Life is full of tiny details you might never have noticed… and they’re right under your nose. Go to any one of our homes and you’ll find hundreds of items, big and small. Of course, we all know how to use each and every one of them. There’s no question about that. Right? Well, not quite.
As it turns out, you might have been using some of these common items completely wrong or you might not have known about their alternative uses. Meanwhile, even things that you use every single day have some features that might have sparked your curiosity to ask your parents about when you were just a kid, but now you just gloss over and ignore them completely.
Bored Panda invites you to enjoy this list, going from learning how to peel bananas “the right way” and how to get Tic Tacs out of their container to learning all about the hidden functions of the various weird parts of pens, backpacks, pants, and much, much more. Upvote your fave pics and, when you’re done, check out our earlier post about the hidden side of even more common everyday things right here.
Warning: you might accidentally become a Ravenclaw and want to bombard your friends with all of this new knowledge.
#21 Rearview Mirror
Use the rearview mirror tab to stave off those bright lights. Next time some guy has his high beams on and blinds you through your rearview mirror, remember to press down on the tab of your rearview mirror, so it angles down. That way, the light reflects downwards without impacting your field of vision.
On manual tilt versions, a tab is used to adjust the mirror between “day” and “night” positions. In the day view position, the front surface is tilted, and the reflective back side gives a strong reflection.
On manual tilt versions, a tab is used to adjust the mirror between “day” and “night” positions. In the day view position, the front surface is tilted, and the reflective back side gives a strong reflection.
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#22 Storing Peanut Butter
Store your peanut butter upside down. That way, rather than pooling on top, the oil is easier to mix back in and you can enjoy your peanut butter with much less hassle.
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#23 Using Plungers
Spending a bit of time understanding your plungers can be useful, though, because different plungers are used for different problems. A flat plunger is fine for a sink, but if you need to use one on your toilet you’ll need one with a tapered end.
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#24 Padlock Hole For Smoother Use
If the key isn’t turning because it’s rusty, just pour a few drops of oil in the hole, and it will get everything moving again.
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#25 Using Kitchen Sponges
Your sponges might be making your dishes dirtier. If you’re not regularly sanitizing your sponges, you could just be wiping your dishes and counters with bacteria.
Keep your sponges away from raw meat. If you're dealing with leftovers of meat juice, use a paper towel instead. To properly sanitize your sponges, immerse them in boiling water for five minutes. Alternatively, soak a sponge in water and heat it on high in a microwave for one minute, or pop it into the dishwasher with a heated dry cycle.
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#27 A Potato Peeler
A potato peeler is a versatile tool. Use it to grate cheese as well. Put your peeler to work shaving long, thin strips of parmesan cheese from the block, creating paper-thin carrots for salads, or even slicing an onion in record time.
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#28 The Bottom Drawer
That drawer at the bottom of your oven will keep your food warm.
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#29 One Side Of A Bobby Pin Is Bumpier
Many hairpins have a grooved and a smooth side. The grooved side is meant to face in towards to scalp to provide a little extra grip.
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#30 A Strip Of Black Dots That Runs Along The Outside Edge Of Your Windshield
That black strip is called a "frit" and it essentially has two purposes. It provides an etched surface for the adhesive to adhere to, which bonds the glass to the frame. And on the outside of the glass, it protects the adhesive from ultraviolet light and covers any unsightly adhesive. The dots are there just to make it look nice.
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