40 Things That Seem Strange But That Actually Have A Brilliant Purpose

You probably have a good idea of how things around you work, especially items in your home. But chances are that there are some features in household items that you had no clue about, especially items that have been around awhile. Either this information was forgotten or wasn’t common knowledge to begin with.

In addition, the Modern Age has brought many new innovations, including features built into the items we use every day. And, unless you pay attention, you might miss them or fail to take advantage of them. Fortunately, this slideshow brings many of these strange but brilliant features to light!

Check out the following slideshow to learn about a whole slew of household item features that you had no idea existed, including use for the tabs in the ends of a roll of aluminum foil, why dress pants have creases, and how to correctly replace the blade on a utility knife.

1) Starbucks Coffee Cup Lid

Chances are you don’t even know about this useful hack that you can use the next time you go to Starbucks. Ice coffee cups can sweat a lot. To catch that sweat, take the top off, flip it over, and use it as a coaster.

2) Creases in Dress Pants

The creases in dress pants are something that got their start due to the shipping process used to ship them from Europe to countries overseas. The pants were folded in an effort to get as many pairs of dress pants into the containers in which they were shipped. Shoppers tended to leave the creases in the pants, and it eventually became a part of the attire.

3) Margins in Notebooks

Originally, the margins on a piece of notebook paper were to protect the written words on the page. The margins were added due to mice and rats, which liked to gnaw on the paper. People who used notebooks at the time would leave space on the outside margin of the paper to protect their writing.

4) Aluminum Foil Box Tabs

You more than likely have seen these but probably chose to ignore them. The tabs fold in and work to lock your roll in place. It prevents the roll from moving around when you grab a sheet, making it easier to get the amount you want and tear it off more easily using the serrated edge.

1000 Awesome Things
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1000 Awesome Things

5) Keyboard Tabs

The idea behind the tabs on the bottom of your keyboard is not what you might think. While it might seem that the tabs were designed to raise a keyboard slightly to make it more ergonomic for the user, they are actually in place to allow users to get a better view of the keys.

6) Stripes on Headphone Jacks

The stripes on a headphone jack might seem like just a design choice to you, but they signify something important. These stripes indicate the placement of wires going to each headphone from the jack. Without these extra wires, you would not hear the stereo sound we all love.

7) Signature Line

The next time you write a check, take a closer look at the signature line. While it is hard to see, if you look closely (I had to use a magnifying glass) you can see the words “Authorized Signature” that actually make up the line.

The Lucky Puppy
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The Lucky Puppy

8) Toothpick Holder

The next time you go out to eat, pay close attention to the toothpicks located on the way out. Some toothpick tops, not all, have ridges in them. You’re supposed to break that off and prop your toothpick up on it so it doesn’t touch anything. It’s more hygienic.

9) Stickers on Fruit

The fruit you buy at the store usually has a sticker on it placed there by the grower. While the stickers tell you the country of origin and which company produced the fruit, the sticker also contains other important information. If the sticker has four digits and the first number is a 4, then the fruit was sprayed with pesticides. If there are five digits and the first number is an 8, then the fruit has been genetically modified. If the number 9 is at the front of the five digits, then the fruit was grown organically.

10) Apple Sauce Lid Spoons

You might not realize it, but small snack-size apple sauce containers have their own spoon. The foil on the top of the container is designed to twist, starting at the narrow end, and forms into a spoon perfect for eating your apple sauce.

11) Soda Tab Straw Holder

The tab in your soda can be used to hold your straw in place. Just flip it around, and insert your straw through the hole. This makes it so much easier to drink your soda without having to worry about spilling it.

12) Ridges on Coins

In order to prevent coin clipping, mints started adding special ridges to a coin’s back in the 16th century. The process, called reeding, allowed those receiving the coins to easily check to see if the coins had been tampered with. And while coin clipping is usually not an issue, the ridges remain as a part of tradition.

