Plugs Have These Two Holes At The End. Here's Why
Top Shoes Hole
Have you ever noticed the extra small hole on the very top of your sneaker? It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it addition, but it’s definitely functional. Tighter shoes mean less chance you’ll work up sores or bunions on your toes, and this extra hole allows you to lace your shoes up as snug as they can comfortably go.
Hat Pom Pom
Little soft baubles on the top of our winter hats are just cute fashion, right? Well, in a sense, yes. But they weren’t always a fashion statement. Decades ago, these little fluffs served as pillows for the top of submarine and ship sailors’ heads. Since the hangings were so low, this puff offered a buffer to avoid gonking noggins on the ceilings.
Heinz 57 Bottle
Say goodbye forever to shaking your ketchup bottle like a tambourine to get your condiment out. Heinz actually made the bottle to be your ultimate tool—simply keep your finger on the “57” label at the top, keeping the ketchup flowing instead of sloshing around.
Pen Cap Hole
It’s hard to remember a time when we didn’t see a lid hole as the typical architecture of a ballpoint pen. But this is more than just for aesthetics. A whopping 73% of people chew/suck on their pen lids, and without this top hole, there’s a strong chance someone could suck the lid right down their windpipe.
Keyboard Feet
Against the most popular thought that keyboard feet are to ease strain on your wrists when typing, these feet were actually designed for an entirely different purpose. Keyboard feet are a sort of “cheat sheet” for typers, giving a better visibility to “hunt and peck” typers that haven’t quite mastered the “QWERTY” style yet.
Jean Pocket
Much like the tiny button on our jeans, the tiny pocket above the regular pocket also no longer serves a purpose. It was originally designed for a pocket watch, so if you have one of those lying around, you’ve got the perfect safe place for it on the go.
Converse Holes
Did you know that the little holes at the high tops of converse shoes serve several purposes? To name just a couple, these holes provide not only extra breathing room for your feet, but they also allow for tons of different ways to get creative when lacing them up!
iPhone Camera Dot
Next to the camera scope on an iPhone, you’ll notice a small dot. This is not any part of the camera lens itself, but actually a microphone. That way, if you’ve got your camera angled away from you, you can still record yourself talking clearly.
Beer Bottle Neck
Who wants a warm beer? Absolutely no one, which is why the neck of a beer bottle exists. The neck regulates the heat from your hand to ensure your body warmth won’t also warm up the brew.
Hole In Your Spaghetti Spoon
Arguably one of the coolest hidden hacks on this list is the spaghetti serving spoon hole. Sat there, just in the middle of the bowl of the spoon, is a purposefully measured hole that if you put dry pasta through it, that hole will give you the perfect portion of pasta for one!
Bumps On the “F” and “J” Keys
The standard, most efficient way to type is using the “QWERTY” system, in which your fingers rest on the keyboard with your pointer fingers on the “F” and “J” keys. This is why there is a long, raised bar at the bottom of these 2 keys, to help you learn and remember the optimum place for your digits when typing.
Ikea Coffee Cups
As the winner of all things ingenuity, Ikea has found a way to make even their coffee mugs more efficient. At the bottom of the mugs, there are miniscule chips—and they are 100 percent there on purpose. These chips help the cup to drain faster after washing.
Underwear Pocket
If you're a lady who wears underwear, you've probably noticed the little pocket on the crotch of your panties. No, it's not a secret storage compartment. This is called the gusset, and it has multiple purposes; not only does the gusset make the underwear more comfortable, it also ensures breathability and keeps things more hygienic.
Microwave Window Mesh
Technically known as a “Faraday Shield”, the mesh on a microwave window is actually a pivotal part of the design. It keeps rays from escaping the microwave, which allows it to cook your food properly.
