And while it certainly doesn’t hurt anyone if you don’t hang up your grocery bag on cart loops or constantly watch your straw pop out of your carbonated beverage, there are better ways!
Here are 45 everyday items that have some functionality not everyone knows about.
1. The raised bumps on your keyboard’s F and J keys
If you type while looking at the screen (which you can do if you took typing classes!), those raised bumps will help you find “home” without having to look down.
Have you ever looked at your keyboard and wondered why the โFโ and โJโ keys have bumps on them?
The raised bumps on the โFโ and โJโ keys are placed there for proper position of fingers while typing. It also serves as a guide for blind people.#techhack #pins #tech #pinsapp pic.twitter.com/pW7RAc5vti
โ PINS Solutions (@pins_solutions) April 4, 2018
2. Oranges
Frankly, we never thought of them as rolled up to begin with, but apparently, you can cut off the top and bottom, make a slit in the side, and become a fruit magician!
We are shook.
3. Pen cap hole
And let’s face it, it’s not just small children who chew on those caps.
We tend not to put the whole thing in our mouths, but we do chew pretty absentmindedly.
How old were you when you find out that the hole in the cap of a ballpoint pen is there to lower the risk of suffocation. If a small child was chewing on the cap and choked on it, the hole keeps their airway from closing up entirely. pic.twitter.com/olr9kHWkFo
โ Isaac Africa (@IsaacAfrica_) February 25, 2019
4. Bottom holes in Converse
It turns out they’re not just for ventilation but to allow you to keep them on your feet more tightly.
Basketball players used to use them to keep their shoes tight.
10. The Holes in the Side Of Your Converse Sneakers
The holes have multiple functions. They allow air into your shoe and you can also use them to tie your shoes in different: ways pic.twitter.com/IBs2btuYSy
โ O.V.A.tion’sโข (@Dre_Ova) December 21, 2020
5. The half-belt
The half-belt held the extra material during the daytime and, obviously, the coats used to be more oversized.
We didn’t keep the extra material, but for some reason, the half-belt remains.
6. Backpack lash tab
7. Soda can tab
But it turns out you can use a soda can tab to hold your straw in place so the bubbles don’t push it up and out.
I finally figured out the purpose of the hole in a soda can tab – #mindblowing pic.twitter.com/yLeUBVMVlz
โ Doug Saunders (@dasaunders199) May 12, 2013
8. Shopping cart bag holders
However, it is really helpful because we hate having to untie our plastic bags when people knot them to keep things from falling out.
And this seems like a great way to keep from smashing your bread and eggs.
So like I never knew these hooks on the shopping cart were to hang your bags. ๐คฏ did you???
Thanks @HEB bagger for the knowledge pic.twitter.com/lAAP0PmSEv
โ Frank Whyte (@FrankWhyteGfx) February 26, 2019
9. Clothing fabric swatches
Many fine pieces of clothing come with a tiny bit of fabric. Because so many items come with extra buttons, people assume this fabric is for repairs.
But it’s actually for testing the color-fastness of the fabric before you go to wash it, just in case a detergent or stain remover may ruin the whole garment.
10. Pasta spoon holes
Pasta spoons have a hole on the cradle to help you measure out a single portion of spaghetti.
We’re a little bummed about that because we like our portions big, but that would definitely explain why our diet isn’t going well!
The hole in the center of your pasta spoon is used to measure out what is considered one serving of dry spaghetti. pic.twitter.com/ciI5NwsKj8
โ Locked_Away (@camper858) July 26, 2018
11. Long-necked beer bottles
That is, if you take that long to drink it.
(Please drink responsibly.)
@talkhoops @fivefifths exactly. Call me when any of those other guys can instinctually hold a beer bottle like this pic.twitter.com/mSphycZ83N
โ Sam (@SamDanes26) August 8, 2015
12. Shampoo and lotion bottle symbols
Have you ever noticed the tiny 24m, 12m, or 6m symbol on shampoo, lotion, and makeup bottles?
That’s an indicator of how many months you can count on the product to be for once it is open.
13. Plastic cup lids
They’re made to hug the base of your cup and you’ll see they’re manufactured to be the perfect size.
The same goes for Starbucks’ hot beverage lids!
