Uses Behind Your Everyday Products

Everywhere you look nowadays there are lists and videos of “life hacks” to make everyday living just a little simpler. From kitchen hacks to traveling hacks, there are solutions for basically everything. But let's face it, most hacks are actually ordinary techniques that any one of us would have known about a lot earlier had we taken the time to ask our mothers. (I mean, freezing food in order to keep it tasting fresh is not really a "hack" for most of us).

However, even moms don’t know everything. This list is about to reveal some extremely helpful dual uses behind a large number of your daily household gadgets. You may also be surprised to learn about a number of products that were actually created to function in completely different ways than you are probably used to. Between the secret meaning behind those annoying elevator dings and the reason why eating yogurt can save you from having to wash any dishes, each one of these tips and tricks will leave you in total awe.

Coffee Bags

If you're a coffee addict, like us, you may be under the impression that those little holes in packaged ground coffee bags are for people like us who appreciate a good strong whiff of that coffee aroma before we make the decision to purchase the bag (along with 10 others). However, in truth, the hole is there in order to prevent the bag from exploding. Fun fact, when coffee is roasted it tends to let off carbon dioxide.

Once packaged, the carbon dioxide can cause the bag to inflate and explode. Nevertheless, oxygen can cause coffee to turn stale. That's why some clever genius had to come up with the idea of a tiny hole that will let the CO2 out, but won’t let oxygen in. Thanks to whomever it was, now we can all smell our favorite blends at the store.

Neck Bottles

If you find your beer getting warm way too fast, then you're probably not holding it right. If you hold the body of the beer bottle, the way the man in the photo is doing, your hands will transfer their heat onto the bottle and consequently, end up warming up your beer. However, if you hold on to the neck of the bottle while you drink, the beer will stay nice and cool.

This is because long beer bottlenecks are made for you to be able to grab onto them, unlike their lower half. The long neck of the bottle was created to eliminate body heat from transferring to the liquid inside.

Takeout Containers

Some take out containers are much more user friendly than others. In fact, lousy take out options make all the difference when you're facing a take-out night (you know, those nights when you get home so exhausted that you know you will be ordering in). Well, while they have been serving us chopsticks for centuries, Chinese restaurant take-out containers are far more practical than we have been giving them credit for.

Next time you order in your favorite fried rice dish, instead of dirtying an extra plate, try this out: once you eat the first few bites, and the rest gets a little difficult to get at, simply unfold all sides of your take-out container and watch how it easily unfolds, creating a flat plate for you to eat off of. Pretty crafty!

Voicemails

So many hilarious sitcom moments have been built on the notion that once you record a voicemail, there is no going back. Of course, you can always record another, slightly less awkward voicemail in attempts to explain the first, but truthfully, that has never come across as "smooth" and usually ends up making the problem worse.

We can't help but wonder, how many scenes would have been ruined, and how many relationships could have been salvaged had they only known this small detail: in most phones across the globe, pressing the star (*) button, will let you re-record your voice message! There are no more excuses for a horrible voice message.

Colored Toothpaste

While most of us end up buying the classic three-stripe kind of toothpaste, we aren’t actually aware of the benefits and purpose behind each color. For some reason, the toothpaste companies don't bother explaining it to us either, but the truth is, each color in your toothpaste tube has different ingredients that do different things.

For example, the white paste contains substances that remove plaque and as a result, whiten your teeth. The red stripe usually contains vital elements for proper gum care, and the blue paste holds the antimicrobial and breath-freshening components.

Hole in the Handle

This one is for the home chefs among us. You might have observed a hole at the end of your pots and pans, which is why many of us decide to call a carpenter to install a rustic pot and pan holder on our wall to hang our cooking tool from. Plus, it creates a homey cooking environment and saves shelf space.

While this is a wonderful idea and we fully recommend it, that is not what the small holes were actually made for. In reality, the holes at the end of your pots and pans were placed there strategically in order to provide a holder for your spatula or mixing spoon. It sure beats placing a dirty spoon on the counter and making a mess.

Sneaker Holes

If you own a pair of Converse All-Star shoes, then you may already know this one. However, if you don’t, first of all, go ahead and run out to get yourself some because they are seriously awesome. Secondly, All-Stars design actually mimics a technique that all basketball players' shoes in the NBA already have.

