Hidden Design Features Of Everyday Objects
Have you ever wondered why there's a little hole on the side of your running shoes? Or why there's a hole at the end of your pot handles? Well, we're here to answer all of those burning questions. It turns out that a lot of us aren't using our products to their fullest potential.
Product designers thought of everything, even things we aren't smart enough to notice. Keep reading to find out how you can get even more utility out of the objects you already have around your home.
That's A Warming Drawer, Not A Storage Drawer
The drawer at the bottom of your oven is actually intended to be a warming drawer, not a storage drawer.
In fact, a lot of oven manufacturers warn against storing kitchenware in there.
A Takeout Plate
The next time you order Chinese takeout, unfold the takeout container to make a perfect plate for your food.
When you're finished eating, you can just throw the container away.
That Signature Toblerone Shape
We're here to tell you that you've been eating Toblerone bars wrong your whole life.
They're shaped like triangular prisms so you can just lightly press the top of one segment towards the segment behind it to break off a piece.
That Tiny Pocket In Your Jeans
Have you ever wondered what that tiny little pocket just above the regular-sized pocket in your jeans is for?
Those little pockets were originally intended to hold little pocket watches.
The Tic Tac Trick
If you want to extract a single Tic Tac from your box of Tic Tacs, all you have to do is turn the container over and use the little Tic Tac shaped indent on the underside of the lid.
Impressive!
That Notch In Your Tape Measure
That little metal bit at the end of your tape measure is used to hold it in place as you measure things from end to end.
Have you ever noticed that there's a little notch in it? That's so it can smoothly glide over any nail heads that might be in your hardware.
That Loop On Your Shopping Cart
Right behind the child seat on most shopping carts is a little loop that sticks straight up. That loop is actually meant for you to loop a shopping bag around.
It's a handy place to hang particularly fragile items.
Why Margins Exist
Have you ever wondered why there are red margins on the side of lined paper?
Margins were actually invented so that the words on the page would still be legible if a rat were to nibble on the edges of the pages.
That Trendy Backpack Feature Has A Purpose
We've seen these little designs on backpacks a lot recently, but did you know that these little squares aren't just for show?
You can actually loop your shoelaces through those slats so you don't have to carry your dirty shoes inside your bag.
The Holes On The Sides Of Your Shoes
Even though these holes look like they provide some good ventilation, that's not actually what their intended purpose is.
These are actually meant for fashion and creativity. Loop your laces through them and see if you can come up with any cool designs.
A Dual-Purpose Lid
Starbucks thought of everything. Their lids don't just keep their drinks warm.
They're also the perfect size for holding your cup in place. Who knew lids could double as coasters?
The Holes In Pot Handles
If you aren't using the holes at the end of your pot handles, you're using your pots wrong.
These holes are great for holding your spoons when you're not using them.
Keep That Radiation In
Have you ever wondered why microwaves have a black mesh panel behind their glass windows? It's actually called a Faraday cage.
It keeps the radiation (which heats up your food) inside the oven.
Lollipop Whistles
Some kids like to use their empty lollipop sticks as whistles, but these sticks actually have that little hole at the top for a different reason.
The hole helps the hardened lollipop candy stay on the stick.
The Hole At The Top Of Pen Caps
Pen caps have holes at the top to stop kids from choking on them.
If a child accidentally inhales a pen cap, the hole at the top will allow some air to get through so they can still breathe.
Headrests Have A Safety Feature
If you ever find yourself in a situation in which you have to break your car window from the inside, pull out your headrest and use the metal prongs to smash through the glass.
This isn't the intended purpose, but it's a nice bonus in an emergency.
The Tiny Hole On The Bottom Of A Padlock
The little hole at the bottom of padlocks is actually a drain to let out any water that may have accumulated inside of the lock mechanism.
Water that gets stuck inside the lock can cause rust to form, which would jam the lock.
The Hole In The Middle Of A Pasta Ladle
The hole in the middle of a pasta ladle has two purposes. First, it lets out excess water.
It can also be used to measure out the exact amount of dry pasta for a single serving.
Toothpaste Is Good For More Than Your Teeth
Sometimes after you've been wearing nail polish for a long time, your nails can develop a yellowish tint. You can use toothpaste to make your nails white again.
Just let it sit on your nails for a few minutes and then scrub it into your nails before washing it off.
Get More Ketchup
Those little ketchup cups can actually hold more ketchup than you think.
You can unfold the ridges along the side of the cup and expand it so it can accommodate more of the red stuff.
