One of the most critical survival skills you can develop is learning how to take random items around the home and reapply those items for different survival uses.
If you go into any room of your home, you’ll almost certainly be able to find items that will prove immensely valuable in a survival or disaster scenario if you have the knowledge of how to use them.
Most office spaces in particular are a treasure trove of such everyday items that can prove to be very valuable for survival. One of these items is a binder clip.
Here are fifty survival uses for binder clips:
Organize Cords
You can use binder clips to organize cords and strings together as well. Simply take your cordage and then fasten time together with a binder clip. This will help prevent knots while storing the cords in your pack.
Close Your Tent
If your tent flaps are blowing in the wind, seal them shut with the aid of binder clips.
Emergency Cufflinks
If you’re wearing a long sleeved shirt in a survival situation with loose or baggy arm sleeves that allow wind to get in and cool you down, you can use binder clips as ‘emergency cufflinks’ to keep the sleeves shut and tight around your arms.
Fastening Shelter
In the office space, binder clips are used to fasten papers and binders together.
In a survival situation, they can be used to fasten things together as well.
For example, you can use binder clips to fasten pieces of cloth or cordages together thanks to its sturdy grip.
Mark Rocks
Remove the clip from a binder clip, and you can use it to etch or scratch markings on rocks.
Makeshift Tweezers
If you require tweezers for medical purposes, you can use binder clips as the next best thing.
Button Replacement
Use a binder clip to replace a missing button on a shirt or jacket.
Zipper Replacement
As awkward as it may sound, if your pants zipper ceases working you can use a binder clip as the next best thing to keep your zipper shut.
Make a Finger or Toe Splint
It’s not the most pleasant use for a binder clip, but it may be necessary in a medical emergency.
If you break a finger or toe, you can use the binder clip to secure the broken appendage in place by clamping the fastener over the injury and then wrapping it around with cloth.
⇒ 10 Medical Supplies You Need To Stockpile Before It’s Too Late
It will be painful, but it will keep the injured finger or toe in place until you can seek professional medical help.
Make a Compass
A binder clip can’t be used as a compass on its own, but you can modify one so that it can be.
Simply remove the metal wire from the clip, and then readjust it to straighten it out into a needle. Run the needle along the metal blade of a knife to magnetize it.
Then place the needle on a leaf that you float in a cup of water. The needle will point into the north-south direction.
Attach Gear to Your Backpack
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Simply fasten items to the exterior of your backpack using binder clips.
Weight for Fishing Line
Simply snap the binder clips directly over your fishing line, and they will act as a weight.
Fishing Bobber
On that same note, you can attach a binder clip to a fishing line to act as a bobber. A colored clip would likely work best.
Phone Stand
If you ever have a need for a phone stand in a survival situation, you can bend a binder clip and it will hold a phone upright. Using two or three binder clips together would be best.
Test the Strength of a Battery
Clasp two binder clips onto the ends of a battery. Then pull the wires out and extend them until they touch one another. If there is a spark, the battery is functional.
Lock Picker
If you have any knowledge on how to pick locks, you can use the metal wire from a binder clip in this task.
Make Fishing Hooks
Remove the metal wire from the clip, and then readjust it into the shape of a hook.
Sharpen one of the ends with your knife, and then fasten it onto your shoelaces, vine, or cordage to make a fishing line.
Related: Survival Hacks From The Civil War That Are More Useful Than Ever
Make Toothpicks
You can also remove the metal wire from a binder clip to make a toothpick. Just make sure you sterilize the wire by boiling it in water first.
Hang Wet Clothes
If you don’t have a clothespin, you can use a binder clip as the next best thing to hang up your clothes to dry.
Hairpin
If you don’t have a hairpin, you can use a binder clip as the next best thing as well.
Repair Holes in Tents and Tarps
If you have any holes in tents or tarps that will allow moisture or wind through, simply clamp them shut with binder clips.
