Even though most of us lead very different lifestyles, we all use pretty much the same items every day. At the end of the day, it’s all about making life a little easier, right? But that’s not the only thing we have in common. Most of us have remained completely in the dark about some of the hidden uses that these ordinary gadgets, appliances, and objects have that could honestly simplify life and save you tons of time.
The Hole in Pen Caps
Pen caps have a hole on the tip, and it’s not a design flaw. Manufacturers added this feature so that kids wouldn’t choke if they swallowed the cap by mistake. The hole ensures that air will continue to make it to their lungs until the object is safely removed.
A Tape Measure’s Hole
There’s a tiny hole at the end of tape measures that you’ve probably never given a second thought to. But as it turns out, you can hook a nail or screw to the hole so you can measure comfortably without having to worry about the tape measure slipping or snapping back and slapping your hand. Pretty smart, right?
A Jeans’ Fifth Pocket
Most denim jeans have a tiny pocket on the side but don’t worry, some of us didn’t know it was there until we read about it. It’s called the fifth pocket and people stick their Chapstick or tuck away their cash. But in the mid-1800s, it was used by gold miners to store their pocket watches and keep them safe. That’s because in those days, they were often expensive and quite delicate.
The Extra Fabric in New Clothes
You’ve probably used that extra piece of fabric that comes in new clothes to patch up a hole. But there’s a different reason why manufacturers provided that sample. It was added so people can test their laundry detergent with it. That way they can determine if the detergent will damage the fabric or not. Unbelievable right?
A Coat and Jacket’s Half-Belt
The half belt commonly seen on pea coats and trench coats was originally developed for military soldiers who wore oversized jackets that often served as blankets. The half belt was designed to gather the extra material and keep it in place while the soldiers walked.
A Jeans’ Metal Rivets
Did you know that those metal rivets in your Denim jeans serve a purpose? Back in the day, jeans were for the working class like miners and farmers. So, to prevent their jeans from ripping in all the wrong places, the manufacturers added rivets to increase their durability.
A Soda Tab’s Holes
The tab in a can of soda has two holes. One is to help you grab the tab and open the can. The other hole is for you to stick your straw through it so that it stays in place when you’re not drinking. Otherwise, the gasses will cause your straw to float to the top and pop out.
A Grocery Cart’s Frame Loops
The top fold out section on grocery carts has loops that allow you to hang your light bags. That way, items like bread and eggs won’t get crushed under the weight of the bags that are holding heavy items like milk and shampoo bottles. But most people, including supermarket employees have no idea that this design feature is there for a reason.
The Holes in Converse All Stars
Most people assume the extra holes in their Converse All Stars shoes were designed to loop laces through so the shoe would be snugly. The extra holes were originally intended to help a basketball player adjust the fit of their shoes. As a bonus, the holes also ensured that the wearer’s feet remained ventilated.
Notebook Paper Margins
Rats were a common problem in people’s homes. Aside from munching on human food, they also loved eating paper. So, to prevent these critters from ruining important paperwork, manufacturers created margins that the rats could chew on, but would leave the rest of the paper undamaged. We bet you had no idea about this one either, huh? Neither did we!
Winter Hat Pom-Poms
The fashion feature started in Scandinavia and has since become a recurring winter trend all over the world. But they’re more than just decorative fluffy things for your headgear. Someone came up with the idea to put all the seams together back when knitting hadn’t been invented yet and now it’s just trendy.
Fast Food Paper Cups
When you go to a fast food restaurant, you generally ask for more than one ketchup cup, because you can’t seem to fit enough ketchup inside just one cup. Well, it turns out that you can actually pull them by the sides to make more room for it.
Chinese Food Takeout Boxes
If you ever bring home Chinese takeout but can’t find a clean plate to eat from, you can make one right out of the takeout box. It was designed to unfold, so it would provide a decent sized plate. Best of all, once you’re done with it, you can throw it away. But since it’s a pretty wasteful practice, make sure you don’t do it too often!
Your Stapler’s Metal Plate
Ever inspected your stapler up and close? Of course not! But if you take another look, you’ll notice a metal plate at the front end of your stapler. This design feature is not there just to reinforce or help bend the staples. It’s called an anvil, and you can adjust it by turning your stapler upside down. Then you spin the wheel under it until it lines up with the hole in the metal plate. This is used to temporarily guide the staple’s arms from inwards to outward, which makes it easier to remove the staples.
A Utility Knife’s Plastic Cap
There’s a thick plastic cap at the end of every utility knife. So naturally, everyone assumes it’s there to clip to their pants. But the plastic cap can be pulled off. The slit is then used to remove a tip blade that has grown dull and useless. And just like that, you get a new tip without any cuts or scratches.
Plastic Lids for Cups
The plastic lids on disposable cups were designed so people wouldn’t spill their drinks by accident. But the lids also have ridges that fit at the base of the cup. So, what you get when you order your morning coffee or soft drink is a cup with a fully functioning disposable coaster.
The Neck on Soda and Beer Bottles
You probably hold your bottle from the bottle’s main body. But you’re using it wrong. In fact, all you’re doing is warming your beer or soda up with your hand. To keep your drink cooler for longer periods of time, you need to hold the bottle by its neck. That’s what it was designed for.
A Lollipop Stick’s Hole
As a kid, you undoubtedly noticed the hole on top of your lollipop stick after you were done. When manufacturers pour the melted candy into the mold, some of it will seep into the hole and harden. This guarantees that the candy stays stuck on the stick and won’t fall off.
A Keyboard’s Letter Arrangement
When typewriters were invented, they keys were arranged in alphabetical order. Typists worked so fast that the key arms would get stuck or cross-wired. So, to slow people down, keyboard manufacturers randomized the order so that machines would continue to run for longer periods. And to this day, that style of letter arrangements continues.
