- 16 hours ago
Many everyday objects have secret purposes that are smarter than you think. Discover the real functions behind common items you see and use all the time. Learn clever design tricks, hidden features, and surprising reasons they were made this way. After watching, you’ll never look at these objects the same again.
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FunTranscript
00:00So, elevator buttons sometimes feature a star symbol or even a minus sign.
00:05The star usually identifies the floor with the main entrance or an emergency exit, often the ground floor or lobby.
00:12This is particularly useful for visually impaired passengers and is even mandatory in some places.
00:18Usually, the star is found on the ground floor button, but in some elevator designs, the labels are placed differently.
00:25The minus sign generally marks the basement level.
00:29Many truck beds have small recessed slots along the sides.
00:33These allow you to place 2x6 wooden boards across to create sections, keeping items from sliding around.
00:40People who never notice this feature often complain about cargo rolling all the way to the bed, unaware that the
00:46bed already allows for simple built-in divines.
00:50Some digital services have clever hidden features.
00:53On Spotify, for instance, there is a playlist collection created with Barilla that times your pasta cooking perfectly.
01:01Different pasta types even have playlists for different lengths.
01:06Netflix also has a dedicated fitness category where you can stream workout sessions.
01:12Marmite jars may look round, but they actually have flat sides.
01:16When the jar is almost empty, it's better to store it on its side.
01:20This design makes it easier to scoop out the spread and ensures you use up nearly every last bit.
01:27The standard calculator on some iPhones hides a scientific function.
01:31Simply rotate your phone while the calculator is open and the advanced version appears.
01:36If you make a mistake entering numbers – I never do, but you might – just swipe left across the
01:42screen to delete the most recent digit.
01:44Now, if you find your iPhone flashlight too dim or too strong, press and hold the flashlight icon.
01:52This reveals a brightness control slider that you can easily adjust the level of light to suit your needs.
01:58The tick-tock container isn't only a storage box.
02:01Its cap has a small groove that is designed to dispense a single mint at a time.
02:06Instead of shaking out a whole bunch, you can use the cap to get exactly one.
02:12That extra tray inside a rice cooker has more uses than many expect.
02:17Instead of just being for rice, it's actually a steaming basket.
02:21You can use it for vegetables, fish, or other foods.
02:24People often steam broccoli or carrots this way.
02:28Coffee shop takeaway cups may all look the same, but their shape serves several purposes.
02:33The top part is wider, making space for your nose as you drink,
02:37while the bottom is narrower, so even small hands can get a good grip.
02:41The design also allows the cups to be stacked efficiently.
02:46Now, a pizza box can be much more versatile than it seems.
02:50If you're eating alone, place the lid across your chest as you eat to catch crumbs and toppings before they
02:56drop on your clothes.
02:57Hey, now they tell me.
02:58The lid can also be torn into four to make makeshift plates.
03:02And if you have leftovers, you can refold part of the box inward to create a smaller container for storage.
03:10An old pillowcase can be repurposed into a wash bag for delicates.
03:15Simply place your underwear, stockings, or slips inside.
03:18For best results, turn the opening into a drawstring by folding, hemming, and threading a cord through it.
03:24Tighten the drawstring before washing, and your delicates will be protected inside the machine.
03:30Now, if you ever forget your cutlery at a picnic, dental floss can help.
03:35Plain, unflavored floss cuts smoothly through foods like banana bread or soft cheeses, often giving cleaner slices than a knife.
03:43Go figure.
03:44Toothpicks can also act as small substitutes for forks when serving finger foods.
03:50Glasses or sunglasses with frames that feel unusually flexible are built that way on purpose.
03:56This elasticity makes them more comfortable to wear, and help prevent the frames from breaking or getting loose too quickly.
04:04The mesh bags that oranges or onions are sold in don't need to go straight into the trash.
04:10Instead, tie them up and use them as handy scrubbers for pots, pans, and kitchen surfaces.
04:15They're surprisingly effective for cleaning.
04:18Now, Ritz crackers have scalloped edges that are functional as well as decorative.
04:23You can actually roll the edge across slices of cheese, cutting them down to perfect size to fit neatly on
04:29the cracker.
04:30Wow.
04:32Kitchen shears often include a small serrated notch where the blades meet the handles.
04:36This design allows you to strip herbs like thyme, rosemary, and chives quickly and cleanly, saving the trouble of picking
04:44leaves by hand.