Repair Holes in Clothing
All the same, you can use binder clips to repair holes in your clothes as well.
Fasten Items to Your Pants
If you have any items or tools that you’d like to carry on your waist for ease-of-access but don’t have a belt, you might be able to fasten them using binder clips.
Emergency Scraper
Believe it or not, you can use binder clips to scrape ice from glass and other surfaces. It won’t be nearly as effective as an actual ice scraper and will cover a smaller surface area, but it can be done.
Pant Straps
You can use binder clips for any loose or baggy pants you’re wearing in cold weather as well. Simply tighten the ends of your pants nearly the ankles shut so they can keep the cold air out.
Related: 22 Prepper Tips From The Homeless
Repair Suspenders
If you have a pair of suspenders that break, you can use binder clips as the fasteners.
Hold Up A Hammock
You can use binder clips to help fasten the cords of a hammock around a tree.
Keep Socks Together
When stashing spare pairs of socks together in your backpack, you can hold a pair together with a binder clip.
Close Your Pockets
If you stash items in your pockets but they’re at risk of falling out while you’re on the move, simply clasp the pockets shut with binder clips.
Crafting Arrows
When crafting makeshift arrows and gluing on the features, you can use binder pins to hold the feathers in place while you are gluing them.
Bundle Kindling Together
You can bundle kindling together (such as moss, twigs, or pine needles) with binder clips before stashing them away in your pack.
Keep Seeds in Packets
If you open up a packet of seeds but aren’t ready to use them all at once, clasp the packets shut with a binder clip.
Food Sealer
If you have any bags filled with food, you can use binder clips to seal them shut and protect the food.
Tube Sealant
If you lose the caps to tubes of toothpaste or other personal hygiene items, use binder clips to seal them shut.
Glasses Repair
You can use binder clips to hold the broken frames of glasses together. It may impair your vision slightly depending on where the fracture in the frames occurs, but it will keep them together in a jiffy.
Lamp or Lantern Holder
Tie a rope or paracord in the roof of your tent, and then use a binder clip to suspend a lamp or lantern directly over it.
Blade Protector
If you have a knife or another bladed tool that lacks a sheath, clasp binder pins around the blade to help protect it.
Improvised Self-Defense Weapon
Pull out the metal wire from a binder clip and try to sharpen the ends to a point. You can use it as an impromptu close-quarters self-defense weapon.
Make a Signal Flag
Fasten a brightly colored piece of cloth to a stick with the aid of binder clips and then use it as a signal.
Build a Makeshift Poncho
If you have any plastic sheeting or cloth you can use as a makeshift poncho, you can fasten the sides with binder clips to help protect you from the rain.
Roll Up Blankets and Mats
When rolling up sleeping bags, blankets, tarps, or mats, you can use binder clips to stop them from rolling back out.
Water Collection
A classic water collection survival trick is to take a plastic bag or sack and wrap it around the green branches of a bush or tree. Then allow water condensation to collect in the bag. You can fasten the bag using a binder clip.
⇒ The Awesome DIY Device That Turns Air Into Fresh Water
Leaving Messages
If you need to leave notes, messages, or directions for other people, write the message on a piece of paper and then fasten it to a bush or a branch out in the open with a binder clip.
Clamp a Tourniquet
If you need to use a cloth or a shirt as a makeshift tourniquet, you can fasten it tightly around the site of the injury with binder clips.
Replace the Tip of a Shoelace
If the plastic tip of your shoelace falls off, you can clamp the end of the shoelace shut with a binder clip so it won’t unravel.
Keep Your Belt in Place
If your belt buckle breaks, use binder clips to fasten the ends of the belt together.
Trail Marker
Simply fasten your binder clips to branches to mark your trail as you move along. Colored binder clips would work best for this.
Make a Belt Out of Cordage
Alternatively, you can create a makeshift belt via cordage. Tie the ends of the cords tightly together, and then add further security by fastening them with binder clips.