13) Highway Exit Signs

Highway exit signs are designed to let you know where you need to get off of a busy highway. One thing you might not be aware of is the placement of the signage above the roadway. If the sign is to the left, then the exit is on the left, and vice versa if it is on the right.

Hawaii Highways
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Hawaii Highways

14) Sunglasses

You would think that sunglasses were specifically designed to protect your eyes from the sun, but that is only partly true. While sunglasses were initially used by people in the artic to protect their eyes from the sun reflecting off of the snow, judges in 12th-century China also used them to shield their emotions from witnesses testifying in a trial. Now, they are used by poker players around the world for the same purpose.

15) Hat Pom Poms

While the pom pomss on top of some beanie caps might seem like a fashion statement, they once had a very useful purpose. Now they are just used for decorations. However, they were once used by French marines in the 18th century. They would cushion their heads if it hit the ship’s low ceilings in the cabin.

16) Cable Chokes

The little cylinders on the end of many cables is called a choke. These chokes contain ferrite cores designed to suppress interference of your devices from high-frequency electromagnetic signals. Without these cores, your devices would suffer a lot more interference from other electronic devices.

17) Gas Pump Disconnects

When visiting a gas station to fill up your vehicle, you might have envisioned driving away from the pumps with the hose still attached and the resulting explosion that occurs. Luckily, many gas pump hoses today are attached via a metallic coupler that breaks away in such cases.

18) Holes in the Bottom of Padlocks

What exactly is that small hole for on the bottom of your padlock? This hole is used to pour oil into. Pour some in if your lock become rusty. It also allows any liquid that seeps in to seep out.

YouTube Screenshot
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YouTube Screenshot

19) Correct Utility Knife Use

If you have a utility knife, you might be wondering how it works exactly. To break off the scored blades as they become dull, remove the cap on the opposite end of the knife. Insert the blade into the cap and snap the blade off. Dispose of the old blade, and replace the cap.

20) Donut Holes

Why do donuts have holes in them? Because hundreds of years ago, it was more difficult to evenly bake pastries. So, bakers added holes in the middle of pastries, allowing for a more even consistency throughout. And while current technology and methods makes baking an evenly cooked pastry much easier, the donut (hole and all) has become a favorite of snack lovers everywhere.

21) Best-By Dates on Makeup

If you buy a lot of makeup, then this next item might come in handy. When you buy your makeup, you can know exactly how long it will last once you open it. Look for the little open jar icon near the barcode. The number printed on it lets you know how many months you can use it until it expires.

Boredom Therapy
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Boredom Therapy

22) Metal Tab on the End of a Measuring Tape

That metal bit usually has a serrated edge. The edge is used to score softer surfaces, like drywall, so you can mark it without a pencil. The hook also has a hole in it that can be used to help hold a screw or nail in place.

23) Spiked Caps

If you have a tube full of ointment, medication, or glue, you might also notice a spike in the lid. This spike is used to pierce the foil that often seals these kinds of items. Simply remove the cap, turn it around, and pierce the foil.

24) Frits and Dots at the Top of a Front Car Windshield

If you drive, you’ve probably noticed the darker glass with a series of dots beneath it at the top of your windshield. Called the frit, this black band protects the urethane seal of the glass from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. The dots are there to provide a more pleasant transition between the frit and the glass below.

25) Hole in a Spaghetti Spoon

The next time you find yourself cooking spaghetti, keep this handy tip in mind. Most spaghetti cooking spoons have holes in the middle of them. It’s mainly used to help drain water. However, some can also be used to measure out a single serving of dry spaghetti.

26) Hole in a Ruler

The hole in the end of a ruler serves one purpose and one purpose alone. And no, it is not so you can twirl it on the end of a pencil. The hole on the end of a ruler is there so that you can hang it up if needed. Now, what you hang it on is up to you.

