Comments on: Many purposes for a magnetic paper-clip dispenser

By: Osgood Wellesley

Osgood Wellesley — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:06:02 +0000

Magnetic paper clip dispensers are potentially a great idea but all the ones I have ever found are complete junk. Their magnets are so weak to begin with that they barely serve their intended purpose and, within a year, will completely lose their magnetic strength.

By: Angie Rice

Angie Rice — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:06:13 +0000

Perfect tip! I will pass it on.

By: SarahC

SarahC — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:01:45 +0000

For ponytail holders, I use a banana clip to store them all together. Whenever I need to use one, I just squeeze the banana clip to open. Since I store the banana clip in the medicine cabinet, I always know where to look to put them away or grab another one. Super easy and kind of fun!

By: M.E.

M.E. — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:47:24 +0000

For a while, a few years ago (late 1990s or early 2000s), it was possible to buy bobby pins in a dispenser box that was essentially the same style as this — wider and flatter, but with a magnetized circular opening.

I’m not sure that they ever sold this product with curved bobby pins (a.k.a. the only style that holds in my fine hair), but I know I saved the box from what might have been a regular pack. I used it for my next batch or two of bobby pins, until the acrylic started to crack.

By: gypsy packer

gypsy packer — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:50:37 +0000

Ah, the Mason jar, one of the most recycled objects on earth!
I love the old blue ones, and use them for iced tea glasses and for spice and herb storage, and for storage of smaller quantities of dry foodstuffs.

They can even be used as an emergency source of light–I found a kerosene lamp unit that is made to be used on top of a Mason jar. Don’t know if they are still being manufactured, though–Lehman’s or Cumberland Gen’l might have them.

By: Mollie

Mollie — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 01:31:09 +0000

Thanks for this tip—I bought a little magnetic paperclip holder yesterday! It’s working out great so far, and for ponytail holders, why not just stretch them around the little jar of bobby pins? Mine fit fine.

By: NancyV908

NancyV908 — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 18:20:00 +0000

Coming late to this post…

Pony tail holders: A couple of years ago I read a tip in a magazine for using carbiner clips for them. This has worked great in my household–the holders are easy to get on or off the clips, & they stay together in a drawer (I like to keep them out of sight) but don’t get tangled up with anything else.

By: cc

cc — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 01:04:15 +0000

ponytail bands get hung on a belt hoop (designed to hang in the close and corral belts) it accompanies all sizes and thicknesses including scrunchies and I can easily remove the one I want

I don’t have space for an easily accessible trash can by my sewing machine so I have taken a food can with with a plastic pop on lid (corn chips from the dollar store, nuts, and hot chocolate are currently in use) make an X across the lid with the xacto then use scissors to round off the corners- it easily holds small bits, the thread is trapped better than in a traditional trash can, and with scrapbook paper or kid art as the cover it looks like it belongs, not like I eat too much junk food.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 21:22:08 +0000

My solution to the endless supply of my daughter’s bobby pins that are on the floor is to throw them away!! Maybe when she’s all out she’ll remember to put them away!

By: Katie Alender

Katie Alender — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 19:35:01 +0000

Oh, sorry–the strips themselves aren’t magnetic. They’re just metal. But they come with magnets and magnets stick to them.

By: Katie Alender

Katie Alender — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 19:34:29 +0000

In my sewing room/office, I have magnetic metal strips on the walls. I can use these with magnets to hang stray pattern pieces, etc. I also buy the magnetic spice holders with see-through tops and use them to hold my different types of safety pins (quilters love safety pins)–they stick to the metal strips, so they’re always in reaching distance.

By: Meg

Meg — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 18:22:17 +0000

M.R.

I either wrap my hairties around the bobby pin collector, or I keep them on the end of my hairbrush.

By: Elaine

Elaine — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:32:31 +0000

I keep a clear binder pencil case in my purse to wrangle little things, like cosmetics, that get lost at the bottom of my bag. Some people think it is tacky but I love it. They are cheaper and bigger than cosmetic cases and sturdier than zip baggies and since it is clear, I can see what I want at a glance.

By: WL

WL — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:54:12 +0000

Regarding hair ties/elastics (question from MR):

I have always had a problem with hair ties for my pony tails, as I keep my hair up to work out, wrangling small kids, etc. They were everywhere and would get dirty, or stray ones would wreak havoc in my vacuum cleaner.

I try to keep the number of hair ties in circulation to a minimum and the rest in the package. I now collect the ones “in play” and hang them on a doorknob in my bedroom. They are not very noticeable there, even the coloured ones, and it’s very handy because I can grab one and put my hair up as I am leaving the room.

By: Baly

Baly — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 05:12:07 +0000

Hair ties: I have a magnetic hook that is attached to the back of the door of the medicine chest. Just be sure to position it to not interfere with the shelves when closed.

By: STL Mom

STL Mom — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 01:53:09 +0000

Twinky -
Thanks! Even after seeing the picture of bobby pins, I didn’t think about sewing pins until you mentioned them. This would be particularly useful for my daughter’s sewing things, which are always getting lost in her carpet.
Now I need to google “urawaza”. Is it anything like unami?

By: Carrie

Carrie — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:22:47 +0000

Now that I think of it, I haven’t seen any reference to Urawaza on Unclutter. That’s kind of surprising!

By: twinky

twinky — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 23:38:30 +0000

I use the paper clip dispenser to manage straight pins for sewing, and for a dispenser for safety pins

By: AndrewL

AndrewL — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:36:23 +0000

Strong Magnets [http://www.kjmagnetics.com/]
+
Binder clips
+
Fridge =

Best way to organize Paper, tickets, keys, mail, notes on your fridge.

get the plastic/rubber coated ones to prevent chipping of the magnets, which can be alittle toxic if ingested.

By: adora

adora — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:28:33 +0000

That’s very similar to what I do. I glue a magnet at the bottom of glass jars. I got the idea from Japanese “Urawaza” shows. I reckon that your idea is a lot easier!

I also buy magnetic sheets from dollar shops. Cut them up and stick them to the back of stuff so that they can be attached to the side of my filing cabinet. Things like calculator, Dymo, post-it, stapler, scotch tape, stamps… It is very convenient.

Velcro can be used in the same manner. My father and brothers always lose the remote control. So I bought Velcro tape to attach it to the side of the TV. (I know it looks like motel, but better than the daily commotion!)