this post was submitted on 28 Mar 2025
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Buy it for Life

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Don't buy those crappy plastic bag-clips to hold chip bags, flour bags, etc closed. They're unsatisfying, they wear out and bend, and they just add more plastic pollution to the world.

Instead buy more binder clips. They're made from spring steel, they're strong as hell, they almost never wear out, they can be used to close bags, as small clamps, as hangers for almost anything in a pinch, and they're amazing for building pillow / blanket forts.

I have some from my grandma that she bought 30 years ago and they work just as well as the ones I bought a year ago. The only risk with them ever is rust, and you can just scrub that off with vinegar, add a brush of paint and it's fixed.

Truly some of my favourite robust little items.

top 22 comments
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[–] termaxima@jlai.lu 22 points 3 days ago

And once they do wear out, they’re steel, so they’re recyclable !

[–] Empricorn@feddit.nl 13 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I am available to hold bags of chips, etc closed. I am very careful not to let any air escape, and I don't take up much room!

[–] ReversalHatchery@beehaw.org 6 points 3 days ago (1 children)
[–] Empricorn@feddit.nl 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I... may eat some of the snacks. ☹️

[–] Solarhwan@slrpnk.net 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

..I would like to return this Empricorn

[–] Empricorn@feddit.nl 5 points 2 days ago

It's not my fault, I was poorly trained!

[–] RedstoneValley@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Also useful for some ad hoc cable management. The triangular space inside is big enough to hold some thinner wires without damaging them

[–] masterspace@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 days ago
[–] Glitch@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 2 days ago

I used some today to hold leather pieces in place while I sewed! mega helpful

[–] nokturne213@sopuli.xyz 10 points 3 days ago (1 children)
[–] Bonesince1997@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Same. Binder clips can pinch! And they're a bit too heavy for something like a potato chip bag imo.

[–] QuizzaciousOtter@lemm.ee 8 points 3 days ago

This seems so obvious now but somehow I never thought about this. Thanks!

[–] HidingUnderHats@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago

To piggyback on this, for this of us who enjoy a refrigerator cluttered with magnets, you can stick them to the fridge! I have a bunch of magnetic hematite on my fridge and have a scissor, lighter, multiple chip clips, and pens stuck to it. No more digging through a junk drawer!

[–] tonyn@lemmy.ml 7 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I reseal chips bags with the heat seal of my food saver.

[–] masterspace@lemmy.ca 5 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)
[–] tonyn@lemmy.ml 6 points 3 days ago

It works great on the foil and plastic type bags, just don't vacuum it. Seal only

[–] Olgratin_Magmatoe@slrpnk.net 5 points 2 days ago

Been steeling these from work forever. 10/10 they work great for the kitchen.

I saw someone online use these with a coat hanger to hold open a cookbook while cooking in the kitchen. The coat hanger was hung on the handle of a kitchen press, and the clips connected to the open book to the hanger.

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

Clothesline clips also work

[–] CrackedLinuxISO@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

They aren't the cheapest, but I really like using GripStics to reseal bags. As long as the bag is not made of a very thick material, you can get an airtight seal (Eg, good for plastic-y foiled bags, not so good for a bag of flour made out of paper). There's no mechanical movement at all, so they'll never break.

[–] pineapplelover@lemm.ee 0 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] masterspace@lemmy.ca 7 points 2 days ago

I have and love my 3d printer, this is an example of something that you should buy and not print. Your prints will wear out, these will last your lifetime.