Plugs Have Holes
If you were to take apart an outlet and look at the contact wipers that the prongs slide into, you would find that they have bumps on them. These bumps fit into the holes so that the outlet can grip the plug's prongs more firmly. This detenting prevents the plug from slipping out of the socket due to the weight of the plug and cord. It also improves the contact between the plug and the outlet. Electrical devices can be "factory-sealed" or "locked-out" by the manufacturer or owner using a plastic tie or a small padlock that runs through one or both of the prong holes. Construction projects or industrial safety requirements may require this type of sealing.
Divets On Golf Ball
Just like baseballs and footballs, golf balls are structured purposefully for the sport. The divets in a golf ball have everything to do with physics, as if the ball were smooth, it wouldn’t go far, and it definitely wouldn’t roll in any intended direction.
Extra Fabric With Clothing
Speaking for probably 99% of people, who doesn’t wonder just what the heck that extra piece of fabric attached to the spare button of new clothes is for? It can actually pose as a life saver for your fashion pieces, as its intended use is that of a test patch for things such as new detergent.
Button-Down Shirt Loop
The little loops on the back of oxford shirts are easily forgotten, as we’ve become so used to them being there. But they serve an actual purpose! If you’re found without a hanger, or if say, you spill something on your shirt and need to carry it around for a bit, that loop is a lifesaver!
Padlock Hole
If you turn a padlock over, you’ll notice a tiny hole just below the key entry. This is a lifesaving addition to a padlock, as this hole acts as drainage, making sure water doesn’t freeze in the lock, and also giving you access to drip WD-40 into the lock if it begins to rust.
Hole In Your Pot Handle
Prepare to have your mind blown—ever noticed the hole at the end of your favorite pot or pan? It’s not just for hanging. It also serves as a rest for whatever cooking utensil you’re using, like a spoon. Say goodbye to messy countertops!
End Of Measuring Tape
At the end of every measuring tape is a sharp metal piece, ridged and with a small hole. The metal piece is made to make marks against softer sheetrock, just in case you don’t have a pencil on hand to mark, along with a hole to hold onto a nail or screw.
Arrow On Your Gas Gauge
Whether you’re driving around your own car, someone else’s, or a rental, it can be all-too-easy to pull up to the wrong side of the gas pump. But let us change that hassle for you forever. Take a look at the fuel pump icon on the car dash and you’ll see an arrow next to it. Whichever way the arrow is pointing is the side of the vehicle that the gas tank is on.
Tiny Buttons On Your Jeans
Though maybe not quite as useful now with legitimate jean material, blue jeans used to be made out of a canvas material, which meant these little buttons were needed for the overall architecture and design of the pants.
Diamond Shaped Backpack Square
Take a look at your backpack and you’ll notice something that you’ve probably become accustomed to, but that’s always been there. It’s a diamond-shaped patch with two slits in the middle, and no—it’s not just for looks. This little patch is especially useful for outdoor enthusiasts, as it’ll hold up just about any backpacking tools you might need along for the trail.
Blue Side of The Eraser
Cardstock and other thick paper can’t seem to work well with a regular eraser. Hence, why we have a blue end to an eraser. This blue bit is built for stronger paper to keep it intact while doing its job.
Rear View Mirror
Ever wonder what the tab under your rearview mirror in your car is for? It’s the ultimate adjustment tool for any bright lights coming behind you to hinder your driving abilities (i.e., another car’s brights or a sunset). Just use the tab to tilt the mirror into a more favorable position!
Ridges On Coins
Somebody always has to ruin all the fun for everyone else, don’t they? This is exactly what happened with coins, which actually used to have smooth edges. Schemers would sand off the edges of coins in an attempt to take the metal shavings to create new money, so eventually, ridges became necessary for legitimacy.
Food Wrap
Are you ready for your life to completely change? The culprit: food wrap. The headache: avoiding a tangled up, stuck on everything mess. The solution: this secret tip isn’t really so secret, as food wrap companies gave you the tool you need on the wrap box. Simply pop in the two holds on the side and voila! That food wrap works for you now.
Oven Drawer
In this edition of “I was today-year’s-old when I learned…”, the drawer underneath your oven is actually not for storage, as most people use it for. In fact, it’s a warming drawer to put food to keep it—you guessed it—nice and hot while you finish preparing your meal.
