- 12 hours ago
Ever wondered why your lighter has that unique metal guard and bottom design? It's not just for looks—these features hold the key to transforming your lighter into a powerful tool for your kitchen and garage. Discover the engineering secrets that can enhance your everyday tasks and reveal what inventors kept under wraps. This is the ingenious design the world needs to know about!
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00:00:00You're trying on a pair of jeans, a dress or a jacket, and are about to dig your hand into
00:00:05the pocket when you realize there's no depth to it.
00:00:08The pocket is simply not there.
00:00:11But why would anyone create pockets you can't put anything in?
00:00:15And now would be a good time to pick your iPhone up from off the floor.
00:00:19Well, the reason for fake pockets is simple.
00:00:22If a clothing item has a specific cut or shape, pockets may spoil it.
00:00:27They can alter the item's shape, either in the warehouse or already on the retail rack.
00:00:32The solution? Getting rid of pockets in key areas.
00:00:36Plus, fake pockets are obviously cheaper, and they don't get stretched out.
00:00:41Interestingly, this practice goes back to the 17th century.
00:00:45That's when pockets were actually removable.
00:00:47They resembled small bags, and women, for example, could move them from one outfit to another.
00:00:53Unfortunately, it was also very convenient for pickpockets.
00:00:57They could grab such a pocket and run off with it.
00:01:00Then clothes became more streamlined, and slim pockets started to be sewn right into them instead of attachable bags.
00:01:07This was believed to make the shape of a person's silhouette more alluring.
00:01:12But soon, slimmer skirts came into fashion, and pockets went out of it.
00:01:17And people started using handbags instead.
00:01:20These days, most pockets are real.
00:01:23But some of them are still fake.
00:01:25So, how can we make sure that we don't actually turn a fake pocket into a hole, thinking it's a
00:01:31real one?
00:01:31Well, first of all, take a look at the stitching along the edge of the pocket, where it's supposed to
00:01:36open up.
00:01:37If you see a single loose thread, just snip a piece of it and start pulling gently.
00:01:42If the pocket is real, the thread will easily come out.
00:01:46But if you feel that the stitching won't budge, most likely, you have a faux pocket on your hands.
00:01:52If this is the case, just leave it be.
00:01:56Now, let's move on to some other everyday objects that may be hiding some secrets.
00:02:01For example, those lines on some kinds of chips.
00:02:04For one thing, they help with the distribution of spices and seasonings.
00:02:08In other words, all those substances that make your chips taste like cheese are mostly stored inside the lines.
00:02:15Plus, the lines make chips crunchier.
00:02:19Highlighters are filled with a special semi-transparent fluorescent ink that can glow in dim light.
00:02:25Yellow and light green hues are the most popular because they don't prevent you from seeing the text after black
00:02:31and white photocopying.
00:02:33Photocopiers perceive yellow and light green marks as almost non-existent and don't print them.
00:02:39Now, back in the day, the first jeans had one problem.
00:02:43Workers and miners, who were the original jeans wearers, put too much pressure on the poor piece of clothing.
00:02:49As a result, the seams couldn't withstand the stress and tore.
00:02:53So, tiny metal studs were invented to prevent this from happening.
00:02:58Most metallic zippers have a hidden lock inside them.
00:03:01That's why you shouldn't leave the zipper handle in an upward position.
00:03:05When you pull it downwards, it automatically locks.
00:03:08It's all thanks to several tiny grooves hidden underneath the handle.
00:03:13Now, about those horizontal lines on plastic bottles.
00:03:16They help hold bottles up.
00:03:18Some bottles are produced from soft plastic.
00:03:21Without the lines, they wouldn't keep their shape.
00:03:24Instead, they would twist easily or even break.
00:03:27Bath foam isn't only for fun or a nice smell.
00:03:30It helps regulate the temperature, too.
00:03:32The bubbles keep the water hot, and you can enjoy your bath a bit longer.
00:03:37With or without your rubber ducky.
00:03:40Ever notice that layer of clear liquid in gel pens?
00:03:44It's called the ink follower, or stopper fluid.
00:03:47The gel in such pens contains pigment particles dissolved in a polymer solution.
00:03:52The gel should be thick enough to keep the pigment particles suspended,
00:03:56but also thin enough to flow first onto the ball and then the paper.
00:04:00The main task of the stopper fluid is to be a barrier to prevent the gel from evaporating or leaking
00:04:07out.
00:04:08Without this transparent fluid, your gel pen wouldn't function.
00:04:11The fluid always stays in one position and doesn't get dissolved with the gel.
00:04:16Neither does it move backward or flow out of the pen.
00:04:19The holes in the bottoms of your earphones allow air to circulate up and through the speakers.
00:04:25It allows to increase low frequencies, making the bass sound deeper.
00:04:30The quality of the sound also becomes much better.
00:04:33Some plastic milk containers have dents on their sides.
00:04:36Try as they might, they just cannot park without some damage.
00:04:40Nah, I made that up.
00:04:42These dents serve several purposes.
00:04:44For one thing, when milk spoils, this process usually causes swelling and high-pressure buildup inside the container.
00:04:51Oh boy.
00:04:52That's when the dent comes in handy.
00:04:54It pops out and doesn't let the jug blow up.
00:04:57Plus, if you ever decide to freeze the milk, it will expand like any other liquid.
00:05:02And then again, the indentation will pop out and prevent the container from breaking inside your freezer.
00:05:08That's a good thing.
00:05:10Airplane windows have rounded edges, and that's a crucial safety measure.
00:05:15It prevents aircraft accidents.
00:05:17Weak spots are usually situated in the corners.
00:05:20If airplane windows were square or rectangular, each of them would have four potential weak spots.
00:05:26Under pressure, they would collapse.
00:05:29If you look closely at a tram's overhead lines, you'll see that its contact wires zigzag back and forth instead
00:05:36of going in a straight line.
00:05:38The thing is that all trams have pantographs attached to their roofs.
00:05:42The upper part of the pantograph is gradually worn down by the overhead wire and eventually needs to be replaced.
00:05:49To wear it down evenly, the wire is not installed strictly along the tram's path, but in zigzag patterns.
00:05:56As the tram moves, the pantograph slides along the wire and it wears down evenly.
00:06:02You might have wondered why some gas cans have two holes with caps, one bigger and one smaller.
00:06:09Before, I thought that the little hole was used when you poured something into a smaller container.
00:06:13But I was wrong.
00:06:15A very infrequent occasion.
00:06:17In reality, you're supposed to uncap it before you pour the gas inside the bigger hole to prevent it from
00:06:23glugging and spilling on your clothes and on the ground.
00:06:27Most of the buttonholes on a shirt are vertical, but the top and sometimes bottom ones are horizontal.
00:06:34The reason is simple.
00:06:35These two buttons slip out more often than others.
00:06:38Luckily, producers have found the solution that can prevent these buttons from slipping out.
00:06:43Horizontal buttonholes.
00:06:45What engineering!
00:06:46Buttons tend to slip out less from such buttonholes.
00:06:50Sticks sachets of sugar or salt are easier to open than many people think.
00:06:54There's no need to tear off one of the ends.
00:06:57The right way is actually to tear them down the middle.
00:07:01Some boots have loops sticking out on the back.
00:07:04Their main purpose is to help you pull your shoes on easier.
00:07:07Just tug on the loop while you're pushing your heel into the boot.
00:07:10You can also use these loops to hang your boots on a hook when they're dirty or when you want
00:07:16to dry them after washing.
