How to Use Binder Clips

Use binder clips to secure papers.

The common binder clip holds a firm position in the world of office supplies. With its sturdy construction and uncomplicated design, binder clips make organizing papers a breeze. Select a suitable binder-clip size and put these practical gadgets to good use binding papers of any shape or size. A binder clip will hold papers securely until you release their grasp. Use binder clips in a variety of ways to bring order to your home or office.

Things You'll Need

• Papers

Instructions

1. Gather the papers together that you wish to secure and arrange them into a neat pile or stack.

2. Select a binder clip in a size that will fit the papers you wish to secure. Look at the piled papers you gathered and note how thick the stack of papers is. The binder clip you use to secure the papers must be wider at the plastic or metal back of the clip than the stack of papers is high.

3. Fold back both wire ends of the binder clip to enable you to pinch them together. This pinching action will open the binder clip.

4. Pinch the wire ends together to open the plastic or metal portion of the binder clip.

5. Place the open binder clip over the stacked papers at an edge. Common placement for a binder clip on a stack of papers is one in the upper left corner or several along the left edge of the papers.

6. Release the wire ends to allow the plastic or metal portion of the binder clip to secure tightly around the papers.

7. Fold the wire ends of the binder clip down so they lie flat on the top side of the papers and the bottom side of the papers.

8. Add a second and even a third binder clip to the stack of papers to secure the papers together further, if you desire.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also use binder clips as bookmarks, money clips, and tools for holding and organizing electronic cables.

References

• Reader's Digest: Extraordinary Uses for Binder Clips