Repurpose Clothespins For The Perfect Travel Essential

If you're looking for a simple packing hack for travel, the humble clothespin is the ideal item to take on your next trip. It's small, doesn't cost a lot, and has a variety of uses beyond just hanging up clothes.

When we think of clothespins, we usually think of doing laundry, but these little tools actually have a variety of uses when it comes to travel. Not only can you pack a few in your suitcase to dry out wet swimwear, towels, or beach clothes while at your hotel, but they can also be used to pin together hotel room curtains if they don't close properly to prevent unwanted light from creeping in when the sun rises.

However, there are two lesser-known travel hacks for clothespins. These little clips can also be used as a tidying device to prevent earbud cables from becoming tangled in your travel bag or as a compact stand for your toothbrush to keep it clean and dry. How so? Let's dive in. 

There's little worse than getting your earbud headphones out of your bag to find the wires have become annoyingly intertwined. Thankfully, a clothespin can be a quick and easy hack to keep your earbud wires tidy so they won't get tangled with all the other items in your bag. Simply clip one end of the wire together with the clothespin, then wrap the rest of the wire neatly around it. You can prevent it from unraveling by clipping the other end of the wire in at the end. After that, you can simply toss your wires into your bag. When you're ready to use them again, just unclip them, unravel, and you're ready to go.

A clothespin can also be used for any other wire that needs tidying, as long as the wire is thin enough to be wrapped around the pin. Try using it with your phone charger, USB cable, or other charging wires when you're on the go.

Ever left a toothbrush lying on a bathroom counter only to come back later and find it hasn't dried or is covered in some sort of bathroom grime? It's certainly not an enjoyable experience. Although many hotels will provide cups to hold toothbrushes, if you're staying in a hostel, at a campsite, or on the road, you may have to get a little creative when it comes to keeping your toothbrush clean and dry.

Repurpose a clothespin as a toothbrush holder that you can use almost anywhere. The clothespin can simply be clipped onto the neck of your toothbrush and then gently placed on the counter, which should allow your toothbrush to remain elevated. Not only will this allow your toothbrush to dry between uses, it will also prevent it from picking up any bacteria if you lay it on a surface. It can also help extend the life of your toothbrush, as the bristles won't get squashed or covered in any dirt.