27) Holes in the Side of a Shoe

These holes have multiple functions. For one they allow air into your shoe to keep your feet cool. You can also use them to tie your shoes in different ways. Take a look at this video to learn more about how the holes in your Converse sneakers can be used!

28) Nail Cuticles

Unless you are a nail professional, you probably had no idea that the cuticle of your nail, the hard skin at the base of your nail serves an important purpose. While you might want to pick at your nail cuticle, you should refrain from doing so, as it helps to protect the surrounding nail from infection.

29) Holes in a Pot Handle

The holes in the bottom of your pots and pans serve two purposes. First off, these are used to hang your pots and pans. You can also use it to hold your kitchen utensils. It will prevent the utensil from swimming around in what you’re cooking.

30) Drawer Beneath the Oven

While it might seem logical, the drawer underneath your oven may not be meant to hold your baking pans. In fact, on some ovens, this drawer is called a warming drawer and is designed to keep your baked goods, such as pies, cookies, and lasagna warm after you cook them.

31) The R-Symbol Beside Product Names

Have you ever wondered what the little R in a circle was for on the packaging of your favorite product? Well, it is there to let others know that the name of the product is a registered trademark. Use of a registered trademark by someone other than the owner can result in legal penalties if the trademark owner decides to sue them in court.

32) Extra Fabric With New Clothes

Some newer pieces of clothing come with a few spare pieces of fabric. This is so you can test the colorfastness of the fabric. They come in handy when you change detergents or are trying a new stain remover. Make sure to save these extra pieces of fabric when you get new clothes!

33) Dime-Sized Holes in Elevator Doors

What exactly is that dime-sized hole found on some elevator doors? The hole is actually a keyhole that allows workers to open the door, even if the elevator is not present, for maintenance and the occasional rescue when someone gets trapped.

34) Hole in a Pen Cap

This is a safety feature. A lot of people put the pen caps in their mouth and accidentally inhale their pen cap. The hole allows air to get through so they can breathe while they get help. It makes you wonder, how many lives has this added feature saved?!

Business Insider
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Business Insider

35) Correct Way to Wear Earbuds

Chances are you’ve probably been wearing your earbuds wrong all of these years. The proper way to wear your earbuds, and the easiest way to get the best sound quality, is to loop the earbuds behind and over your ear. This also helps keep them in place better.

Ten Buyer Guide
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Ten Buyer Guide

36) Medicine Bottle Lid Hack

There’s a reason why your medicine bottle has male threading on the inside. Some bottles come with a cap you can flip upside down. This turns it into a regular bottle instead of a childproof one. This makes it so much easier to access your medicine — just make sure not to do it with children around.

37) Car Headrest Uses

While a car seat headrest’s usual function is to give your head something to rest against while in the car, it also has another, more constructive use. If you ever find yourself submerged in your car in a body of water, you can use pull the headrest all the way out and use the metallic tines to break the car window and escape.

38) Loops on a Shopping Cart

The next time you are shopping, use the loops on the cart to hang your bags from as you leave the store. This allows you to leave with far more groceries, and even comes in handy when trying to find a place to place your bread to keep it from getting smashed.

39) Using a Screwdriver With a Wrench

Slide the end of your wrench over your screwdriver. This will give your screwdriver a little more torque. That’s why your screwdriver head is shaped like that. You can use this method when you have awkward angles. So the next time you’re having trouble using your screwdriver, try adding a wrench to make it easier!

40) Bumps on Keyboard Keys

When your fingers are in proper typing form, the index fingers should be positioned on the “F” and “J” keys, as indicated by the bumps on those keys. If you know you’re fingers are there, you can type without looking at the keyboard. You’d know that if you went to typing school. These little design hacks make things a bit easier!

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It’s amazing what we don’t know about the things around us. It is only after someone tells us the true purpose behind a specific feature that everything comes together, we smack our head, and say, “Of course!” So, now that you know about these strange item features, try them out and see how they work for you.