Clothespins are necessary for hanging clothes up to dry. They secure your garments to your clothesline or drying rack so they won’t blow away or fall to the ground.
If you’re in the market for new clothespins, don’t just choose any old product! We can recommend the seven best clothespins on the market for various different uses.
- Secure hold
- Has a protective coating
- Substantial & well-made
- Long-lasting
- Multi-purpose
- Wind and rustproof
- Extra-wide
- Durable
- Multi-purpose
- Convenient hanging
- Small and compact
- Great for small garments
- Affordable
- No rusting springs
- Great for arts & crafts
- Waterproof
- Holds 10 pounds
- Durable material
- Great for crafting & decor
- Can be painted
- Coated with eco wax
How Do You Use Clothespins?
Clothespins have a spring opening so you can squeeze the tip to open the claws. While it’s open, place it on top of the garment while it’s on the line. Let go to close the clamp, and it will hold your garment in place.
Is It Better to Dry Clothes Inside or Outside?
If it’s a dry, warm, sunny day — hang your clothes outside. They’ll dry much quicker. Even on a cold day, as long as the sun is shining, you should still hang your clothes outside.
However, on a humid or rainy day, hang the clothes to dry inside. Use a drying rack or indoor clothesline to dry them. Turn the heating on to speed up the process so that the clothes don’t smell damp or musty!
Solar Bleaching Power
Other Uses of Clothespins
Clothespins aren’t just for hanging clothes. They also have other uses.
- Organize paperwork: If you choose the small clothespins, you can use them as tabs or bookmarks on paperwork.
- Keep clothes together: Use clothespins to keep pairs of gloves or socks together.
- Clip a towel: When you’re in the kitchen, use a clothespin to clip a dish towel to your clothes so that it’s always nearby.
- Tidy cords: Use a clothespin to keep cables and cords neat and tidy in the cupboard.
- Hold down pages: When reading or using a cookbook, use a clothespin to keep the pages open and secure.
- Prop up pictures: Clip a picture — or even a recipe card — and balance the clothespin on a surface.
- Closing bags of food: To prevent chips or nuts from going stale, secure the packaging with clothespins.
- Close curtains: This is especially good when traveling. Keep your hotel or RV curtains securely closed with clothespins.
- Make a vase: Looking for a DIY project? Get an old tuna can and surround it with clothespins. Paint them and then plant some basil. Looks very cute!
- Hang notes or pictures: Twine and clothespins are all you need for this easy craft. Then hang up little notes or pictures.
- Hold down a tablecloth: Outside on a windy day? Secure your tablecloth or picnic blanket with a clothespin.
- Toothpaste: Secure a clothespin to the bottom of a toothpaste tube to squeeze out every drop.
- Plant marking: If you’ve just planted a bunch of seeds, put little clothespins down with the name of each plant so you know what it is when it comes into season.
- Fasten your Christmas lights: This is a super simple way to keep your Christmas lights secure during the holidays.
The moral of the story is to keep clothespins nearby. You can use them in every corner of the home!
How to Choose the Best Clothespins
When buying new clothespins, consider these important details.
Size
The size of the clothespin will determine how heavy or big a garment can be held up. Clothespins are generally quite small but they do come in mini or extra-wide sizes.
If you’re going to be using them for crafts, we recommend getting small ones. But if you’re going to be hanging up jackets or sheets, opt for a bigger size.
Purpose
Whether you’re using clothespins for laundry, crafts or organization, you’ll want to look at certain clothespins. For example, wooden ones are the best for crafts since you can paint them. They are also flat on either side whereas a lot of plastic pins have a more curved design.
Material
Wooden clothespins are the most common type of clothespin. But over time, they can rot or deteriorate especially when subject to dramatic weather elements.
Plastic clothespins are more durable, but not as aesthetically pleasing. You can also get metal ones which are rust-resistant and durable, though not as gentle on clothes.
Durability
Durability depends on the materials you choose. Metal or plastic is the most durable material for clothespins since wooden ones are subject to rot and mold when in contact with wet clothes or rain.
Ultimately, though, clothespins won’t last forever. The more you use them, the more likely the spring is to snap. So, always be careful when using clothespins. Gently open and close them to increase their lifespan.
Aesthetics
Finally, consider the aesthetics. Of course, this comes down to personal preference and the style you have in your home.
If you like lots of bright colors, choose plastic clothespins. If you’re into shabby chic and rustic decor, go for wooden ones. If you have a modern style, metal ones will be your pick!
The Best Clothespins of 2021
After studying expert advice, real customer reviews, and our own clothespin habits, we have the seven best clothespins on the market to recommend to you today.
