The Hidden Use Of Everyday Items
Tiny Hole In The Airplane Window
Anybody who has ever traveled on an airplane knows that the window seat is the best choice. Nothing is better than being able to see the world from way above. As you gaze out the window, you may have noticed a small hole at the bottom of the window.
Tiny Hole In The Airplane Window
The hole has two main functions. The first is allowing for ventilation in order to prevent the window from breaking due to air pressure. The second is that it prevents the window from becoming foggy from the passengers’ breath.
Pasta Portions
Who doesn’t love a good bowl of delicious pasta, preferably smothered in delicious sauce and topped with grated cheese on top? Anyone that’s cooked pasta and used the pasta claws have definitely noticed the large hole in the middle of the kitchen tool.
Pasta Portions
While you may never have given it much thought, it is there for a reason. In fact, it’s there to help you out! You can use it to measure out dry spaghetti and figure out how much you’ll need for one serving. This is especially great if you’re trying to control your portion sizes.
All-Star Shoes
Converse All-Stars have been around since 1917 and have been a staple on the shoe scene for over 100 years. Originally designed for basketball players, the shoes have since become popular with everyone. You may have noticed that there are two extra shoelace holes on them.
Converse Shoes
This is no mistake! Most people believe that these two holes on the sides on the shoes were added for extra ventilation. However, these were actually also added in order to help people get creative with shoelace designs. How cool is that?
That’s Much More Convenient!
Whether you’re an avid cook who spends any spare minute in the kitchen or you spend the minimum amount of time possible cooking in order just to feed yourself, we’ve all got a basic cooking pot in our cooking arsenal.
That’s Much More Convenient!
You might have noticed that many sauce pans will have a hole at the end of the handle. This serves several purposes: you can use it to hang pots on the wall, but it’s extra useful for placing your spoon that you use for stirring while cooking. This way you can eliminate making a mess!
Bobby Pins
Anyone who has long hair and has tried pinning it up before is certainly familiar with bobby pins, the small and flexible pins that sometimes get lost in your hair. Most people use them in the same way, with the curved side facing upwards.
Bobby Pins
However, bobby pins were designed in a way to hold the underlying bulk of the hair using that curve. So funnily enough, most people are actually using bobby pins “wrong,” but hey, if they’re holding your hair up, then that’s all that matters.
This Is A Great Idea
Padlocks are quite the useful invention. You might have noticed a small hole beside the keyhole of a padlock and wondered what it’s for. First of all, it’s there to allowed water to flow out of the lock in case it is left outdoors in the rain or snow.
This Is A Great Idea
Second, it allows access to the inside of the padlock and insert lubrication to the inner parts if necessary. Both of these uses are important when the padlock will be used outdoors and exposed to varying weather conditions.
Utility Knives
Utility knives are a very useful tool to have around the house, but it’s important to know how to use them. You’ll find a thick, curved plastic cap one one end which serves a very important purpose.
Utility Knives
You can remove the cap and the split on the end of the knife can help you break the top of the blade off, leaving a new and sharper blade right under it. You can use the cap to help snap the scored blade right off in a safe way.
What They’re For
Many times when we purchase a new garment, the clothing will come with a small bag containing a button and a bit of the fabric that the item of clothing is made of. You might think that the reason for this is obvious.
What They’re For
While it is obvious that the extra button is there in case you need a button replacement, but the fabric square is more mysterious. It’s actually there for you to be able to test cleaning products and avoid ruining your new garment. So useful!
Pen Cap
Have you ever noticed the fact that there is a small hole at the top of every ball point pen’s cap? This might seem strange and counterintuitive, but there is actually a very important reason behind this manufacturing design decision.
Pen Cap
Once it became clear that pen caps are a choking hazard for children, this solution was implemented. In case a child swallows a pen cap, the child will still be able to breathe due to the small hole at the top of the cap.
What Those Little Bumps Are For
We spend a huge portion of our lives in front of screens: TV screens, phone screens, and of course, computer screens. Surely you’ve noticed that laptop keyboards have small raised bumps on the “F” and “J” keys of the laptop.
What Those Little Bumps Are For
If you’ve ever wondered why they’re there, there’s an interesting reason behind it. These are the “home” keys, where ideally your index fingers should rest. By feeling those raised bumps, you won’t need to look down at your keyboard as you’re typing in order to get back to the “home” position.