Wooden Coat Hangers
Can’t afford a cedar wardrobe to keep all your favorite fashion items safe from moths and other bugs? No problem! Pick up a batch of wooden hangers and not only will you give your closet an instant facelift, but you’ll also achieve a bug-free zone.
Bananas
If you’ve been discarding the bottom bit of your bananas, you’ve seriously been missing out on a super useful hack. By popping this hard black knub and peeling your banana from the bottom to the top, all the inedible strings will come right off with the peel!
Plungers
Plungers are not all created equal, though most people actually don’t have a clue about this. Plungers with flat bottoms are not the standard, contrary to popular belief, and should really only be used on sinks. If you want a plunger that truly works in your toilet, you’ll need one that has a suctioned mouth end on it that sticks out past the bottom ring.
Toothpaste Stripes
The stripes in toothpaste aren’t just to make the paste look pretty. They started out as a signal for what the toothpaste could do for us. These stripes would indicate abilities to give us fresh breath, plaque fighters, and ultimate cleanliness.
Donut Hole
Doughnuts have been around for centuries, and the look of their conception is not accidental. Bakers all around the world would be slammed with all the pies they had to make every day, so they came up with a faster way to cook the whole pastry through—just add a hole in the middle.
Escalators Brushes
One of the biggest safety pieces of an escalator is one we don’t think twice about. The brushes on the bottom and tops of an escalator are there as a barrier, to keep your shoelaces or anything else from catching in the escalator belts and being seriously wound up.
Notebook Margins
Libraries were not always clean and protected from outside elements, so thousands of years ago, printing presses instilled the great idea for space on either side of the pages in order to save the written word from such said elements and other atrocities, like rats and varmints.
Bobby Pins
Want to make your bobby pins work FOR you? Then start putting them in correctly! That’s right—we’ve been using these hair saviors all wrong for years. When putting in, flip the pin over so that the teeth face down, creating a solid anchor.
Gas Stations
Have you ever noticed the silver bands at the top of nozzle pipes at many gas stations? This genius addition is a type of magnet, so that if anyone forgets to take the pump out of their fuel receiver before they drive away, the pipe breaks away to prevent loss and unfixable damage.
Takeout Container
Takeout boxes aren’t rocket science—if you look at them carefully, you’ll notice they’re put together only by origami like folding. Unfold into a plate to eat your delicious noms on, and then fold back up and close to keep your food fresh in the fridge.
Cosmetics Codes
Want to have your mind blown? Grab your favorite foundation or blush and take a look at the little number sticker on the back, usually near the active ingredients list. The number will usually be a 3M, 6M, 12M, and sometimes 18M. This, ladies and gentlemen, is your product’s shelf life once it’s been opened!
Life-Saving Headrest
Believe it or not, headrests are not just a style or comfort preference. The headrest comes out of the seat of a car for one particular reason that could save your life one day. If every trapped inside your vehicle, you can take out the headrest and use to break the window to freedom.
Coca-Cola Bottles
Seals have a life beyond opening the bottle, though this is a very rare-known fact. Especially when you’re dealing with carbonated beverages like Coca Cola, this broken seal is still trying to do its job by keeping the bottle from leaking both liquid, and that beautiful bubbly goodness so it doesn’t go flat.
Two Sides Cotton Pad
Two-sided cotton pads have created a mega bankroll for the beauty industry, giving brands their own ideas for spin-offs. Essentially, the rougher side of a cotton pad was an exfoliator, while the smoother side was for a gentler wipe. Now, you’ll see all sorts of skincare products utilizing this very function.
McFlurry Spoon
If you’ve ever noticed the opening at the top of a McFlurry spoon and wondered why it’s there, it’s time to talk about how McFlurry’s are made. In order to get that creamy, one-of-a-kind whipped texture, the opening in the spoon allows the spoon itself to click into the ice cream machine and automatically create this classic treat.
