- 3 hours ago
Discover a revolutionary trick to achieve razor sharp knives in seconds using a common household item. This incredible hack reveals how an unassuming coffee mug can transform your dull blades into professional-grade tools effortlessly. Say goodbye to expensive sharpening tools and embrace this easy, effective solution. Perfect for anyone looking to elevate their kitchen game without breaking the bank. Uncover the secrets that culinary experts utilize to keep their knives in prime condition.
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00:00Think you're ready to see the world in a whole new way?
00:03I hope so, because I'm about to blow your mind.
00:06Have you ever noticed those plastic lines along the side of your phone?
00:10They're the oddly space stripes that seem to have no purpose.
00:14In reality, though, they're probably your phone's most important feature.
00:18Because without them, your device would be little more than a smart paperweight.
00:23They are antenna lines, allowing your phone to remain wireless.
00:28Electromagnetic waves carrying phone, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi signals cannot pass through metal,
00:33which makes up most of the phone's outer case.
00:36And the glass panel up front also slows those waves down.
00:39It's like there's a bouncer at the door, refusing to let most signals in or out of the phone.
00:44Hey, I've been to that nightclub!
00:46Anyway, that means no phone calls, no text, and no late-night delivery
00:51when you have nothing in the fridge except one egg and something that might have once been lasagna.
00:56Those little strips of plastic allow the same electromagnetic waves to come and go as they please.
01:02This is why you can call a friend, order a ride, or play an online matching game until 3 in
01:07the morning.
01:07Hey, don't you have to get up early for work?
01:10When you do finally stumble out of bed, make sure you're using this next item correctly
01:15to avoid a potentially upsetting situation.
01:18The zipper, originally patented as the clasp locker in 1851, didn't become widely used until the 1930s.
01:27Now, they're on everything, from bags to jackets to jeans.
01:31And they're not perfect.
01:32They get stuck.
01:33They pinch the skin.
01:35And we all know what happens if the zipper on our pants refuses to stay up.
01:39Well, luckily, this can be avoided.
01:41Most zippers have a locking mechanism built right in.
01:44When the zip is facing down and flat against the teeth, the lock is engaged and the zipper remains closed.
01:51If only I had known that back in school.
01:54What about those metal rivets most jeans have?
01:57They're more than a design choice.
01:59They were added to protect areas that experience the most strain, such as pocket corners and the base of the
02:05fly.
02:06The rivets hold the fabric together, even when it's being stretched and pulled during work.
02:10And since we're talking about clothing, have you ever wondered about that tiny fifth pocket at the front of your
02:16jeans?
02:17Well, first of all, it isn't really a fifth pocket.
02:20Originally, jeans were made with four pockets, including that little one in front.
02:25The fifth pocket is actually the one on the back left, which was only added to jeans in 1901.
02:31The little pocket, though, was important a long time ago.
02:35Cowboys needed to keep their pocket watches safe while riding out on the range.
02:39Yeehaw!
02:40That pocket kept the watches protected, but also handy.
02:43And then, people became so used to it that jeans just look weird without one.
02:48Another strange holdout from a bygone day is that stitched V on the front of some sweatshirts.
02:54What if I told you that those exact stitches hold the whole shirt together?
02:58Well, then I would be lying, and I never do that.
03:02But, back in the 1940s, this V was very useful.
03:06First, the V-stitch was initially used to add a patch of stretchy rib fabric to the shirt
03:12so that it could fit over our big heads more easily.
03:15Secondly, these shirts were specifically designed for sports.
03:18So, the V included an additional piece of fabric to absorb the sweat that would build up during a game
03:24or a workout.
03:25As stretchy fabric became readily available and better at handling perspiration, the V lost its traditional value.
03:33But, like the tiny jean pocket, it has continued as a decorative feature.
03:37A reminder of our big-headed ancestors who apparently only sweated just below the chin.
03:43But, moving on.
03:45One place you won't find many people sweating is the golf course.
03:48You will see quite a few fashion disasters, sure.
03:52But sweat?
03:53Not so much.
03:54Golf was invented around the 16th century in Scotland.
03:57Back then, the ball was perfectly round and smooth.
04:00Over time, the ball would become dented from use.
04:03And at some point, golfers discovered that these imperfections actually helped the ball fly farther.
04:10Dimples were added on purpose in the 1900s,
04:12when it was found out that they reduced the aerodynamic drag that slowed down a smoother ball.