Why A Hollow Stick?
One of the best simple joys of childhood was enjoying a tasty lollipop. Do you remember those particular ones that were placed on a plastic stick that is hollow? We all tried to turn the stick into a whistle when we finished the candy.
Why A Hollow Stick?
The reason that the candy manufacturers used sticks with holes in them is quite simple. When the candy is being made, hot and melty candy is poured into a mold. Then the stick is placed into the melted candy and as the candy hardens, a bit of it leaks into the hole in the stick, bonding it to the stick so it won’t fall off!
Convenient Plastic Lid
There’s nothing quite like getting your morning caffeine fix at your favorite cafe. To-go cups are a modern marvel, allowing us to take our java anywhere we’re running off to. Have you ever wondered why the plastic lid is shaped the way it is?
Convenient Plastic Lid
In addition to keeping our hot liquid inside the paper cup, the plastic lid is also meant to be used as a built-in coaster. The ridges allow for the lid to be attached to the bottom of the cup, ensuring your surface will be kept mess-free.
What’s That Small Dot?
So many of us have sworn allegiance to the iPhone in the great debate of which smartphone reigns supreme. Anyone with an iPhone has surely noticed a tiny black dot that’s always placed near the phone’s camera. What is it for?
What’s That Small Dot?
The small hole has a big job: it allows for superior sound quality by cancelling background noise and making sure the sound captured in videos you’re taking is high quality, especially when you’re in a crowded place: think high quality live concert videos.
Tic Tac Container
Tic tacs are one of the most beloved breath mint candies out there. They’re so adorable and they come in a fun package, what’s not to love? It appears that most people are missing out on the most ingenious part of the box, though.
Tic Tac Container
The indentation on the lid is not there by accident. You’re actually meant to use it as a dispenser! Simply tip the box upside down, and slowly open up the box by tipping it over to the side, and voila — you’re ready to serve your tic tac.
A Life Saver
Some designs are added to products to make them look better or function better. However, many times, designs are actually used in order to help save lives. This is the case with detachable head support cushions found inside many vehicles.
A Life Saver
When you detach the headrest, you’ll noticed two long metal bars attached. These can be used to help you break through the window in case you’re ever trapped inside your car and need to somehow get out in a hurry.
Takeout Containers
There is nothing better than giving yourself a break from cooking and ordering from your favorite restaurant. The best part? No need to wash any pots or pans afterwards! When it comes to many Chinese restaurants, there’s a specific takeout box the food will arrive in.
Takeout Containers
These boxes actually easily unfold, creating a convenient plate for you to eat right off of. That way, in addition to not getting any pans dirty, you don’t even need to use any plates. So convenient!
A Built In Latch
In recent years, there has been a big shift in backpack design, especially for college students and young professionals. Gone are the days where you’re expected to use a briefcase. There are so many trendy backpacks nowadays, there really is something for everyone.
A Built In Latch
If you’ve ever noticed a diamond-shaped patch on a lot of backpacks, you may have wondered what they’re for. They actually have nothing to do with fashion! They’re there so you catch latch on items that you want easy access to or may not fit in your bag.
A Secret Use For Advil
Everyone deals with acne at one point or another in life. While the traditional medicines and creams can start costing quite a bit of money, there are some other options you can try out that may not cost as much or require a prescription.
A Secret Use For Advil
You can try piercing a liquid Advil pill with a sterilized pin and use it to extract some of the gel inside the capsule. The liquid Advil can work wonders for drying up a stubborn blemish, just make sure you clean the pin and your face first.
A Tiny Pocket
Jeans are probably the most common item of clothing we all own. It shouldn’t be surprising or news to anyone that often, jeans pockets will feature a tiny, seemingly useless pocket inside the larger side pockets of the jeans.
A Tiny Pocket
If you’ve ever wondered why this tiny pocket is there, we need to travel back a bit in time. It was intended for keeping a pocket watch, which used to be commonly carried around, particularly in the 1850s when laborers wore jeans on the job.
Tape Measure Convenience
Working with a tape measurer can sometimes become a bit tricky. However, many manufacturers have included some useful tools right on the tape measurer itself that can work wonders, especially if you’re working on something alone. You just have to know how to use it!
