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17 Everyday Objects Whose REAL Purpose You Don't Know.

17 Everyday Objects Whose REAL Purpose You Don t Know.

Every day we use the same items…

But do we really know how to use them?

By dint of using the same objects every day, they quickly become part of our daily routine.

What if I told you that many of your everyday objects have hidden uses ?

Eh yes ! Know that most of the objects you use on a daily basis are surprisingly well designed...

17 Everyday Objects Whose REAL Purpose You Don t Know.

Contents
  • 1. Your oven knobs can be adjusted to indicate the temperature more accurately
  • 2. The little metallic buttons on your jeans are far from useless
  • 3. The arrow next to the fuel gauge indicates which side the tank is on
  • 4. Speaking of fuel, here's another hidden function of fuel pumps...
  • 5. This is what the little lines at the bottom of your tire grooves are for
  • 6. Do you know what the metal end of your tape measure is for?
  • 7. The hole that allows you to hang your pots and pans is also used to put a wooden spoon
  • 8. What are those little pieces of fabric that come with new clothes for?
  • 9. The Tic Tac boxes have a small receptacle that allows you to take out only one dragee at a time
  • 10. Some medicine bottles have a childproof lock that you can remove
  • 11. Some screwdrivers are designed to work with a key
  • 12. And what are those little holes on the side of Converse sneakers for?
  • 13. Ok, but what are the holes at the top of running shoes for?
  • 14. And that little black grill above your microwave, do you know what it's for?
  • 15. The small hole in the caps of the pens does nothing to help the ink of the pen...
  • 16. And those little raised lines on the "F" and "J" keys on your keyboard?
  • 17. The small holes in airplane windows have a very specific function... and even two!

Some of these objects have unknown functions :little genius tricks that make their use safer, more efficient... and much more original!

So, without further ado, here are the 17 Secret Uses of Everyday Objects . Check out our favorites:

1. Your oven knobs can be adjusted to indicate the temperature more accurately

17 Everyday Objects Whose REAL Purpose You Don t Know.

Tired of eating burnt pizzas or systematically missing the baking of your cakes? So here's a great solution!

Indeed, be aware that most oven adjustment knobs are adjustable.

Here's how to adjust the temperature of the knobs:Heat your oven to 150°C.

Then test the temperature with an accurate thermometer, like this one.

Now remove the oven adjustment knob, by simply pulling it out.

Look at the back of the button:you will find adjustment screws there, which are used to adjust the front side of the button.

And that's it, all you have to do is tighten or loosen the screws to make the necessary adjustments, until the button displays the exact temperature.

Awesome, isn't it?

To discover: Baking:Our Guide To Converting Temperatures To A Thermostat.

2. The little metallic buttons on your jeans are far from useless

17 Everyday Objects Whose REAL Purpose You Don t Know.

These buttons are "rivets", but few people know what they are for.

In fact, rivets have a very important function that dates back to the inventor of jeans, the famous Levi Strauss.

At the time, the seams of the pants did not resist the efforts of the workers, especially at the level of the pockets and the fly, which tore far too often.

As a result, the seams tended to tear...

That's why Levi Strauss has reinforced the vulnerable parts of the jeans with these small copper rivets, which allow the fabric to be strengthened as much as possible.

To discover: 9 Essential Tips For Those Who Wear Jeans.

3. The arrow next to the fuel gauge indicates which side the tank is on

17 Everyday Objects Whose REAL Purpose You Don t Know.

This arrow isn't there for nothing:it indicates which side your car's gas tank is on.

Not stupid, huh? Every time you fill up, you never remember which side the tank is on...even if you've been driving the same car for years!

Now, thanks to this little arrow, you'll never have to remember which side your car's gas tank is on!

Very practical when you rent a car on vacation for example.

To discover: 17 Effective Tips To Use Less Gas.

4. Speaking of fuel, here's another hidden function of fuel pumps...

17 Everyday Objects Whose REAL Purpose You Don t Know.

Gasoline pumps also have a small hidden function, but very useful.

Indeed, most gasoline guns can be detached without any danger, thanks to a magnetic safety.

This very practical device is used to limit the damage of dazed drivers who leave with the pump gun still in the tank!

Seriously, the inventors have really thought of everything :-)

To discover: 20 Genius Tricks For Your Car.