04:18And the dimples made the balls easier to control.
04:21And no, not all golf balls are created equal.
04:25The number of dimples can range from 300 to 500,
04:28with one company producing a ball with over a thousand little dents.
04:32Wow, a little overboard, eh?
04:34Need a quick, refreshing drink after a round of golf?
04:37Juice boxes, created back in 1963, are very convenient.
04:42But why do they have these large triangular flaps on top?
04:46Their lifted flaps act as hand grips.
04:49This stops you from accidentally squeezing a full box and spilling juice all over the place,
04:54like onto your favorite t-shirt or the new couch.
04:57Now, when you're done golfing,
04:59grab your backpack with that leather diamond patch with two vertical openings.
05:03It's commonly referred to as a lash tab.
05:06But I much prefer its other name, pig snap.
05:09I mean, it certainly looks like one.
05:12You typically find these pig snouts on pats used by hikers and climbers.
05:16The diamond is a place to tie any extra gear that they need to carry,
05:20like boots, cooking equipment, or sleeping bags.
05:22But these lash tabs are also becoming more common on smaller backpacks.
05:26They're a nod to the past, but just as useful.
05:29Attach your running shoes to one next time you head to the gym,
05:32keeping those stinky things away from the rest of your clothes.
05:35Now, I'm sure you're a great driver.
05:39But for years, you've probably been neglecting an important safety feature right in front of your eyes.
05:45That rear-view mirror has a small tab located at the bottom center.
05:49It's high time you started using it.
05:51When this is flipped forward, the mirror is in day mode,
05:54providing a strong reflection of everything behind the car.
05:57Flipping the tab backward changes the whole situation to night mode.
06:02This reduces the brightness of the headlights behind you, resulting in a safer drive.
06:07Another cool car tip?
06:09If you're borrowing from a friend, using a rental, or have the memory of a houseplant,
06:14cars feature a handy indicator to let you know which side the gas tank is on.
06:18It's a tiny arrow next to the pump icon that points either left or right.
06:23Where the arrow points, that's where the gas tank can be found.
06:27And that's one less thing you have to remember.
06:30Okay, off to the grocery store.
06:32A regular shopping cart has a useful feature you might have been overlooking.
06:36Carts usually include loops in the metal frame, often behind the child seat.
06:41As you bag your groceries, hang the ones with fragile or squishable items, like eggs or bread, on these loops.
06:48Now they're out of harm's way when you toss that giant watermelon into the cart.
06:54Later, when you're unloading your groceries, do yourself a favor and grab that box of plastic wrap.
07:00You know, the one that is impossible to unroll without the whole tube coming out while the plastic wrap sticks
07:06to itself.
07:08Check out either end of the box, and you'll see small tabs that you are supposed to push in.
07:13This helps to hold the roll in place, so you can easily pull the plastic wrap out without all the
07:19fuss.
07:20Aluminum foil boxes also have these tabs.
07:22Now that you can finally use that plastic wrap, try this appealing hack.
07:27Separate that bunch of bananas and cover each stem in some plastic wrap.
07:32The stem releases a gas called ethylene.
07:35When it reaches the rest of the banana, it encourages the fruit to ripen and turn black.
07:40If you wrap the stems, your bananas will last longer.
07:44And since you're in your kitchen, you might as well warm up that coffee from this morning.
07:49Just remove the gross skin that has formed on top.
07:52Don't eat it!
07:53Of course, as you open the microwave, you'll notice that the glass in the door has a strange black mesh
07:59inside.
08:00This mesh is designed to stop any radiation from passing through the glass.
08:05Like the electromagnetic waves we discussed earlier, radiation can't pass through metal.
08:10That mesh keeps it all safely inside to help you heat up your food.
08:14Thank you, science!
08:16Oh, and about that cup of coffee.
08:18Did you know that the handle size can help you determine how much the mug actually holds?
08:23Let your fingers guide you.
08:25If you can fit two fingers into the handle, then the mug holds 8 ounces or 1 measuring cup of
08:30liquid.
08:313 fingers, 10 ounces or 1 1⁄4 cups.
08:354 fingers, 12 ounces or 1 1⁄2 cups.
08:38Pretty cool, huh?
08:41You just spent the entire morning running errands up and down the street,
08:45and you finally stop to treat yourself to a cup of coffee.