04:46Plastic milk jugs usually have a concave section in their design.
04:50This isn't just for looks.
04:52It makes room for expansion.
04:54When milk spoils, gases build up inside the container, pushing the concave area outward instead of bursting the jug.
05:01The same thing happens if milk is frozen, since it expands as it solidifies.
05:06Alright.
05:07Grocery carts often have a loop built into them.
05:09It's intended for lightweight items like jackets or bags, keeping them separate from your groceries so they don't get mixed
05:16in with food.
05:17Packs of cotton pads often come with two convenient features.
05:21The strings can be used to hang the package on a hook, keeping the pads easy to reach.
05:26And instead of untying the strings every time, look at the bottom.
05:30There's usually a perforated line.
05:32Tear it open once, and you can pull pads out whenever you need them.
05:37There's a simple trick to get salt or pepper to pour out smoothly.
05:40Take one shaker, flip it upside down, and notice the ridges on its base.
05:45Then, rub it against the ridges of another shaker.
05:48The vibrations created by the friction will make the salt or pepper flow out more easily.
05:55Most headphones, whether wired or wireless, have tiny holes built into them.
05:59These are not design flaws.
06:01They allow airflow, which is essential for balanced sound quality.
06:05By letting the ear circulate, the headphones can produce clearer, more natural audio.
06:11Stick-pack sachets are designed to be opened in a clever way.
06:15Instead of tearing one edge, the intended method is to tear down the middle.
06:19While it might seem like a small detail, opening them this way reduces mess and avoids bits of torn paper
06:25getting everywhere.
06:27Double zippers on backpacks or bags aren't just for convenience.
06:31They can act as a theft deterrent.
06:33If you align the zippers together, you can secure them with a small lock, making it harder for pickpockets to
06:39access your belongings.
06:41As for the tiny fifth pocket in jeans, it was originally designed to hold pocket watches, but it can also
06:47serve as a good hiding spot for the key.
06:50That small cylindrical lump on your computer or laptop charger cable might seem annoying when it snags on things, but
06:58it actually serves a valuable purpose.
07:00Ferrite beads prevent electromagnetic interference in two directions, from a device or to a device.
07:06The bead prevents the cable from acting as an antenna and receiving interference from these other devices.
07:13This is particularly common on data cables.
07:15Those on the charger cable reduce electromagnetic interference coming from this cable.
07:21Public restroom stalls often had large gaps at the bottom of the doors.
07:26While it may seem like a privacy issue, these gaps exist for practical reasons.
07:30They encourage people to use the restroom more quickly, helping keep lines shorter, and they also make it easier to
07:36check if someone inside needs assistance in case of an emergency.
07:42Now, many ointment tubes come sealed with foil or plastic film, which can be frustrating to open with your fingernails.
07:49That little point built into the top of the cap is there to puncture the seal quickly and cleanly.
07:55Smart!
07:56Some automatic lip liners and eye pencils include a hidden sharpener.
08:01Check the bottom cap of the pencil.
08:03It not only shows the product's color, but can also be removed to reveal a small sharpener inside.
08:10Certain toothpicks come with grooves that aren't just decorative.
08:14The first groove is intentionally weaker, allowing you to snap the toothpick in half.
08:19The smaller piece, often with another groove, can then be used as a stand to keep the pointed end from
08:24touching the table surface.
08:27All the bottles used to be of the same green color once, but later it was discovered that brown ones
08:33are way better at blocking UV light.
08:35Ooh, say no more.
08:38Last but not least, those wild patterns you see on a bus seat are there for a reason.
08:44They're meant to hide dirt.
08:45I mean, you can see for yourself.
08:47It's obviously easier to conceal that crazy smear of dirt if there's a pattern.
08:54Metal buttons on jeans, also known as rivets, helped make the pockets more durable when miners would fill them with
09:00heavy tools.
09:01They're still helpful today, even if you don't store anything heavy in your pockets.
09:06Rivets strengthen the seams and make your jeans last longer.
09:10These tiny ridges on the letters F and J on a keyboard help us find the correct keys while touch
09:16typing.
09:17Also, since they're located in the center, they indicate the optimum position for typing.
09:23By the way, QWERTY was invented back in the early 1870s, and before that, the first keyboards were piano-like,
09:29with two rows of characters in alphabetical order.
09:33Don't blame that little lump on your computer cable for irritating you when it gets stuck somewhere for the umpteenth
09:38time.
