You Had No Idea These Common Household Items Were Meant To Be Used Like This
What do ridges on coins, Solo cups, coat hangers, and old TV antennas have in common? First of all, they are everyday household things! Second, they come with a secret that you have not noticed in the past. Trust us when we say that these things will solve pesky little problems in and around the home after you tweak them a little. You will no longer have to keep making those trips up to Target and Home Depot when you hear these tips and tricks! Read on to learn how you can make life a lot easier finally.
Wine Bottle Dip
A lot of people like to drink a glass of wine or two! If you are one of them, perhaps you have noticed that dip at the bottom of the bottle at one point or another. Before anything else, you should know that it is called the punt or kick-up. It makes the bottle more stable to prevent it from breaking or falling over after a gust of wind blows by. This also fortifies the bottle to hold sparkling wine, champagne, and the like. It allows the easier distribution of steam when they clean the bottle before adding the wine too.
Shirt Loops
Did you know that you will not only find shirt loops in just plain t-shirts? They actually are part of nice collared shirts as well. This is a practice that has roots in the Navy.
Shirt Loops
When you are out at sea, you do not have a lot of closet space. It is how sailors hang their clothes on hooks! In the ‘60s, college kids used them to keep them neat when they go to the gym. They are often left on to show class and quality these days.
Gas Gauge Arrow
You might have already taken note of this if you drive a car. Besides the gas gauge of nearly every car made from 2010 onwards, you will find an arrow that points either to the left or the right! It is a way to remind the driver of the car which side the gas cap is on.
Gas Gauge Arrow
This might not be all that helpful if you have been driving the car for a considerable amount of time. However, it might come in handy when you are using a brand-new vehicle or a rental car. We think it’s a pretty cool feature!
Charcoal Purifies Air And Removes Odors
You can buy activated bamboo charcoal at your local home good stores. It is great at removing odors and purifying the area. You do not need expensive air purifiers in your home if you have this! That aside, this particular kind of charcoal is known to remove allergens and bacteria.
Charcoal Purifies Air And Removes Odors
You only have to insert the pieces into mesh bags and leave them in foul-smelling areas. There are many places that make their products this way, such as BreathGreen Charcoal Bags. They have been on the market for a long time!
Random Jean Buttons
Do you love jeans? You might be the biggest fan of these trousers but still have no idea what the extra buttons over the pants are for. We all know that they seem odd, but not enough people out there know just how important they actually are! Rivets, as they are called, are added strategically to the garment to prevent the seams from ripping open and getting worn out.
Random Jean Buttons
Did you know that Levi Strauss, jeans magnet, owns the patent on these things! In 1829, he thought of them when miners had been complaining of how easily their jeans wore out. What a clever idea!
Extra Fabric With New Clothes
Have you ever seen that tiny, extra bag that comes with the new clothes that you buy? It usually comes with a tiny piece of the fabric. Most people think that they can use this for tears and rips, but it is for something else.
Extra Fabric With New Clothes
This fabric is meant to go into the wash so that you can see if it will bleed or shrink. After all, it is not a smart idea to wash a piece of clothing if you don’t know how it will react in the wash.
Pot Handle Holes
We doubt that you know the reason so many pot and pan handles have a hole unless you cook for a living. First of all, it makes them much easier to hang when they are not being used.
Pot Handle Holes
After you wash them, this is a great way to ensure that they dry without a problem. Chefs tend to use that hole to hold the stirring spoon, ladle, and other utensils. If you ask us, it sure sounds very convenient and hygienic.
Winter Hat Pom-Poms
It looks like a lot of people fail to keep their head comfy and warm when the winter season rolls in. Hats are a good way to fix this problem. Beanies come in all different styles, some with decorative pum-poms like this.
Winter Hat Pom-Poms
However, you might start to wonder what the pom-poms on some of them are for. The feature has roots in Scandinavia! They were added to collect the seams during the knitting process. While other materials have since been used, this adorable little feature lives on.
Airplane Window Holes
We bet you also freaked out when you first noticed that tiny hole located in the airplane window! Relax, everyone has been there at some point. But why do they exist in the first place? These things are called breather holes. They let the outer panes of the plane handle the pressure difference as the vessel gets higher and higher.
Airplane Window Holes
It lets the cabin remain at a safe and comfortable level the whole time. If the outer pane is ever compromised, there should be an air leak through there. Make sure to keep an eye for that!
Black Grating In The Microwave
It is doubtful that you have ever taken a very close look at your microwave. However, you do not need to get all up-close and personal with it to notice the black grating of the door.
Black Grating In The Microwave
This is called the Faraday shield. It prevents the escape of electromagnetic fields in the microwave so that you can be safe! Just know that you would not only be in danger without it but your food wouldn’t get cooked either.
Dimples On Golf Balls
The truth is that golf balls are not round. A closer look will be all you need to know to get acquainted with all those dimples on their surfaces. Golfers have noticed that old balls, those with bumps and nicks, happen to travel long distances.