5. This is what the little lines at the bottom of your tire grooves are for

17 Everyday Objects Whose REAL Purpose You Don t Know.

These are simply the wear indicators, which allow you to assess the minimum limit of use of your tires.

When the height of the remaining rubber reaches the level of this bump (1.6 mm), the tire must be replaced.

Some people use a coin to check the depth of the furrows.

But this method is much less reliable than a wear indicator.

Be aware that once at the wear indicator, your tires have reached their legal limit and you must replace them at the risk of being in violation.

To discover: 36 Ingenious Ways to Repurpose Old Tires.

6. Do you know what the metal end of your tape measure is for?

In fact, this little hook has 3 incredibly useful functions:

Nº1:The metal end of your tape measure is notched. And this toothed part allows you to easily make small marks on the surfaces you are measuring. Very handy when you don't have a pencil or your hands aren't free... because they hold a tape measure, for example.

17 Everyday Objects Whose REAL Purpose You Don t Know.

#2:The metal tip of your tape measure moves slightly forward and backward. You may have noticed that the hook is not securely attached to the metal tape. No, it does not mean that your tape measure is of poor quality.

This corresponds exactly to the thickness of the metal end, approximately 1 mm. This game allows you to always take an exact measurement, depending on whether you are measuring from the outside or the inside of the metal hook.

Handy for measurements where you need to push on the outside of the metal part (the walls, for example). When the metal end is pushed towards the tape, the 1 mm clearance compensates for the thickness of the metal part.

And vice versa, when you measure an inside measurement of the metal piece, it moves outwards in order to always have the same zero point.

That's why it's important to stretch your tape measure properly when taking a measurement.

17 Everyday Objects Whose REAL Purpose You Don t Know.

Nº 3:The metal end of your tape measure also has a small hole. This hole is called the "eye" of the tape measure. It allows you to hang the tape measure on nails or screws, but without it slipping when you take a measurement. Handy, isn't it?

17 Everyday Objects Whose REAL Purpose You Don t Know.

To discover: The Fun Trick to Turn your iPhone into a Measuring Ruler in 30 Seconds.

7. The hole that allows you to hang your pots and pans is also used to put a wooden spoon

17 Everyday Objects Whose REAL Purpose You Don t Know.

Of course, the hole in the handles of the pans is primarily used to store them by hanging them.

But this hole also has an unknown use:you can slide wooden spoons through it while the pan is boiling. Convenient to avoid getting sauce everywhere :-)

Maybe you also noticed that the spaghetti spoons also have a hole.

This round hole, in the center of the spoon, is perfectly sized to measure a serving of spaghetti and slip it into your pot WITHOUT splashing boiling water all over the place.

To discover: 50 Super Cooking Hacks Tried and Approved.

8. What are these little pieces of fabric that come with new clothes for?

17 Everyday Objects Whose REAL Purpose You Don t Know.

Easy ! Everyone knows these are spare pieces to fix a tear or mend a tear.

Well no, that's not true! Clothing manufacturers know very well that 99% of the world's population sucks at sewing.

In fact, these small squares are used to see how the color of a fabric will react to the wash.

So, keep those fabric squares handy, to see how your clothes will react if you change detergents or try a new stain remover.

That way, instead of ruining your beautiful clothes, just test a tiny piece of fabric.

We recommend keeping all of these fabric swatches in one place, right next to your washing machine.

To discover: Washing Labels:Finally a Guide to Understanding Their Meanings.

9. The Tic Tac boxes have a small receptacle that allows you to take out only one dragee at a time

17 Everyday Objects Whose REAL Purpose You Don t Know.

Afterwards, the real question arises:but who the hell manages to eat a single Tic Tac at a time?!

Either way, it's a secret use of Tic Tac boxes (or a wasteful use of plastic, depending on your point of view).

To discover: 16 Simple Tricks To Reduce Your Plastic Waste.

10. Some medicine bottles have a childproof lock that you can remove

17 Everyday Objects Whose REAL Purpose You Don t Know.

Here's a tip for our Canadian and American readers (yes, there are a lot of them!).

Most Canadian and American medicine bottles are equipped with a childproof lock.

But few people know that on some bottles you can remove this security.

It's very simple:just turn the lid over and insert it upside down in the bottle.

If the inside of the walls of the bottle has a thread, you can screw the lid upside down and avoid this annoying child safety.

