14 Items We Use Every Day and Have no Idea About Their Hidden Purposes

Even though science is a precise thing, there’s still room for surprise. For example, a microwave oven was invented accidentally during experiments with radar. This proves that there will always be things to discover, even when you least expect them.

We at Now I’ve Seen Everything want to suggest looking at the common things in our lives from a new angle.

1. The loop on the back of your favorite button-down shirt

It’s called a locker loop and its purpose is to hang the shirt on hooks. This way, when you hang them instead of folding them, it keeps the wrinkles on the fabric at bay.

2. The tiny button on your jeans

These tiny buttons are called rivets and they’re placed on your jeans at areas that are most likely to tear apart from strain or movement. Now you know what’s keeping those pairs of jeans in your wardrobe last forever.

3. Bobby pins

This means you’ve been keeping the wavy part of the bobby pin visible and the flat side under the hair. However, the trick is to do the opposite. You slide the wavy part of the pin into your hair, keeping the flat side visible. This prevents the pin from slipping away and it clings onto your hair nicely.

4. The little slot at the end of measuring tape

Most measuring tape comes with a metal stub with a small slot on the end. The slot can be hung on a nail for measurements, without needing another hand. Notice carefully and you would see that the stub is also serrated on one side. This can be used to mark points without using a pencil.

5. 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.

6. The brushes on the sides of escalators

You may have been using these escalator brushes to clean your shoes, however, these bristles are actually a big safety feature. One of the biggest reasons for escalator mishaps is people getting their clothes and bags stuck in them when they stand too close to the sides.

These nylon bristles play with your mind and make you keep your feet away from the escalator’s skirt panels, hence avoiding accidents.

7. The arrow next to your gas gauge

It shows in which direction the gas cap of your car is located. If the arrow points to the left, the gas cap is on the left side of your car and vice versa.

8. 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.

9. Morning coffee

Many people make a habit of drinking coffee right after they wake up. However, our stress hormone, cortisol, is at its peak when we wake up. Drinking coffee soon after getting out of bed can increase your cortisol levels, which may cause health problems. That’s why it’s advised to consume coffee when your cortisol levels are low. For instance, if you wake up at 6:30 a.m., you can have your first cup of Joe between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

10. The fuzzy soles on Converse

Some Converse shoes have fabric soles instead of conventional leather soles because fabric helps them save a lot of money on their price. When footwear has fuzzy soles, it classifies them as slippers, meaning lesser import rates on the product as compared to regular shoes.

11. Takeout boxes

You don’t have to deal with the mess of tangled noodles in a box anymore. All you have to do is unfold the box and lay it flat to make it into a plate. This saves you a lot of time and effort not having to look for separate plates or getting a new one.

12. Buttons on shirts

The reason goes back to older times when men dressed themselves, needing no help. But, women wore elaborate layers of clothing like petticoats, corsets, gowns, bloomers, and bustles. And for this, they required the assistance of maids and servants to dress them up. It took hours for these helpers to dress the lady of the house.

Clothing experts then realized that if they reversed the buttons on lady clothes, it would make the dressing job faster and easier for everyone. And since men weren’t dressed using help, their garments required no changes.

13. Peanut butter

When you store peanut butter in its natural position, it develops a layer of oil on the top, resulting in constant churning and twisting to have an oil-free scoop. Instead, store the item upside down as it distributes the oil content in the jar evenly. You can also refrigerate it upside down to get creamier peanut butter.

14. 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.

Do you know any other hacks for using everyday items?