Dimples On Golf Balls
These imperfections create turbulence and reduce drag. You now know the answer to your long lived queston as to why they began to add dimples to ball designs! It’s not going to be helpful with putt-putt, though.
Long Bottle Necks
Perhaps you have noticed that adult beverages often come in long-neck bottles. The shape lets you hold beer bottles more comfortably for longer periods of time. Aside from that, it lets you pour it into a glass or mug without a problem.
Long Bottle Necks
Unfiltered beers typically use long-neck bottles that have a more bulbous neck to catch sediments. Aside from that, long necks also help distribute heat throughout the container!
Can Tabs
We are sure that most people know what can tabs are since we regularly open cans of different drinks. You must think these bits are annoying since they usually break off and then fall inside the can!
Can Tabs
Did you know that they have been designed to double as a straw holder? Nowadays, it is unusual to drink from a can with a straw since they widened the mouth in the past to make it easier to drink straight from it!
Takeout Boxes
Chinese takeout is here to save us on the days when we are simply too tired to whip up a meal. Do you also eat it straight from the carton? In reality, the takeout boxes have been designed flat since they are meant to function as a plate as well!
Takeout Boxes
You do not have to take out the food before you pull the sides apart and lay it flat on the table. Do this correctly and you should get a usable plate there and then.
Double Keyboard Bumps
Ever looked down and noticed the small bumps on the F and J keys on your computer keyboard but wondered why they were there? We want you to guess why they installed them in those spots.
Double Keyboard Bumps
Apparently, they did it to let people know where their hands are on the keyboard even if they do not look down! When typing, the right index finger should land on J and the left one on F. You can just feel around for the bumps instead of looking to check!
Pen Cap Holes
Did you think that there was something wrong with your pen cap after you noticed that there was a hole in it? You probably thought it was a malfunction in the production. Don’t worry, this was done by design.
Pen Cap Holes
It was added to let air flow freely should it ever get swallowed by an adult or a child. This makes perfect sense to us. After all, there are so many people out there seem to enjoy putting the pen caps in their mouths while they think!
iPhone Camera Hole
Do you have an iPhone? If so, maybe you noticed that tiny hole right beside the camera lens when you were taking selfies. No, it is not a spy camera but a microphone! After the iPhone 5, all the smartphones from the company have three mics.
iPhone Camera Hole
Three Mics, who knew?! One is located on the bottom edge, another one under the speaker grill, and the last one beside the lens. This way, you would not have a problem recording sound at all.
Zigzag Side On Bobby Pins
Bobby pins have two sides: the wavy one and the straight one. Usually, people use them in a way that wavy pattern faces the scalp. While that does look cooler, this is not the only thing it does!
Zigzag Side On Bobby Pins
This pattern on the bobby pin actually keeps it secure in the spot for the whole day. This way you don’t have to repin and unpin your hair all day long. It’s so much easier to hold onto the hair like this.
Cable Cord Cylinders
We do not know about you, but we used to always wonder what those cylinder-like lumps towards the end of cords are and do. If you must know, they are called ferrite chokes or cores!
Cable Cord Cylinders
These cores come with magnetic iron oxide, which prevents high-frequency electromagnetic interference. Your call might get interrupted by weird noises if your phone is too close to the speaker. These cylinders actually prevent these things.
Apple Power Cord Wings
Do you have a MacBook? If you just said ‘yes’, you probably see the wings on the cord all the time. Don’t worry if you do not know what they are for! Many people do not know why they can be pulled up.
Apple Power Cord Wings
Apparently, flipping them up and wrapping the cord around the wings helps make it easier to charge as nothing is going to get in the way. This is a great discovery if you do not like messes.
Blue Part On The Eraser
These erasers play a pretty big part in our childhood memories! But why did they have three different colors anyway? In the past, people said that the blue bits can erase pen ink, but this is only a rumor.
Blue Part On The Eraser
The truth is that this bit was meant for strong and thick paper. Artists find it helpful when they use special paper and not loose-leaf or notebook paper. We just solved the greatest mystery of your childhood!
Square Patches On Backpacks
Do you think those square patches on many backpacks look cool? We won’t argue with you there, but you should know that this is not all. This lashing square or pig snout can be used to carry extra gear!
Square Patches On Backpacks
String cords can be looped through it so that you can hang things that no longer fit inside your bag. If you go camping, you will be happy to know this great piece of trivia.
Colorful Ice Cream Scoops
Are you aware of the reason ice cream coops have different colors? It’s not just a fancy tactic to perusade people tp purchase the product. Each color actually represents a different scoop size! Crazy Huh?
Colorful Ice Cream Scoops
There are a dozen scoop sizes out there, most of them depending on how many can fit in the cup. That’s right. The bright colors are not only for show as they are very useful as well!