You know those two extra holes on each side of your basketball shoes? Whether they are All-Stars, Nike or Adidas, those holes are not just there to suit the design of the shoe. Their actual purpose is to make sure the shoes get enough air passages in order to conduct better ventilation.

Fuel Mark

When you buy a new car you usually feel a little out of your comfort zone before you get to know all the features of the new automobile. One way to get to know our car is by taking a walk around it and locating the placement of the gas tank. As it turns out, we don't really have to do that, in fact, there is no reason to get out of the car at all in order to check where your gas tank is.

Next time you're in your car, take another look at the gas meter inside your dashboard, beside the gasometer that tells you how much fuel you have left, the little gas symbol also has a tiny arrow next to it pointing either right or left. The direction of the arrow will let you know which side of the car your gas tank is on in relation to the driver's seat.

Heinz Ketchup Bottle

For some unknown reason, many of us seem to think that banging on inanimate objects gets them to work faster. While it may work with an old TV set, the same cannot be said for a bottle of Heinz Ketchup. Next time you sit down with your burger and fries and decide to add some flavor, don’t tap the bottom of the Ketchup bottle and expect it to come out faster.

Instead, tap the middle area where the bottle's number  '57' is located and see how much quicker it comes out. That being said, if speed is your main concern, as far as Ketchup bottles go, just place the bottle upside down in your fridge and it will always come pouring out the top.

Hole in a Pen’s Cap

If you've ever bought writing utensils in bulk, particularly the standard blue-capped pens there are in every office, then you may have noticed this next one. Usually, these pens have a hole in the lid.

The story behind pen caps is kind of like the sign in the zoo "don't feed the animals". If you fed them well, it probably wouldn't be an issue, but someone must have thrown in a lollypop at some point and ended up choking some poor animal. Similarly, the tips of pen lids didn't always have holes in them, but once nearly 100 people died from choking on their pen top, the air hole was put in as a safety measure.

Gasoline

This one is a little weird. While gasoline is a known substance used primarily for powering cars, it can do much more than that.

Besides that, gasoline can also unstick duct tape, and in some countries, like Germany and Sweden, it is even used for medicinal purposes. As duct tape was created for use by the USA army, it only makes sense that it would require a poisonous toxin, such as gasoline, to strip the tape’s adhesive. However, we wouldn't try this at home, for obvious reasons.

Self-Check Outs

We all thought that self-checkouts would make our lives a little easier. However, what we didn't take into account is that by eliminating the human aspect of checking-out, the self-checkout counters would become extremely picky and very particular about how they would like things to be done. While they are incredibly handy, they can get quite annoying at times.

Yes, we know we’re putting our items in the bagging area, there is nowhere else to put them! What you probably didn't know is that most self-checkout stalls come with the possibility of turning off that annoying mumble. Forever. Just search for the mute button the next time you're at your local grocery store.

That Baby Strawberry

If you’ve ever picked up a needle and thread, then you've undoubtedly seen that tiny, strawberry baby pincushion that hangs from its larger, strawberry momma pincushion. But here's something you probably didn't know: strawberries were not always the tasty fruit and fresh desert component that we now know them as.

In ancient times, strawberries we even used to treat depression. The shape of the pincushion dates back from an era when strawberries were used for polishing metals, as they can also get rid of rust and polish everyday objects. Today, it is merely there as an emergency tool for holding your needles.

Perforation on Your Aluminum Wrap Box

If you also used to open the aluminum foil box from the outside, grab a piece and watch helplessly as the entire roll rolls onto the floor and unravels like a sad, less than majestic, aluminum carpet, then this one will be your lifesaver. Did you know there were arrows at the sides of your aluminum foil box?

They're there to indicate that you must push your finger down on them, and by doing so, the outer piece of the box clutches onto the inside of the foil roll and prevents it from slipping out of the box. They function as end locks, keeping the aluminum roll locked in tight.