08:48You enter the nearest coffee shop, place your order,
08:51and notice that actually you really need to use the bathroom.
08:55It's a regular-looking public one with multiple stalls.
08:58As you pick yours, the one in the middle, you get inside, and your mind starts to wander.
09:04Why on earth do bathroom doors have a half-inch gap between the door and the lock?
09:09And why on earth do they have a huge gap between the door and the floor?
09:13Can we have a drumroll for this moment, please?
09:16Well, my friend, there is not only one specific reason
09:19why public bathroom doors have so many gaps in them, but rather several.
09:24Public toilets are designed to make people spend as little time there as possible.
09:29You aren't supposed to feel comfortable or at home.
09:32So, the design would have to reflect this notion.
09:34Here come the gaps.
09:36In some bathrooms, gaps are so big that users may even feel self-conscious
09:41about doing their business out of preoccupation that the rest of the people standing in line will see them.
09:47Then, there's the matter of pricing.
09:50Making custom doors can be a heavy burden for the people building public toilets.
09:54This would mean understanding exact measurements so that doors would always fit the mold of the stalls it's supposed to
10:00be installed into.
10:01Now, not all the gaps in public bathrooms are necessarily the same size.
10:07They may vary, even if this variation is small and often unnoticeable.
10:12So, these gaps actually help to reduce the margins of errors
10:15and to turn production more cost-effective for the people financing them.
10:20In case a door comes wider or more narrow than it should,
10:24the gap regulates the differences and allows for their installation anyway.
10:28There is also the case of air circulation.
10:31The last thing you want to do in a public bathroom is to trap odors.
10:35So, you need a little space under and between the doors to allow the air to flow.
10:40Finally, the gaps are a big safety measure.
10:43It can always allow for people on the outside to see if someone inside a stall isn't feeling too okay
10:49and maybe need some help.
10:51And what about that extra hole in the upper part of the sink?
10:54It has a name in everything – the overflow hole.
10:58And it's designed to keep the sink from flooding.
11:01So, in case someone forgets and keeps the faucet going for too long,
11:05or the sink gets clogged and water can't drain down from the main drain hole,
11:09the overflow hole comes in to save the day.
11:12Let's say it buys you a little time before you have the entire bathroom floor flooded.
11:17Have you ever noticed how satisfying closing the door of a car can be?
11:21Car manufacturers devote a great deal of time to designing these sounds.
11:26Studies have shown that they create a perceived sense of quality in the buyer.
11:30It all begins with the primary material.
11:33While older cars used to be made with heavier materials,
11:36car doors nowadays are produced with lighter tin,
11:39which can make a rather unpleasant metallic sound once you shut them closed.
11:44So, car companies employ sound engineers to ensure that there is the exact amount of foam,
11:49mats, and tin in a car's composition to make the most comforting sound possible.
11:54And what about those tiny dots on the top of your car's front window?
11:59The pattern of these little black dots minimizes distractions for your eyes.
12:03This black part, also known as frit, normally gets warmer than the clear parts,
12:08which prevents the windshield from deforming.
12:11And no, the tab under your rearview mirror is not made only for the purpose of hanging
12:16fluffy dyes or aromatic-pleasing air fresheners.
12:19It's actually a switch that allows you to adjust the position of the mirror,
12:23depending on the time of day.
12:25Flip it one way, and it's the daytime driving mode.
12:28Flip the other, and you're ready to drive safely during nighttime
12:31as it tones down the glare coming from headlights of the cars behind you.
12:36Next time you head out to the supermarket, make sure to keep this in mind.
12:39In case you don't have a coin to unlock these shopping carts,
12:43there is a well-kept secret that can help you out.
12:46If you have your house keys on you, check for a rounded key head.
12:50If you happen to find one, try using it to unlock the cart.
12:54It should fit perfectly in there, replacing the need to carry coins around.
12:58Because, if we're being honest, who still has them?
13:02Elevators.
13:02If you want to ride them on your terms, and your terms only,
13:05make sure to try something out.
13:07Most elevators have a secret button combination
13:10you can use to skip all the other selected floors
13:12and go directly to the one of your choosing.
13:15This might work out, especially on those days when you've pressed 13.
13:19But you wanted to press 33.
13:22On most elevators, this works once you simultaneously
13:25press the closed door button together with your floor number.
13:28This should help you get to your floor without stopping.
