Stop Losing Them! 5 Surprising Uses for a Simple Bobby Pin

If you live with someone with long hair, or if you have it yourself, you know the universal truth about bobby pins: they multiply in the dark and spread out to every corner of your house, only to completely vanish the second you actually need one to pin up your hair.

I used to just vacuum them up when I found them scattered on the bathroom floor. But recently, I started gathering them in a little magnetic dish on my desk because I realized something amazing. That tiny, springy piece of metal is actually one of the most versatile little tools you can have in your home.

Here are five ways I’ve started using ordinary bobby pins for things that have absolutely nothing to do with hair.

1. The Ultimate Toothpaste Squeezer

I absolutely hate wasting the last bit of toothpaste, but rolling the tube up from the bottom never seems to hold. The plastic just unrolls itself.

Enter the bobby pin. I slide a bobby pin horizontally across the completely flattened bottom edge of the toothpaste tube. As I use the paste, I just slide the pin further up the tube. It acts like a perfect little clamp, keeping the empty part flat and forcing all the paste up to the top. It works just as well on expensive hand creams and ointments!

2. The Micro-Reset Tool for Electronics

Every so often, a piece of tech completely freezes up—my router, an old e-reader, or a smart home sensor—and the only way to fix it is to press that microscopic, recessed "Reset" button.

I used to frantically search my desk for a paperclip or a thumbtack, which I could never find. Now, I just grab a bobby pin. The straight edge of a bobby pin (the side without the ridges) is exactly the right size to comfortably press into those tiny reset holes without damaging the delicate button inside.

3. An Emergency Zipper Pull Replacement

There is nothing quite as frustrating as zipping up a jacket or a backpack in a hurry, only to have the little metal zipper tab snap completely off in your hand. You're left with a tiny metal nub that is impossible to pinch.

The next time this happens, just loop a bobby pin through the eyelet of the broken zipper slider. It instantly gives you a sturdy, easy-to-grip handle. While it might look a little improvised on a nice jacket, it is an absolute lifesaver for getting a stuffed suitcase or a backpack closed when you're in a rush.

4. A Temporary Clothespin for Snack Bags

I am notorious for eating half a bag of chips and then loosely rolling the top, hoping they won't go stale. They always do.

If you are out of those plastic chip clips, a bobby pin works phenomenally well. Just tightly roll the open top of the bag down, and slide a bobby pin horizontally over the fold. Because bobby pins are designed with strong tension to hold hair tight against the scalp, they provide an incredibly secure grip on the thin plastic bag, keeping the air out and the snacks fresh.

5. Keeping the End of the Tape Measure from Slipping

If you read my previous post, you know I love tape measure hacks. Here is another one. When you are trying to measure a long distance by yourself, the little metal hook at the end of the tape always seems to slip off the edge of the board or the table right as you get to the other side.

If you slide a bobby pin over the metal hook and the edge of the material you are measuring, it gently clamps the tape measure in place. It’s like having a tiny second pair of hands holding the end for you.

Final Thoughts

It turns out those annoying little pieces of metal scattered all over the bathroom floor are actually incredibly useful. Start keeping a few in your desk drawer or your kitchen junk drawer. You will be shocked at how often they come in handy!