Brass Material For Door Knobs
If you are great at paying attention to little details, perhaps you have noticed that doorknobs are typically made of brass. Why is this? Apparently, brass surfaces resist bacteria buildup more. How is this useful?
Brass Material For Door Knobs
This is very important since millions of people touch this object every single day. Can you imagine what it would be like if they used another material for it? Germs would be passing, and we may have an epidemic on our hands!
Bottle Cap Discs
Have you ever taken a peek underneath the soda bottle cap? If so, you probably saw the plastic disc there. You might think they are unnecessary or you may have spent your childhood chewing on it.
Bottle Cap Discs
Either way you probably never knew the real purpose. This plastic disc actually helps you see through the carbonation. We do not know exactly how it works, but the disc traps carbon dioxide and prevents the fizz from going.
Rearview Mirror Tab
As a driver, it is part of your job to look in the rearview mirror regularly when you are on the road! However, have you ever taken the time to notice the tab at the bottom of the mirror? Not many people know what it is for.
Rearview Mirror Tab
It turns out that it allows you to change the position of the mirror to prevent getting blindsided by lights from behind you. It deflects the light and allows you to see what is going on.
Coin Ridges
Have you ever noticed the fact that quarters and dimes both have rough edges? You do not find these features on pennies and nickels! Go ahead and check the coins in your purse if you are not sure.
Coin Ridges
This is actually a remnant of the period in history when coins got stamped in different weights to reflect the real value of the coin on hand. They wanted to stop people who shaved off the edges of the coin to make new ones! The ridges were made of precious metals to ensure that this no longer happened.
Grocery Cart Loops
Even if you can fit a lot of stuff in your grocery cart, not a lot of people ever notice the loops that will help frame the fold-out part. If you take a closer look you can notice that these are there to protect your items.
Grocery Cart Loops
With these loops, you can now hang the delicate items that can get squished by everything else in the cart. They are extra space to make sure all your groceries stay fresh and secure. This is definitely a neat design in our books.
Lined Paper Margins
How come notebook paper has margins anyway? Perhaps it is more important to ask why the margins differ based on the grade you are in! For the second question, we all know that everything gets harder when you get older.
Lined Paper Margins
But what about the first question? Apparently, this is because of rat infestations, Gross! They like to chew on just about any bit of paper, so this ensures that the important part will stay intact.
Paper Condiment Bowls
Ketchup and fries are a match made in heaven! However, nobody likes the the idea of having to come back again and again to fill up the small condiment cups. And thats not the only annoying thing about them.
Paper Condiment Bowls
But they are also a pain to dip our fries into because of their size. They are so small that your ketchup always seems to pour over the side. The truth is that you can unfold them this way. Voila!
Plastic Cup Lids
Are you ready to get your mind blown? Plastic lids that come with disposable cups area actually meant to be used as coasters as well. This does not apply if you get one and then drink it in the car.
Plastic Cup Lids
However, the ridges make them ideal for a coaster if you plan to sit down to enjoy the drink! We had no idea this was the case, but it makes coffee stains that much easier to deal with.
Solo Cup Lines
The red solo cups are the superstars of many college parties. Maybe you were too busy trying to enjoy your night to ever notice those horizontal lines on those cups. They are meant to tell you the amount of alcohol in there.
Solo Cup Lines
The first line means one-shot or an ounce of liquor. The next one means one glass or five ounces. The third one means 12 ounces or an entire bottle of beer! Now you can finally monitor your drinking.
Jerry Can Handles
Jerry cans are pretty common if you like to travel and go camping. Perhaps you know that it can store up to five gallons of fuel but are you aware of the reason there are three handles? This design helps you more than you think.
Jerry Can Handles
It lets you distribute the fuel evenly while you move it. If there are two people, both of them should grab the outside handles. If one person is carrying it, the middle one is the way to go.
Juice Box Flaps
Do you know the reason juice boxes have heavy top flaps? You just need to look at the photo here to learn why. The angel in this photo learned what they are for. You just have to fold them outward to hold them in an easier way.
Juice Box Flaps
These juice boxes were made for people ages 2 to 10. By doing this, you make it easier for them to hold it without any danger of slipping! This works for people older than that too, of course.
Holes In Your Converse
Have you ever looked at your Converse sneakers and wondered why they have those holes on the sides? As it turns out, they have several functions. The first one is allowing your feet to breathe while you wear them.
Holes In Your Converse
This prevents your feet from getting too hot and becoming uncomfortable. Another interesting reason is that they’re made this way to allow you to tie the laces in more ways than other sneakers. They are unique sneakers!
TicTac Hack
We all know the struggle of trying to get just one TicTac out of the box but ending up with a whole bunch instead. Well, your days of suffering in the hands of TicTacs are over!
TicTac Hack
Have you ever noticed the little indent on the inside of the box cap? You probably saw it and ignored it, but actually It has a very specific purpose. It’s made to catch one single TicTac when you tip the opening over.