00:07:17Or you can run your laces through the loop if you want to tie them around your ankle.
00:07:22When you're on board the plane, you might spot a little triangle over your seat.
00:07:27Such triangles show the flight crew the best spots to check the plane's flaps through the window, just in case
00:07:33they're flapping.
00:07:34If your shoes are really slippery, just take a bit of sandpaper and rub it on the soles for better
00:07:40traction.
00:07:41They'll become more grippy, and you'll be able to wear them out in the rain.
00:07:45Now, if they get too wet, they might turn griping.
00:07:48But that's only if you have talking shoes.
00:07:51If you drill several holes at the bottom of your garbage can, putting in and taking out trash bags will
00:07:57become much easier.
00:07:58You won't have any problems with suction.
00:08:01You can usually find some silica gel in bags, shoes, and many other things you buy.
00:08:07This shell absorbs excess moisture.
00:08:09Don't throw it away.
00:08:11Each time your shoes get wet, put a few packets of silica gel inside.
00:08:16The thermos wasn't actually invented to keep your coffee warm.
00:08:20It was made by a Scottish scientist who just wanted a safe place to put his chemicals at a stable
00:08:25temperature.
00:08:26So, he took two bottles, put the smaller one inside the bigger one, and vacuumed out the air between them.
00:08:33Well, anyway, thanks for the hot coffee!
00:08:38Various types of cheese have holes for a reason.
00:08:41For example, Swiss cheese is made with special bacteria that produce carbon dioxide.
00:08:46As the CO2 is emitted, it blows like bubblegum, leaving tiny craters, also known as cheese eyes.
00:08:54Then, the cheese is cooled down, but the holes stay in place.
00:09:00Over 40 billion Oreos are made every single year.
00:09:04It's the world's most popular manufactured cookie.
00:09:07The geometric design stamped onto these cookies has the Nabisco logo, the symbol of European quality, surrounding the word Oreo.
00:09:16William Ternier created the chocolate cookie design we see today back in 1952.
00:09:24If you use reusable bottles, you probably know that sometimes they smell.
00:09:29Even if you only use it for regular water, it still smells.
00:09:33But it's not the water that smells, it's the microorganisms in it.
00:09:37If you drink water from a bottle, the particles of your saliva and sweat stay in there.
00:09:42Those bacteria start to build up in the bottle, causing the smell.
00:09:46So, if you choose reusable bottles, make sure to wash them every day to prevent those bacteria from building up.
00:09:54After washing, let it dry completely before using it again.
00:10:00Not only are the jeans blue, but the police officers' uniforms as well.
00:10:05The first official police officers appeared in the 19th century in London.
00:10:09They were given a blue uniform to contrast with the red and white uniform that military workers had already been
00:10:15wearing.
00:10:16Two decades afterward, the police force was adopted in the USA, and they followed the patterns.
00:10:22The uniform is still blue nowadays because it proved to be a good color.
00:10:26It's not that visible in dark hours, and police officers can observe things and people staying unnoticed.
00:10:33Also, stains aren't that visible on dark material.
00:10:36And, well, everyone knows that police officers wear blue, and they're recognized it.
00:10:41So, why change that?
00:10:45Baby carrots are tiny.
00:10:47And unlike regular carrots, wet.
00:10:49Not unlike baby humans.
00:10:51Baby carrots aren't some special sort of carrot.
00:10:54They're actually made of regular carrots by cutting off the skin and outer layers and then polishing them to look
00:11:01that pretty.
00:11:01The problem is, they can't retain moisture.
00:11:04A regular carrot retains some water inside because of the layers that lock it in.
00:11:09Once they're chopped out, baby carrots can dry out easily.
00:11:12So, they usually sell them in bags with some water inside.
00:11:19Jeans have metal rivets, and they're there from the very beginning.
00:11:22Jacob Davis, the man who made the first pair of jeans, added copper rivets to spots where pants are more
00:11:29likely to rip, flies in pockets, to make them stronger.
00:11:32Today, they have more of a decorative purpose, since they are distinctive and traditional for jeans.
00:11:38Another special thing about jeans is those tiny pockets they have that seemingly serve no purpose.
00:11:45Well, maybe it's true now.
00:11:46But years ago, when many cowboys were wearing jeans, the pocket was made specifically to keep a pocket watch there.
00:11:54Also, back then, a pair of jeans had just four pockets.
00:11:57That tiny pocket, the watch pocket, two big pockets in front, and just one pocket in the back.
00:12:05Car headrests are all about comfort, and detachable headrests are all about safety.
00:12:11If you pull the headrest out, you'll see two sturdy metal bars.
00:12:14If you ever get locked or trapped in a car, you can use the bars to smash the window and
00:12:19get out.
00:12:22Those little red spots you sometimes see after you crack an egg are nothing to be worried about.
00:12:28Tiny blood spots can be caused by a small rupture in a blood vessel of a hen as it was
00:12:33laying the egg.
00:12:35Eggs with these blood spots are safe to eat, but that spot can be removed if you want.
00:12:40It won't affect the taste of the egg.
00:12:42Oh, that's comforting.
00:12:44Hidden within the Toblerone logo of the mountain is the image of a bear standing on its hind legs,
00:12:50about to eat that yodeler over there.
00:12:52No, not really.
00:12:53This is because bears are a big part of Bern, one of the biggest cities in Switzerland where the founder
00:12:59created the triangular chocolate tree.
00:13:02Toblerone is also a play on the founder's family name, Tobler, and the Italian word, Torone, for honey and almond
00:13:09nougat.
00:13:12The space below a cup of noodles is there to protect the noodles during transport.
00:13:17This technique is called a middle suspension.
00:13:19Not only are they protected better in their styrofoam cup, but it also helps those noodles soften more evenly and
00:13:26quickly.
00:13:27Even though you might have noticed that the hole on the barrel of ballpoint pens has no purpose, it does.
00:13:33It's called a venting system, which helps the ink flow more smoothly.
00:13:37This way, an even amount of air pressure is created inside and outside the pen,
00:13:42allowing the ink to flow into the point easily.
00:13:46It's not an accident that soy sauce bottles have two spouts.
00:13:50The sauce is liquid, and it flows out of the bottle pretty quickly once you turn it over.
00:13:55Most Asian food lovers will admit they've spilled it at least once in a lifetime.
00:14:00That's why, nowadays, restaurants prefer serving soy sauce in special bottles that have two spouts.
00:14:06This design allows you to control when and how much sauce will come out.
00:14:10Just put your finger on one spout while you pour the sauce through another.
00:14:14If you press your finger tightly to the spout, the sauce will stop flowing,
00:14:18and if you remove your finger, it will flow again.
00:14:22And please, do not remove your finger in a restaurant.
00:14:25It will freak everybody out.
00:14:28You've probably noticed that train and bus seats are covered in fabrics with weird patterns.
00:14:33Any idea why?
00:14:35They use these patterns to cover any germs and stains on the seat.
00:14:39Oh boy!
00:14:39The brighter the color and the more patterned it is, the harder it will be for a passenger to notice
00:14:45any stains and get grossed out.
00:14:47Also, the patterns are usually so ugly that no one even wants to look at them for long enough to
00:14:53spot any stains.
00:14:54So yeah, the pattern is there to make you look away, and if you look, to make it less noticeable.
00:15:00No bus will ever have plain white seats.
00:15:03That's a guarantee.
00:15:05The middle tab on soda cans can be flipped around.