09:39This cylinder, shapes and colors may vary, actually helps prevent interference from other signals, like those your phone emits.
09:47A hole in the handle of pots and even frying pans is designed as a holder for spoons if it's
09:53large enough.
09:54This way, sauce or whatever you stir drops back into the pan, and there's no more mess in the kitchen.
10:00As for handles, jerry cans have three of them.
10:03It's a smart designer move, so when you carry it alone, you use only the central handle to distribute the
10:09weight evenly.
10:09But your friend wants to help you out.
10:12Each of you grabs the side handle.
10:15A lack of privacy in public bathrooms, I mean that significant gap beneath where standard doors tend to be, is
10:22there for a reason.
10:23This way, people do their business faster, and there are fewer lines.
10:27Also, if something goes wrong, it's easy to find a person who needs help.
10:32In London, some poles kind of look like street lamps, but there are no bulbs.
10:37Well, their official name is stink pipes.
10:40And they're a thing of the past now, but they used to come in handy back in the nineteenth century.
10:45These hollow poles would take the air and explosive gases with bad smells up to prevent unwanted consequences.
10:52Books are printed on large sheets, so one sheet can fit in four printed pages.
10:58If a book has an odd quantity of printed pages, chances are you'll get a blank one for notes or
11:03the author's signature.
11:06Toothbrush bristles have two secret features.
11:08First, they fade over time.
11:10So when it gets less bright, you gotta buy a new one.
11:14Also, the bristles vary in length, and longer ones on one end can help clean the back teeth better.
11:22Toothpaste stripes aren't more than a marketing trick.
11:24In the 70s, a leading toothpaste brand introduced a blue stripe, claiming their toothpaste had double action.
11:31Solid white toothpaste has the same functions, though.
11:35Originally, golf balls were smooth.
11:37They have a dimpled surface now because players noticed that overused balls with damages flew better than brand new ones.
11:44At some point, manufacturers started producing balls with dimples.
11:50Windshield black dots, or fritz, help dispense the sun glaring right into your eyes.
11:55This frame keeps the UV rays away and helps the glass heat up evenly, so it's sort of sunglasses for
12:01your car.
12:02The tab on the rearview mirror wasn't meant to hold your air freshener.
12:06It's a tumbler between day and night mode.
12:08It keeps the glare from other cars at bay, so you can't be distracted by headlights behind you.
12:15Colored dots on chip bags help manufacturers control the package color and show what ink color was used on the
12:21package.
12:21No big deal.
12:24Your microwave probably has a silence mode.
12:27Press 1 or 0 and hold.
12:29It might work.
12:31Also, there is sometimes a mute button you kept ignoring all this time.
12:35Anyway, there are no two identical microwaves, so a manual should come in handy.
12:42Grocery cart loops help organize all the stuff in your cart better so you can enjoy your supermarket trip.
12:48You don't want to put your brand new fancy white jacket in a cart next to carrots and onions, huh?
12:54Fruit stickers know everything about your apple's past.
12:57A five-digit number where the first number is nine is a good sign.
13:01It's an organic product.
13:02A four-digit number starting with three or four means it was conventionally farmed.
13:07If the number starts with an eight and there are five digits, it's best to leave it on the shelf.
13:15Automatic lip liners and eye pencils have a sharpener installed in the package.
13:19The lid on the back part of the pencil doesn't only reveal the color.
13:22You can pull it out and sharpen up the product.
13:26If you don't feel like peeling an orange, cut it on top and bottom.
13:30Make a slit on a side and just pull it open.
13:35Toothpicks sometimes have several grooves and the section with grooves is a makeshift holder.
13:40It's easy to break the toothpick into two parts.
13:43The smaller one with the groove can be used to avoid contact with the table.
13:47You can also make a makeshift stand for disposable sushi sticks.
13:51They have a sort of lump at one side before you split the pair.
13:55Break that lump off and when you want to take a sushi break, just place the stick on this stand.
14:01Most tubes are usually sealed with plastic film or foil and opening it with your fingernails isn't the best idea.
14:09A point on the ointment tab easily opens even the most safely sealed tube.
14:15A dinner jacket has small pockets above regular ones.
14:18They're called ticket pockets and gentlemen wearing such jackets can quickly pull the tickets before getting on a train.
14:25Yeah, you've heard before that a drawer beneath your oven is there for keeping the food warm if the guests
14:30are running late.
