Don't be afraid to bend that clip. I had to bend mine to around 90 degrees.

Even if you don't put in a ziplock bag, I found that the surface is mostly hydrophobic so drying it is very easy. I also didn't have tongs, but the bag is denser than water, so it sank and I attached clothes pins to the ends and was able to remove it with those.

I was thinking the same. Could let the battery run down.