Starbucks fans reveal the simple hack that turns coffee cups’ plastic lids into coasters https://t.co/88XVPhewQV pic.twitter.com/3SdpONglsx
โ Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) July 17, 2016
14. Bread bag tags
Bread has different colored tags because the color of the tag tells you the day of the week on which the loaf was baked.
USUALLY, the store’s “code” is just alphabetical order – blue, green, red, white, yellow. So blue is Monday, green is Tuesday, etc. Baking on Sundays isn’t common.
But that’s not always the case, so you may need to investigate further.
Do you know, the colors that exists in the tag indicates the day the bread were made. pic.twitter.com/GLnFGsaItI
โ azwanmohdraffi (@AzmeerAzwan) November 12, 2015
15. Pot handle hole
It comes in handy if you don’t have a spoon holder off to the side and leaving it in the pan could burn you.
When cooking something that requires periodic stirring, use the pot hanging hole on the handle to hold the spoon. from r/LifeProTips
16. The 5th pocket on jeans
But the original purpose of the tiny 5th pocket in blue jeans was to hold a pocket watch.
Turns out this seemingly-pointless tiny pocket is a throwback to a very different time – which makes it a little more charming!
. .
.#happiness #pockets #pocketwatch #jeans #BrandNewMe #wellnesscoach #healthyliving #ChooseSelfLove #TheFitpreneurLife #Sโฆ https://t.co/8ThCBgOtsE pic.twitter.com/6re3nYzmORโ Cassi Schmigotzki (@LAWRTW) January 16, 2020
17. Denim rivets
Turns out they’re likely to stay together much longer.
But in today’s day and age, we’re stretching our jeans in slightly different ways and places.
Forget the watch pocket, what’s that tiny metal button for?
Got curious & as the information junkie I am, I needed a high & went to gather info.
The tiny metal buttons are called RIVETS. Their job? Re-enforcing the stress points in your jeans wear.
RT for awareness. pic.twitter.com/e4GskMK3Sn
โ Ms. Sweet Mouth๐ฌ (@A_Abby_Abi) June 30, 2020
18. Chinese food containers
But as it turns out, we don’t even need to get out extra plates for our takeout.
The containers ARE plates.
How old were you when you figured out the Chinese food container was a plate?? ๐คฏ pic.twitter.com/jLSWnymdzC
โ Gina Marie (@G_Marie215) November 17, 2018
19. Pom poms
It’s just not the kind of hat we think of when we think “protective headgear.”
#FridayFact Sailors used to have hats with pom-poms so when they were out at sea and the waters were rough, they wouldn’t bash their heads. The pom gave them extra protection. These are still used by the Irish today. @dfpo #pompoms #sailor #navy #seaman #IrishDefenceForces #hats pic.twitter.com/AsPSNma1gM
โ Try & Lilly (@tryandlilly) April 6, 2018
20. Juice box flaps
Those little flaps on the side of childrenโs juice boxes help kids hold the box properly and avoid spills.
Bro my lady just put me DEEP!! I was today years old when I found out those flaps on the side of juice boxes are to hold the juice box!!!!! pic.twitter.com/mFiz7gx9K1
โ ๐ก. (@bhfgoose) December 14, 2018
21. Tape measure markings
The wide hole is designed to hook over a nail head so you can hold the tape in place while you make markings.
It also has a serrated edge on one side that you can gently press and mark where you want the end of your measurement to be on a board.
22. Raised child-proof caps
Particularly useful to people with arthritis, the raised cap can be used to seal the bottle with the cap upside down so you don’t have to push and twist every day.
This is brilliant. upside up, childproof cap. Upside down, still seals, easy open twist off. At Kroger. #disability pic.twitter.com/HMTKFc4zl0
โ ๐งโโ๏ธ BLM! Liz Wants To Eat The Rich ๐ณ๏ธโ๐โฟ๏ธ๐ (@theliz13) June 30, 2016
23. The numbers on recycling labels
The numbers run from 1-7.
And you’ll also want to make sure anything you store food in has a 1, 2, or 4. Those are the food-safe plastic numbers.
when youre recycling make sure to look at the numbers in the triangle on whatever it is youre recycling! also you cant recycle anything with food residue (like pizza boxes) and you should rinse out things like soda cans before you toss em pic.twitter.com/ub3rIm4Hip
โ jen kennings (@sorryimaleo) May 30, 2019
24. Arrow on the gas gauge
If you’re having a brain blip, there’s a little arrow there to tell you which side the gas tank is on.