14:31Hey, you can also slow cook on lower temperatures in that drawer.
14:36All the bottles used to be of the same green color ones, but it turns out brown ones are way
14:41better at blocking UV light.
14:43Say no more.
14:45A dollar has its secrets too.
14:48A large letter with a rim shows which bank is responsible for issuing this bill.
14:53Twelve different Federal Reserve banks print all the money, so if you want to know where your money comes from,
14:58just look for these small codes.
15:00A1, Boston, B2, New York, C3, Philadelphia, D4, Cleveland, E5, Richmond, F6, Atlanta, G7, Chicago, H8, St. Louis, I9, Minneapolis,
15:22J10, Kansas City, K11, Dallas, 1112, San Francisco.
15:32Rough edges on the dimes aren't just about design.
15:35The weight of coins made of precious metal was used to show the coin's actual value.
15:40People would shave off the edges, spending the shaving coins with the same value, and melt the edges to make
15:46new coins.
15:47To avoid it, the minter added that pattern so people could tell if a coin was cut.
15:54Small dimples on the bottom of some cups keep them in place on wet surfaces, and it doesn't let the
15:59excess water accumulate while it's in a dishwasher.
16:03To enjoy fresh and soft peanut butter, store it upside down.
16:07This way, the oils don't stay on the bottom all the time and distribute evenly in the jar.
16:13Bath foam has a sort of thermoregulatory function.
16:16The bubbles keep the water hot so that you can enjoy your bath a bit longer.
16:21Disclaimer, it works for acrylic bathtubs only.
16:24Those made of metal lose heat rather fast, no matter how much foam you make.
16:29A doorknob made of brass, bronze, and some copper alloys has an anti-germ effect because of its metal properties.
16:36A small V-patch right at the bottom of the collar helps put on the sweater without losing any shape
16:41over time because it's made of a double layer of webbing material, just like waistbands and cuffs.
16:47To avoid spilling juice right onto your t-shirt, try pouring it from the other side of the carton.
16:53This way, it sloshes less and it's easy to control.
16:58Triangular flaps on small juice cartons can help control unwanted spillage too.
17:02If you flip them and use them as handles for the carton, you won't press the package, so the juice
17:07won't be squeezed uncontrollably.
17:09All the disposable cups look the same.
17:12The secret here is the special shape that lets you enjoy your drink easily.
17:16The top is always wider for the nose to fit in while you're drinking, and the bottom is always narrower
17:21so anyone can hold it, even if the hand is small.
17:25Also, the width difference allows the cups to stack.
17:29You can use a mason jar directly onto the blender with a screw on top and make any shake you
17:34want without having to wash the blender jar.
17:36The only rule is to not put your device on max.
17:40There is no need to tear one of its edges on stick sachets.
17:44The right way is to tear them down the middle.
17:46You may say it's not a big difference, but at least there's less mess with those torn paper bits.
17:52Two zips for one section can be an excellent pickpocket proof.
17:56You can put on a small lock on those zippers and make sure no one but you can open your
18:00backpack.
18:02If something got stuck in your teeth, it could be hard to have perfect results with loose floss.
18:07To increase the tension, tie it in a knot.
18:10With increased tension, you'll get rid of that basil between your teeth in no time.
18:15A tiny hole on the bottom of a padlock is there to drain water to help avoid corrosion.
18:20Plus, it's the most convenient place to lubricate a padlock.
18:24A drop of oil in there will make it open and close easier.
18:28A tiny plastic disc under a bottle lid is what makes soda sparkling.
18:33While the lid keeps the liquid inside, this plastic disc holds the gases inside.
18:38Without it, it would just be sweet water.
18:41It's a myth that the red side of the eraser is for pencil and the blue one is for ink.
18:45The blue one gets rid of mistakes on thicker types of paper only.
18:49It works both for pencil and even ink.
18:51But make sure the paper is really thick.
18:55But that blue little thing can do so much more.
18:57It can polish your jewelry, clean your electronics, for example, the screen of your cell phone.
19:02You know those irritating sticker residues that won't peel off?
19:05Eraser helps there too.
19:06So as with cleaning scuffed up suede or dirt you have on your walls.
19:11Glass bottles usually have a kind of indent on the bottom called a punt.
19:16It's handy for those who pour drinks in the glass.
19:19The bottle won't slip from the hands like this.
19:22A cotton pads pack has those strings on it to hang on some hook or holder.