13:31Some elevators require you to double-press the selected floor numbers,
13:35as double-pressing will often cancel the previously made request.
13:39While other elevators require you to hold the open door button
13:43and then double-press the buttons of the floors you'd like to cancel.
13:47Now, to stay out of trouble,
13:48it's best not to cancel the floors of the other people in the elevator.
13:52They won't take it kindly.
13:54Also, keep in mind that there are elevators that might not have this function.
13:58Now, for honey lovers out there,
14:00go ahead and raise your hand.
14:01If your pot of golden honey is crystallized,
14:04know that it is actually a good sign.
14:08Crystallized honey means that it hasn't been pasteurized,
14:11which means better product quality.
14:13With a decrease in temperature,
14:15the natural ingredient of honey,
14:16also known as glucose,
14:18will make it crystallize.
14:20Now, try making the best of it.
14:22To add some texture to your oatmeal or toast,
14:24add a layer of crystallized honey
14:26and enjoy nature's sugar.
14:28And if you don't like crystallized honey,
14:30plop it in the microwave for a minute or two.
14:33Ah, winter and fall.
14:35You know what this means, right?
14:36Sweater weather.
14:38But there's nothing more annoying
14:39than wearing your beautiful wool sweater
14:41and itching yourself all the way through it.
14:44Actually, I can be more annoying than that,
14:47but let's talk about itchy sweaters.
14:48To keep this from happening again,
14:50here's the secret.
14:52Turn your sweater inside out
14:53and soak it in cold water.
14:55Add two or three tablespoons of vinegar
14:58and let it sit for a while.
14:59Then, drain the water.
15:01Now, while the sweater is still wet,
15:03massage a generous amount of hair conditioner
15:06into the fibers of the wool.
15:08After letting it soak in the hair conditioner
15:10for about 30 minutes,
15:11gently press the excess water out of the wool
15:14and leave it to dry flat on a towel.
15:16There you go!
15:18No more itchy sweater.
15:20Any fast food restaurant you go to
15:22will hand out small paper cups
15:24for customers to fill
15:25with their ketchup, mustard, or barbecue sauce.
15:28But if you're eating some chicken nuggets
15:30or trying to dip your burger into the cup,
15:32there's always that bit of sauce
15:34that seems impossible to reach.
15:36Next time, try unfolding the cup.
15:39It'll turn into a small paper plate
15:41and this way, you'll get all the ketchup
15:43you poured in the first place.
15:46Padlocks used in outdoor environments
15:48should be clean and lubricated every three months.
15:51Regular lubrication will help prevent padlocks
15:54from freezing in cold weather conditions.
15:56Look for the tiny hole on the bottom of the lock.
15:59Then, pour oil into it,
16:01and there you go!
16:02It opens again.
16:04One thing we often neglect
16:05is a point in an ointment cap.
16:08These pointy surfaces were designed
16:10to help us break the tinfoil protection
16:12of the ointment tube.
16:13You just turn the cap over
16:15and break the ointment seal with its own cap,
16:18and there you go.
16:20After a long day of work,
16:21all you really need to do is a bubble bath.
16:24You turn on the hot water
16:25and let it run for a few minutes.
16:27You might even light a candle
16:29and pour some essential oils into the water.
16:31Then, in comes the liquid soap.
16:34You stir the water
16:35until the entire surface of the tub water
16:37is crammed with bubbles
16:39and make your way in.
16:40The bubbles in a bubble bath
16:42have a fundamental primary function.
16:44Their job is to preserve the water's temperature,
16:47just so you can have warm water for longer.
16:50Do you have sweaty feet?
16:52Weird question, I know.
16:53But if you're one of these people,
16:55here's some good news.
16:57All is not lost.
16:58Try putting a dry teabag inside your shoes
17:01and storing it in a dry place for a while.
17:04The teabags will absorb the humidity
17:06and the smell off the soles of your shoes.
17:09So, here I am thinking,
17:11shouldn't we have learned these things in school?
17:13Well, either way,
17:14if you learned something new today,
17:16make sure to tell us about it in the comments below.
17:26If you ever find yourself stuck in the trunk of your car,
17:29stay calm.
17:30All cars are supposed to be equipped
17:32with an emergency latch
17:33to help open the trunk from the inside
17:36in the unlikely case it happens.
17:38These latches are so well thought out
17:40that they can be opened by people of all ages.