Tiny Hole at the Bottom of a Lock

Have you ever noticed a tiny hole above the keyhole of your lock? If, like us, you may have thought that it served as a safety precaution that allows a locksmith to open the lock in case the key got lost or broken, then like us, you'd be wrong. After all, it doesn't really make much sense to have a lock that someone else can open that easily. Anyway, the real reason behind the tiny hole at bottom of the lock is that it allows a passage for accumulated rainwater.

If the lock had no draining mechanism, then it might freeze, and as we all know, when water freezes, it expands, thus causing damage to the lock and deeming it unusable.

Plastic Lids

Did you know that the plastic lid that comes with your take away cup o' joe (or any hot drink, for that matter) has 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 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.

Newspapers

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.

Measuring Tapes

We all know that the end of a measuring tape has a little metal piece that helps the measuring tape latch on to 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 type of 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.

Ovens

The era of social media is finally making its way to the mom community, and these expert bakers are more than excited to share their knowledge. So, you know that drawer under your built-in oven? The one we all keep our pots and pans in?  As it turns out, that drawer was never meant to be the home of our cooking utensils.

It was actually created for the main purpose of serving as a food-warming compartment. After your food is done cooking, the best place to store it up until mealtime is in that lower drawer, as it contains some of the leftover heat from the oven above. It also makes it easy to completely take apart your oven for the daunting task of cleaning.

Dental Floss

If you've ever tried using dental floss (which you should as it helps get rid of up to 90% of the plaque that you miss from regular brushing!), then you know that it is not the most comfortable thing to hold in your hands. Half the time it feels like you have to sacrifice your pointer fingers for the sake of your teeth and pray that the blood comes back to them after you unwrap the dental floss from them.

One way to avoid this problem is to grab on to both ends of the string and tie them together to create a sort of dental floss circle. The resulting flossing-loop would be much simpler to use and wouldn’t hurt your fingers as much. Just make sure to leave much more length to the original string than you would normally because you still want to be able to hold it up to your teeth.

Colorful Bread Tags

Everyone is familiar with the little bag seals that come with the bread from the grocery store. At first, you may not pay any attention to the color of these bag clasps, but you really should. The colors of the tags are not random. They are actually there to let you know exactly how old the bread is.

In fact, it actually says the days of the week on each colored tag in order to indicate the day that this specific bread was made and delivered to your store. What's more, the colors are usually already organized in alphabetical order to help you find the freshest bag.

YouTube

Unfortunately, there are no innovative and new ways to be using YouTube. But this tip will certainly make your YouTube surfing much simpler. While there are millions of keyboard shortcuts that differ between Mac and Windows, and even between YouTube, Facebook and others, there are three that seem to be fairly universal. If you're in the middle of a YouTube clip, and you think you missed something, pressing the "J" key will rewind your video by 10 seconds.

Conversely, if you'd like to fast forward, pressing the "L" key will fast forward your video by 10 seconds, and pressing the "K" will pause and play. It may seem unimportant to some people, but boy can it get frustrating trying to rewind by dragging your mouse and ending up having to watch the whole thing from the beginning.

Elevators

Did you ever wonder why elevators ding so much? If you are in an elevator, you don't need a ding to remind you that the doors are opening, you can probably figure that out on your own. But not everyone can. As it turns out, elevators are one of the many and growing number of things in our life that have been modified and specifically suited to adhere to the needs of the visually impaired and other handicaps.

The dings in an elevator on each floor is actually to let everyone know the direction in which the elevator is going. One ding means the elevator is going up, and two dings mean that it is on its way down. Pretty clever, right?

Staplers

Did you know that staplers have a double function? If you haven't noticed, on the same end with which you do your stapling, there is also an anvil. This is to help you pull the staples out. But very few people can honestly say that they know the trick behind "outwards" stapling.

By flipping it around, in the opposite direction, the staple’s prongs will turn outwards instead of inwards towards each other – the way a stapler works.

Flashlights

Every household has a flashlight, or at least it should. Megalite, one of the more popular flashlight brands, comes with a super handy, super-secret replacement lightbulb that not many people know about. If you unscrew the end of the flashlight like you normally would, in order to replace old batteries, you will find an extra compartment that pops out.

Inside the compartment, you will find an extra lightbulb for your Megalite. Just unscrew the bottom, pop open the little plastic case containing the secret light bulb and voila! Your flashlight just increased its life expectancy by at least another 40 years!

