Everyday items, products, and things we don’t use the way they were intended to be used, and see which side of the fence you are on.
There is literally an endless supply of things that most people use on a weekly or even daily basis. Most of the intended uses of said items are fairly obvious, but some of them have hidden features built into them and by not knowing or neglecting to use them, we aren't using the products correctly.
We don't mean you, of course you do it all perfectly.
So check out this collection of everyday items, products, and things we don’t use the way they were intended to be used, and see which side of the fence you are on.
1
Spending a bit of time understanding your plungers can be useful, though, because different plungers are used for different problems. A flat plunger is fine for a sink, but if you need to use one on your toilet you’ll need one with a tapered end.
2
To make the deodorant as effective as possible, you can also use it on your legs, the inside of your thighs, and other body parts that produce a lot of sweat. It’s not just for your armpits!
3
There are tiny markings on tape measures that are there to help you find the right position for wall studs. These black diamonds are known as “stud finders,” and they can help mark the center point between two studs.
4
If you often notice the food in the microwave oven heating unevenly (the edges are hot and the middle is cold), try putting the plate near one of the edges, not in the center. This simple trick will allow you to heat the food more evenly.
5
There are loops on shopping carts that can be used to hold your grocery bags, keep them upright if they have fragile items, or store extra if you’ve got a lot of groceries.
6
Laundry pods might be completely useless if you put them on top of the laundry. The right way is to put them into the washing machine first and then put the laundry on the top. By the way, if you wash clothes at a low temperature, the shell of the pod might not dissolve in the water completely and it could leave stains.
7
A TikTok user found an unusual way to solve an old problem — how to put a blanket into a duvet cover. You need to put the blanket and the duvet cover on the bed, match the corners, and make a roll. After that, open the slip, put the blanket inside, and button up the slip.
8
Today, we rarely use the drawer under the oven the way it was meant to be used. It was supposed to be the place where you store the meal you’ve just cooked to keep it warm while the dessert is being cooked in the oven.
9
To make the blender work better, you should stick to the right load order. We usually put berries first and then add milk. But in fact, it’s better to do it the other way round.
10
If the pillowcase is a bit too big for the pillow, professional cleaners recommend not leaving it hanging loose. They recommend folding it inside, which makes the bed appear neater.
11
In the past, Kleenex had a totally different purpose. They were meant as gas mask filters, and then the company started offering them to women to use during their periods. After that, the manufacturer reconsidered the formula, made the product softer, and started selling them as a makeup removal product.
12
Everyone has probably argued about how a toilet paper roll should be hung. Now, we have an answer thanks to the 1891 patent received by New York businessman Seth Wheeler.
13
There is a thing inside the lid that's designed to get just one piece out. Flip the box, then turn it on its side, and open, there should be one Tik Tac sitting in its place.
14
Isn't it annoying when you need to use foil, often the whole roll comes out. There’s a simple solution right there on the box, it even says: “Press Ends To Lock Roll” and that’s exactly what it does. If you look on the sides of the box, you will see the little grips, you just push them in and they hold the roll in place.
15
Red plastic cups are usually the star of the holidays. And the lines we see on them are also related to these festivities. They are not part of the design, nor do they serve to grip them better, contrary to what we might believe. These lines are measurements. They indicate the amount to be served according to what you are drinking, the daily amount of juice for kids, and even portions of mouthwash.
16
That drawer at the bottom of your oven isn't for storing pots, pans, and baking sheets, it's actual purpose is to keep your food warm.
17
To ensure the maximum efficiency of the dishwasher, don’t overload it and put plates on top of each other. Also, experts advise putting plates from carbs (potatoes and tomatoes) in the middle and protein (eggs) — on the edges.If you do this, the carb spots will be under the most powerful water streams. And the edges will soak for a longer time which is perfect for protein spots.
18
Chinese takeout containers can be unfolded into a plate.
19
The protective plug with a ring right under the main cap may actually be useful. If you turn the ring down and put it back into the bottle’s neck, it will work like a valve. You can use it to control the amount of oil that pours out of the bottle.