17:43More so,
17:44handles are designed to glow in the dark, too.
17:46You can even pull them with a mouth
17:48if there's not enough wiggle room to use your hands.
17:51Never mind how you ended up in the trunk in the first place.
17:54Moving on.
17:55If you're ever working with needle and thread,
17:58remember,
17:58you don't need to stick the needle
18:00directly into the spool.
18:01You may end up losing the needle altogether.
18:04Not to mention,
18:05you can easily hurt your fingers.
18:07A lot of modern sewing kits these days
18:09come with a designated place
18:11for safeguarding the needles.
18:13It's located at the bottom part of the thread spool.
18:16You'll just need to pull it out.
18:18It's even made to hold
18:19multiple sewing needles at a time.
18:22Disposable ballpoint pens
18:23come with a little secret of their own.
18:26Did you ever notice that in some of them,
18:28there's a small hole in the plastic part?
18:31It's actually a rudimentary ventilation system.
18:34It's supposed to let the ink easily make it to the tip of the pen.
18:38Okay, I know it's in the name,
18:40but you really don't need to shake the seasoning shaker
18:43to get any product out.
18:44Don't believe me?
18:46Hey, you're not the only one.
18:47Go grab your favorite seasoning bottle out of your pantry.
18:50If it has one of those removable plastic caps,
18:54it's perfect for the experiment.
18:56Instead of shaking the bottle,
18:58try holding it from the plastic cap
19:00while it's upside down.
19:01Now, gently twist the bottle from side to side,
19:04and before you know it,
19:06you get some gorgeously flowing seasoning
19:09without having to wiggle the shaker
19:11and make a mess all over the stove.
19:13On the same note,
19:15most salt and pepper shakers
19:17should have ridges on the bottom of the glass portion.
19:19In case you get any seasoning stuck in there,
19:22place the bottom of the salt shaker
19:24against the bottom of the pepper shaker
19:26and wiggle it around
19:27so the ridges click with each other.
19:29The seasoning should easily pour out now
19:32without you having to open the bottle.
19:34In colder weather,
19:36you often have so many clothing layers on you
19:38that you can hardly feel the purse or back straps
19:41on your shoulder anymore.
19:42Not to mention how fast they can slide off.
19:45Some jackets come with a built-in solution for that
19:48in the form of a small tab on the shoulder
19:51with either a hook or a button.
19:53It's meant to be opened and closed comfortably,
19:55so you can keep your purse in place at any time.
20:00You're most likely using it
20:01merely to peel the skin of potatoes,
20:04carrots, or cucumbers.
20:05But you can use your vegetable peeler
20:07for chopping fine strips of onion as well.
20:10Just cut the onion into quarters vertically
20:12and then start slicing.
20:14This might also help out
20:16with those embarrassing onion tears.
20:19Most people miss this one,
20:21but should you ever have a closer look
20:23at your toothpaste tube,
20:24you will surely see some sort of coloring there,
20:27either a dot or a block.
20:29Colors can vary.
20:31They can be black, green, red, or even blue.
20:34These color spots are actually meant
20:36to help the assembly machines
20:37back at the toothpaste factory.
20:39They recognize when and where these machines
20:41need to cut the toothpaste tubes
20:43and proceed to fold them for packaging.
20:46For most types of footwear,
20:48if there's anything that seems a bit out of place,
20:50always know that it's there for a reason.
20:53Most manufacturers don't put extra items
20:55on shoes just for fun.
20:57It would definitely be a waste of time and resources.
21:00For footwear, like boots, for example,
21:03there's often a small loop
21:04at the top back of the shoe.
21:06It's there to help you
21:07when you need to put the shoe on
21:09since you can quickly pull on it.
21:11Plus, you can also hang the shoes somewhere,
21:13most likely to dry,
21:15since most boots are meant to be worn
21:17in the colder weather.
21:18Now, I've been guilty at least once
21:20of overdressing with a bunch of layers
21:23just so I won't need to jam everything
21:25in my check-in bag.
21:26But does it become a problem
21:28when you actually have to get seated?
21:30What do you do with your coat or your jacket?
21:33Well, have a closer look
21:34next time you board a plane
21:36on the seat in front of you.
21:37The hook that keeps the tray table upright
21:40can double as a jacket hook.
21:42As long as you don't need to have any meals
21:44while in the air,
21:45you're good to go.
