Binder clips — those black and silver clips found in nearly every office — have many great uses apart from holding papers together.
The clips come in several sizes: tiny (1/2″), small (3/4″), medium (1.25″), and large (2″). I tend to use the small ones the most.
Small binder clips are great for holding wires in a loop (such as headphone wires) and, more generally, holding anything that already has an attached loop (such as a set of keys on a ring). Connecting items with loops to binder clips then allows a “quick release” of the item in question (headphones/keys/etc.).
Medium clips are good for holding thicker items (electronic cables) or heavier items that also have loops.
Large clips can be attached to various surfaces (such as the edges of some desks and computer monitors). And because large clips are both large and strong, you can even attach a clip to a horizontal surface (the edge of the desk) and then hang things on the top handle of the clip (like a bag or purse). Alternatively, you can attach the clip to a vertical surface (like a monitor edge) and hang things on the handles (like a pair of headphones).
With any size clip, you can connect it to a fixed loop or line of string, wire, cable, fabric, etc. by removing one of the two metal handles, pulling the line or loop through the handle, and then reconnecting the handle to the clip. (It just takes a squeeze of the handle itself to get it off and then back on the clip.)
Once you start doing this, you’ll find ways to attach loops to items so you can hold them with the clips. For example, if you put loops of string or wire on the end of your work tools, then you can run a rope along one wall of your garage or work area, place multiple clips on the rope (by running the rope through the clip handles), and then use the clips to hang the tools.
Similarly, you can run computer cables through the handles of some clips and then attach the clips to various surfaces (desk edges, desk cross-bars, or even other cables) to manage everything.
Other good uses include as chip clips, as well as an important travel accessory: they are perfect for connecting the drapes in hotel rooms that always seem to leave an infuriating gap! :-) [Thanks to my relative Bobby C. for these ideas.]
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