Tic Tac Lids

Have you ever seen those indented Tic-Tac shaped molds on the inside of your Tic-Tac box cover? You probably thought it was to help keep the box-sealed airtight and keep the Tic-Tacs fresh and crisp. As it turns out, this indent has a different purpose.

Apparently, it’s supposed to be used as a Tic-Tac dispenser, but seriously, who actually opens their box of Tic-Tacs to have just one single Tic Tac?

Soda Cans

Have you ever wondered why the little tab on top of your soda can, the one you use to pull and press to open the can, has a little hole in it? Well, once you open the can and the tab is on the opposite side of the opening, twist it around so that the small hole is directly over the open drink slot, and you'll see that the hole is just big enough for a straw to fit through.

If you’ve ever tried to put a straw in a fizzy drink, you'd know how tough it is, since they tend to just pop right out, but the little hole in your can top tab will hold the straw in place. It may not be as exciting as the invention of the light bulb, but it certainly beats risking a cut on your top lip by drinking right out of the can.

iPhone Hole

If you're one of the 85.8 million iPhone users in the U.S., then you may or may not have noticed the tiny hole situated between your phone's camera and its flashlight. Actually, this hole is there in order to record your voice as accurately as possible.

It’s actually a tiny microphone. If you thought you were talking into the microphone when you press your mouth to the bottom of your phone, well, you'd be right. iPhone users are actually recorded from both ends of the phone to make the transmitted sound just that much better. But that still doesn't make up for making us buy new chargers for each model!

Car Keys

Most new cars these days come with a self-start feature, which lets you start your car before you are even inside. There is no argument that this is a great feature, nevertheless, most remotes will still come with a spare key to your car, hidden inside them.

The extra key will let you start the car in case the remote's battery dies out or there is an electronic malfunction. You will be thanking the makers on that one morning when you're running late to your meetings and the car won't start.

Facebook

Since 2.3 billion people use Facebook on a daily basis, you'd think the database couldn't possibly store so much information. You'd be wrong. Every group you join and every "like" you click, lets Facebook know a little more about you.

While we can't possibly know everything that goes on behind the scenes, we can check out all the information they have on each of us. Just enter your account settings, then click on the “ads” tab on the side and you’ll see “your information” and “your categories” tabs. Here you'll find everything Facebook knows about you, from your political standing to your favorite bands.

Instant Oatmeal Packages

There are so many things that we didn't know about Instant oatmeal. One of the coolest things about instant oatmeal, when packaged in those individual packets, is that the packets are actually made out of a plastic-lined material so that you can reuse them to measure out the water you need to add.

Sadly, most of the fruit advertised isn’t real, or it may just be a different fruit in disguise. For instance, the strawberries and peaches in Quaker brand packets are actually just flavored dehydrated apples.

Juice Boxes

Juice boxes are kind of like miniature milk cartons. If you don't open them correctly they may end up spilling all over everything. Let us start out by saying: you don’t need scissors to open a juice box. It would ruin the whole point of having a juice box, which is having a fun and easy beverage on the go. All you have to do is unpack your little straw carefully so that it doesn't bend and break, and put the pointy end through the designated hole at the top of the box.

However, sometimes even if you do this right, the box may spill anyway because of the pressure from inside. To avoid this, just lift the sides and squeeze in to give the juice a larger area to spread out on before inserting the straw.

Applesauce and Yogurt

Have you ever packed yourself a cup of applesauce or yogurt to take along as a snack and forgot to bring along a spoon? Many grocery stores will be kind enough to give you a disposable spoon if you check out with just one yogurt, but you're not always around a convenience store. So, what can you do?

The lids on applesauce and yogurts were actually designed to be transformed into a disposable spoon if need be. Next time you're debating what brand of yogurt or applesauce to bring with you from home, always choose the kind with a foil wrapper instead of paper. The foil is bendy and can be molded into an eating utensil – just like in the picture above.

Copper Rivets on Jeans Pockets

Jeans don't usually strike people as difficult to figure out; their function is quite simple. While the zipper part is quite simple, no one really knows what those small copper button-things at the edge of your pockets are for. However, we don't seem to give it any extra thought and simply dismiss the matter, considering them to be a part of the jeans' design.