00:15:08You can slip a straw in place so you don't have to hold it up your mouth.
00:15:12This stay-on tab replaced the pull ring tab created in the early 60s.
00:15:17You remember those, don't you?
00:15:18Those could be quite sharp and easily discarded where they could be a menace for others.
00:15:23Now you can pop your straw straight into one.
00:15:26Also means you can produce some bubbles and make a mess like a three-year-old.
00:15:31Sometimes, when you purchase an article of clothing, you receive a plastic baggie with an extra button and a swatch
00:15:38of fabric.
00:15:39While the fabric is clearly used to patch holes, it can also be used to test the effects of various
00:15:45cleaners on certain surfaces.
00:15:47It's handy, too, to test wash cycles before using them to wash the whole garment.
00:15:54Escalators have those fluffy black brushes for a similar reason that some have yellow lines on their steps.
00:16:00to try and deter people from getting too close to dangerous places.
00:16:04People don't always take notice, and sometimes clothing can drape close to the point where the step meets the edge
00:16:11or skirt.
00:16:11The brush is a little barrier to help prevent this from happening.
00:16:15They can also catch bits of fluff and prevent other small things from falling down into the gaps.
00:16:22Those takeaway containers most associated with Chinese restaurants are designed to not only carry your food home, but to store
00:16:30it in the fridge.
00:16:31They double as a plate, as you can eat straight out of them and don't have to worry about dirty
00:16:36dishes.
00:16:36Yay!
00:16:37They were actually patented way back in 1894 to transport freshly shucked oysters and were known as oyster pails.
00:16:45They were later adapted to use as leak-proof containers for food.
00:16:51Ever wondered why coins have those little ridges along the edge?
00:16:54It's a leftover from earlier times when they were worth more.
00:16:58Counterfeiters could easily file the edges off to sell as gold or silver coins to make some profit.
00:17:03The ridges were created, so it was much easier to tell which of the coins had been altered.
00:17:09It's not needed today, but the coins still have that altered style.
00:17:15All crackers and some cookies have holes to make sure the final product has the right texture.
00:17:21These teeny-tiny holes allow steam to escape, so your crackers and cookies won't snap.
00:17:26If it weren't for these holes, also known as dockers, steam would build up inside the tree,
00:17:31and the final result might have been scrumptious, but it would have been rather oddly shaped.
00:17:38Dogs like to walk in circles before snoozing because they inherited this behavior pattern from their ancestors.
00:17:44There were no special doggy beds back then, so most pooches would have to push down tall grass to make
00:17:50a sort of snoozing spot.
00:17:52Plus, as a bonus, those movements scared off all the critters lurking in the vegetation.
00:17:59Donuts are ring-shaped for a similar reason.
00:18:01If they hadn't had holes right in the center, the dough there would have always been undercooked.
00:18:07By the way, they're often associated with the police, because back in the 1950s, donut shops were among the only
00:18:14places openly.
00:18:15They were a perfect place for police officers to grab something to eat and even deal with some paperwork during
00:18:21the night shift.
00:18:23Your jeans are blue on the outside and white on the inside because of a smart way to weave the
00:18:29fabric.
00:18:30The warp thread is dyed, while the weft thread has no color.
00:18:34It's just white.
00:18:35This way, manufacturers reduce the amount of dye needed for each piece of clothing.
00:18:40And they're still dyeing to make the jeans.
00:18:46The Queen's Guard all appear to have the same uniform, with a shared role of standing stoically for a long
00:18:52time.
00:18:53But if you look closely at their hats, there are five different types.
00:18:58The Grenadier has a white plume.
00:19:00The Coldstream has a red one.
00:19:02The Irish, a blue plume.
00:19:04The Welsh, green and white.
00:19:06And the Scots Guard has none.
00:19:10Their different divisions perform similar ceremonial duties at Buckingham Palace.
00:19:15But they have other actual rules as well, suited to their specialization.
00:19:20When peeling your boiled eggs, you can see a hidden layer under the shell.
00:19:24These two membranes, an inner and outer one, are made from the same stuff as your hair, keratin.
00:19:30It protects the inside from bacteria and stops liquids from escaping.
00:19:35You use X in your texts, which represents a kiss.
00:19:39It's been used this way for a very long time.
00:19:41Its original purpose dates back to the Middle Ages,
00:19:44where it was a representation of a person's faith, honesty and sincerity.
00:19:49Those that would sign off with an X would kiss it after signing as a display of a sworn oath.
00:19:56The X's meaning later changed to represent the action of kissing.
00:20:00And the first document showing this was a letter dating back to 1763,
00:20:05written by a naturalist, Gilbert White, who sent it to his wife.
00:20:11William Shakespeare is a name familiar to everyone.
00:20:14However, we don't know whether this was the actual way his name was spelled.
00:20:18And neither did he.
00:20:20He signed 80 different variations of his name spelling on all his works.
00:20:25Historians haven't a clue which the correct spelling is.
00:20:28The version that we know of was only used on two of his plays.
00:20:34Different forms of alarm clocks were invented as far back as 348 BCE,
00:20:39with many versions throughout the world, all with complicated mechanics.
00:20:44Unaffordable to mostly everyone, they didn't catch on.
00:20:48Alternate methods to wake up in the morning started to be used in the 1800s.
00:20:52One process involving knocker-uppers was common in some countries.
00:20:57A person visited your house every morning to knock on your door four times.
00:21:03Inventor Antoine Redier felt that he should be woken only when he felt it necessary.
00:21:08So, in 1847, he invented the first adjustable alarm clock.
00:21:14Tennis balls in Wimbledon must be kept at a perfect temperature to ensure they bounce at a consistent level.
00:21:21They're stored at 68 degrees Fahrenheit,
00:21:24so they're cold enough that the molecules inside the ball shrink, ensuring they bounce lower.
00:21:30Then, they're continuously swapped throughout a match as they expand by being hit too much, becoming too bouncy.
00:21:37Wimbledon goes through 50,000 tennis balls each year.
00:21:42You enjoy the smell of a freshly mowed lawn, as you associate it with the weekends and summer.
00:21:48But that smell is a sign of stress made by the grass.
00:21:52Grass evolved to emit various elements when being eaten by bugs.
00:21:56This signal attracts predator insects to remove them.
00:22:00But unfortunately for the grass, there's nothing large enough to deter a lawnmower.
00:22:05There is no oxygen inside your packet of chips.
00:22:09If there was, it would influence the combination of molecules forming inside, spoiling the chips faster.
00:22:15The packets are instead filled with nitrogen, which pushes oxygen out.
00:22:20And this extends the shelf life and quality of your chips.
00:22:25You're traveling by plane overnight and just can't get to sleep.
00:22:29And the first night in a hotel wasn't great, regardless of how comfy the bed was.
00:22:35This is because of a human evolutionary trait called the first night effect.
00:22:40When you sleep in a different place than your home, the left side of the brain responds to more sounds
00:22:46while you're asleep.
00:22:47It continues to analyze your surroundings without you realizing, acting as though it's on a night watch and keeping you
00:22:53alert for any potential dangers.
00:22:56Most animals have this trait, although it's a lot more subtle in humans.
00:23:01But it's still effective enough to make sure you get your peanuts.
00:23:06Before playing basketball with hoops, you would have instead been playing with peach baskets.
00:23:11When the game was invented in 1891, a peach basket was used, with the bottom of it cut off.
00:23:17But it only took 15 years for players to grow tired of constantly collecting the jammed balls and to remove
00:23:23the basket altogether.