Tape Measure Convenience
There is a usually a metal edge at the end of the tape, and it can hold its place so that you can put down the tape measurer without the tape retracting back immediately. Also, there is typically a hole in this metal piece that can help hold a nail head in place.
Grocery Cart Loops
Grocery carts are quite helpful pieces of equipment. Unless you’re only shopping for a few items, the cart is your best means of picking up a large quantity of goods and easily moving about the store.
Grocery Cart Loops
Have you ever wondered what those metal loops in the foldout seat are for? They’re actually quite useful! You can use them to hang bags and keep more delicate items (like eggs and bread) separate from heavy items that can crush them. What a smart idea!
Half Belts, Fully Useful
Often, we don’t take a second look at certain features of our clothes, let alone think about what their intended purpose is. For example, the half belt featured on many coats (and peacoats in particular) seem like a fashionable choice.
Half Belts, Fully Useful
While they do look good, they have an actually purpose. In the original design, the half belt was intended for military men to be able to add extra material to their coats in order to carry around more material to stay warm.
Childproof Caps
Childproofing medications and over the counter prescriptions is an extremely important practice that certainly has many benefits. These can often help prevent horrific accidents from happening, which is always a very important and useful component to many product design choices.
Childproof Caps
However, if you do not have any children around, you may not need this functionality. That’s why so many pill bottles feature a double cap. One side features a childproof mechanism, while the flip side can be easily screwed on and off.
More Is Better
If you’ve ever eaten at a restaurant that has giant, industrial sized dispenser bottles of condiments that you need to pump out, you are probably familiar with these tiny white paper cups that are used to hold the different types of sauces.
More Is Better
However, if you’re a big ketchup lover, the tiny cup may not be big enough to hold how much sauce you actually want. You can, however, fold down the cup into a flatter shape, which allows for more condiment to be put in!
The Pom Pom Purpose
When winter rolls around, one of the best parts is being able to wear warming accessories that also allow you to express yourself. The beanie you choose will often say a lot about you! Many people choose beanies with pom poms at the top.
The Pom Pom Purpose
Did you know that these date back to the Viking days? Vikings used to wear beanie-type hats to keep warm, and they would often include a pom pom sewn at the top of the hat to ensure the seams won’t come undone.
The Bottle Neck
At this point, we have all been drinking beverages from bottles that we rarely stop to think about the bottle’s design. But why is it that it is shaped the way it is at all, with an elongated bottle neck?
The Bottle Neck
The reason is that you’re actually meant to hold the bottle by the neck in order to prevent your hand’s warmth from warming up your cool and refreshing drink. Try holding it this way next time you’re drinking out of a bottle!
Staple Temporarily
The stapler is a very useful tool, but sometimes you may want to adhere papers together only temporarily. While you can always staple them together and use a tool to undo it later, the stapler itself has some useful functionality to help out.
Staple Temporarily
The metal plate in the front of the stapler (called the anvil) adjusts to different settings. You can turn your stapler upside down and spin it around to these varying settings. There’s one for temporary stapling, which will make the staple’s arms turn outwards so it is easy to undo later.
Eraser Truths
While growing up, you may have purchased a special kind of eraser that was double sided and promised that one of the sides could erase ink. You may have then found out the hard way that this was often not the case in reality.
Eraser Truths
However, what these erasers are actually useful for comes in handy more for artists. The different types of erasers can erase different types of pencil and also pencil markings from artist paper, which is typically more delicate than regular printer paper.
Three Stripes
Anyone who has used toothpaste like Aquafresh has certainly noticed the three colors of the stripes: red, white, and blue. While these seem to be very patriotic, they’re actually there for a specific purpose. The company explains the reason behind the three stripes.
Three Stripes
They say that each stripe represents the three main benefits of using the toothpaste: fighting tooth decay, keeping gums healthy, and of course, keeping your mouth fresh. Regardless of the reason, it always looks cool when you squeeze out the toothpaste and all three colors come out side by side.
Shave Off Some Money
Have you ever noticed that quarters and dimes feature rough, ridged edges, while pennies have smooth edges? The reason for this dates back to days when all the coins edges were smooth. People would shave off small bits of the coins.