Actually, these small buttons provide the pockets with extra strength to prevent the fabric from tearing apart when it's stretched.

Can Openers

Can openers are good for… well, opening cans. But that's not their only purpose. Throughout the years, hardware companies have been trying to create an ideal solution for opening that ridiculously stubborn plastic packaging that comes with chargers and other toys. You know, the one that even your toughest pair of scissors can't cut through?

Well, there have been a few attempts with different tools that were made specifically to open that thick plastic packaging, but you may like to know that the solution was sitting right there in your kitchen drawer the entire time. That's right, you can use your can opener to open the edges of the plastic package and you'll have that brand new electronic or toy in your hand in no time!

The Compass App

Each iPhone update brings with it new secret ways to use it, play with it, enjoy it and ultimately get your mobile phone to be as useful as it possibly can be. We must admit, some of these are absolutely genius and rule out the need for pretty much anything else in our lives, short of food and clothing. However, one of the best-kept secrets of the iPhone actually came with the original.

Have you ever used the compass app on your iPhone? We may not need a compass very often but if you tap into the app and swipe to the left, you'll be surprised to find that your iPhone comes with a built-in level.

Tiny Jean Pockets

There is little that can be squeezed into those unusually tiny pockets that can be found on every pair of jeans. Aside from some Chapstick and maybe a few neatly folded twenties, the space is practically useless. It wasn’t always useless though. Back in the 1800s, pocket watches were all the rage. They would usually be kept in a man’s waistcoat pocket and attached to a button by a small chain. This design, however, wasn’t practical for the blue-collar workers of the nineteenth century.

Originally called waist overalls, Levis started producing their jeans with this tiny pocket, creating the perfect spot for the working man to put their pocket watch. Not only were jeans more practical than a waistcoat, but it offered more protection for the watch. While it was first called a watch pocket, it has had several names over the decades, including the frontier pocket, coin pocket, match pocket, and ticket pocket.

Hole On Elevator Doors

Ever notice the tiny hole on elevator doors? While it looks like a peephole that you’d find on most front doors, it actually serves an entirely different purpose. It’s actually a keyhole that can only be opened by those in possession of a special kind of key. This includes elevator technicians, inspectors, and emergency response teams.

The key is able to open the doors, even if the actual elevator is sitting on another floor. This comes in handy when repairs need to be made or when people get stuck inside. For safety reasons, it’s often illegal for unauthorized individuals to own this kind of key.

Bumps On Keyboards

On average, people will spend roughly 11 hours a day in front of a screen. While most of that time is spent on cellphones, there’s a good chance that you’re spending a decent portion of your day in front of a computer as well. During this time, you may have noticed the small bumps on both the “f” and “j” keys. If you have no idea what purpose they serve, you’re not alone!

Most people have no idea that the bumps on these keys are there to help you position your hands when typing. If you use the two-finger typing technique, then these bumps are basically useless to you. However, those who are properly trained to use a keyboard know that the “f” and “j” keys are located in the “home row.” The bumps allow you to navigate the keyboard with ease.  You can find the home row with your pointer fingers, and ultimately put your hands in the optimal typing position.

Ketchup Cups

It turns out we’ve all been using ketchup cups all wrong. These paper condiment holders are found at practically every fast food restaurant in the world, yet someone failed to get the word out on how to use them. The cups are designed to unravel, significantly widening the opening so even the biggest nugget can fit inside.

Expanding the cups create a saucer-like container that also allows you to fit more of your favorite dipping sauce inside. No more running out of honey mustard after downing just a handful of fries or having to juggle a dozen paper cups filled to the brim. Now, if only we could get them to stop being so stingy with the dipping sauces they’re willing to give us for to-go orders!

Pasta Spoons

Ever notice the large hole in most pasta spoons? While it’s great for draining the pasta, that’s not actually its intended purpose. The hole is a measuring tool and fits roughly one serving (two ounces) of spaghetti, fettuccine, or angel hair pasta. Some pasta spoons even have multiple holes that can be used to measure out different portions.

The pasta spoon is easy to use. Simply slide some dry pasta into the hole until no more can fit, and repeat based on how many people you’re cooking for. It’s the tool you never knew you needed!