21:47Now, most mascaras expire within 3-6 months,
21:51I'm told,
21:51depending on the manufacturer.
21:53But you can help speed up that process
21:55if you're not careful enough.
21:58Continuously pumping the mascara wand,
22:00trying to mix in the product,
22:02actually pushes more air into the tube.
22:04This can make it dry much faster
22:06and you evidently won't get
22:08the desired results with it anymore.
22:10There's an easy way to check
22:11if your mascara is still good enough to use.
22:14If you don't hear a popping noise
22:16when you take the brush out,
22:18you may very well need to go
22:19get yourself a new mascara tube.
22:22Now, I know we're living in the era
22:25of Bluetooth-connected devices,
22:26but for better quality sound,
22:29they still recommend using headphones
22:31that connect via audio jacks.
22:33Remember seeing black ridges on those jacks?
22:36They aren't there just to make them fit
22:38when you plug them into your phone or laptop.
22:40Made out of a special insulating material,
22:43these bands are meant to guard the wires
22:45when sound is being transmitted.
22:47Based on the number of bands,
22:49you can figure out which end goes where.
22:51Some empty space under noodles in a cup
22:54doesn't mean the company producing them
22:56wants to cheat you out of a full portion.
22:58No, no.
22:59It's a manner of keeping the noodles intact
23:02during their transportation.
23:03It also helps with the circulation of hot water
23:06that is poured over the products
23:08before you can enjoy them.
23:10The V-shaped neckline was initially designed
23:12to serve a bunch of objectives.
23:14First, as a way of prolonging the life of the garment
23:17that would maintain its shape over the years.
23:19It's also there to fit your head through the shirt
23:22in case it needs some stretching.
23:24This way, it ensures a snugger grip around the neck.
23:27Lastly, it helps absorb sweat
23:29in case you're wearing the shirt while exercising.
23:33Now, it's not necessarily a custom anymore,
23:35but you may have stumbled upon a dinner jacket
23:38with an additional mysterious pocket on the right side.
23:42Turns out, this pocket was used by men
23:44to easily reach their train tickets
23:46since most of them had to travel to work every day.
23:49It helped them keep their jacket buttoned up
23:52but also benefited from the use of a pocket.
23:55Now, it's only added as a decoration
23:57and it doesn't serve an actual purpose anymore.
24:00Speaking of things we don't use these days,
24:03or at least for their initial purpose,
24:05did you know Play-Doh was originally a cleaning product?
24:09In the 1920s, the market was in need of a product
24:12that could help them wipe the wallpapered areas
24:15around coal-burning furnaces.
24:16The recipe for what we now know as Play-Doh
24:20was thus invented.
24:21It was manufactured in white only
24:23and was supposed to clean wallpaper
24:25by being rolled back and forth over the dirt.
24:28It was only later in the 1940s
24:31that new products for cleaning wallpaper were brought up
24:34and Play-Doh was redirected
24:36toward another area of the market.
24:38Now, while I enjoy a nice piece of toast for breakfast,
24:42isn't it pesky to have to clean out the toaster?
24:45Well, not anymore,
24:46since I recently found out that toasters
24:49have a slide or a panel at the bottom
24:52that helps get rid of all those annoying breadcrumbs easily.
24:58Now, there used to be a time
24:59when you could only have access to video games
25:02by inserting cartridges in your console of choice.
25:05These tiny objects gave many doctors a lot of headaches.
25:09People soon started popping up in hospitals
25:12after swallowing small game cartridges.
25:15Especially the younger generation.
25:17Nintendo, the company that manufactures
25:19the majority of these devices,
25:21had to come up with a creative solution
25:23to prevent these accidents.
25:25So, these days,
25:26Nintendo Switch cartridges are purposely coated
25:29with specific chemicals
25:30that can leave a really bad, bitter taste in the mouth.
25:34Not that I'd, you know,
25:35recommend you ever try and taste for yourself.
25:38Hmm.
25:39Okay, I know it's kind of cold to the touch,
25:41especially on a freezing winter's day.
25:43But did you know that brass doorknobs
25:45actually serve a purpose
25:46apart from looking classy and shiny?
25:48Since it's a copper alloy,
25:50brass has antimicrobial properties.
25:52That means it can help get rid of harmful germs
25:54and bacteria,
25:55sometimes in up to two hours.
25:58In high traffic areas,
25:59that's all the more useful.