Shave Off Some Money
They would then melt the shaved bits together and create new coins, devaluing the original coins altogether. For that reason, coin minters decided to add distinct edges to the higher valued coins in order to help prevent this from happening.
College Ruled
Although we now spend most of our time writing (or should we say typing) virtually, without any paper at all, there are still many places where a good old pen and paper are used. This is especially the case when it comes to students and their notebooks.
College Ruled
So why do they include smaller margins? The margins original purpose was to avoid losing precious work from rats that chewed on the paper’s edges. By now, this is no longer an issues, so “college ruled” paper gives you more space to write.
White Teeth, White Nails
It is a lot of work to just be a human. We require a lot of maintaining, which can often lead to a myriad of products cluttering up our bathrooms. That’s why when a product can be used in more than one way, we’re all for it.
White Teeth, White Nails
Did you know that you can use your toothpaste to keep your nails bright and white, just like your teeth? Dark nail polishes can leave nails stained yellow, but applying a layer of toothpaste onto your nails and leaving it on for about 15 minutes will help brighten out your nails.
Toblerone Chocolate
Toblerone chocolates are those iconic long Swiss chocolate bars that come in their unique, triangular shapes. While most people probably think that this shape is merely a stylistic choice, there’s actually a particular reason the manufacturers chose this particular shape for the chocolate.
Toblerone Chocolate
While they resemble the Swiss Alps, the chocolate triangles are convenient, as they easily snap off of the rest of the bar, leaving you with the correct serving size of one piece of chocolate. While we usually eat way more than the serving size, it’s nice to know that it is easy to do so if we are on a diet.
Under Oven Drawer
You know that little drawer under the oven, that you most likely use for extra storage space? How many of us know the actual intended use of this drawer, however? We’re willing to bet that most people don’t know what it’s really for.
Under Oven Drawer
Interestingly enough, this is actually intended to be used as a warming drawer that helps keep your food warm until you are ready to serve it without cooking it additionally. So in reality, it’s actually probably not a great idea to use it as storage…
Microphone Covers
If you’ve ever worked a job that required speaking into a headset or you are around microphones often, you’re probably familiar with the little piece of felt that usually covers up the microphone. It’s not decorative but actually serves a very important use.
Microphone Covers
This piece of foam ensures better quality sound by preventing unwanted noises from being picked up by the microphone. The foam restricts airflow, which in turn helps avoid loud sounds or breathing noises from interfering with the intended sound.
Double Sided Pad
If you’ve ever purchased cotton pads, you may or may not have noticed that each side has a bit of a different design pattern stamped onto it. While this might seem like a purely aesthetic choice, there’s actually a reason for it!
Double Sided Pad
Each side actually is intended for a specific purpose. The embossed side is usually more absorbent, which is great for facial toner or removing nail polish. The smoother side is softer and is better for removing makeup from your eyes or face.
Microwave Black Grating
Here’s one you probably haven’t thought much about before: what the heck is that black grating on the microwave door? It’s called a Faraday shield, which helps keep the electromagnetic energy enclosed inside the microwave and prevent it from escaping.
Microwave Black Grating
A microwave uses long-wave radiation to heat up food by causing water molecules to vibrate. This vibrating creates energy, which is then transferred to heat, which warms up the food. Without the Faraday shield, none of this would happen, rendering the microwave totally useless.
Tire Tread Marks
For those of us out there who do not understand much about cars in general, it’s pretty unclear why tires having special markings on them. No, they’re not there just as a design element. They’re actually there to keep us safe.
Tire Tread Marks
The tire mark grooves are there to keep water out when driving over a wet surface, keeping control of the car from hydroplaning. As the tire’s tread naturally wears out over time, it is not as effective, which is why it’s important to change old tires.
Ice Cream Scooper Colors
Ice cream is seriously one of the best things about life, and anyone who doesn’t agree doesn’t know what they’re talking about. Okay, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but we think ice cream is the absolute best.
Ice Cream Scooper Colors
Ever noticed that there are different colors for ice cream scoopers at ice cream shops? While they do indicate different scoop sizes, they are actually used in order to prevent cross contamination of different flavors. What a smart system!
Toothpick Holder
Have you ever seen or used a toothpick that has two small ridges at one end? You may have never thought about why these are there, but you will be surprised to find out that it is actually pretty useful.