Hats With Pom-Poms

The furry pom-poms on top of some winter hats may be a fashion staple these days, but it has been used for very different reasons in the past. One of the first records of pom-poms being used was during the Viking era, and is thought to have been attached to the top of hats to hide poor stitching.

They were later used by sailors as an extra layer of protection when waters got rough. It also helped them to gauge the height of cabin ceilings when working below deck. Pom-poms entered the fashion world during the Great Depression, as it was an inexpensive way to add embellishments to clothes. They grew in popularity during the ‘60s and have stayed in style ever since.

Chupa Chups Lollipops

Remember Chupa Chups? The Spanish candy company created over 100 lollipop flavors, including unique options like Strawberries & Cream, Peach Yogurt, Choco-Vanilla, and Strawberry Yogurt. A small hole in the lollipop stick led many kids to believe that once they were finished with the candy, the plastic stick could be used as a whistle. However, that couldn’t have been further from the truth.

The hole was actually intended to ensure the candy was secure by having it solidify inside and outside of the hollow stick. It’s also designed to ensure someone choking on the stick can still get air into their lungs through the hole. Not exactly a whistle, but certainly not useless!

Box Cutters

We all have a box cutter laying around the house somewhere. Few people know, however, that this handy tool doesn’t need to be replaced each time the blade becomes too dull. In fact, each box cutter comes with about a dozen fresh blades, ready to use at a moment’s notice. Knowing how to access them, however, isn’t exactly common knowledge.

Ever wonder what the notches along a box cutter’s blade are for? These notches are actually perforated lines that allow you to break the top blade off when it becomes too dull to use. After you snap it off along the line, you’ll have a fresh blade at your disposal. Unless you use your box cutter regularly or tend to lose things, you’ll likely never need to replace it!

Ridges On Coins

Have you ever noticed that the sides of some coins have ridges while others are smooth? Specifically, quarters and dimes are made with textured sides. This design method began back in the day when coins held a true value. For example, a silver dollar was molded from one ounce of silver.

People began to take advantage of this by shaving off the edges of their money and eventually collecting enough silver or gold to melt into a new, full coin. They also spent the shaved coins at the intended value, even though they weren’t worth the full amount anymore. To discourage people from doing this, coins started to be molded with small ridges on the side. This made it easy to tell if it had been shaven.

Shopping Carts

The minds behind the shopping carts we use in grocery stores today don’t get enough credit for their creation. More than just a place for our milk while we wander around the frozen foods aisle, shopping carts also offer a safe place for more delicate items. The intricate loops, which can be found on either side of the cart or in front, are designed to hold lighter grocery bags.

While plastic bags may be on their way out, the concept still works with reusable tote bags. As you are bagging your items at the checkout counter, place anything you don’t want to be squished in a separate bag. Think cartons of eggs and loaves of bread. These bags can be hung on the loops so that they rest on the outside of the cart, ensuring they make it to your car safe. Getting them home safely, however, is entirely up to you.

Child-Proof Medicine Bottles

Child-proof medicine bottles are a pain to open at any age. If you don’t have small children around, it makes these finicky lids even more frustrating to deal with. What most people don’t know is that you don’t have to!

Many prescription pill bottles with child-proof lids are threaded on both sides making them reversible. While one of these sides is designed to lock into place, the other is able to secure the bottle without enabling this safety feature, allowing you to open it like any ordinary container. Who knew?

Notebook Margins

Remember back in grade school when using paper with properly sized margins was a huge deal? Well, as it turns out, margins weren’t created to give students extra room their notes. The reason they were first used is actually quite disturbing. Back during a time when rats were a common guest in most homes, they would often snack on pieces of paper.

The margins were put in place to keep all written content away from the edges of the paper, safeguarding it from any rats with the munchies. Additionally, it would help to ensure any wear and tear that naturally occurs over time to the paper edges wouldn’t damage what was written down. Basically, whatever they were writing back when margins were created must have been incredibly important.

Panty Pockets

Most women are familiar with the tiny pocket sewn into panties, but few know what purpose it serves. The truth is, this small piece of fabric isn’t intended to be a pocket at all. Called a panty gusset, it’s a hygienic feature added to underwear to reduce stress from tight clothing. Usually made from cotton, it also helps to reduce moisture and make the underwear more breathable.