00:23:25When you click your fingers, the snapping sound isn't from the physical click of finger and thumb.
00:23:31The noise actually comes from the finger hitting the palm.
00:23:36The instant film for the first Polaroid cameras didn't have their own coating after taking a photo.
00:23:41To develop it, you applied it yourself.
00:23:44Waiting for it to dry took a long time, so shaking it sped up the process.
00:23:48Then, from the 1970s, the film provided everything required for the photo to develop, making the popular craze of shaking
00:23:56Polaroids pointless.
00:23:58Shaking the photo can cause the ink to wave or blur before drying properly, so you shouldn't actually shake it
00:24:04like a Polaroid picture.
00:24:06And just wait patiently instead.
00:24:09Bug spray doesn't repel all bugs, especially the worst of them all, mosquitoes.
00:24:14It does cover the scent of carbon dioxide, which is what attracts mosquitoes.
00:24:19But the spray only protects you for a short distance.
00:24:23Mosquitoes can also track carbon dioxide over long distances.
00:24:27They will continue to stalk you until they find a gap in your invisible bug shield.
00:24:33A great alternative is lavender, which contains linalool.
00:24:37This fragrance completely overloads the mosquito's senses, making it unable to track you.
00:24:43The half-belt on the back of some jackets appear like a fashion accessory.
00:24:48It was initially designed that way for larger jackets, as they could also be used as a blanket to wrap
00:24:53around oneself.
00:24:55The belt's position helps hold the material together, so it's easier to walk with whilst keeping you warm.
00:25:02Ketchup wasn't originally intended to be your favorite condiment.
00:25:05In 1834, a physician, John Cook, sold ketchup as a cure for indigestion.
00:25:13It was an immediate hit, and today, 10 billion ounces are purchased annually in the USA, although not as the
00:25:20intended medicine.
00:25:23Thomas Edison made over 1,000 inventions, and one in particular, the lightbulb, is most famously linked to him.
00:25:30However, he didn't actually invent it.
00:25:33Warren Delarue, a British chemist, had solved this scientific challenge 40 years earlier.
00:25:39There were also 20 other inventors who made alternate versions before Edison did.
00:25:44But earlier varieties relied on cotton thread and only lasted up to 14 hours.
00:25:50Edison, in 1880, used a carbonized bamboo thread instead, and his worked up to 1,200 hours.
00:25:57It became the most commercially viable lightbulb, and today's ones are similarly shaped to Edison's original.
00:26:05The first treadmill was used in England in 1818.
00:26:09It was a large wooden cylinder with a handrail, although it wasn't used to keep fit.
00:26:15Convicted criminals would be forced to use these for up to 10 hours per day as a punishment.
00:26:21The energy output potential was realized, and soon it was built to work with water pumps and grain grinders.
00:26:28It was so effective that it was used in all prisons throughout the country.
00:26:32But in 1902, it was decided that it was too harsh and stopped.
00:26:37And now, this cruel punishment is mainly found in gyms.
00:26:42During the 1940s, there was a shortage of cocoa, and it was important to find a solution to this problem.
00:26:48A production company found a way by mixing only a small amount of cocoa with hazelnuts and milk,
00:26:54and the original Nutella was created.
00:26:57It started out as a loaf spread, like a stick of butter.
00:27:00It then transformed into a creamier version inside a jar in 1951.
00:27:05But it wasn't until 1964 that it was given its famous name.
00:27:11Your passport might be a dark shade of either green, blue, or red.
00:27:15The darker color not only makes them appear more official,
00:27:19but is intended so that through its journeys, the dirt that's collected is more easily hidden.
00:27:25Wasabi was first used back in the 8th century.
00:27:29It wasn't meant as a spicy condiment as it's served with sushi today.
00:27:33Initially, it was used for its antimicrobial properties
00:27:37that help avoid the harmful reactions to fish with sushi that's a bit too old.
00:27:45Many shirts have two buttons on the cuffs, but only one buttonhole.
00:27:50So what is the second button for?
00:27:53Turns out you can use it whenever you're wearing a watch, so the cuff is looser.
00:27:59Most clothing items you buy come with a small bag of fabric or a button, or both.
00:28:05Buttons obviously can be used as a replacement if you lose the original ones.
00:28:09Pieces of fabric can be used to patch up a hole, but most importantly, it's a tester.
00:28:15You can use it to test different washing products on it and see what happens to the fabric.
00:28:22Some umbrellas have a tip at the top, and it turns out it's not just a pretty design.
00:28:28When going inside on a rainy day, you should just close your umbrella and tap the tip against the floor
00:28:33to drain the water faster and more effectively.
00:28:38Many backpacks have this diamond with two parallel cutout slits on its front,
00:28:43and it's there for your comfort.
00:28:45You can attach something to it, like a water bottle or shoes.
00:28:49It comes especially handy if you travel somewhere or go hiking, so you don't have to hold your stuff.
00:28:57Okay, the next thing is gear loops, and probably from the name of it, you already have an idea what
00:29:02they're there for.
00:29:03You can strap in some useful gear you need to have with you, like trekking poles or shovels.
00:29:09Some gear will need to be secured to do it.
00:29:12Drop the handle through the loop and rotate it upward.
00:29:15Then, secure it with the elastic hook at the top, and you're golden.
00:29:20On the back of many makeup and hygiene products, you can find this symbol with a marking, like 6M, 12M,
00:29:28and 24M.
00:29:30This is the number of months this product can serve after you open it and before you should throw it
00:29:37out.
00:29:38The two sides of a cotton pad are different because each of them has a particular purpose.
00:29:44A cotton pad has several layers to ensure that it's soft, strong, and can absorb liquids.
00:29:50The edge is stitched to hold it all together.
00:29:54The smooth side of a pad is for applying products, like tonics and lotions.
00:29:58And the embossed side is best for cleansing and makeup removal.
00:30:04Also, any pack of cotton pads has those strings on the sides.
00:30:08They're there so you can hang the package somewhere.
00:30:11Then, you can open the package at the bottom, where the perforated line is, and take them out.
00:30:18Did you know that there is an efficient way to pull a thread from yarn?
00:30:22When you pull from the outside, the yarn rolls away, so you need to hold it.
00:30:26However, if you pull it from the center, it will stay together.
00:30:32We're all familiar with staplers, but I bet you don't know all its secrets.
00:30:37Most staplers have a compartment to store spare staples, which can be located either on top or at the bottom.
00:30:44Also, surprise!
00:30:46This metal plate you press staples against can be turned around.
00:30:49This way, the device will be able to staple your documents by turning the metal ends outwards.
00:30:57No need to wonder whether you need to get a smaller or bigger container.
00:31:01Turns out, plastic food containers have volume measurements on their bottoms, indicating how much food they can fit.
00:31:09Ceiling fans come with a small switch on the inside of the blade.
00:31:13You might not have noticed it because it's not in plain sight, so check yours out.
00:31:17This switch allows you to change the direction of rotation.
00:31:21Now, why would you want to do that?
00:31:24The blades of a fan push the air in different directions, depending on the way they rotate.
00:31:29In the summer, you need the air to be pushed down to create the effect of a breeze.
00:31:35In the winter, the direction should be changed so that the air is pushed towards the ceiling.
00:31:41It then heats up before going down the walls.
00:31:46Have you noticed that the gas tank sign on car's dashboards has a little arrow next to it?
00:31:52Well, this arrow has a purpose.
00:31:54It points at the side of the car where the gas tank is located.
