A clothespin is a small clip used to fasten wet laundry to a clothesline so it can dry in the sun and wind. The classic wooden clothespin has two legs connected by a metal spring: you squeeze the legs together to open the clip, position it over the clothesline and fabric, then release your grip so it clamps down and holds everything in place.

Before electric dryers became common in the mid-1900s, nearly every household used clothespins. People would wash their clothes, then carry wet baskets outside to hang shirts, sheets, and towels on rope or wire lines stretched between posts. The clothespins kept everything from blowing away. On a breezy day, you could see entire neighborhoods with laundry flapping in the wind like colorful flags.

Many people still prefer hanging laundry outside because sunshine naturally bleaches whites and leaves clothes smelling fresh. Clothespins also work great for non-laundry tasks: sealing snack bags, organizing papers, holding up decorations, or even creating simple toys and crafts. Some people call them clothespins, while others say clothes pegs or just pins, but they all mean the same helpful little clips that have been keeping laundry secure for generations.