Seal a Wet Wipes Bag
If you have wet wipes in your survival kit or bug out bag, it’s very important to ensure the bag remains tightly sealed so the wipes don’t dry out. Binder clips can be used nicely for this purpose.
Bartering Items
In the event of an economic catastrophe, many everyday items will suddenly become precious commodities for trade. Normal office supplies, including binder clips, may be among those items.
Holding Documents Together
Last but not least, this is one of the original uses for binder clips in the first place. Outside of the office space, you can still use binder clips for their intended purpose in a disaster scenario.
Since there are so many survival uses for binder clips like we’ve covered above, it may not actually be a bad idea to stash a few in your bug out bag or survival kit.
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Water filters are most important to the list too. We won’t be able to do any of the tasks mentioned.
The big lie of compound “F,” and the water filter industry for safe drinking water.
Why does the American government suppress the health effects of compound “F” on the public?
Do we ever wonder why compound “F” is put into our drinking water and the dental groups use it for tooth decay? Is that stuff worth harming our health?
Why do other countries in the world ban this compound “F”?
Do we really know what this substance does to our personal health?
Which water filter for the home really takes the compound “F” out for potable drinking water? Very few if any.
About the only true method so far is distilling water.
What have other preppers done to filter out compound “F”?
Does activated charcoal take out compound “F”?
Is this why we have dumb and stupid people who are easily addicted to drugs and alcohol?
This “F” can cause people to be hopeless and lazy not contributing to a healthy society.
How do I know if my drinking water is toxic?
Like Type 2 Diabetes, Obesity, ADHD, Arthritis, Anxiety or Depression an so on.
It’s possible our water is the cause. Are you ready to protect yourself and our family from America’s toxic water?
We know from the recent railroad toxic derailments happening daily in the nation. These may get physically cleaned up. But the toxic chemicals go into our groundwater and aquifers for decades to resurface in municipal systems too.
regular water filters do NOT cleanse many of the most dangerous toxic chemicals and heavy metals.
This is beyond the Range of understanding of lead contamination this includes hazardous chemicals such as chlorine and industrial pollutants, transforming our tap water into an unforeseen health hazard.
So does this mean we have been misled to what the average water filter, filters, is it all BS?
Which is better the expensive water filter if any or an expensive water distiller?
There are many articles that muddy the waters of what we can do. What is the best approach to keep our health and expenses kept to the lowest price? Many of us senior preppers are on fixed incomes. Is there a happy medium to have safe potable drinking water?
Berkey water filters do amazingly well and are far cheaper than reverse osmosis systems.
@Doris: check out Pro One filters. They fit into Berkey tanks and have a much better record of testing. Berkey (I have TWO of them) I guess did not test correctly and there is question of the testing results. Pro One uses third party testing and it is verified. I myself, have two Big Berkeys and found the information about Berkeys testing methods. I bought another Pro One tank, but then read that the Pro One filters fit into Big Berkey tanks. So now I have three tanks and many filters. The Pro One filters are inclusive, meaning their filters filter everything, there is not a separate filter for chloride or fluoride (which some have tested independently and found that they actually ADD toxic ingredients back into the water.)
I’ll try to find the post listing this stuff…
@Doris: I found the post which talks about countertop water filters and Berkey/Pro One:
https://mommypotamus.com/best-countertop-water-filter/
The metal clip article is a news filler, nothing good.
Besides Floride, what other chemicals have these utilities been adding to our drinking water?
The Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune chemicals in the water causing cancers. Don’t believe that is an isolated incident. How many other government instillation’s have the same issues?
We still need to keep current on our real time news sources too.
The recent Ohio railway toxic chemical spill has toxins that will remain for decades after the suppose cleanup.
I like my Larq glass pitcher filter and metal water bottle filter. I had Berkey stuff before but the bottle was plastic and the canister type was more difficult to use. I believe it is effective on all that.