00:31:58It's very useful for forgetful people who constantly wonder where their gas tank is,
00:32:03and also for those who drive rentals once in a while.
00:32:06The answer is right in front of your eyes.
00:32:09If you can't find the arrow on your panel, then the fuel hose on the icon indicates the side instead.
00:32:17All car tires have 12-digit numbers printed on them,
00:32:21and they're actually important codes for car owners if they want to get the right tire.
00:32:26The first letter identifies the type of tire.
00:32:29P stands for a tire for light passenger cars, and LT is for heavy vehicles.
00:32:36Then, the following numbers stand for the width of the tire, its radial, and its diameter.
00:32:43Measuring tapes have that metal stud on the end,
00:32:46which you can use to attach the tape to the surface you measure.
00:32:49This way, you don't need to hold it yourself.
00:32:53But there's also a small slot, which can be used to hang the tape on a nail.
00:32:58Again, to free your hands and keep measuring.
00:33:01The bottom of the end of the tape has a ridged edge.
00:33:05It will help you make a mark if you don't have a marking tool with you.
00:33:10On the tape, there are black diamonds that are placed every 19.2 inches.
00:33:15They're useful for construction workers when spacing engineering joists.
00:33:20They can also be useful for you if you want to hang something heavy, for example.
00:33:25The diamond will mark the exact center of a wooden joist.
00:33:29Those are placed 16 inches apart from one another.
00:33:32There, you can drill something to that center
00:33:35to make sure whatever you hang is safely attached to the joist
00:33:39instead of the unreliable thin wall.
00:33:42Pictures will survive,
00:33:43but it's particularly important if you're hanging something heavy.
00:33:47Did you know that batteries have an expiration date?
00:33:51Yes, it's printed right on their label,
00:33:54but I've never noticed it before.
00:33:57The expiration date doesn't mean you can't use it after that.
00:34:00It's more like a recommended usage period,
00:34:04after which the manufacturer can't guarantee full battery life
00:34:08due to deteriorated components.
00:34:13These little feet keyboards have are actually a standard.
00:34:17The height of a keyboard should be adjustable,
00:34:20allowing the angle between 0 degrees and 15 degrees.
00:34:25The reason to fold the feet out
00:34:27is for you to see the keys better,
00:34:30in case you don't type blindly.
00:34:33A little problem that comes with it
00:34:35is that, in this case,
00:34:36your wrists are bent,
00:34:38and it's not good to keep them in this position for a long time.
00:34:44Pans have those holes on the ends of their handles.
00:34:47They're not just there for you to hang them.
00:34:50You can also place your cooking spoon in there.
00:34:53It'll hang right above the pan,
00:34:55and the sauce will not spill around.
00:34:58Make sure to tap off the sauce or food beforehand, though,
00:35:02so that it doesn't go down the spoon's handle.
00:35:07Stickers with numbers you can find on fruits
00:35:10can tell you some information on how the food was grown.
00:35:14A four-digit code that starts with a four
00:35:18means that the fruit was grown conventionally,
00:35:21meaning it contains chemicals and pesticides.
00:35:25So your best choice should be a fruit with a five-digit number.
00:35:29And if you see the number nine,
00:35:32it indicates that the fruit is certified organic.
00:35:37On the bottom of plastic bottles,
00:35:39you can often notice a mark of a triangle
00:35:42with a number engraved in the middle.
00:35:45This number specifies the type of plastic
00:35:48that was used to produce the bottle.
00:35:52These codes help people and local recycling centers
00:35:55to sort returns.
00:35:57Products that were made of plastic of types 1 and 2
00:36:01are the easiest ones to recycle.
00:36:04Plastics of types 3 through 7 are tougher to recycle.
00:36:11If you look at it on the street,
00:36:13you'll think a fire hydrant is about 3 feet in height.
00:36:16But the actual size of the device used to provide water supply
00:36:19to firefighters all over the world is twice as large.
00:36:22That is, if you count the rest of the hydrant,
00:36:24which is hiding underground.
00:36:26They're mostly red,
00:36:27and it's not just a matter of urban design.
00:36:29First of all, they need to be of bright,
00:36:31easily noticeable colors,
00:36:32so firefighters can spot them fast when they need to.
00:36:35The choice of color depends on how much water the hydrant can hold.
00:36:39It can sometimes vary depending on the location,
00:36:42but here's the breakdown.
00:36:43A red fire hydrant can splash 500 gallons of water per minute,
00:36:48while an orange one at least 1,000 gallons.
00:36:52Green ones mostly process 1,500 gallons of water per minute,
00:36:56and the most plentiful ones colored blue
00:36:58can generally contain over 1,500 gallons.
00:37:02Hey bowling fans,
00:37:03isn't it super annoying when your bowling ball gets cracked?
00:37:06Turns out that most of them get damaged
00:37:08because of incorrect storage or spikes in temperature.
00:37:13Now come on and face it,
00:37:14since it's already cracked a bit,
00:37:15aren't you curious what's actually inside the bowling ball?
00:37:18Because I sure am.
00:37:19Let's have a look.
00:37:20They mostly make the inner core of the ball
00:37:22of powdered metal oxides,
00:37:24like calcium or iron oxide.
00:37:26They mix them with some resin and catalyst
00:37:28to harden the whole mixture.
00:37:30So that light bulb shape you now see inside of the ball
00:37:33is actually its heaviest part.
00:37:35It also influences how your bowling ball rotates
00:37:38when going down the lane.
00:37:40The same goes with spray paint cans.
00:37:42When you shake it, it makes a weird noise,
00:37:45but what is that thing in there?
00:37:46It's called a pea,
00:37:48and it's meant to hold the paint mixture in place
00:37:50and maintain its shape.
00:37:52They generally make it out of plastic,
00:37:54metal, or ceramic.
00:37:55It basically acts as a whisk
00:37:57to make sure your paint is well mixed together
00:37:59before you apply it to your surface of choice.
00:38:02Ever wondered how soda bottles
00:38:04keep that refreshing fizz for that long?
00:38:07Well, they have a little plastic ring fastened to the lid.
00:38:10They place it there to keep the gas from escaping
00:38:12and making the soda go flat,
00:38:14even if you shake it around in your bag the whole day.
00:38:18Speaking of things we use on a hot summer's day,
00:38:21wait, wait,
00:38:21don't put your baseball cap on just yet.
00:38:23Take a look at it for a minute,
00:38:25and you'll notice there's a small button
00:38:26on the very top.
00:38:28Is it functional,
00:38:29or is it just there for the sake of design?
00:38:31Way back when people started using fabrics
00:38:33to cover their heads,
00:38:34some say the button was actually functional.
00:38:37Since it's on top of the cap
00:38:39where the fabric panels come together,
00:38:40the top button helps keep the cap crown
00:38:43in one single piece.
00:38:44Now, with recent advances in fabric and pattern design,
00:38:48the button is more of an aesthetic feature.
00:38:50It's used to cover up the joint point
00:38:52of the fabric panels.
00:38:53Your cap might not have a button at all,
00:38:55but don't you think a cap
00:38:56actually looks better with one?
00:38:59Cotton pads have two sides,
00:39:01and if you take the time to look at them carefully,
00:39:03they're actually different in texture.
00:39:05Just in case you've ever wondered why,
00:39:07the textured side is for applying makeup,
00:39:09and the even side is for removing it.
00:39:13Bookworms.
00:39:14This one is for you.