19:26There is no need to untighten and tighten the pack again.
19:29Look at the bottom.
19:31It has a perforated line.
19:32Tear along it and just pull out a cotton pad from a hanging pack.
19:37If you lick a Nintendo cartridge, you'll notice they leave a revolting, sour, bitterish aftertaste in your mouth.
19:43They're covered with denotonium benzoate, aka one of the most disgusting flavors.
19:48It prevents people from swallowing those cartridges.
19:52Bottles have long necks for a reason.
19:54Hold the neck, not the bottle if you want to enjoy a cold drink.
19:58The same goes for fancy glasses.
20:01Their stem saves any drink from overheating.
20:03So hold it right.
20:06A button on the reverse side of a shirt collar is needed to hold a tie in place.
20:10Anyway, slim ties, which this button was designed for, are not that popular today.
20:16So this button is only an element of design.
20:19All running shoes have an anti-blister system pre-installed.
20:23It's the extra hole on top of your sneakers.
20:26Make a loop with this hole, inserting the lace in backwards.
20:29Cross the laces and insert them into the loops.
20:32Then pull the laces down, creating a kind of lock.
20:35Some people like to hide the laces under the soles to make them totally invisible.
20:41Women's shirts oddly have buttons on the left because some women used to have maids who would help them dress
20:46up.
20:47It was convenient for maids to button the shirts with the button on the left.
20:52Silica gel can often be found in different things you buy, like bags, shoes, and many others.
20:58It's meant to absorb excess moisture.
21:00So anytime your shoes are a bit wet, just throw in a sachet with silica gel.
21:05You are probably using shampoo wrong all the time.
21:09Well, the main thing you should know is that you don't apply it directly on your hair.
21:13You gotta apply it onto the roots only.
21:16The foam that you make is enough to clean your hair.
21:19Notebook margins were invented to protect people's notes.
21:23People used to co-live with rats, and those rodents nibbled on paper pretty often.
21:28Still, they weren't able to gnaw on more than the space left on the margins.
21:32Red cups you saw at parties can measure liquids.
21:35The bottom line equals 1 ounce, the second line equals 5 ounce, and the third line equals 12 ounces.
21:44Detachable headrests in cars are all about safety.
21:47If you pull it out of a seat, you'll see two pretty sturdy bars.
21:50If you ever get locked or trapped in a car, you can get out of there smashing the window with
21:55these bars.
21:58A little arrow next to the refueling indicator on the car's dashboard indicates which side of the vehicle has fuel
22:04tank openings.
22:05It's useful when you need to refuel a rented car.
22:10Roadside rumble strips come in handy if someone wants to drive at night, since they prevent falling asleep.
22:15Whenever a car bumps into these strips, the driver feels vibration and hears quite a loud noise.
22:21So the driver can't help but wake up instantly.
22:25Rings used to be more than a stylish accessory.
22:28The nobility used rings as a seal.
22:31Archers wore rings to protect their fingers from bowstring injuries, while needlewomen from needle pricks.
22:38As for rings, three rings on a phone jack are not part of the design.
22:42They represent different functions.
22:44If your audio jack has three of them, it means your device can produce stereo sound and your earphones have
22:49the microphone function.
22:51Kings depicted on playing cards are real historical characters.
22:55Spades
22:56King David
22:58Clubs
22:58Alexander the Great
23:00Hearts
23:01Charles the Great
23:03Diamonds
23:03Julius Caesar
23:05We tore off post-it notes incorrectly all this time.
23:09If you tear them off from below, they will stick off before long.
23:13But if you tear them off on the side, along the sticky line, it will hold on to the wall
23:18much longer.
23:20A lint roller is good at removing those tiny fibers, but you can also use it to clean other stuff.
23:26For example, when you want to remove the dirt from the utensil tray in your dishwasher, simply take your sticky
23:32lint roller and put it into each compartment.
23:34And all crumbs, dirt and leftovers, they're all gone.
23:39There's a number put on the side of many cosmetic products.
23:42It isn't picked randomly.
23:43It tells you how long your product will last after you've opened it.
23:47Here's why it has an open jar for a graphic symbol.
23:51If you prefer to buy the milk in those plastic containers, you've probably seen those big circles on the side.
23:57These circles absorb the shock if you drop the milk on the floor, and also give some extra room so
24:03the container can expand.
24:04That's how you can see if the milk's turned bad without tasting it.