Do Not Eat
Ever wonder what those little packets reading “DO NOT EAT” inside of just about every pocket of everything are for? Little balls of silica gel reside inside, with a sole purpose of absorbing and combatting moisture to keep things fresh and new.
Pizza Saver
Whether the pizza just didn’t get cut all the way down, or just has too much yummy goodness in the form of toppings, it’s inevitable most of the time that slices of pizza in a pie will stick together. To prevent this, pizza places provide what looks like a little Barbie table, but actually you’ll use the legs to hold the slices next to the one you’re trying to take in order to get a seamless piece every time.
Tic-Tac Dispenser Grove
Tic-Tacs are delicious and fun, but what is insanely un-fun about these tiny treats is the pure hell it is to get them out of their box. What most people don’t realize is that Tic-Tac designed its container for optimum dump—just flip the box on its side and watch the magic tumble happen.
Opening Jars
We’ve all had that one jar that’s impossible to open, and sometimes it doesn’t matter what we do, it feels like it’s an impossible feat to crack. Then, enter duct tape. That’s right, the strongest tape that we use for just about everything can also rip your hard-to-open jar lids right off! Attach a piece of duct tape to about a ¼ of the jar lid with just enough to pull, and give it a good yank. The tape will stick and relentlessly never back down until that lid is off.
Pouring Drink Cartons
Rectangular cartons that hold everything from milk to juice to broth are all made with the pouring nozzle on one edge, not in the middle. This is because the nozzle is trying to be on your side by partnering with physics—meaning, you should be pouring out the liquid with the nozzle closest to you to give it a more even, less messy pour.
Screwdriver Handle
Creativity truly knows no bounds, and the majority of the time, the most inventive things take form from the most basic. Take for instance the screwdriver handle. It’s the perfect size to slip through the hole of a wrench tool, giving the right amount of tension and torque needed when taking on tougher projects.
How To Eat An Orange
Much like a banana, you’ve definitely been peeling your oranges the wrong way. By making 3 intentional slices at the bottom, top, and side of an orange, you’ll be able to “unroll” the orange, with each slice inside ready for you to pop easily right off of the rind.
Brass Door Knobs
Brass isn’t just on the list of popular aesthetic picks for doorknobs, handles, and knockers. It’s the most sterile material to use on things like knobs that are touched so frequently. Brass is essentially so bacteria-proof, that germs have no place to stick to this metal.
Lollipop Stick Hole
Much like the hole on a doughnut or a coffee lid, the classic lollipop has one that is absolutely necessary, too. Without the hole, during the making of the confection, the lollipop candy would seal off completely, and roll right off the stick.
Microphone Foam
No, that piece of foam on your favorite YouTube star’s microphone isn’t a germ-shield or for looks. It’s a huge part of ensuring great audio and protection against elements like outside unwanted noises, wind, and unexpected feedback.
Microwave
This age-old trick is one not a lot of people are privy to. Whatever you’re heating up in the microwave, if you take your finger and press through the middle of the food, leaving a decent sized hole, the entire plate will heat evenly.
Pimple Meds
Though not all medicines are created equal, usually just about any pain reliever can handle this next trick. If you’ve got a pesky zit that you need to medicate ASAP, grab a soft gel capsule, poke a hole in it with a sewing needle or safety pin, and use that oozing gel to dab onto the pimpled area. You’ll be amazed at how fast it cures up.
Shopping Cart Loops
Turns out the upturned loops on the sides of shopping carts aren’t just an annoying aesthetic during construction. They can actually be used to loop your purse or shopping bags to.
Milk Jug
If you’ve ever wondered about that random, big dent in your 2-gallon milk jugs, the truth is it actually has a purpose. When your milk begins to sour, the dent will pop out, letting you know you should discard before you have to open it up and suffer the all-stinky whiff of bad dairy.
Measuring Tape Diamonds
Ever noticed the tiny black diamonds close to the ¼ inch mark on your measuring tape? These little guys aren’t just hanging around for looks—they’re actually stud finders to make hanging things on your wall easier and more exact.