This is obviously useful for rental cars as well.
10. The Holes in the Side Of Your Converse Sneakers
The holes have multiple functions. They allow air into your shoe and you can also use them to tie your shoes in different: ways pic.twitter.com/IBs2btuYSy
โ O.V.A.tion’sโข (@Dre_Ova) December 21, 2020
25. The hole in airplane windows
They’re there to regulate pressure in case one of the three layers of the window gets damaged.
Better to just forget about it!
Why is there a tiny hole in the airplane window?https://t.co/4pmIW0xgLJ#ateq #aviation #facts #themoreyouknow #travel #avgeek #fridays pic.twitter.com/el8UrFvlrp
โ ATEQ Aviation (@ATEQ_Aviation) June 9, 2017
26. The dot between the lens and the flash on the back of your iPhone
That’s your secondary microphone. And you need one if you’re going to record anything in front of you.
Otherwise the sound quality would be pretty crappy (especially for those who hold their phones in a way that covers the primary mic).
THE SECOND IPHONE MICROPHONE
This small hole around the iPhone camera usually gets ignored and has been found to be a secondary microphone that does noise reduction while making calls and prevention of external sound while recording videos on an iPhone. pic.twitter.com/AqwhMtnqck
โ Your Gist Partner (@GistPaddy) February 16, 2020
27. Wine bottle punts
It originated long ago when bottles were glass-blown and people needed to push in the bottom seal so the bottle would stand upright.
But if the punt is larger than normal, you may just not be getting your money’s worth.
If you’re into older vintages, you might also notice that the punt helps collect sediment at the bottom, but that’s not its primary purpose.
Punt – the dimple in the bottom of a wine bottle #words #vocabulary pic.twitter.com/zKytwODzq4
โ The Craik Review (@TheCraikReview) March 7, 2016
28. The topmost lacing holes on running shoes
Most of us just skip using them, but if you need a tighter fit (say, if you have narrow feet) then they come in really handy.
And, as you can see, it also gives you more lacing options.
29. The wavy side of a bobby pin
The grooves help grab the hair better and keep it in place.
Pretty much everyone has used these incorrectly at some point!
Save time by making the wavy side of bobby pins face your head. The wavy side will grip your hair better. #Beauty pic.twitter.com/vZTnO26JmR
โ Diet Fitness Beauty (@dfbeauty) September 9, 2015
30. The triple handle on a jerry can
There’s a handle in the middle for one person, or two handles on the side if it’s a two-person job.
31. The second hole on larger gas cans
It needs to be unscrewed before you pour from the large hole so that air can get in and the gas doesn’t “glug,” making a mess.
32. Toothpick grooves
And while dentists don’t recommend frequent toothpick use, sometimes they come in handy.
And it turns out that the toothpicks that have grooves on top can have their tips snapped off to create a more hygenic little stand to rest them on.
Toothpick Holder
This is more applicable to fancy toothpick brands, you might have noticed that there is a small ridge near the edge of one of the sides
Snap that off and uโve got yourself a disposable stand for that toothpick, thereby leading to a much more hygienic experience pic.twitter.com/skMa1aJZgUโ (: เค ’เคตเคฟเคตเฅเค’ เคเคตเคพเค :) ๐ฎ๐ณ (@Hre_Krsna) May 26, 2020
33. The pinhole on a padlock
It can be used to lubricate the lock and as a drainage hole in case moisture gets inside (since that’s not a place you want rust!).
หหห ๐๐ก๐ฏ๐ผ๐ทหหห
the tiny hole in the bottom of a lock is there to drain water when it rains, thats also where youre aupposed to add oil when it gets jammed pic.twitter.com/dUMbVdft6Dโ โ ig: @slfcassie โก (@slfcassie) August 8, 2020
34. Tabs on the side of tin foil containers
On the side of tin foil (and Saran Wrap, etc), you should see two tiny tabs.
Push those into the roll so it stays in place while you pull out what you need.
Would like to know how many people never knew about the tin foil “tabs”. Took me about 30 years. pic.twitter.com/7LZNxC3lBv
โ Bobby Moss (@moss818) February 9, 2019
35. The number on a Heinz glass ketchup bottle
That’s the spot you’ll want to give a smack in order to get your condiment flowing again.