Most high-end brands will sew the panty gusset into their underwear on all sides. However, other brands will leave one side open as they don’t want to spend the extra time and money on those last few stitches. Ultimately, this creates an unintentional pocket to form!

Vehicle Headrests

Vehicle headrests are first and foremost designed for our comfort. They are adjustable to support people of most heights, but not everyone knows they also offer a built-in safety feature. In the unlikely event that you become trapped in your car and can’t get the windows to open, the headrest can be pulled out of the seat entirely.

It’s held in by two sturdy, metal prongs that come to a dull point. For this reason, they can be used to quickly break a car’s windows, allowing you to escape safely. This is one not-so-small fact that more people should be made aware of!

Holes In Airplane Windows

If you’ve never noticed the tiny hole at the bottom of airplane windows, you certainly will from now on. The pin-sized opening is barely visible, but it serves several significant purposes. A minor perk of the small hole is that it prevents the window from fogging up. It allows you to get those magical views as you’re landing and taking off without having to wipe it down first.

The most important purpose the hole serves is allowing airflow into the plane. This prevents air pressure from building up to dangerous levels that are capable of cracking or shattering the window. It’s a small feature, but it’s ultimately ensuring passengers don’t get sucked out of the plane and dropped from the sky.

Indentation In Wine Bottles

Wine aficionados are certainly familiar with the indentation found on the bottom of wine bottles. Coming in a variety of shapes and sizes, it doesn’t actually indicate whether a bottle of wine is superior, as many have been led to believe. The indentation, called the punt, dates back to when bottles were being handblown.

Glassblowers would push in the base of the bottle to stop a nub from forming that would prevent the bottle from standing upwards. Today, some brands continue the tradition by including a punt, even though it doesn’t serve a purpose. On the contrary, carbonated drinks like champagne require a punt, as it evenly distributes the pressure from the carbon dioxide.

Wooden Coat Hangers

Wooden coat hangers have a reputation for being fancier than plastic and wire alternatives, but there’s a reason they come with a larger price tag. Often made of cedar, wooden hangers actually serve a unique purpose that makes them well worth the extra cash.

Not only does cedar produce a scent that few can say they don’t love, but it also keeps away any bugs or moths that might chew at your clothes. They’re also far more durable than other options, making them ideal for storing heavy winter coats during the warmer months. Yes, you might spend more money on these hangers upfront, but they’re ultimately saving you cash in the long run by helping to preserve your wardrobe.

Women’s Shirt Buttons

Ever notice that women’s shirt buttons are often on the left even though most people are right-handed? More than a minor inconvenience, the reason for this dates back to olden days, when buttons meant you belonged to high society. Apparently, buttons were a big deal back in the day.

If you were wealthy enough to own clothing with buttons, then you were likely not dressing yourself each morning. The buttons on women’s garments were placed on the left as this made it easier for chambermaids to dress them. Even though times have changed, this dated design has not.

Toothpick Grooves

The next time you go out for Chinese or Japanese food, grab a few of their toothpicks. If they have well-defined grooves, then they’re likely a specially designed toothpick that allows people to use them in public without disregarding proper dining etiquette.

After you’re done digging chicken bits out of your teeth, simply snap off the top of the toothpick. The grooves are weakened, making this task rather easy, leaving you with a perfectly sized stand for your toothpick. It allows restaurant-goers to put their toothpick down without it touching the table after their plates have been cleared.

Blue Toothbrush Bristles

You might think the bristles on toothbrushes come in bright colors in order to be more appealing and fun for kids. However, these colors actually serve an essential purpose for users that few people know about. Over time, a toothbrush’s colored bristles will fade in brightness, indicating that it’s time to swap it out for a new one.

Most manual toothbrushes come equipped with this feature, and electric toothbrushes are just starting to catch up. Referred to as toothbrush indicators, they work by embedding a non-toxic dye into the outer layers of the bristles. This allows them to stand out by making them a different color from the rest. Often, blue dye is used, so be sure to take a look at your toothbrush and see if it’s time to swap it out!