24:08It's sometimes irritating when you see you haven't used the entire stick of deodorant.
24:13There's a little bit more left, but it's hard to reach it.
24:16Okay, the trick is easy.
24:18Unscrew the bottom, take a pencil, and force it underneath that moving platform.
24:22That way, you'll push what's left of deodorant out.
24:26Two flat prongs you can see on standard plugs used in North and Central America make sense.
24:32But how about those holes near the tips?
24:34Thanks to them, the outlet firmly grips the plug so that it won't loosen or fall out of the socket.
24:40The second thing about the holes is that they allow you to wire electric power directly to the prongs,
24:45so you don't even have to use classical electrical outlets.
24:49So, if you need to get electrical power via direct wires,
24:52yep, the holes we got over there make the entire job much easier.
24:58Airplane windows have little holes too,
25:00and they're one of the essential features for a plane to fly safely.
25:04They protect people from outside pressure
25:06and generally balance the pressure on the windows when the plane takes off.
25:11A pasta spoon has a hole in its handle,
25:13which can definitely be helpful when you grab pasta and want to let water drain out.
25:18However, it also comes as a good measuring tool since the hole fits around one serving of pasta.
25:24If you take a box of aluminum foil, you'll see tabs you can press on the side.
25:28They keep the foil straight and prevent it from rolling.
25:31It's also easier to tear off some amount of foil thanks to those tabs.
25:37Sometimes, things have a specific purpose, but you can always give them more rolls.
25:41For instance, if you want to eat some applesauce, but you don't have a spoon,
25:45just take the lid, twist the end to turn it into a handle, and make a scoop.
25:50Yum!
25:52You can train finger agility by catching noodles and rice with chopsticks
25:57from the corners of the Asian food boxes.
25:59Or you can expand the box and then it will become a plate.
26:03According to one theory,
26:06funny fluffy hat balls appeared in the 18th century on the caps of French sailors.
26:10They were tired of banging their heads against low ship ceilings and ledges
26:14and had created these pom-poms.
26:17Trailers used to be shown not before movies, but after.
26:21Just think about how it's called.
26:23The word trailer means trailer to something.
26:26To a car, for example.
26:29Wood hangers still occupy a large part of the market
26:32because cedar wood, which hangers are made of,
26:35contains natural oils which repel moths, thereby preserving your things.
26:41To see if the boiled egg was fresh or not, just peel it.
26:44The more difficult it is to clean, the fresher it is.
26:47There's one more egg trick.
26:49Try twisting it.
26:50If an egg spins steadily, it's boiled.
26:52If it spins slowly or not spin at all, it's raw.
26:57So, making a mistake with a pencil is easy to fix.
27:01You just use the pink side, right?
27:03And with ink, you just flip the eraser and use the blue part.
27:07Wrong.
27:07And you just wrecked a perfectly good piece of paper.
27:10That's because the blue part is actually also for pencil.
27:14Mind blown.
27:16The blue side of the eraser is for erasing mistakes on thicker paper,
27:20where the softer pink side just can't get the job done.
27:24A vegetable peeler isn't just for potatoes or carrots.
27:28You can use it to shave off thin slices of onion.
27:31Hey, I just saved you time, stress, and a whole bunch of tears.
27:36It's also good for cutting perfect thin slices of cheese.
27:40Everything is better with cheese.
27:42The diagonal leather patch on backpacks isn't just for decoration.
27:47It's there to hold your nasty shoes.
27:51Backpacks are made for the outdoors, with pockets to hold water bottles, pens, maps, coins,
27:56and maybe even tiny dogs.
27:58So, it makes sense to tie up your muddy shoes on the outside of your bag.
28:04Placing a wooden spoon across the top of a pot of pasta can stop it from turning into a volcano
28:10situation.
28:11The bubbles get all confused when they come into contact with the spoon's water-repelling surface.
28:17And they retreat back into the pot, victory!
28:20Less mess and more pasta!
28:23If you're pre-rinsing your dishes like you were told to, you might be getting worse results from your dishwasher.
28:30Most modern dishwashers have sensors inside them to sense how dirty your plates are.
28:36Then they unleash a controlled jet of water to get all of that stuff off.
28:41Scrape any solid food into your compost bin and stack them up properly.
28:46Let the dishwasher do the hard work.
28:49Dropping an open juice box can turn a relaxing sundae into a day of cleaning up a sticky mess.
