What Are Those Little Hooks on Clothes Hangers Actually For?

by nimra mukhtar on October 22, 2023

Have you ever looked at a standard clothes hanger and noticed those little wire hooks on each side?

Most people hardly even register that they're there. But those small metal or plastic protrusions, properly called barbs, serve some surprisingly helpful purposes.

As mundane as they may seem, the barb hooks are an ingenious and often overlooked part of hanger design. 

Next time you mindlessly grab a hanger from your closet, take a moment to appreciate the usefulness of those little hooks!
Let’s quickly know about the uses and purpose of little hooks on clothes hangers.

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Little Hooks on Clothes Hangers Uses

Keep Your Clothes in Place

Those small barb hooks on standard hangers play a big role in keeping your clothes securely in place. Their little grips prevent garments from sliding around or slipping onto the floor. It is especially handy for heavy winter coats! Without barbs pinning them down, they'd take a tumble.

Cascade Hangers to Save Space

Running out of closet rod space? No problem! Use those handy hanger hooks to cascade your hangers and fit more clothes in tight spaces. Just link the barbs together to create a waterfall effect. It looks cool and makes your closet contents easy to thumb through.

Connect Outfit Pieces

Got a skirt, suit or blazer and pants combo? Connect them at the barbs to hang neatly as a coordinated outfit. No more rummaging for the matching pieces. Hanger hooks keep your complete look in one place and ready to grab.

Extra Storage Real Estate

Maximize your hanging potential by using the spare hook to dangle smaller items like jewellery, hats, belts or purses. Multitask your hangers with clothing on one side and accessories on the other. Those tiny barbs seriously expand your storage space.

Cascading Hangers to Save Closet Space

Here's a useful trick to maximize closet rod space - use the hanger barbs to create a cascading effect. You can neatly hang multiple hangers from just one closet rod hook by hooking barbs together.

It allows you to fit way more clothes into tight closet spaces. The cascading hangers create a lovely waterfall effect, letting you easily thumb through garments.

Linking Hangers for Outfits

Similarly, you can use the barb hooks to securely link together multiple hangers that hold parts of the same outfit. It enables you to hang entire ensembles together for easy grabbing.

For example, hook a hanger with a suit jacket to another holding the matching trousers or skirt. It keeps them neatly together, rather than each floating on separate hangers.

Unexpected Uses

Beyond the closet, you can get creative with hanger hooks. Bend them into makeshift hooks for bathrooms, use them to dry delicates, or link wet clothes before laundering. They're simple but versatile little helpers!

Other Creative Uses for Hanger Hooks

Beyond the basic uses, the hooks on hangers can also serve some atypical functions in a pinch:

  • Make a temporary hanging rod by hooking barbs over a rail or pole.
  • Fashion a makeshift hook by bending the hanger - perfect for hanging bags or jackets on bathroom doors.
  • Clip barbs onto garments during folding to keep everything aligned.
  • Use the hooks during laundering to hang wet clothes for drying.

As you can see, clothes hanger barbs are multi-purpose little helpers. They not only perform their intended jobs well but can also be repurposed in creative ways.

The Proper Name for the Hanger Hooks

First things first - what exactly should we call these handy little hooks? Technically, they are referred to as barbs or barb hooks.

The word "barb" refers to a point projecting backwards from a fishhook, arrowhead, or other object, an apt description of the pointed hooks on hangers. Though we tend to ignore them, typically, every hanger has two barbs, one on either side.

These little barbs or hooks are usually made of thin metal wire on wire hangers. Plastic hangers may be molded from the same plastic material. Their purpose on both wire and plastic hangers is fundamentally the same.

Conclusion: 

It's easy to overlook those petite protrusions on the sides of clothes hangers. But the barb hooks play integral roles in keeping garments securely in place and expanding the capabilities of your closet storage.

The next time you casually grab a hanger, take a beat to look at the small metal or plastic hooks. Appreciate the ingenuity behind their subtle design and handiness.

Who knew such tiny uniform pieces of metal could be surprisingly helpful? With the right technique, you'd be amazed at what you can do with the barb hooks.

So now that you know their proper name and purpose, give those little hanger hooks the attention they deserve! Try cascading or linking hangers to revolutionize your closet with Grace Internationals. 


Read More:

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