Whether it’s something as simple as a button on your jeans, or something that’s part of a larger moving mechanism, here are 26 secrets to everyday things you probably didn’t know about.
Doorknob
You use doorknobs every day, so it’s right to be concerned about how many germs could be on them. However, they have made doorknobs out of brass partly for that reason. Brass provides an antimicrobial effect, eliminating the microorganisms that were hoping to start a colony on your doorknob.
One-fifth pocket
Your pants have that one-fifth pocket that’s recognized as the small useless one. Originally it was there to provide a safe place for your pocket watch, something that was necessary when first implemented in 1901. It then remained for traditional purposes. However, it’s still a great place to put your tic tacs.
Rivets on jeans
You’ve probably mistaken those little rivets on your jeans as some form of a fashion statement, similar to the small pocket. In fact, they’re incredibly important; they are there to provide extra support for areas that withstand the most strenuous parts of your clothing, preventing them from embarrassingly falling apart.
Button on a seat belt
That little button at the end of your seat belt seems like it’s way out of place. In fact, it’s there to ensure your buckle will always remain at the end, so you won’t have to awkwardly fiddle with your seatbelt every time you put it on.
Gas indicator
You’re in a new car or a rental, and the gauge tells you the gas is getting low. You don’t know which side the fuel cap is on from the inside. It can cause unnecessary effort at the gas station. However, your fuel gauge has an arrow that reminds you which side to fill your gas tank up from. Some models of cars may also just have a gas tank hose instead, with the hose pictured on the side that the cap is on.
Hiking footwear
Hiking and walking through snow requires the best kind of footwear. The shoes which are perfect for this also have an extra eyelet for your lace to loop through. Looping your laces through the extra eyelets will give more support for your ankles and feet and will also provide more stability as you walk.
Blisters
But as you walk, blisters are also a concern. The sweat in your shoes creates friction between the feet and the shoe which then helps create the blisters. Antiperspirant that you use for your armpits will help keep the feet from sweating. Just make sure you use the clear one.
An extra drawer
Cooking for people is always nice, however, sometimes the guests are late. Yep, we’re all guilty of that sometimes, right? The extra drawer under your oven — where you’ve been keeping all of your spare pots of pans — was actually made to keep your food warm, great for those who are late to the meal.
Padlock
Ever wondered how long that padlock could possibly last when it’s outside, in the rainy weather, keeping your bike safe? It has a little hole at the bottom of it. It’s there to drain water to avoid corrosion on the inside. It also serves to provide oil, further prolonging its use.
Hole in the elevator door
That hole in the elevator door isn’t there to check who’s inside, so you can avoid sharing a ride with specific people. It’s a keyhole in case it breaks down.
The label at the top of ketchup
Ketchup, sauce bottles, and all the other condiments we love all have a stage when it’s difficult to get the insides out. You try hitting it, shaking it, and poking things inside to encourage the tasty condiments to come out.
Luckily, there is an easier way to do it! The label at the top suggests where to tap the bottle. The sauce will come out easier and smoother, allowing gravity to take the place of frustration.
Wooden coat hangers
The purpose of the wooden coat hangers is to help repel pesky insects and avoid fungal growth that eats away at your clothing, as it’s made of cedarwood. It contains oils that have insecticidal and fungicidal properties and were used as far back as the ancient Egyptians, although they used it for other purposes [mummy preservation].
F and J keys
We’ve all been trained and tested at the art of typing and know the correct way to use a keyboard. But you may not have noticed that the F and J keys have a small ridge at the bottom. They are there to help you find your correct starting place with your fingers on the keyboard without having to look down.
Hole at the bottom of the plane window
If you’ve been lucky enough to get the window seat on the plane, you would have noticed the little hole at the bottom of the window. It helps with the air pressure on the plane. The window itself is made from acrylic and isn’t actually glass, which saves it from fogging up, so you can see the scenery on your journey.
The windows on planes were originally square. However, they would continuously break from the constant changes in pressure. Round windows are able to evenly distribute the pressure, ensuring you’ll have a pleasant journey without falling out!
Nintendo Switch players
For all you Nintendo Switch players, those who have tried to taste your cartridges will notice they have a bitter taste. The manufacturers added it intentionally, as the Switch’s cartridge size is very small and might be a hazard for the youngest players that may have a tendency to put things in their mouth that they shouldn’t. So the bitter taste made from denatonium benzoate ensures that they won’t be tasted for too long.
Number on cosmetics container
Cosmetics containers that are filled with products used for your skin have a secret number on them. This is to help inform you how long the product will be usable, ensuring it doesn’t cause the reverse effect by damaging your skin instead.
Hole on pen’s lids
Pen’s lids have a hole at the end of them. It’s not there to help your pen breathe and boost performance, but it’s there to help YOU breathe. Just in case while you’re sitting in class or at work, and you’re chewing on your lid and just happen to swallow it, you can rest assured if it’s stuck. The pen makers were thinking of you.
Straw
When you’re traveling by car or any other form of ground transportation, and you’re trying to drink your favorite pop from a straw, you’ll find it quite difficult to do it at times. Simply turn the tab on the can around so that your straw easily fits inside, making it easier to drink out of.
Spare buttons
There are always spare buttons when buying new clothes, along with a little bit of fabric. It’s far too small to repair that crutch part that always rips first. The fabric is actually there for you to test how to wash it, so you don’t accidentally ruin your brand-new clothes.
Spaghetti spoon with the big hole
Determining how much pasta you need just for yourself can be difficult to figure out. Your big spaghetti spoon with the big hole on the inside — that looks like it’s there to drain water — is actually there, so you can put the uncooked pasta inside before cooking, so you know exactly how much you need.
Silica gel
New shoes always come with those strange little packets: that’s silica gel. The gels are there to reduce the moisture in the air to avoid any fungal growth while the shoes were waiting to be purchased.
There’s a lot of chemistry involved to get you that silica, and it’s very effective, capable of absorbing 50 [%] percent of the humidity. So make sure you don’t throw it away. Next time you need to dry out your electrical devices, it’s a lot easier than using rice.
Tab on rearview mirror
It’s difficult enough to see at night whilst driving, but it’s even worse when the driver behind you shines their high beams. Your rearview mirror has a tab at the bottom.
When you press it, it changes the angle. One is for day driving, the other, well, for nighttime. It’ll help in case that one person driving behind you has forgotten to turn off their high beam.
Screwdriver
Although your screwdriver is ergonomically made for your hand, sometimes you have that one screw that’s just too hard to loosen up. The handle is also shaped, so you can easily fit it inside of a ring spanner or wrench, allowing you to apply more force ensuring that you can remove that troublesome screw.
Skirt panel on an escalator
The skirt panel on an escalator seems like a good spot to get your foot stuck. But in reality, those long bristles poking out aren’t there to give you an extra shine on your shoes, but for safety precautions, to minimize the risk of trapping objects between the steps and the side of the escalator.
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