Here’s a fun fact: did you know that newspapers are made of a combined mixture of wood pulp and other recycled materials? That is why they tend to be far richer in fibers than any other type of paper. As we learned from bananas, spinach, and other high-fiber foods, fiber helps keep your body clean. In the same way, having newspapers around your house can actually keep your air cleaner and eliminate any bad odors wafting around.
This makes them an ideal substitute for your monthly magazines or even as an alternative to your regular placemats. Next time someone says print media is dead, make sure to hit them with this little piece of information. Try laying a few newspapers by your shoes or in your gym bag and notice what a difference it makes.
Plastic Lids
Did you know that the plastic lid that comes with your takeaway cup o' joe (or any hot drink, for that matter) has a built-in little button that the barista can press down so that you know which of your coffees is decaf and which one is extra hot? Of course, you did.
But did you know that if you flip over that same plastic lid, its bottom has three little ridges along the inside, which, when necessary, allow the cup to sit perfectly on them and function the exact same way as a coaster? Now you know that the next time someone yells at you for not using a coaster, you will be prepared.
Marshmallows
You may think that the best way to soothe a sore throat is a nice warm cup of tea. However, between adding the honey and slicing the lemon, it may be easier to curl up with a steaming hot cup of cocoa with those teeny-tiny marshmallows you love so much. It may even be more beneficial for you.
While many people assume it is the hot liquid that best soothes a sore throat, science is in our favor this time and tells us that the gelatin present in marshmallows has actually been proven to help coat and soothe a dry and scratchy throat.
Measuring Tapes
We all know that the end of a measuring tape has a little metal piece that helps the measuring tape latch onto something, leaving one hand to hold the tape itself and one free to mark and write down measurements. But have you ever noticed that the end of the little metal clip is serrated? Well, apparently, this piece has multiple uses besides the one listed above (and none of them include getting your fingertip cut when you accidentally let go of the tape too fast).
The clip is serrated at its edge so that you can scratch in a reference mark, in case you happen to forget to bring a writing pad with you. Additionally, the metal clip also has a tiny hole at its end to help you set a nail in without hammering your thumb instead.
Wine Bottle Openers
Every single family seems to have one of these corkscrews at home. While we know that the spiral part goes into the wine bottle cork, and the bent metal gives us the leverage needed in order to pull it out, no one really knows what the tiny knife on the side is for. Well, the corkscrew knife is actually meant for cutting off the seal from the bottle top so that no wine touches the wrapper.
It's no wonder that very few people know this since it's not as if we are taught proper wine-opening techniques at our college parties. Truth be told, most bartenders don’t even know how to use a wine bottle opener properly, so don't feel too bad.