1. Kevin's Quality Clothespins
Kevin’s quality clothespins are the best choice for heavy-duty clothespins. They may look feeble but customers rave about how strong these pins are.
These clothespins are perfect for holding up heavy items. Jeans and rugs? No problem. Secure them to your clothesline with Kevin’s quality clothespins.
But that’s not all. Even if there’s a huge storm incoming and it’s going to be a windy day, you can trust these clothespins. Wind helps dry clothes faster, but many clothespins fall off during windy days. Not these ones though. Hang your clothes out on a windy, stormy day and enjoy quick-drying clothes.
These sturdy and strong clothespins aren’t the cheapest option, but they’ll stay reliable for a long time. It’s worth the investment.
- Great for heavy items.
- They stay secure even on windy stormy days.
- Finished with a protective coating.
- Substantial and well-made.
- Expensive.
Additional Specs
| Size | 3.5 x 0.6 x 1 inches inch per clothespin |
| Purpose | Hanging heavy items, but they are all-purpose |
| Material | Treated wood |
| Durability | Extremely durable |
| Weatherproof | Yes |
2. Vida Picks Wire Clothespins
The Vida Picks wire clothespins are our top choice for metal clothespins. They’re made of high quality 304 stainless steel to provide rust-resistant clothespins that can handle any weather.
The 40 clothespins come in a lovely little bag so you can keep them organized when not in use. These clothespins have amazing grip and will stay secure even on the windiest days.
They’re known to last up to 10x longer than plastic or wooden clothespins. If you want to buy one set of clothespins and use them for years — this is the best choice.
The Vida Picks clothespins are also multi-purpose. Yes, they’re great for laundry. But you can also use them for sealing food bags, storing papers, keeping things organized and decorating your home.
- They last 10x longer than wooden or plastic pins.
- Multi-purpose.
- Wind and rustproof.
- They come with a bag for organization.
- Small.
- They get tangled up in the bag.
Additional Specs
| Size | 2.36 x 0.4 x 1 inch per clothespin |
| Purpose | Multi-purpose |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Durability | 10x stronger than wood or plastic |
| Weatherproof | Yes |
3. Swpeet Multi-Purpose Metal Wire Clips
If you are on the lookout for extra-wide clothespins, to give you more security, then the Swpeet wire clips are a good option! They are 1.3 inches wide, compared to the other clothespins on our list which average around half an inch wide.
These clothespins are durable, strong and since they’re extra-wide, you don’t have to use as many per garment. They’re small, but they can handle heavy and large items such as towels, sheets and jackets.
Like most clothespins, these are also multi-purpose. You can use them for bag sealing, paper clips, bookmarks, hanging messages, document holders, displaying photos and much more.
They’re made of weatherproof stainless steel. They come in a few colors such as black, red, blue, purple and more.
- Extra-wide.
- Durable.
- Multi-purpose.
- Colorful.
- You can’t choose your colors.
- The spring is strong so they fly from your hands if you let go.
Additional Specs
| Size | 2.1 x 1.3 x 0.6 inches per clothespin |
| Purpose | Multi-purpose |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Durability | Yes |
| Weatherproof | Yes |
4. T&B Travel Cloth Hanger Clothespin
The T&B travel cloth hanger clothespins are a unique and practical solution if you need travel clothespins. The cloth feature is adjustable so you can hang it on a shower rod, coat hanger, clothespin or garment rod. Simply secure your garments onto the clips and let them air dry.
These can be folded up very small so they can easily slot into your suitcase or carry-on bag.
Keep in mind that these are best for small garments. Think socks, underwear, swimsuits, lingerie and face cloths. They aren’t suitable for jackets, jeans or dresses.
Overall, these clothespins are a must-have if you do laundry while traveling. These products are perfect for hanging up your swimsuit to dry in your hotel room, or socks to dry after a rainy hike before going back to your B&B.
- They attach to many places for convenient hanging.
- Fold up small and compact.
- Great for small garments.
- Must-have for traveling.
- Not suitable for heavy or large garments.
- Best for thin bars.
Additional Specs
| Size | 15.39 x 3.94 inches per cloth |
| Purpose | Hanging small garments |
| Material | Polyester and plastic |
| Durability | Durable when using for small garments |
| Weatherproof | Water-resistant |
5. Whitmor Wood Natural Clothespins
Whitmor wood natural clothespins are a great option for wooden clothespins. They’ll also fit into most budgets. You can get a pack of 100 clothespins at a reasonable price.