Good refresher of micro skills added to the major skills needed out in the bush.
In our preps we must see we prepare the preps for us, our family and maybe friends also.
We must balance the skills to our needs. Many skills may not be needed in our particular area, region. We can be a “Jack of all trades, master of none.”
Do these tasks belong to my region? Say being in Northern State or down South, East or Western States? Not everyone will be traveling far in a SHTF for purposes unknown.
What basic skill sets do you, I, we need to temporary survive? Will I bug in or bug out?
Is it worth it for people to stick their noses into religious wars in foreign countries?
A dog can bite the hands that feeds them too! Why do Muslims hate dogs, anyway?
Also will we need to interact with people who are prepared or not prepared?
Do we go about our own business or stop and help others?
As this woman did and paid a price in doing so:
The Blaze news:
“An American woman – who spent her life advocating for Palestinian rights – was murdered by Hamas terrorists in Israel, according to her family.
Flash – a native of St. Paul, Minnesota – was reportedly murdered by terrorists when she was hiding in a safe room inside her home in Kfar Aza, a southern Israel kibbutz close to the Gaza border.
The daughter recalled how her mother always fought for Palestinian rights.”
“Whenever there was a military operation, (she) would always protest,” Keren told CNN. “She was there protesting all the time so they won’t destroy it – so that people will see what’s happening because you don’t treat human beings like that no matter what their religious belief is and what their ethnicity is.” The Blaze.com news.
Excuse me if this sounds rude. The article is about binder clips! I saw nothing in the article about using them for filtering water, or that we should be discussing foreign relations. Geez!
This blog was much better about two years ago. The articles related to actual preps. Too much is rehashed information re-posts, like what happens on social media. If you like social media dumping stay there.
This is a prepper site.
Prepping as one poster wrote goes hand in hand with the current events around us. Otherwise why bother with prepping.
For snowbound States it makes sense to store food, water and clothing. We get snowed in for days. A warmer region not so much in preps.
We prep for what we see will interrupt our sphere of happiness in this world.
Hey, prepping is not done in a vacuum or in our personal bubble world!
We need to stay current in local and world events to what our preps are for!
If we don’t add some news to the preps, what are we really prepping for?
You can’t isolate your personal views on what you think maybe happening. We must also know the current direction our country is heading into!
Do you get your news from PBS or NPR radio?
LOL! There are a few good ideas here, but this is absolutely the dumbest post I have ever seen on this group! You want me to use a binder clip for a fishing bobber by attaching it to the line? Do you want to tell me the last time you saw a binder clip float? And I’m sorry, but if you are worried about cufflinks in a survival situation, you’re worried about the wrong things. I could go on with probably 20 or 30 of the 50 and point out the ridiculousness of it. I don’t have time for all that. I’m sure you all can read.
This post was for the younger generation that has been indoctrinated in absolutely nothing. Most cannot read at grade level, do simple math or for God’s sake spell correctly and make sentences that make sense.
A bobber metal clip for a fishing float, what?
Get a set of the Lost Ways books those will be good references. Five years ago the original poster on those articles actually helped each other out. Now we got trolls and bible verse’s taking up valuable space reserved for prepping info.
Many of the items we throw away have useful items you can reuse and make great survival items out of
Learn to think , reason , be creative with what you have
clips are a small part of survival items in the prepper itenerary
everything that uses clips, wire, small securing items for transport is usefull
jars, bottles, cans, wire, copper, or aluminum , all have usefulness
but its the organizing and detail of structures storage that is important
other wise you just have a city dump or dumping ground , like a Horder , not a prepper
also cleanness , neatness , an organization is criticul to future use of items
wish the best use of resources
Some of the info on here is very helpful but I hafta ask, do y’all try these ideas? Do binder clips sink or float? You listed using them as weights and bobbers for fishing, but they certainly can’t do both
Common Sense is not common.
Clip a twig or cork to your line for a bobber. Duh.