00:39:15Dust jackets that come with a lot of hardcover books
00:39:18are not just meant to make your book look pretty.
00:39:20They also double as a bookmark.
00:39:22Just fold the pages you've already read
00:39:24underneath the inside of the jacket,
00:39:26and voila!
00:39:28Next time you reach out for your favorite shirt,
00:39:30take a look at the top buttonhole.
00:39:32It should be stitched horizontally,
00:39:33and all the other ones are vertical.
00:39:36Turns out that the dress shirt was designed this way,
00:39:39since the first and the last buttons
00:39:40were the first ones to unbutton throughout the day.
00:39:43They then changed the direction of the buttonhole
00:39:46to ensure the shirt would stay nice and fitted
00:39:48before you're ready to take it off.
00:39:51These days we have so many variations of this awesome dessert
00:39:54that it's hard to imagine we've ever lived without it.
00:39:57You can find different types of cookie dough ice cream
00:39:59or even chocolate chip cookie cake basically everywhere,
00:40:02but the famous cookie wasn't actually invented until 1930.
00:40:06The story goes that a woman named Ruth Graves Wakefield
00:40:10was preparing some chocolate cookies
00:40:11as she was waiting for some guests to arrive.
00:40:14She soon figured out she was out of Baker's chocolate,
00:40:16a crucial ingredient for the classic cookies.
00:40:19To fix things up,
00:40:20she chopped up a block of semi-sweet chocolate,
00:40:23thinking it would eventually spread out evenly
00:40:25throughout the batter, given the heat of the oven.
00:40:27Things didn't necessarily go as planned,
00:40:29but hey, it's great they didn't
00:40:31because this is how she invented this modern dessert
00:40:33we now can't get enough of.
00:40:37And speaking of popular snacks,
00:40:38the potato chip is even younger than the chocolate chip cookie.
00:40:42Well, at least historically.
00:40:44There are many stories trying to explain how it was invented.
00:40:47One of them goes like this.
00:40:49A chef named George Crumb, based in New York,
00:40:52put the chips together in 1953.
00:40:55He decided to try a different cooking solution
00:40:57when one of his customers didn't have nice things to say
00:41:00about his French fries.
00:41:02He said they were too thick and kind of mushy.
00:41:05Then, Crumb came up with potatoes
00:41:07that were thinly sliced and fried until brown.
00:41:10People absolutely loved the dish,
00:41:12and they welcomed the first ever batch of chips with open arms.
00:41:17Ice cream, anyone?
00:41:18If the story is true,
00:41:20back in 1904 at the St. Louis World's Fair,
00:41:23one ice cream shop owner ran out of cups to serve his dish.
00:41:26So, he fashioned a waffle into the shape of a cone,
00:41:29and the rest was history.
00:41:32Okay, I'll admit it,
00:41:33chewing gum-like treats have been around since the ancient Greeks.
00:41:36So, this one isn't particularly a revolutionary discovery,
00:41:40but the actual gum we buy today
00:41:41wasn't there until the late 1800s.
00:41:44An American inventor named Thomas Adams
00:41:47wanted to mix together different chemicals to create rubber.
00:41:50He tried and failed, for that matter,
00:41:52to play with Chicle for his experiment,
00:41:54but ended up fashioning this neat treat.
00:41:56They still use Chicle to this day to produce most chewing gums.
00:42:01Back in the 1800s,
00:42:02there lived a man named Jean-Baptiste Jolly,
00:42:05who worked in the fabric industry as a textile maker.
00:42:08How he came up with this next invention that we use a lot these days
00:42:11has less to do with him and more to do with his maid.
00:42:15The story goes that the woman accidentally knocked a kerosene lamp over onto a tablecloth.
00:42:21Instead of getting upset over the damaged fabric,
00:42:23Jolly noticed that the substance actually made the material cleaner.
00:42:27Figured it out yet?
00:42:29Yep, that's how the idea for the very first dry cleaner popped up.
00:42:32A very neat accident, if I do say so myself.
00:42:37Now this one I loved.
00:42:39Did you know matchsticks were initially called friction lights?
00:42:41Or at least that's how their inventor, a chemist named John Walker,
00:42:46called them back in 1826.
00:42:49He scraped a stick coated in chemicals across his hearth,
00:42:52totally by accident one day,
00:42:54and realized that they ignited and created a spark.
00:42:57Initially made out of cardboard,
00:42:59they were then made using wooden splints and sandpaper.
00:43:04Back in the 1940s, a man named Harry Coover
00:43:07stumbled upon a chemical formulation that seemed to stick to everything it touched.
00:43:11The scientific community at the time didn't look much into it
00:43:15as the formula didn't seem to have many applications back then.
00:43:19It wasn't until 1951 that he looked a bit more into the formula
00:43:22and decided to repurpose it,
00:43:24along with a fellow Eastman Kodak researcher named Fred Joyner.
00:43:28They gave it a proper full name.
00:43:30But you must know it by the shorter version.
00:43:33Superglue.
00:43:35It also has many uses in security these days
00:43:38that it's hard to believe that we didn't come up with this one on purpose.
00:43:42Back in 1903, a scientist named Edward Benedictus
00:43:46knocked over a flask by accident.
00:43:48He looked down and was amazed to see that the glassware
00:43:51had just slightly cracked but maintained its shape.
00:43:54He was expecting it to break into a million tiny pieces.
00:43:58Curious about this hidden feature,
00:44:00he looked into it and figured out what was keeping the glass together
00:44:03was a substance coating the inside of the glass.
00:44:06Ta-da!
00:44:07That's how humanity came up with safety glass.
00:44:11The cylinder on the end of a cable is sitting there,
00:44:14useless as it might seem.
00:44:16In fact, this is a ferrite bead
00:44:19that assists with many electrical wires
00:44:22to reduce electromagnetic interference.
00:44:25Electrical wires act like unintentional antennas,
00:44:28broadcasting the EMI.
00:44:32There's a reason why the spinning wheel inside the microwave is circular.
00:44:36A circular object will evenly distribute the heat
00:44:39as opposed to a rectangular and square one.
00:44:42When you place containers of these shapes inside,
00:44:45the energy is focused on the corners,
00:44:47rather than spread evenly like in a round container.
00:44:52The temperature gauge on a toaster is commonly used to determine
00:44:56how crisp you like your toast.
00:44:58But the other, more specific use for the gauge
00:45:00was for the different types of bread.
00:45:03White and sweet types of bread heat up much faster
00:45:07as opposed to heavier brown and rye ones.
00:45:10The older bread is,
00:45:11the more time it will need in a toaster
00:45:13to ensure the golden brown results you're looking for.
00:45:18Most ovens give you the option of leaving the door ajar
00:45:21when broiling a dish inside.
00:45:24You probably think the goal here is to help cool down the oven after use.
00:45:28In reality,
00:45:29its purpose is to focus on cooking the top of the dish
00:45:33and to ensure a crusty layer.
00:45:35Controlling the buildup of heat and steam
00:45:38by releasing it through the slightly ajar door
00:45:41gives you the desired result
00:45:42without cooking the entire dish to a crispy end.
00:45:47You probably have noticed that your dishwasher
00:45:49has specific areas for different types of cutleries and dishware.
00:45:53But all the dishware pieces should be facing towards the center
00:45:57and not all in one direction.
00:45:59What types of foods were on the plates
00:46:01will also determine where they should be located in the racks.
00:46:06As the middle of the machine gets the strongest spray,
00:46:09carb-based stains from tomatoes and potatoes
00:46:12should be placed there.