28:55The manufacturers know how you feel and how clumsy you can be.
28:59That's why they put little handles on the cartons.
29:02Flip up the flaps at the top of the juice box.
29:05Okay, now you can totally space out.
29:09Blenders are designed to have the liquids put in first.
29:12To make the perfect smoothie, add your milk, coconut water, yogurt, or whatever you use in first.
29:19Then your berries and spinach and whatever.
29:22You can thank me later.
29:24You're welcome.
29:25Ever pull the foil lid off a pudding or one of those mini applesauce things and realize you don't have
29:32a spoon with you?
29:34Don't worry, there's a trick for that hidden in the foil.
29:37Give it a little fold and it's good to go.
29:40Now, it's not really a spoon, more of a mini shovel, but it gets the job done.
29:46Or you can use your fingers instead.
29:49No.
29:50No more sacrificing your fingernail on that key ring your friend got you in Cabo.
29:56For a frustration-free way to add a new key to your ring,
30:00grab a staple remover and wedge its teeth between the coils.
30:04Create even more space by pressing down.
30:07Now, there's no need to cry over spilled milk.
30:11Pouring milk out of a carton can sometimes lead to messy accidents.
30:15Unless you use this simple trick.
30:18Turn the carton around and pour it out that way.
30:21What?
30:22It may seem weird, but once you try it, you'll never go back.
30:27Have you ever tried to pull out a square of plastic wrap
30:30only to have the whole roll jump out of the box in excitement?
30:34Not anymore.
30:36There's little cardboard tabs on the sides to hold the tube in place,
30:41making it easy to glide the film out.
30:44Just push them in and never be frustrated again.
30:48Never!
30:49Using a plunger on a clogged kitchen sink or toilet can be annoying.
30:53But have you really got the right tool for the job?
30:57One is the standard bowl-shaped rubber head.
31:00This is perfect for flat surfaces like a sink or a tub.
31:04The other one has a narrower head on it, specifically designed for toilet pipes.
31:10Having a cold drink on a hot summer's day is so refreshing.
31:14But what do you do if your soda bottle is still warm?
31:18Cry?
31:19The always handy paper towel is here to save the day.
31:23Wet the towel, wrap it around the bottle, and place it in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes.
31:29Presto!
31:30A nice cold beverage.
31:32When you look at a check and see MP near the signature line,
31:36it means the check printer used micro-print as an extra security feature.
31:41To the untrained eye, it looks like a normal line.
31:45Tricky stuff.
31:46Elevators have many tricks up their sleeves.
31:49Not that they actually wear coats or anything.
31:52Pressing the floor button twice to turn it off?
31:55Holding the closed door button and your floor together to get an express ride?
32:00Does that actually work?
32:02But what about that secret hole in the outside door?
32:05Is someone looking in on your bored, resting elevator face?
32:09As cool as that would be, it's only for maintenance people to open the elevator and fix any problems.
32:16Cutting cherry tomatoes can be extremely boring, one tomato at a time.
32:21Surely there's a quicker way to do this.
32:24Well, try placing a bunch of them between two plates.
32:28Slice in between and enjoy perfectly cut cherry tomato halves.
32:33The colored tags used to seal bread tell you which day of the week the bread was baked on.
32:39Who would have guessed?
32:41The coating makes it easier for shops to remove older loaves from the shelves.
32:46But bread tags can do more than keep your favorite loaf sealed.
32:51Grabbing the right cord from behind the TV is all about luck.
32:55Until now.
32:55Use the old bread tags as indicators to quickly find the cord you want.
33:02Look at some of those loose coins in your jar by the door.
33:05Notice those ridges?
33:07Back in the 18th century, people would file coins down, round up the shavings, and mint their own coins later.
33:15To stop this, the US Mint decided to put ridges on the coins to show if they'd been tampered with.
33:20Now, it's just tradition.
33:24The indent at the bottom of wine bottles is called a punt.
33:28The punt makes the wine bottles stronger.
33:30So if they're dropped, the cork won't fly across the room with all that pressure.
33:35Now, takeaway sodas have a built-in coaster.
33:38Where, you might ask?
33:40The lid, of course.
33:42Place the lid down on a table under your drink to avoid any of those annoying condensation rings.
33:49Wooden hangers aren't just great for the environment.
33:51They'll save your clothes, too.
33:53If you have pine or cedar hangers laying around, keep them in the closet with all the others.