The Bumps On Your Keyboard
Whoever designed keyboards did a pretty great job making them user-friendly.
The small bumps on the F and J keys help your hands find the home row without you having to take your eyes off of your screen.
A Sharper Blade Without A Sharpener
Most utility knives have score marks that allow you to break off the dulled section of the blade.
Some, like the one pictured here, have a removable plastic tool on the handle of the knife to make a clean break easier.
An Extra Swatch Of Fabric
Sometimes a new item of clothing comes with a little baggie with extra buttons and fabric inside.
We know what the buttons are for, but what about the fabric? You get the fabric so you can test out any detergents or washing agents on the fabric without ruining your item.
The Right Way To Use Bobby Pins
When you use bobby pins, the curvy end of the pin should be on the underside of your hair, closer to your head.
The curved design will help the bobby pin stay in place.
An Easy-Access Safety Cap
These kid-safe pill bottle lids have extra threads on them so you can flip the lid over for a seal that isn't kid-safe.
If you don't live with kids, you can just flip the lid over so you can open and close it more easily.
The Hole In Airplane Windows
This tiny window hole, called a "bleed hole," releases the excess pressure that develops inside the aircraft.
It also releases moisture. If the hole wasn't there, passengers would fog up the windows.
The Ultimate Acne Treatment
The gel inside of Advil Liqui-Gels actually works as an amazing spot treatment. Just poke the capsule with a safety pin and apply the gel right onto your pimples.
I'm adding it to my skincare routine, for sure.
Why Bottles Have Necks
It turns out that bottles have necks for a reason.
Bottles are tapered so that you can hold onto them without warming up your drink with your body heat. This girl should really be holding her drink by the neck.
The Mysterious Black Dot
The black dot on the back of your iPhone isn't a microphone or a camera.
It actually serves to reduce and omit background noise so your videos sound more clear.
The Plastic Inside Bottle Caps
This special plastic layer inside bottle caps is only found on caps that cover carbonated beverages.
Without this material, your soda would be totally flat before it ever got from the factory to the store to your fridge.
No More Getting Hit In The Nose
When you first put a straw into a can of soda it often pops back up and has a tendency to hit you in the face.
If you turn the tab around you can use it to hold the straw in place against the side of the can.
The Rivets On Your Jeans Help You
You've learned about the purpose of the small pocket on your jeans, but what about all the extra rivets or little buttons?
Those rivets are placed as reinforcements in the spots that are most likely to tear apart from strain or movement.
Why Does The Bottle Have "57" On It?
There's an art to pouring ketchup out of a glass bottle, and the little printed "57" on the bottles is there to help you.
Heinz designed the number to sit exactly at the sweet spot that you need to tap on to get the ketchup from the bottle to the plate.
Escalators Have Psychological Deterrents
Those little nylon bristles that line the sides of escalators aren't just for cleaning your shoes.
Escalator mishaps often happen from people getting bags or clothes stuck in the escalator, so the nylon bristles are meant to play with your mind and deter you from standing to close to the sides.
The Arrow On Your Gas Gauge Is There To Help
Chances are you already know what side of the car your gas tank is on, but for moments where you're driving someone else's car or a rental car, this little arrow tells you what side the tank is on.
Now you know!
Save Your Laptop Cord From Tangling
Some people may know this one already and choose not to embrace it, but for those who don't, those notches on your laptop cord are meant to help you properly wrap it without the cord getting tangled.
You should try this is you don't already.
The PomPom Isn't Just For Decoration
The pompoms on top of toques or beanies aren't just for decoration, or at least they didn't use to be.
Pompoms were added to the tops of hats for French sailors to prevent them from hitting their heads on the ceilings of the ship during rough weather.
A Built-In Safety Measure
If the doors of an elevator ever get stuck and can't open automatically, the little hole in the door will come in handy.
The hole is there to help operators open the door manually.
Uncle Ben Can Support Himself
Making microwave or instant rice can be a struggle if you can't get the package to stay upright, but it turns out Uncle Ben was trying to help all along with the built-in flaps at the bottom of their package.
No more problems!
The Blue End Of The Eraser Isn't For Pen
You might have heard when you were younger that the darker end of a two-toned eraser was meant for erasing pen but everyone knew it didn't work. Turns out it wasn't actually for erasing pen.
The darker end, often blue or gray, is for erasing pencil or graphite marking on different types of artist's paper that tear easily and need less friction.