26:01But since brass is much costier
26:02than other metals like nickel and steel,
26:04you barely see these types of doorknobs
26:07anymore nowadays.
26:08Speaking of lovely multi-purpose items,
26:11most screwdrivers have a tiny little secret of their own.
26:13They can sometimes be slid through a wrench
26:16so that they can be used
26:17to create more torque when twisting,
26:19not to mention the uses
26:20when it comes to bolts in hard-to-reach places.
26:24There's a reason why buttons on women's shirts
26:26are for the left-handed,
26:27and it has nothing to do with fashion.
26:30This practice dates back to the times
26:32when chambermaids were helping ladies dress themselves,
26:34and it was easier for them to perform their job
26:37with this orientation.
26:39Having the buttons placed as such
26:41indicated a sign of wealth,
26:43so it's easy to imagine why the practice carried on,
26:46even though most people dress themselves nowadays.
26:49Next time you receive a package in your mail,
26:51take a look at your box cutter.
26:53If it features some diagonal lines on the blade,
26:56you're in for a little design perk.
26:58Turns out that these are blades that snap off.
27:01Continuously cutting cardboard
27:02can dull the sharp edge of the blade.
27:04To help prevent the need to buy a brand new box cutter,
27:07the top segment along the next line
27:09can be broken off to reach a new sharp edge.
27:12To do this,
27:13check out the small hole at the base of the tool,
27:16sometimes called the blade snapper.
27:18The people that first came up
27:20with this brilliant invention
27:21were engineers inspired by the way
27:23chocolate bars are segmented.
27:25Hold on a minute.
27:26Don't throw away the cardboard package just yet.
27:28Most likely, you'll have some silica gel packets
27:30somewhere at the bottom of the box.
27:32Since this gel is basically a drying tool,
27:35it gathers up the moisture out of its environment,
27:37so you can store these packets for further occasions.
27:40Whether you'll need to dry out your phone
27:42or some other electrical object,
27:44you can place them in a container
27:46next to the silica gel to reduce the damage.
27:49You don't have to be a mechanic
27:50to know when a standard car tire needs replacing,
27:53since they come equipped with a neat indicator.
27:56Take a closer look,
27:57and you'll see that treads within the tire
27:59are a bunch of rubber notches.
28:01When the treads are evened out
28:03with the perpendicular bars,
28:04it's a sign you need to book an appointment
28:06with your local car service,
28:08since most likely the tires have lost
28:10most of their traction
28:11and may not be safe for driving any longer.
28:14The upper corners of a car windshield
28:16feature textured black dots
28:18melted into the glass edges.
28:20This neat add-on isn't there for design purposes.
28:23It's called Frit Glazing,
28:25which means that a special type of ceramic paint
28:28is added to the window
28:30for protecting its sealant from UV rays.
28:33It also conceals and creates a coarser surface
28:36for the adhesive used to set the window in place.
28:40Whenever you're up for a drive,
28:42check out if there's a small tab
28:44under your car's rearview mirror.
28:46Bet you didn't know it's there
28:47to help switch the mirror
28:49from daytime to nighttime views.
28:51It uses a prismatic glass technology
28:54to blur the reflection
28:55and reduce the glare of headlights
28:57behind you in traffic.
28:59People came up with these
29:00manually tilted mirrors in the 1930s,
29:03but they became standard somewhere in the 1970s.
29:06While you're in the car,
29:08check out the headrests,
29:09as you most likely don't know
29:10that they carry a little disguised purpose.
29:13Of course, they're adjustable
29:15to accommodate passengers of any height
29:17so that they get the proper support
29:18for their heads and necks.
29:20The hidden feature is that they are detachable
29:22and come with two very solid metal bars.
29:26Should you ever find yourself stuck in a car
29:28and need to make a fast getaway?
29:30These bars come in handy
29:31to crack out the car windows.
29:34So you're out for a drive
29:35and you're suddenly out of gas.
29:37What I'm about to describe
29:38sounds more like a meme
29:39than an actual situation bound to happen.
29:41But what if you're in such a hurry
29:44that you accidentally drive off
29:46with the gas nozzle still in the tank?
29:48Well, the nozzles have been designed
29:50to prevent any hazards from happening,
29:52rest assured.
29:53They feature a breakaway device
29:55that will allow the hose to separate
29:57when taken out with enough force.
