Clothespins are one of those items that you don't think about but always need. Not all pins are created equal though, so we spent some time testing a variety of them to see which are the best.
The tests were done in southern California, in the desert where the wind can gust at great speed. All of the pins in this collection did an excellent job of keeping our clothes where they belong.
Whitmor Wood Natural Clothespins
Hold your clothes securely
While the old ones are not always the best ones, in this case, wooden clothespins are fantastic at what they do. They are able to hold on tight to the clothes, keeping them from blowing away, and are far less prone to breaking from exposure to the sun like plastic pins.
You will need to take these inside with you when it rains though, or they may get moldy.
EigPluy Laundry Hooks Clip
You can use these in your closet too
I like these clothespins for drying clothes indoors as well as out. The wide clasp reduces marks on the clothes and the hook on top allows you to dry the clothes then immediately hang them in the closet without the need for hangers.
Adwaita sturdy non-slip clothespins
These gave a firm grip
These colored clothespins are a great way to know which clothes should be dry first, or whose clothes are whose. They also have excellent rubber tips that grip the clothes securely even in the strongest wind. My only issue with them is longevity. In the hot sun, they become brittle and snap easily. You will need to bring them in if you live in the desert, like me.
Vida Picks wire clothespins
These will last forever
I love these pins for their simplicity of design. They do away with anything that can break or become moldy and just leave you with the metal you need to hang your clothes. Made of high-grade stainless steel they won't rust out in the weather and they won't snap in the sun.
I did have to use and extra pin to keep some of the clothes secure though as the shiny metal offers a little grip than some of the other pins.
HOMEST Mesh Clothespin Bag
You need something to carry all the pins
Once you have bought all of your clothespins they are going to need a home. This mesh back can fit upwards of 300 pins and has a drawstring to secure the top. It also has two strong carabines to hold it onto the line.
The mesh bag will let water pour through if your pegs are caught in the weather and will even keep the sun off the plastic ones to stop them from getting brittle.
Hang it out
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We all know that clothespins are one of the least fancy things you need to buy, but that doesn't mean they are all the same. The Whitmor Wood Natural Clothespins are what I think of when the word clothespin is said and they work exactly the way they should. You get 100 in a pack to start you off and they will last you a very long time. They are also mostly biodegradable and recyclable as well so you can do your bit for the planet too.
Of course, once you have your clothespins you'll need a place to store them. This mesh bag from HOMEST is the perfect hope for them and will sit on your clothesline all day long.