Toothpick Holder
You’re meant to actually break that small part off and use it as a small holder for your toothpick. That way, you can put it down but not contaminate it until you’re ready to use it again. What a genius hack!
Spiky Caps
You may or may have noticed that a lot of tube containers have a cap that has a tiny little spike inside the hollowed out top. While these look like miniature torture devices, they’re actually incredibly useful for opening the package.
Spiky Caps
Anyone who has struggled with getting the small aluminum seal off the mouth of the tube before knows how frustrating it can get. The little spike in the cap helps by piercing a hole in the seal, breaking the air-tight sealing and making it easier to remove.
Plastic Bottle Caps
You may have never noticed the plastic disc that’s inside of bottle caps. You may have taken them out as a child and removed the outer layer and stretched it out in order to make a makeshift bracelet. But do you know what it’s for?
Plastic Bottle Caps
It’s there to protect your drink! How terrible would it be if you were to buy a fizzy drink only to open it up to find it completely flat? This little disc keeps everything good and bubbly in the bottle.
Button Up
You might already know that buttons on men’s dress shirts are on the right, while women’s dress shifts often have buttons on the left. Since most people are right handed, it would seem logical to have all shifts with buttons on the right.
Button Up
However, buttons used to represent how high standing you were in society. So, as a high ranking woman, typically you would have a maid dress you, so for her, the buttons would be accessible from the right side while facing you.
Don’t Sweat It
For those of us who are mindful of wasting products, which in turn wastes our money, this one will be particularly helpful. When you reach the end of a deodorant stick, you will start feeling that container rub against you.
Don’t Sweat It
Instead of throwing it out at this point, you can use a pencil to push the rest of the deodorant that’s in the bottom of the stick. You’ll be able to use this bit for at least a few weeks, saving you from having to buy a new stick.
Pringles Hack
Pringles are truly one of the most delicious and addictive snacks out there. Maybe that’s why the package is designed in a way that the more Pringles you eat, the harder they become to access in the long tube container.
Pringles Hack
To get to those last few chips, you can simply slide a clean piece of paper around the inside of the tube and then lay the container flat. The chips will easily slide out and the paper will shield the chips from touching the table’s surface.
Hole In Aluminum Foil Box
Aluminum foil is one of the most useful inventions out there. It helps you out so much in the kitchen, but the only drawback is when the roll tumbles out of the box, unsheathing a large swath of aluminum foil that you have to roll back up manually and will never be as smooth again.
Hole In Aluminum Foil Box
Have you ever noticed that there is a small message on the side of the box that asks you to press it? This indentation creates a hole in the box that allows you to lock the ends of the roll in place. This way you can prevent the roll from falling out at all.
Heinz’s 57
One of the most classic of life’s frustrations is trying to get every last bit of a condiment out of the jar. It seems like no matter how much you shake, it’s near impossible to get it all out of there.
Heinz’s 57
Heinz has claimed that their ketchup bottle has a very useful feature for this exact dilemma. According to a spokesperson: “the sweet spot to tap on the Heinz bottle is the 57 on the neck. All you need to do is apply a firm tap where the bottle narrows and the ketchup will come out easier.”
What Are These For?
How many times have you purchased a product and then found a small packet of “silica gels” that implore you not to eat its contents? We’re betting that you usually just toss it out without thinking too much about it.
What Are These For?
The silica gel acts as a drying agent, sucking all the moisture of its surroundings. This allows for the product that it is packed with to stay dry and fresh. It would actually be a good idea to keep these packets and use them around the house.
More Support
It seems like everyone’s go to piece of clothing these days is a trusty pair of jeans. There’s nothing like a pair of well fitting jeans to boost your confidence. Have you ever wondered what all those little rivets on the jeans are for?
More Support
They originated from the days when Levi Strauss was making jeans. The rivets were added to areas that become distressed with use and would have the problem of stitches coming undone. When the rivets were used, they pants became more durable.
A Useful Indicator
Anytime you might be driving a new car or if you’re in a rental car, you might have a hard time the first time you fill up your gas tank. You may even park on the wrong side in order to full up the tank.
A Useful Indicator
However, there’s a little indication on the same meter as the gas signal light that lets you know which side you need to park on by the pump. The arrow will point to where your car’s fuel tank is.
