Back in the good ‘ol days, all of our tools used to be pretty straight forward. They were designed with a specific purpose in mind, so we knew exactly what they were meant to do. Nowadays, it isn’t as simple as that.
Now, everything seems to be multi-functional, which is great! Except it makes it feel like it’s hard to keep up. We could be wearing jeans our whole lives without ever understanding what the tiny pocket inside of a pocket is made for. You best believe there’s a purpose for that.
Check out some of these hidden purposes — your mind is about to be blown.
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Twitter
1. Hole at the top of a lollipop stick
That hole is there so that when the manufacturer pours the hot, melty candy onto the stick, some of it goes into the hole and hardens. This keeps the candy sturdy and on the stick.
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Noise Break
2. Indentation at the bottom of a wine bottle
This indentation came about back in the day, when wine bottles were hand blown and the seam at the bottom of the bottle was pushed up to prevent an outward nub at the bottom that would mess up its balance. Today, it’s there more for tradition, however, it does actually evenly distribute the pressure in carbonated beverages like champagne.
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Innovative Sourcing
3. Rubber bumps in the groove of your tire tread
You might not have ever even noticed these tiny bumps, they’re so small! They are meant for the tread on your tire, though. If the edges of your tread are even with the bumps, it’s time to take a trip to the tire shop.
4. The tools on a tape measuring machine
You’d think these tools are self-explanatory but… Nope. The metal tab actually has two extra purposes: The wide hole in the metal piece is just large enough to hook over a nail head. This makes it so you can hold the measurer in place while you make your markings. It also has an edge on one side that you can use to gently press and mark a board.
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Pro Tool Reviews
5. Lines on a solo cup
Yeah yeah, we know the red solo cup is a notorious American party staple. But did you know the lines on the cup actually serve a pretty helpful purpose? They are meant to measure out different types of alcohol. Liquor on the bottom, wine on top of that, and then beer on top of that. Neat!
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Imgur
6. Utility Knife Cap
A lot of box cutters come with a thick plastic cap at the end. This is so that the slit in the end can be used to break off the tip of your blade to reveal a new, sharper razor blade just beneath it.
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Knife Guide
7. Metal rivets in jeans
Similar to the mini pocket, this is something on all jeans that we often overlook. There’s actually a purpose for it though. Jeans used to fall apart really easily way back when, so these small pieces would keep them from falling apart so easily.
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Flickr
8. Necks on beer and soda bottles
You might think that this is just some slick design, however, it was actually made so that people would be encouraged to hold the bottle at the top. This way, they weren’t heating up the beverage with their hand on the body.
Source:
The Grocer
9. Metal plates on staplers
Yes, this acts as a reinforcement to bend staples — you’re right. However, it’s also a way to control the settings on your stapler. Bet you didn’t know your stapler even had settings!
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Shareably
10. Holes in pen caps
What’s a little opening in a pen cap? We never really think anything of it, but it actually has a very important function. People who created the pen knew it could be a choking hazard for small children so they designed it so that if they were to swallow it, there’d still be a hole for air to flow through.
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Twitter
11. Paper condiment cups
We bet you’ve seen a lot of these when eating out at restaurants. And we bet you’ve felt frustrated with them — why such a small vessel for all the sauce you need?! Turns out, if you fold them outwards a little bit, you have way more room for all of the sauce. It’s like a butterfly coming out of its cocoon!
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Flickr
12. Chinese takeout containers
Did you know that Chinese takeout containers are designed so that when you unfold them, they actually turn into the perfectly-sized plate? That’s why you’ve probably gotten funny looks if you’ve ever asked for extra paper plates with your order.
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WikiHow
13. Pom-poms on beanies
You might think these are actually a fashion statement but way back when, pom-poms were actually sewn onto the tops of beanies to bind the seams and keep them from falling apart. After that, they started using buttons instead of pom-poms which looked like beans, which is where the hat got its name.
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Style Caster
14. The pocket in women’s underwear
A lot of women might not even know what this tiny pocket is for, and that’s completely fair — it’s confusing! It’s called a panty gusset and it was originally made for hygiene purposes. Higher-end underwear brands have them sewn shut, but not all.
Source:
Fashion 101
15. The fifth pocket in your jeans
Have you ever noticed that tiny extra pocket in your jeans? It sits inside your other pocket. Turns out there’s a purpose for that: pocket watches. Back in the 1800s, gold miners in California would keep their delicate watch tucked safely inside that mini pocket.
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Elite Readers
16. The pattern on the edge of some coins
Some coins are rough around the edges and it’s not just for show! Back in the old days, coins were actually stamped from different kinds of metal cast in different weights to indicate the value of the coin. Then people began shaving off the edges to melt and turn into new coins. Then the rigid edges were invented so that people could stop doing that.
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Zidbits
17. Two-toned eraser
The different colored ends of a two-toned eraser allow you to erase pencil markings from different types of artist’s paper that are more sensitive to friction and easily tear when a regular eraser is used on them. Doesn’t actually work on ink, like we all thought when we were 12.
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The Hunt
18. Holes on top of running shoes
If you think these holes are for shoelaces, you’re actually right! We look at these things as awkward and strange, but they actually give runners different options when lacing their shoes so that they can get the perfect fit.
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Reddit
19. The hole in a can pop tab
We look at this all the time, yet we never question its purpose! This hole definitely makes it easier to get your finger in to pop the can, but it was originally designed to hold your straw.