29:59Initially designed in the early 20th century
30:02to be worn exclusively by basketball players,
30:05sneakers soon became one of those fashion fundamentals,
30:08similar to jeans and leather jackets.
30:10If you take a closer look at them,
30:12you'll see they have two extra holes on the side,
30:14similar to the shoelace holes.
30:16They're manufactured as such
30:18not only to provide extra ventilation,
30:20but to allow people to get extra creative
30:22with their laces when wearing the shoes.
30:25Admit it, you've always thought
30:26that chopsticks are merged at the end
30:28for the sole purpose of keeping them together
30:30until you're ready to dig into your meal.
30:32That may or may not be the whole truth.
30:35Under a more detailed inspection,
30:37the wooden tools feature a square-shaped end.
30:40Chopsticks manufactured like this
30:42date back to an old Japanese traditional design,
30:45which can help with breaking the ends easily.
30:48The separated end can then be used
30:50as a resting block for the chopsticks
30:52to keep it more sanitized
30:53in hopes it can be used again,
30:55since they won't be touching the table
30:57or any other surface.
30:59Women's bikes have a special design,
31:01which, surprisingly,
31:02has a historical and fashionable purpose.
31:05The lower frame is for the most part
31:07meant to make up for the generally
31:09shorter height of ladies,
31:10compared to that of the average gentleman.
31:13While that is the case for handlebars and saddles,
31:16the overall frame is lower for an additional purpose.
31:19Way back when women wore long skirts
31:21and dresses all day,
31:22every day they needed to make sure
31:23their outfits wouldn't get caught in the frame.
31:26That's how we came up with a lower-framed bicycle,
31:29perfectly made for women
31:30and their needs at the time.
31:33The fact that toothpastes are multicolored
31:36is not just a nice perk
31:37to make dental hygiene more fun.
31:39There's a secret meaning
31:40related to each of the colors,
31:42which dates back to the 1970s.
31:44In those days,
31:46people grew more and more interested
31:48in their oral health care,
31:49and as such,
31:50they were looking for products
31:52which could do more
31:53than merely clean their teeth.
31:55One company was the pioneer in that regard,
31:58adding mouthwash to its toothpaste,
31:59meaning the blue strip.
32:01They later added on the red strip,
32:03meant to feature ingredients
32:05which helped with gum care.
32:07Speaking of toothpaste,
32:08check the cap next time you open a new tube.
32:10You may be in for a little surprise.
32:13There's a pointed cone shape inside the cap,
32:15so you can puncture the seal of the toothpaste
32:17without cutting yourself
32:19or ruining your manicure.
32:20Not to mention,
32:21it's more hygienic
32:22since you won't be able to transfer germs
32:24or other bacteria
32:25into the product itself.
32:28On the subject of bathroom countertop items,
32:31toothbrushes come with a neat add-on
32:33hidden in the bristle patterns.
32:35Apart from making the toothbrush look cooler,
32:37they also do come with a practical purpose.
32:40Most toothbrushes come with a pattern
32:42of blue bristles
32:43intertwined with white ones.
32:45The blue dye is meant to fade out,
32:47signaling the time when you need
32:48to replace your toothbrush.
32:50Dentists say that toothbrushes
32:52should be replaced
32:53every three to four months,
32:54but it does serve as a great reminder
32:56in case you forget.
32:58Still love playing with Lego?
32:59Don't judge.
33:01Hey, it's a great hobby for all ages.
33:03Notice there's a hole on top of the Lego heads?
33:05Behold, you're looking at a safety feature
33:08that the people at Lego
33:09designed to prevent choking hazards.
33:11The most dangerous issue
33:13should a person swallow any of these pieces
33:15is the blocking of the airways.
33:18Designing a hole inside the Lego head
33:20helps the air to flow freely through the piece
33:23until it can be removed safely.
33:25We're now used to all sorts of modern light bulbs,
33:28some tubular,
33:29some shaped like diamonds,
33:30and some even twisted altogether.
33:33Historically,
33:34light bulbs were round
33:35and the initial shape
33:36served a purpose in itself.
33:38It was mainly connected to the fact
33:40that glass bulbs were hand-blown,
33:42which gave them the round shape to begin with.
33:45The hidden practical reason
33:46was that the light bulb filament
33:48needed to be at the same distance
33:49from every surface of the glass sphere.
33:52The easiest way to achieve this
33:54was to make the glass
33:55in the shape of a globe.
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