But beware: make sure your medicine bottle is properly designed for this secret use. And most importantly, use this trick only if you are 100% certain that there are no children around!

To avoid degradation of the active ingredients, always store your medications in a closed container and protected from light.

To discover: The Black List of 39 Dangerous Medicines FOR YOUR CHILDREN.

11. Some screwdrivers are designed to work with a wrench

17 Everyday Objects Whose REAL Purpose You Don t Know.

Take a good look at the handle of your screwdriver.

If it is hexagonal in shape, it means you can use it with a wrench and tighten even more easily.

You'll see:this little thing is very useful when you're tinkering in hard-to-reach places.

To discover: How to Unscrew a Screw Whose Head is Damaged? The Little Tip to Know.

12. And what are those little holes on the side of Converse sneakers for?

17 Everyday Objects Whose REAL Purpose You Don t Know.

Be aware that these small holes are not only used to ventilate your feet, even if that is their main function.

These metal eyelets appeared on the very first model of basketball shoes:the famous Converse All-Stars.

At the time, basketball players threaded their shoelaces through these holes to have their feet better supported and to prevent them from slipping on the court. Practical, right? Click here to watch this technique on video.

Nowadays, these little holes are mostly part of the iconic look of Converse... even if few people still use them for sports.

To discover: 9 Tricks To Stop Your Shoes From Smelling.

13. Ok, but what are the holes at the top of running shoes for?

17 Everyday Objects Whose REAL Purpose You Don t Know.

No, as you might have guessed, the holes in the top of your running shoes are not there for "style"!

In fact, these holes are there to customize the way you lace up running shoes.

Indeed, you can lace your shoes according to several criteria. For example, there is a lacing according to the width of your feet, your stride or to compensate for slipping heels or an injured nail.

Your lacing technique can have a real effect on your performance, although it's not what will turn you into Usain Bolt.

To discover: The Techniques You Need To Know For Properly Lacing Your Running Shoes.

14. And that little black grill above your microwave, do you know what it's for?

17 Everyday Objects Whose REAL Purpose You Don t Know.

This grid is part of what is called a Faraday cage. This is a shield that serves to retain the waves of the oven.

Thus, it allows you to heat your food more efficiently by retaining the waves and preventing the waves from escaping through the door.

Moreover, be aware that this grid can also block the signal of mobile phones.

So, if you don't want to hear your smartphone ringing anymore, a good tip is to simply put it in your microwave (or turn it off, of course).

17 Everyday Objects Whose REAL Purpose You Don t Know.

All microwaves are equipped with a Faraday cage. Because the quality of these cages varies, some models can leak a significant amount of energy.

But don't worry:even with a "bad" shield, you don't risk any danger to your health or safety.

Indeed, because microwaves emit non-ionizing radiation, they pose no cancer risk.

No, contrary to popular belief, microwave radiation can NOT alter your DNA!

To discover: 12 Things You Should NEVER Put In The Microwave.

15. The small hole in the caps of the pens does nothing to help the ink of the pen...

17 Everyday Objects Whose REAL Purpose You Don t Know.

No, this small hole is not used to prevent the ink from drying.

Besides, come to think of it, it makes no sense, because a Bic Cristal can remain uncapped for more than a year.

In fact, this little hole in the caps of the pens is a safety device.

Many people, especially small children, chew on the cap of their pen.

Thus, in the event of accidental ingestion, this small hole allows the person who swallowed it not to choke while waiting for the necessary medical attention.

To discover: The Genius Trick To Reactivate A Ballpoint Pen That No Longer Writes.

16. And those little raised lines on the "F" and "J" keys on your keyboard?

17 Everyday Objects Whose REAL Purpose You Don t Know.

Those who have taken typing lessons already know the answer.

The "F" and "J" keys serve as the base position on the keyboard:they are the two keys where your index fingers should rest.

Thanks to these small raised lines, you can easily find the starting position... WITHOUT looking at the keyboard.

Clever, isn't it?

To discover: Do you use GMAIL? These Keyboard Shortcuts Will Save You CRAZY TIME!

17. The small holes in airplane windows have a very specific function... and even two!

17 Everyday Objects Whose REAL Purpose You Don t Know.

The primary function of these small holes is to compensate for the huge difference in air pressure during takeoff, as the aircraft climbs to cruising altitude.

And its second purpose is to prevent the window panes from fogging up.