00:46:14The detergent is more focused on the outside during the clean,
00:46:17creating a waterfall-like cleanse.
00:46:21That's why protein-based stains,
00:46:23like from eggs, for example,
00:46:24should be stacked there.
00:46:28Ceiling fans push cool air down on a hot day,
00:46:31circulating the room.
00:46:33But they can serve you during the winter just as effectively
00:46:35if you flick that switch on the side
00:46:37or use the pulley.
00:46:39So if you want to save some money on heating
00:46:42and try to quickly warm up your room on a cold day,
00:46:45turn the fan on.
00:46:46It will push the air up and spread the warm air around,
00:46:49more effectively warming the room up.
00:46:53Do you still use sticky notes
00:46:55instead of those fancy new apps on all possible gadgets?
00:46:58Welcome to the club.
00:47:00Regardless of what you use them for,
00:47:02they can annoyingly curl up.
00:47:04If you've had this issue,
00:47:05it's because you've peeled them from the bottom upwards.
00:47:08Doing it this way causes the curling.
00:47:11Peeling them from the side will ensure they remain flat,
00:47:14ready to remind you of your daily tasks.
00:47:17Did you know that can openers weren't invented
00:47:20until 50 years after preservation cans
00:47:23had been readily available?
00:47:25So how would it be possible to open a can?
00:47:28There are a couple of alternative methods
00:47:30just in case you've misplaced your trusty opener.
00:47:33All you need is a metal spoon.
00:47:36Set the can down on the counter,
00:47:38hold onto it firmly,
00:47:39and grasp the head of the spoon tightly.
00:47:42Apply pressure and vigorously rub the edge of the can's top
00:47:46over a small area.
00:47:48It takes time,
00:47:49but as you continuously rub,
00:47:50a small indentation soon opens a hole.
00:47:53Once the hole is wide enough for the spoon's tip,
00:47:56pry the lid upwards and keep going along the edges
00:47:59until you can finally access the hard-earned meal within.
00:48:04Most toilets rely on water pressure and gravity to function,
00:48:08so a power outage will not affect them.
00:48:10But if yours does need electricity to function,
00:48:13you must be worried about using it when the power is out.
00:48:17The good news is,
00:48:18the power is only used to fill the toilet
00:48:20and not to flush it.
00:48:21As the flushing mechanism will still work,
00:48:24open the toilet tank and pour in a couple of gallons,
00:48:26and you're free to flush away whatever you need to.
00:48:31Blockages in shower drains occur over a long period of time.
00:48:35It's inevitable.
00:48:36We lose 50 to 100 hairs a day,
00:48:39and many of them will endeavor to reside within our shower drains.
00:48:43Hair only forms the foundations of the blockage,
00:48:46and this attracts the build-up of various other things.
00:48:48A great life hack is to use your vacuum cleaner
00:48:51and put the nozzle in the hole once removing the plug.
00:48:54Apply a wet cloth around the nozzle,
00:48:57ensuring air cannot escape.
00:48:59The vacuum will suck up the blockages a lot easier.
00:49:02This will help avoid any extra costs from plumbers,
00:49:05as they themselves use this technique.
00:49:09To make your candles last longer,
00:49:12trim their wicks multiple times
00:49:13and keep them as far away from water and moist as possible.
00:49:17It will guarantee that your candle's wax stays firm and steady.
00:49:21And continues to burn slower for a longer period of time.
00:49:26The empty space between the panes of the oven door is there for a reason.
00:49:30You can stick a brush in there to clean the oven door glass.
00:49:34It's easy to access this space through the bottom of the door,
00:49:37open the lower shelf,
00:49:39then push the brush through the hole.
00:49:42While you're parking in a garage,
00:49:44you might find it difficult to determine how close to it you need to be.
00:49:48Not all cars have sensors,
00:49:50ensuring you keep the right distance before the bumper makes an indentation on the wall.
00:49:55Applying a rope with a tennis ball from the ceiling at the right distance
00:49:58will help you learn the best distance to park from the wall.
00:50:03We've all been told to loosen a lock with WD-40 or lubricant.
00:50:07Yes, we all know we should have these around the house.
00:50:10But in case you don't,
00:50:12a great alternative is drawing with a gray lead pencil along the edges of the key
00:50:16and then putting it into the lock.
00:50:19Continue doing this until the keyhole has been adequately lubricated
00:50:23and the key functions smoothly.
00:50:26Pliers are prone to damage when you use them to adjust faucets and shower heads
00:50:30and are also difficult to grip.
00:50:33Take a couple of pieces from the end of an old garden hose
00:50:36and attach them to the jaws of the pliers.
00:50:39You'll find a huge improvement with grip and will avoid wear and tear.
00:50:44You can find a good use for discarded rubber for different things around the house.
00:50:49When fed up with tightening or loosening with a screwdriver,
00:50:53try using a simple rubber band.
00:50:55Place part of it into the screw grip
00:50:57and the screwdriver will have far greater traction.
00:51:02Moving cement blocks isn't safe for your lower back.
00:51:05Even with a wheelbarrow,
00:51:06it can be a risky process to place the cement onto the ground without causing damage.
00:51:11Three simple cylinder pipes can make a world of difference,
00:51:15regardless of the size of the block.
00:51:16Try lifting the edge onto the first pipe with a pry bar,
00:51:20then pushing and maneuvering as you gradually direct the three pipes towards the desired location.
00:51:27Just make sure you're not doing this on a slope.
00:51:31That first strike on a nail can be a great success or will result in a throbbing thumb.
00:51:37A bobby pin is perfectly shaped to hold a nail in place,
00:51:41allowing for your hand to be clear out of harm's way
00:51:43and for you to strike the nail without fear.
00:51:47Use a crayon instead of a pen or pencil while working with a wet saw
00:51:52to ensure the markings are not removed.
00:51:54They will also be easier to see under the murky water.
00:52:00Checking the drains on the roof and determining when they need to be cleaned
00:52:03can take a lot of time.
00:52:06Using duct tape, attach a mirror on the end of a long broom
00:52:10and review whether the drains need to be cleaned.
00:52:13To further assist with your balance as you check on the gutters,
00:52:17attach a pair of old trainers to the end of the ladder.
00:52:20The spread of the shoe and its grip will ensure a further level of safety.
00:52:25Liquid caulk normally comes in huge tubes,
00:52:28so you can never use it all at once.
00:52:30The hardened tips of liquid caulk create blockages.
00:52:34Grab a used cork and drill through it to make a perfect lid,
00:52:38concealing the liquid caulk.
00:52:39Now it's ready to be used again with no blockages.
00:52:45You know, there are all sorts of amazing things you can do with products
00:52:49already lying around the house that were meant for other things.
00:52:54We'll explore some of those, plus everyday items that have other purposes
00:52:58you may not be aware of.
00:53:00I'm also in a silly mood, so hey, let's have some fun.
00:53:05Many pairs of kitchen scissors today have a serrated opening
00:53:08where the handles and blades meet.
00:53:10You can use this as an herb stripper to de-stem difficult herbs
00:53:14like thyme, rosemary, and chives.
00:53:17Saves you a lot of time trying to pick the leaves off by hand.
00:53:21And if you're short of a vase,
00:53:23you could present roses to your significant other this way.
00:53:26Just be careful when you're pointing the sharp end.
00:53:30The metal tab on soda cans can be flipped around.
00:53:33You can slip a straw in place so you don't have to hold it up to your mouth.