You can smack the bottom…if you like to get ketchup all over yourself.
Is this really a thing? You pat the raised 57 on the upturned Heinz Ketchup bottle to get it to finally flow onto your burger? Is this a ruse? #neverheardthat @heinzketchup #dontwhackthebottom pic.twitter.com/E1b5lzCkx1
โ Steve Prosinski (@SteveProsinski) December 20, 2018
36. The loop on the back of men’s dress shirts
It’s obviously for places where a hanger won’t fit (or you just don’t have access to one).
Ever wondered why there’s a loop on the back of your shirt? | To hang your shirt https://t.co/vRQYNTYAce #SYAC pic.twitter.com/HDAk1NwQpK
โ /r/savedyouaclick (@rslashSYAC) August 30, 2016
37. The double zipper on luggage
So you can attach a lock to them!
38. The “wings” on an Apple charger
Those tabs on the side of your Apple power charger are there to be flipped open to make it easier to neatly wind up your cord.
Please tell us you knew that already.
Yep we’ve all been doing it wrong this whole time ๐ #Apple #magsafe #lifehacks pic.twitter.com/lNx3OGg0Co
โ Jeremiah Smith (@itsJeremiahS) September 13, 2016
39. The margins on lined paper
Back in the day, everything from mites to mice used to gnaw on book pages.
The margins preserved the handwriting and gave the little scoundrels something to chew without eating the information.
Consider the notebook margin. It is an adaption and invention. It started as a protection system for manuscripts as far back as the 1400s. Why?
Rodents enjoy eating paper and the margin was a sacrifice. It carried over to the modern era but the original purpose is lost in time. pic.twitter.com/gYzi9doH8x
โ Brian Roemmele (@BrianRoemmele) August 26, 2019
40. The hole on an elevator door
They’re actually keyholes for maintenance workers.
So don’t stick anything in there.
Do you know why there is a small hole in the elevator door? https://t.co/vvCy06Tcgt pic.twitter.com/imPT9da1L4
โ Our Collection (@ourcollecti0n) October 21, 2018
41. The bristles on the side of escalators
But they do serve a purpose and that’s to keep your clothing and shoelaces from getting caught.
Still wondering what is the use of those bristles on the sides of the escalator pic.twitter.com/Hhp8W36eKj
โ Jadethenormie (@jadethenormie) May 8, 2019
42. The plastic under a bottle cap
It’s just there to seal the deal, so to speak. Otherwise, all that gas would leak out and you’d have a flat drink.
The Purpose of Disc Under Bottle Cap.
1. There is a very low probability that you have never wondered why there is a little plastic disc under the cap of a soda bottle. It may seem unnecessary, but it is there to help with carbonation.#MondayMotivation #WorldTeachersDay2020 pic.twitter.com/mW9i7KnS8j
โ Liverpool Mama (@ngoamazing2009) October 5, 2020
43. Coin ridges
It’s a throwback to the days when coins actually had enough metal in them to be worth the amount printed on them. And that meant shaving a little off the side could make you some money.
The ridges were there to prove the coins hadn’t been tampered with.
Fun Fact; The reason There are little โRidgesโ on American coins is because people would shave off the ends of the coins, and make coins as valuable as the average quarter, nickel (etc) pic.twitter.com/j9vLaycDvr
โ djsooqokskdpapqwp (@morgananticss) February 7, 2019
44. The foam on the end of a microphone
Those foam shields block unwanted background noise and soften other harsh sounds. So respect your listener and don’t remove them!
Gamer Tip: If the windscreen from your headset microphone keeps easily falling off just wrap a rubber band around the microphone then carefully slide the windscreen back onto the microphone! No more lost windscreens! pic.twitter.com/5Rzw4TqZ1j
โ RayzerWire (@Rayzer_Wire) December 31, 2020
45. The dimple on your milk jug
Expired milk produces gasses that make the indentation bulge outward.
#HaveYouConsideredIt?
How old were you when you found out the indentation hole in the milk jug pops out when the milk is old? pic.twitter.com/MtOOvXu8vcโ Joe William Bowles II๐โค๏ธ๐๐ (@JoeWBowles) June 3, 2020
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.