Loops On Boots
Combat boots have deviated far from their original use. The fact that they are now worn as a fashion statement was most likely not anticipated by militaries that designed them to be worn by soldiers. That may have you wondering what those loops at the top are meant for if not for fashion.
Loops On Boots
There are a few reasons why these were included. First, if you want to get these boots on quickly, especially if they’re a bit snug, you can use the loop to pull your foot in more easily. Next, you can also use the loops to hang the boots to dry or tie them to a backpack.
Rearview Mirror
Rear view mirrors in the car are one of the most useful components of the vehicle. But have you ever noticed the little tab on the bottom and wondered why it’s there? It is quite useful at night, especially when some other car is flashing their high beams.
Rearview Mirror
The little tab will adjust the position of the mirror in a way that will help avoid an angle that catch the high beam lights. That way, you won’t be blinded by those harsh lights and you can safely drive on.
Loop On Shirt
There seem to be so many mysterious loops on everyday items that most people just ignore. The little loops on the back of button down shirts were introduced by GANT and were originally marketed to Ivy League students who wore these shirts regularly.
Loop On Shirt
The loop was included in order to allow the shirts to be easily hung up on a hook in a locker room. This way, the shirt will remains crisp and won’t get wrinkled up while changing attire.
Soda Can
There’s nothing quite like opening up a can of refreshing soda on a hot summer day. At this point, we’re all so familiar with cracking open the can with the handy tab, that we may not give it a second glance.
Soda Can
There’s a hole on one end of the tab that seems to be quite useless. However, it is intended to be a holder for a straw, that way, the straw wont float into an awkward angle as they tend to do when not being anchored by the tab.
Fancy In A Good Way
Most of us probably do not think too much about which types of hangers we are buying to use in our closets. There are so many different types: wire, plastic, felt, and of course, wooden hangers. While most people view wooden hangers as fancy, they serve an important purpose.
Fancy In A Good Way
Wooden hangers are made of cedar wood, which is great for repelling bugs. This is perfect for heavy and thicker items like dresses and coats. These are especially good for clothes that are made of wool and attract pests.
Bubble Wrap Wallpaper
We’re all familiar with bubble wrap and just how fun it is to pop. We all know that it is used to wrap things with in order to protect them from breaking. It’s especially useful when you’re moving and want to pack up delicate items.
Bubble Wrap Wallpaper
Did you know that bubble wrap was originally meant to be wallpaper? The creators of bubble wrap Marc Chavannes and Alfred Fielding wanted to create a texture wallpaper. When BMI wrapped their computers in the material in 1959, its best and commonly used purpose was born.
Slick Slinky
Many of us played with a slinky when we were growing up, as it is one of the most beloved toys of all time. You might not know that it was not originally invented as a toy at all, however.
Slick Slinky
Richard James invented the slinky in order to stabilize devices on ships that are traveling on choppy waters. He realized its toy potential when he accidentally knocked it off of a shelf and saw the slinky “walking” across his desk.
The Perfect Seal
How many times have you purchased a drink in a bottle and then peeled of the soft, plastic disc (that’s often a light blue color) off the inside of the cap? We know we’ve spent way too much time doing so.
The Perfect Seal
So what is that disc actually for? Well, the small disc plays an important role in keeping your drink fresh and carbonated. It acts as a seal in order to keep the fizzy gas in the bottle instead of leaking out, rendering the drink flat.
The Margin Purpose
You’ve probably gone your whole life thinking that margins were included on pages simply to guide you in how much you are writing on each page. While this is definitely one use, the original purpose is quite different than what you might think.
The Margin Purpose
Originally, manufacturers included margins in order to try to protect people’s writing from rats chewing on the pages. Rats were once more commonly roaming around people’s homes, and they’d frequently nibble on paper. With margins, there was some buffer that allowed for some chewing along the page edges without losing any work.
Temporary Staples
Did you ever notice that your stapler has large indents on the bottom of the silver portion? You might not have thought much about it before, but this is indicative of a pretty useful feature that most staplers have.
Temporary Staples
You can turn the platform found on the bottom of the stapler 180 degrees in order to bend the staples outward. This way, you can staple things temporarily and then remove the staples easily without needing to use a staple remover.