The clothespins are made of hardwood with a wax coating. So, they will last for years, giving you many fresh loads of air-dried laundry!
We recommend taking clothes back indoors if there is a lot of rain in the forecast. But if you ever forget, these pins have galvanized non-rusting springs so they are safe for outdoor use, even on rainy days.
Besides hanging up laundry, these are perfect clothespins for arts and crafts! You can also use them for organizing paperwork, earphones and cords.
These are strong and durable clothespins that can hold up heavy garments and against strong winds. Just make sure to use them properly so you don’t snap off the spring.
- Affordable.
- Hardwood with a wax coating.
- No rusting springs.
- Great for arts and crafts.
- Some pins in the collection are poorly aligned.
- Twist and break if not carefully opened.
Additional Specs
| Size | 3.37 x 0.37 x 0.62 inches per clothespin |
| Purpose | Laundry, arts and crafts |
| Material | Hardwood and galvanized steel |
| Durability | Durable when used carefully |
| Weatherproof | Yes, until wax coating fades |
6. Honey-Can-Do Colored Plastic Clothespins
The best plastic clothespins are the Honey-Can-Do colored plastic clothespins. These colored pins will brighten up your laundry while it’s on the line, adding some extra happiness to laundry day.
But it’s also useful for organizing your clothes. You can use these to color-code things. Use yellow for lighter garments to remind you to take them in sooner, since they dry faster. Use blue for white clothes to remind yourself to leave them out longer so the sun can help to brighten them.
You can also use these to color code other areas of organization in the house such as paperwork or recipes.
Each one of these strong clothespins can hold up to 10 pounds of fabric. This means you can definitely hang rugs, sheets or jackets outside to dry.
- Waterproof.
- Four colors to help with brightness and organization.
- Holds 10 pounds of fabric per clip.
- Durable.
- Can’t withstand wind. They fall off the line.
- When used on plastic lines, they slip easily.
Additional Specs
| Size | 3.25 x 0.8 x 0.6 inches per clothespin |
| Purpose | Laundry and organization |
| Material | Plastic |
| Durability | Yes, but not in wind |
| Weatherproof | Yes |
7. CCINEE Mini Wooden Clothespins
The CCINEE mini wooden clothespins are the best option for crafts and decor. Yes, they’re super small but that’s what makes them so cute! We use these for holding up pictures, hanging notes and packaging presents in our home.
You can even paint them whatever color you like. They’re made of natural wood with an eco wax coating. Once you’ve painted them your favorite colors, they look really cute for card decoration. And when December comes around, use them to hang things on your Christmas tree.
These are sturdy enough for craft and decor projects. But do not use these for hanging laundry! They’re very small so they’ll struggle to hold up light garments, such as underwear or socks.
Keep in Mind
- Great for crafting and decor.
- Can easily be painted.
- Coated in an eco wax.
- 150 pins included.
- Too small and light to hold up laundry.
- Break easily when not handled carefully.
Additional Specs
| Size | 1 x 0.4 inches per clothespin |
| Purpose | Craft and decor |
| Material | Natural wood |
| Durability | No |
| Weatherproof | No |
| Product | Best | Size | Purpose | Material | Weatherproof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin’s Quality Clothespins | Heavy-Duty | 3.5 x 0.6 x 1″ | Multi-purpose | Treated wood | Yes |
| Vida Picks Wire Clothespins | Metal | 2.36 x 0.4 x 1″ | Multi-purpose | Stainless steel | Yes |
| Swpeet Multi-Purpose Wire Clips | Extra-Wide | 2.1 x 1.3 x 0.6″ | Multi-purpose | Stainless steel | Yes |
| T&B Travel Cloth Hanger Clothespin | Travel | 15.39 x 3.94″ | For small garments | Polyester & plastic | Yes |
| Whitmor Wood Natural Clothespins | Wooden | 3.37 x 0.37 x 0.62″ | Laundry, arts & crafts | Hardwood & galvanized steel | Yes |
| Honey-Can-Do Colored Clothespins | Plastic | 3.25 x 0.8 x 0.6″ | Laundry & organization | Plastic | Yes |
| CCINEE Mini Wooden Clothespins | Craft & Decor | 1 x 0.4″ | Craft & decor | Natural wood | No |
Put a Pin on It
You need good quality clothespins to keep your laundry secure to the line (or for crafting, if that’s your thing). If you choose one of our recommendations for the best clothespins, you can’t go wrong.
Our top picks are the Vida Picks wire clothespins or the Kevin’s quality clothespins. Both of these are durable to hold up the heaviest of garments. It’s down to personal preference and budget to decide which is the best for you.
