10+ Everyday Things With a Hidden Purpose You Likely Had No Idea About
Many things have become an integral part of our everyday routine. But sometimes we don’t even know what they were designed for initially. However, this knowledge can help you use these things to their full potential and make your life easier.
5-Minute Crafts will reveal the secret purposes of common things that may just blow your mind.
1. The little pocket on jeans
Initially, this tiny pocket was designed for cowboys’ pocket watches. Cowboys often damaged them while horseback riding, so this solution was supposed to prevent it. Today, many people use it for coins or other little things.
2. The little bumps on the “F” and “J” letters on the keyboard
These things actually have a purpose. The bumps help you to identify the keys so you can put your hands on the right ones without looking at the keyboard. Once you’ve placed your left and right index fingers on the F and J keys, you have quick access to the remaining keys. This can be really convenient, especially if you’re a frequent computer user.
3. A piece of fabric that comes with the clothing item
It’s not for sewing, as you may think. These parts should be used as a sample of clothes for washing. This way, you can check to see if the fabric shrinks or the color bleeds before you wash the clothing item itself.
4. The loops in a grocery cart
These were designed for you to hang grocery bags on that contain fragile items, like eggs, bread, or fruit. If you buy a lot of stuff, there’s a chance that you’ll accidentally smash delicate items with the heavier ones. To prevent this, use the loops.
5. An arrow on the fuel gauge
People might think that they know everything about their cars and dashboards. However, some symbols inside it can be surprising. For example, there’s a tiny arrow in almost every modern fuel gauge. Not many people know that it signifies which side your fuel tank sits on. This knowledge can be useful, especially if you rent a car or borrow one.
6. The margins on notebook paper
Their purpose can seem obvious — they’re for teachers’ notes. However, this is not quite right. Originally, the margins were invented to protect written information from rats and mice. As the edges of the paper suffered the most, creating margins and leaving them empty became a great solution.
7. 2-toned erasers
It’s hard to find a person who doesn’t know the main function of an eraser. However, the purpose of making its sides different colors can be confusing. Despite what many people believe, the blue side of the eraser is designed to remove pencil marks on heavy grades of paper as well as dark marks.
8. The grooves on the sides of bobby pins
You might think that the curved side of your bobby pin is for design purposes, so you put this side facing up. However, you should face it down, as these grooves are meant to help the bobby pin stay in place.
9. Wooden hangers
The wooden hanger is not just a more expensive option. In fact, it naturally repels bugs and moths. This can be extremely helpful if you decide to store your clothes on them for a long time.
10. Men’s and women’s shirts with buttons on opposite sides
This difference has a reason. Back in the day, men typically got dressed without anyone’s help, while women from rich families had servants to help them dress. Buttons on the left side would make it easier for servants to button the clothes up.
11. Blue bristles on a toothbrush
Most toothbrushes have those blue bristles to help you see when you need to change your toothbrush. They become thinner and lose their color over time. If you notice this change, it’s time to trade your old brush out for a new one.