00:53:37This stay-on tab replaced the pull ring tab created in the early 60s.
00:53:43You remember those, don't you?
00:53:44Those could be quite sharp and easily discarded where they could be a menace for others.
00:53:50Now you can pop your straw straight into one.
00:53:53Also means you can produce some bubbles and make a mess.
00:53:58Sometimes, when you purchase an article of clothing,
00:54:01you receive a plastic baggie with an extra button and a swash of fabric.
00:54:05While the fabric is clearly used to patch holes,
00:54:09it can also be used to test the effects of various cleaners on certain surfaces.
00:54:13It's handy, too, to test wash cycles before using them to wash the whole garment.
00:54:19And if you want to clean your nose with it, that suggestion never came from me.
00:54:25You can use a screwdriver for leverage if you're having trouble lifting or moving something.
00:54:30Some also have a hexagonal-shaped handle that fits inside a wrench or spanner.
00:54:35You can use it to improve torque and, again, for leverage.
00:54:39A little easier on your hands.
00:54:41Some of us aren't that strong.
00:54:43Or maybe that's just me.
00:54:46Rubber bands are great for many things.
00:54:48But if you have a bottle that's hard to open,
00:54:50you can wrap the band around it for a better grip.
00:54:55Escalators have those fluffy black brushes for a similar reason that
00:54:59some have yellow lines on their steps.
00:55:02To try and deter people from getting too close to dangerous places.
00:55:06People don't always take notice.
00:55:08And sometimes, clothing can drape close to a point where the step meets the edge or skirt.
00:55:13The brush is a little barrier to help prevent this from happening.
00:55:17They can also catch bits of fluff and prevent other small things from falling down into the gaps.
00:55:24Your average pair of jeans has several features that are both functional and somewhat sentimental.
00:55:30The meadow rivets around the pockets help secure the stress points.
00:55:35This ensures they last a bit longer than average, though not all jeans have them.
00:55:40Many still have a tiny pocket, directly above the main pocket.
00:55:45This was originally meant to hold a pocket watch.
00:55:48Even though pocket watches are mostly a thing of the past,
00:55:51many people still use this space to store coins, rings, or even a portable USB.
00:55:59Now, this may seem a little obvious, but if you've ever wondered what all the notches are in a car
00:56:04tire,
00:56:05it's for traction on the road.
00:56:07However, there are also a good indicator if your tire is getting too worn down.
00:56:13If those notches aren't so deep anymore, and are almost flush with the road,
00:56:17it's time to replace them.
00:56:19If you don't, the next time you try to stop suddenly at a stop sign,
00:56:23you might be surprised to find your car has turned into a giant roller skate.
00:56:29Those takeaway containers most associated with Chinese restaurants
00:56:33are designed to not only carry your food home, but to store them in the fridge.
00:56:39They double as a plate, as you can eat straight out of them
00:56:42and don't have to worry about dirty dishes.
00:56:45Yay!
00:56:45They were actually patented way back in 1894 to transport freshly shucked oysters
00:56:52and were known as oyster pails.
00:56:54They were later adapted to use as leak-proof containers for food.
00:56:59While you're sitting on an airplane and looking out the window,
00:57:03you may have noticed those little holes,
00:57:05or in some instances, a small singular opening near the bottom.
00:57:09This is called a breather hole, and no, it's not for you.
00:57:13It's designed to equalize the difference in air pressure
00:57:16which builds up between the pressurized cabin and the atmosphere outside,
00:57:21especially during high altitudes.
00:57:23It also releases moisture from between the panes
00:57:27to avoid frost from forming on the windows
00:57:29and obstructing that all-important view.
00:57:32Sorry, but it looks like you won't be drawing a smiley face on it anytime soon.
00:57:38This was first introduced way back in 1956 by a company in Japan.
00:57:42Pretty cool, huh?
00:57:44They got their inspiration from snap-off rows on chocolate bars.
00:57:48Just don't get the two mixed up.
00:57:51One doesn't taste good.
00:57:53When it comes to measuring tape,
00:57:55almost every reel has an empty slot in the metallic end.
00:57:59This is called a nail grab,
00:58:01so you can attach it to a nail or screw.
00:58:04A handy trick to do measurements
00:58:06without requiring someone else to hold it in place.
00:58:09Ooh, very nifty.
00:58:12Bobby pins have grooves on one side
00:58:15to hold your hair in place better.
00:58:17Crazy notion, huh?
00:58:18The straight side goes face up
00:58:20while the grooves go down against your head.
00:58:23They're called bobby pins
00:58:25because of the bobbed hairstyle
00:58:26which was popular in the 1920s,
00:58:29though the pins were invented in the 19th century.
00:58:32The look is gone,
00:58:34but the pins remain.
00:58:35Please take them out before you wash your hair
00:58:38as they don't look great stuck to your fingers.
00:58:41If you've been in a car or a bus
00:58:44and noticed the textured black dots
00:58:46baked into the black edges,
00:58:48you've probably worked out
00:58:49that it's not there for its pretty looks.
00:58:52It's called FRIT, a ceramic paint.
00:58:54It's main purpose is to protect the window
00:58:57from ultraviolet rays.
00:58:59It also creates a rough surface
00:59:01for the adhesive to cling to.
00:59:03Now, if you see a pink lump of adhesive in the corner,
00:59:07please do not touch it.
00:59:09It's actually someone's old bubble gum.
00:59:13If you take a look at the bottom of the lock,
00:59:15chances are you'll see one or two little holes.
00:59:18This is to let water out from the inside
00:59:21that may have been trapped due to rain.
00:59:23This mini-draining capability
00:59:25prevents the inner working from rusting over
00:59:28or freezing in place if the weather is very cold.
00:59:32If, in another situation, the lock becomes stuck,
00:59:35you can ease an oil-based product inside
00:59:38to lubricate the lock and get it working again.
00:59:43If you've lost the key
00:59:44and want to ease your frustrations,
00:59:46you can yell into the holes.
00:59:48It won't do anything to unlock it,
00:59:50but it may help you feel a little better.
00:59:53Some dress shirts have a fabric loop on the back.
00:59:57You guessed it!
00:59:58It's used for hanging the shirt up.
01:00:00The loops were reportedly first used in the Navy,
01:00:03as it was easy to simply hang them on the wall.
01:00:06During the 1960s in colleges,
01:00:09the fashion of the day was to wear the shirt
01:00:11buttoned all the way to the top,
01:00:13which made them difficult to hang.
01:00:15So designers began putting the loop on the back.
01:00:19If the student removed the loop,
01:00:21it signified that they were going steady in a relationship.
01:00:24Unless your friend ripped one off for a prank,
01:00:27now everyone's asking whom you're with.
01:00:30There's a little more to this story,
01:00:32but we haven't got time to hang around.
01:00:35And yes, that's a bad pun.
01:00:37On purpose.
01:00:38It's what I do.
01:00:40Ever wondered why coins have those little ridges along the edge?
01:00:44It's a leftover from earlier times when they were worth more.
01:00:49Counterfeiters could easily file the edges off
01:00:51to sell as gold or silver coins to make some profit.
01:00:55The ridges were created so it was much easier to tell
01:00:58which of the coins had been altered.
01:01:00It's not needed today,
01:01:02but the coins still have that altered style.
01:01:05If you ever get really bored,
01:01:07you could try counting how many ridges there are.
01:01:10Actually, that is a very boring idea.
01:01:13Forget that and watch another Bright Side video instead.
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