used to be. Then use the pin just like a button, working it through the buttonhole. It will hold things together until you can find a replacement.
• Zip it up. If you RV alone and have trouble zipping a back zipper, tie some dental floss or a piece of yarn to a safety pin. Then attach the pin to the zipper pull tab. Reach back and pull on the floss or yarn up and over your shoulder to pull up the zipper. Then unclasp and remove the safety pin.
• No more static. Lessen static cling in your clothing simply by affixing a safety pin to the inside hem or seam. You can also reduce static electricity in an entire load of clothes if you fasten a safety pin to one garment before placing clothes in the dryer.

How do you use safety pins? Tell me in the comments below.

Suddenly feeling like you should stock up on safety pins? You can do so here.

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