Stop Losing Them! 5 Surprising Uses for a Simple Bobby Pin
- Lifestyle
- Exienent
- · Updated
A bobby pin is more than a hair accessory: it can work as a toothpaste squeezer, a reset-button tool, an emergency zipper pull, a snack-bag clip, and a tape measure clamp. That tiny, springy piece of metal is one of the most versatile little tools you can keep in your home.
Why are bobby pins worth saving?
Bobby pins are worth saving because their strong spring tension and thin, straight edges suit a lot of small household jobs. If you live with someone with long hair, or have it yourself, you know the universal truth about bobby pins: they multiply in the dark and spread to every corner of the house, only to vanish the second you actually need one.
Instead of vacuuming up the strays on the bathroom floor, it can pay to gather them in a little magnetic dish on your desk. Here are five uses that have absolutely nothing to do with hair.
What can you use a bobby pin for besides hair?
1. How do you squeeze out the last of the toothpaste?
Slide a bobby pin horizontally across the flattened bottom edge of the tube. Rolling the tube up from the bottom rarely holds, because the plastic just unrolls itself.
As you use the paste, slide the pin further up the tube. It acts like a little clamp, keeping the empty part flat and pushing the paste toward the top. It works just as well on expensive hand creams and ointments!
2. What can press a tiny reset button?
The straight edge of a bobby pin (the side without the ridges) is the right size to press into small, recessed "Reset" holes without damaging the delicate button inside. Every so often a piece of tech freezes up, whether it is a router, an old e-reader, or a smart home sensor, and that microscopic button is the only fix.
A paperclip or thumbtack is the usual tool, but it may not be within reach when you need it. A bobby pin from the dish on your desk does the same job.
3. How do you fix a broken zipper pull in a hurry?
Loop a bobby pin through the eyelet of the broken zipper slider. It instantly gives you a sturdy, easy-to-grip handle in place of the tiny metal nub left behind when the tab snaps off.
It might look a little improvised on a nice jacket, but it is a lifesaver for getting a stuffed suitcase or a backpack closed when you're in a rush.
4. Can a bobby pin seal a bag of chips?
Yes. If you are out of plastic chip clips, tightly roll the open top of the bag down and slide a bobby pin horizontally over the fold. A loosely rolled bag lets air in, and the chips go stale.
Because bobby pins are designed with strong tension to hold hair tight against the scalp, they grip the thin plastic bag securely, keeping the air out and the snacks fresh.
5. How do you keep a tape measure hook from slipping?
Slide a bobby pin over the metal hook and the edge of the material you are measuring, and it gently clamps the tape in place. When you measure a long distance by yourself, the hook at the end of the tape tends to slip off the edge of the board or table right as you reach the other side.
It's like having a tiny second pair of hands holding the end for you.
Where should you keep spare bobby pins?
Keep a few in your desk drawer or your kitchen junk drawer. Those little pieces of metal scattered across the bathroom floor are surprisingly useful, and having them within reach means you can grab one the moment one of these small problems comes up.