A Pot Handle’s Hole
You probably use the hole in the handle to hang your pots and pans in the kitchen. But did you know that you can also use them to hold your spoon? That way, you can rest assure that when you go back and check on your food, you won’t find that your spoon has accidentally slipped into the pot.
A Pasta Spoon’s Hole
Your pasta spoon has a hole that lets you drain the water as you scoop it from the pot. But the hole has another purpose. It was designed so that you can measure a single portion of dry spaghetti before you cook. So, you will never end up with leftovers that you’ll have to throw away later in the week.
An iPhone Camera’s Dot
Most people assume that when they record a video, it’s the speaker they talk into that’s responsible for capturing the audio. But the real credit goes to that dot next to your phone’s camera. It’s a microphone that’s also designed to screen out background noise.
A Car Seat’s Headrest
Headrests adjust to make a driver or passenger’s head a bit more comfortable. But a headrest can also get pulled out completely. This will reveal two long metal bars with a dull point which were designed to break through a window in case of an emergency.
An Airplane Window’s Holes
Those tiny holes in an airplane window regulate the pressure difference between the interior and exterior of the plane as it ascends to the sky. And it keeps the windows from fogging up, so you can enjoy the view. But don’t worry. The holes won’t make the cabin depressurize.
Silica Gel Packets
These tiny packets of silica gel are designed to absorb about 50% of moisture from a small environment like a shoe box. You can even use them if you drop your phone in water. Just grab some silica gel packets and place them in a Ziplock bag, so they can absorb the moisture right out of your phone.
An Eraser’s Blue Side
The rumors that the blue or dark gray side of some erasers was designed to remove ink from a pen is true, but there’s a catch. It only works on paper that is extra durable. If you try using the blue side of the eraser on regular paper, it will most likely tear it to pieces.
A Wine Bottle’s Indentation
At the bottom of every wine bottle is a deep indentation. This isn’t there for aesthetic reasons. It’s called a punt and it was originally placed there because in the olden days, the bottles were handblown. So, the bottom was pushed up to prevent the formation of an outer nub that would make it impossible to balance the bottle on a table.
Tire Treads’ Rubber Bumps
Most people are oblivious to them, but there are rubber bumps or raised edges in the groove of car tires that aren’t there as part of some design. They’re there so that they can warn drivers when it’s time to change the tires. If the edges are smooth, then it’s not safe to drive with those tires.
A Solo Cup’s Lines
Solo cups are synonymous with frat parties and children’s birthday celebrations. But have you ever wondered what the lines on these popular red cups are for? They’re an easy way to measure the amount of alcohol you pour. For example, the bottom line equals an ounce while the third line equal 12 ounces.
The McFlurry Spoon’s Square Hole
The square hole in your McFlurry spoon was designed so that if your tasty treat starts to melt, you can use the spoon as a straw. But it also makes it easier for employees to stick the spoon into the machine and whisk the toppings and ice cream much like a cement mixer works.
A Bobby Pin’s Zigzag
When you stick a bobby pin in your hair, you rarely look to see whether the zigzags are facing up or down. But bobby pins can keep your hair style in place longer if the ridges are facing down towards your scalp and not up.
Toothpaste Stripes
The red, white and blue stripes in Aquafresh toothpaste have a serious purpose. The blue stripe indicates the cleaning and refreshing action. The third stripe was added to symbolize that the toothpaste had cleaning, freshening and plaque control perks. This technique was implemented to get customers to care more about the health of their teeth and gums.
A Jerry Can’s Triple Handle
A Jerry can has an unusual feature. Instead of a typical handle, it has a triple handle running across the top. This allows the fuel to remain even while it is being carried. If you’re on your own, you can use the middle handle. But if there are two people, each person can grab a handle on their respective side without causing spillage.
Cedar Wood Coat Hangers
Wooden coat hangers are definitely fancier than plastic or metal ones. But the cedar wood used to make them also serves to repel things like moths and bugs. They’re also better equipped to handle heavy items like a dress or a leather jacket.
A Soda Bottle Cap’s Plastic Liner
The clear plastic liners you find in soda bottle caps provide a very special function. They keep the carbon dioxide from escaping. Without the seal, all the gas would escape and your drink would wind up tasting flat and just plain awful before your first sip.
F and J Keys on Keyboards
There are lines on the F and J key on your keyboard that feel like bumps. They’re not Braille, but they are there to let typists know where their pointer fingers on their right and left hands should be. That way, they never have to divert their eyes from their computer screens to look at the keys.
The Toothpick Grooves
These Japanese toothpicks might have funny tops, but they serve a purpose. They’re unlike a typical toothpick and were designed that way so that a person could break off the tip and use it as a stand. So, if the person wants to reuse the toothpick, it won’t touch the surface of the table.
A Toblerone Candy Bar’s Shape
The reason a Toblerone is shaped like a bunch of triangles put together in the shape of a candy bar is simple. The Swiss chocolate was meant to be savored, not devoured. So, people are more likely to snap off a triangle and eat it one piece a time.
The Flap on Juices Boxes
There’s a reason why the flaps on top of juice boxes are so bulky. They’re designed to hold outward so that a small child can hang on to their juice. So next time you complain about the bulky flaps, be grateful you’re not cleaning up another spill.
A Padlock’s Holes
The hole at the bottom of padlocks isn’t a factory defect. It was designed to make it easier for someone to inject oil into it to lubricate the inside of the lock’s inner workings. The hole also lets water drain if it’s being used outside or if it’s in a humid environment.