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Twitter
20. Small fabric that comes with clothing
Ever buy clothing and see that it came with a tiny square of fabric in a teeny tiny plastic ziplock bag? You’d think it was in case there was a hole in your clothing — which, totally good way to use it — but it’s actually meant to test out with cleaning! Woah!
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Oxo TV
21. Wavy side of a bobby pin
If you put the wavy side up, you might notice some dents in your hair. These waves are meant to get a good grip on the bulk of your hair underneath, for maximum hold.
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Bustle
22. Stripes in toothpaste
Back in the 70s, people were brushing their teeth to clean their mouths but it wasn’t enough. They needed something to freshen their breath. So Aquafresh added the stripe to indicate that it had a dual action: cleaning and freshening. Then they added a third stripe to represent plaque control. Solid toothpaste offer the same benefits, but stripes sell.
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Wikipedia
23. The square hole in the McFlurry spoon
This spoon makes a great straw but that’s actually not its purpose. It acts as an attachment to the machine that whisks the ice cream and toppings together. The bar of the machine slips into the spoon and stirs it. Then they give you the spoon with it, minimizing clean-up.
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Twitter
24. The loops in the frame of a grocery cart
A grocery cart… We use that every day. It should be self-explanatory, right? Wrong! Those metal loops that frame the top fold-out section of grocery carts are actually meant to hang lighter items, like eggs or bread, so that they don’t get crushed!
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Guff
25. Triple handle on a Jerrycan
This triple handle makes sure that fuel is evenly distributed when being carried by two people. The middle handles are easier for carrying if you are alone.
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Wikipedia
26. Wooden coat hanger
Wooden coat hangers are for more than just looking nice. They’re made from cedar wood, which helps repel bugs and also has a nice scent. They’re also great for clothing that is heavy (like jackets) and/or susceptible to damage.
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Amazon
27. Half-belt on your coats
We always thought these were just chic choices made for aesthetic-sake, but oh no, most definitely not the case. Half belts were originally made for men in the military with oversized coats who also used them as blankets. The half-belt made it so that they could gather the extra material up for more comfort.
Source:
Macys
28. Silica gel packets
We all know these are to “preserve freshness,” but what does that even really mean? To get more specific, these little sacks of beads work to keep moisture out of wherever they are. So you can actually save them and use them when you need to keep something dry, like your phone. Works better than rice!
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Barre + Bag
29. Small dot between flash and lens on iPhone
Believe it or not, this tiny dot is actually a third microphone. It eliminates background sound and actually makes it so that the sound is high quality in loud places, such as a concert.
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Jason Cross/IDG
30. Arrow on gas pump indicator light
We always think that we don’t know what side our gas tank is on until we get out and look. However, there’s been a way to tell from the inside for ages, we just never realized. That’s what that little arrow is for. Oops, now ya know!
Source:
Allstate
31. Tiny hole in your airplane window
This has two purposes. 1. It keeps airflow going. This makes it so that too much pressure doesn’t build up and shatter the window. And 2. It keeps the windows from fogging up with everyone’s warm breath.
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Flickr
32. Threaded bands on audio jacks
These bands are actually made of an insulating material which protects the wire while the sound is being transmitted. The number of bands also indicates which end goes where.
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Helpful Knobs-Dials
33. Detachable headrests
Of course, these are adjustable so that you can change them depending on your height. But what if we told you they had a much scarier purpose? If you pull them all the way out of the seat, there are two metal bars. These are there so if you are ever trapped inside the car with an attacker, you can use the headrest to defend yourself.
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Pinterest
34. The side holes in Converse
We like to think that these holes are a fashion statement, but they’re actually not. They were originally designed for lacing your shoes. They made it so that every athlete could design their shoes to fit them perfectly.
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Culture Hook
35. Hole in pasta scoops
Ever look at pasta scoops and wonder what the heck that big hole in the middle is for?! You might think it’s for draining water or aesthetic, but it’s actually made so that you can measure out your portions of pasta. That hole indicates one portion when measuring with dry pasta.
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Pop Sugar
36. The hole in pot and pan handles
Did you know that the hole in the handles on pots and pans is actually meant to hold your stirring spoon? Might look like a cute design detail — and it is — but it’s meant for more than that!
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Ninja Journalist
37. Child-proof pill bottle caps
If you have trouble opening childproof caps and there are no children around, there is actually a solution. A lot of the lids are threaded on each side with standard threads that won’t lock into place.
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Amazon
38. Arrangement of letters on keyboards
Ever wonder why keys aren’t in alphabetical order? Letters were actually arranged that way back at the beginning of keyboard history but it was way too natural and people were typing too fast. So they had to rearrange the keys to slow people down. Why don’t we change it back now? We hate change.
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Amazon
39. Plastic lid on to-go cups
Yes, plastic lids are made to keep your liquid safe inside your cup. But did you know that if you take it off your cup and place it beneath it, the ridges will line up perfectly? It also acts as a coaster!
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Reddit
40. Notebook margins
Margins were actually added to writing paper in order to protect our work, believe it or not. Rats were really common way back when, and when they couldn’t get their hands on people’s food, they got their hands on people’s paper. The empty edges made it so that they were more likely to chew through paper with no writing on it.
Source:
Marriage From A to Z
How much smarter do you feel now?! Use these fun tips at a party and you’re bound to make so many new friends!
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