Forget what you might think you know about your shirt or backpack—most of the everyday items in our houses are far more useful than we realize. They have all kinds of hidden features to make life easier. Let’s look at ten of them. You might start looking at the stuff in your house a little differently!
Featured Image Credit: massonforstock /Depositphotos.com.
Small Holes in Pen Caps
Whenever you chew on your pen cap, you might have noticed a tiny hole at the top that’s actually there to keep you safe. If someone accidentally swallows the cap, that little hole allows air to pass through, stopping them from choking. Hopefully, you’ll never need to use this feature—but you have to appreciate the thoughtfulness behind it.
The Loop on the Back of Shirts
That loop on the back of your shirt has a rather practical origin story. Sailors used to use these loops to hang their shirts on hooks because it kept them off the floor without needing hangers. Of course, most of us aren’t hanging our shirts on ship hooks but this hook is still useful. You can keep your shirt wrinkle-free.
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The Extra Fabric with New Clothes
Speaking of shirts, most new ones come with this tiny piece of fabric but it’s not for patching holes. Nope—this little swatch is for you to test how your laundry detergent reacts with the fabric. Before you put your new favorite outfit in the wash & hope for the best, give it a test run with this piece. No more laundry day tragedies!
Indentations on the Bottom of Wine Bottles
Some wine bottles have a deep dent on the bottom called a punt. Besides making the bottle look a bit fancier, it also distributes the pressure when the wine is corked & makes the bottle stronger. It gives the sommelier at a dinner party a nice place to put their thumb when pouring everyone a glass.
The Hole in the Handle of Pots and Pans
Cooking is certainly messy although it doesn’t have to be. See that hole at the end of your pot or pan handle? You can actually slot the utensil you’re using through it to keep the drippy mess off your counter. Most people only think that it’s for hanging your pots & pans up—it’s actually so more useful than that!
The Colorful Bread Tags
Those colorful little tags on bread bags also serve a purpose as they show you the day of the week the bread was baked. That should help you keep track of your loaf’s freshness without having to decode the date—or do the sniff test. Of course, the color-coding system varies but once you get the hang of it, you’ll always pick the freshest loaf.
The Little Arrow on Your Car’s Fuel Gauge
If you’ve ever pulled up to the gas pump & had that moment of panic about which side to fill up on, pay attention. There’s a little arrow next to the fuel pump icon on your dashboard that’ll point to the side of the car the gas tank is on. It’s one of those features that you don’t notice until you really need it. And when you do, it’s a great feeling!
The Diamond-Shaped Patch on Backpacks
That weird diamond-shaped patch on most backpacks is called a lash tab or pig snout. Originally, it was designed for outdoor gear, allowing you to thread extra cords or equipment so that you could secure items that didn’t fit inside. You can still use this little patch now to carry a little more!
The Extra Hole in Sneakers
That extra hole at the top of your sneakers is meant to be there. Why? It’s for a lacing technique called a “heel lock” or “lace lock,” which gives extra support & prevents your heel from slipping inside the shoe. It’s especially handy for runners or anyone who needs a tighter fit to avoid blisters.
The Metal Plate on a Stapler
At the front of a stapler, where the staples come out, you’ll see a metal plate that you can rotate. What’s it for? It’s meant to adjust how the staples are bent when they come out. One position bends the ends of the staples inward for a permanent hold while flipping the plate makes the staples bend outward. This makes them easier to remove.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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