Condiment Cups
This could be the best trick on this list if you’re a condiment lover. Take those overly small paper cups offered at your favorite fast-food joint and gently smash them down, turning them into a wider, roomier ramekin to pile up as much ketchup as your heart desires.
Pill Box For Camping Spices
The classic M-F pill box can be used in a number of ingenious ways for storage, but did you know it can be a super secure box for all the spices you need to have epic cookouts for your camping adventures? Not only are the spices kept clean and dry, but you can also keep 7 different ones completely separate from each other.
Sponge Ice Pack
A sponge’s job is to soak things up like no other, and if you take this a step further by soaking up some water on a new sponge and then throwing it in the freezer, you’re creating lasting soak-up effects! Say goodbye to weighty ice packs and hello to super light, long-lasting sponges to keep your food chilled.
Bread Tag Labels
People will pay a pretty penny for cord organizers, but you don’t have to! By taking your old bread tags, you can use that sturdy plastic to keep cords organized together, and even write new labels on them to keep your lines straight.
Stripes On Headphone Jacks
The metal stripes on the end of a headphone jack are important to note because they are extremely functional. They can make a difference as far as what technology they work with, but most significantly, each stripe represents sounds going to each of your earphones.
Stickers On Fruit
Did you know that the oval stickers on produce are more than just a code for scanning? The number of digits on these stickers are specific to 3 things; produce that has been exposed to pesticide, produce that has been changed genetically, and produce that is completely organic.
The Frit Band On Windshields
You might be wondering what the heck a frit band is—it’s the narrow trips of mesh looking black dots on either side of your front (and sometimes back) windshields, and it’s not totally for looks. These are almost like extra-strength fortresses for the edges of the glass, and the black dots are a way to make the whole window look more seamless and flusher with the dark to clear transitions made when tempering.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses come in so many varieties with the light to colorful to deeper shade ranges. But the darker the shades go, herein lies a purpose for them. Originally, people in very cold, snowy climates used darker shades to shield their eyes from the bright white of the snow and sun reflections.
®-Symbol
The R symbol on so many products that you see is basically an amplifier of extra power to a trademark symbol. The R symbolizes that the product is registered everywhere in the country that it can be, and anyone who tries to steal that product’s logo in any way will be in violation of the law.
Coffee Cup Lids
In most plastic coffee cup lids, you’ll find a teeny tiny hole on the top. This has a simple, yet also safe purpose. The hole allows the steam to release so that the cup doesn’t explode, and also saves you from every having a too-hot sip that will boil your tongue.
Bubble Baths
Bubbles! Fun to say, fun and relaxing to have in the bath, and fun to—keep your water warm! That’s right, bubbles create a sheen-like barrier on top of your tub water to become a light forcefield that keeps your bath’s temperature warmer longer. This won’t be the case with older clawfoot tubs, but any modern acrylic tub, don’t forget your bubbles!
Toblerone Candy Bar Shape
There’s no right way to eat a candy bar, but there is an easier way if you’re looking for it. Delicious Toblerone candy bars are constructed like mountains, and if you tip each chunk with the peak of the mountain inward towards the next peak, voila! You get a perfect, non-messy chunk of chocolate to bite.
Fancy Toothpicks
You won’t see it in every version of a toothpick, but usually restaurant-provided ones look a little more “embellished” on the top, non-sharp end. The reason for this is for you to break those ridged tops off to act as a prop to hold your toothpick to keep the tip off surfaces.
Flip Your Peanut Butter
This old trick recently became re-popularized on a Tik Tok challenge. If you’re a natural peanut butter lover, you know the headache with the butter and natural oils separating inside the container. But if you store your peanut butter upside down those oils stay at the top, hence staying mixed up just right with the butter.
Peeler Is A Versatile Tool
A kitchen peeler isn’t just for potatoes! This little jack-of-all-trades instrument can be used to shred cheese, clean the skin off root vegetables and carrots, and even create curled ribbons with certain foods for beautiful, edible aesthetics.