33:59The secret behind wooden hangers is that they'll keep moths off your clothes and make them smell fresh, too.
34:06Only a few people know the secret of getting your to-go ketchup out of the bottle without wasting any.
34:12So, tap that number 57 sweet spot to get a perfect, what's-the-word, dollop.
34:19Don't waste your strawberries by cutting off the top.
34:22Use a straw and push through from the bottom of the strawberry.
34:27Now, enjoy a tasty cylinder of strawberry goodness.
34:30Just don't eat the leaves.
34:32The brushes on the sides of escalators aren't for cleaning your shoes.
34:37But they do do a great job.
34:39The nylon brushes stop us from getting caught on the side of the escalator by tickling our ankles.
34:45Interesting trick!
34:47Many screwdrivers can be used with a wrench to create more torque.
34:52Just place the wrench over the handle of the screwdriver and you'll use a lot less force than you would
34:57have before.
34:58It also makes it easier to get to those hard-to-reach areas.
35:02Flip any Tupperware container over and you'll likely see a few symbols.
35:07These are to show you if they're dishwasher-safe, if they can be microwaved or frozen, and how to recycle
35:14them.
35:15So, it turns out we've been opening bananas wrong for way too long.
35:19Instead of opening up at the stem, turn them upside down and peel from the bottom.
35:25It opens much easier that way.
35:28That's how monkeys eat them.
35:29So, how do we get it so wrong?
35:33Analog watches can do much more than tell time.
35:36If you need to step away from your computer a bunch of times, but don't want to have to keep
35:40logging back in,
35:42place your mouse over the top of your analog watch.
35:45The mouse will read the ticking second hand and keep your computer screen from turning black.
35:52Extension cords can easily frustrate anyone.
35:55Just as you start getting into a rhythm, the power cuts out.
35:59The best way to avoid this is simple.
36:01Builders use this trick all the time.
36:03Tie the ends together, and they'll never disconnect again.
36:08Keychain bottle openers aren't just for kids, you know.
36:12On the underside, there's a thing you can use to open a can as well.
36:16This works especially well if you don't have nails or don't want them broken.
36:21Back in the day, pizza for dinner was like winning the lottery, only with more cheese.
36:26But did you ever notice that plastic stopper in the middle of the box, stopping the lid from touching the
36:33pizza?
36:33It also has another use.
36:36Use this little stopper to hold down the slice next to yours when you're getting it out of the box.
36:42Yeah, you can thank me later.
36:43That square of fabric isn't meant for repairing holes in your clothing, although might as well keep it just in
36:51case.
36:51It's actually a tester for your washing machine and detergent.
36:55If the fabric square comes out of the cycle okay, then wash away.
37:00But be honest, how many people do you think have really ever done this?
37:05I'm guessing not many.
37:08So get this, an extra hole at the upper part of the sink has multiple hidden functions.
37:14First, in case someone forgets to close the tap, the water won't overflow and the bathroom won't get flooded.
37:21Second, thanks to that hole, the water drains faster as it gives an escape for the air helping the water
37:26flow down.
37:28Those two holes on the side of any Converse shoe are not there only to let the stinky air out.
37:34Sure, breathability is important for any athlete.
37:37But the second reason is that athletes lace through those holes to get a better grip.
37:42Donuts have a hole in the middle, and it doesn't stand for O in donut.
37:46It's not designed for an easier grip either, although it can be quite convenient.
37:51It's actually made this way for mass baking, so that they cook all the way through evenly.
37:57Most metallic zippers have a hidden lock inside them to save you from awkward situations, such as an undone fly.
38:04Oh boy.
38:05Don't leave the zipper handle in an upward position.
38:08When you pull it downwards, it automatically locks.
38:11It's all thanks to those tiny grooves hidden underneath the handle.
38:16Almost any public toilet has a large gap between the floor and the door.
38:21The reason for such a zero-privacy thing is to actually minimize the level of privacy and comfort,
38:27so that people wouldn't stay there long and there'd be no lines.
38:31It's also easier to clean and safer if some emergency occurs.
38:36Spoiled milk emits gases, like most foods when they go bad.
38:40A classic plastic milk jug has a concave shape on one side.
38:44So when the gases expand inside the jug, it expands too, and the concave shape curves out.
38:51Also, if you want to save some milk for later and freeze it,
38:54the jug will expand when the milk gets solid as well, occupying more space in a jug.
39:01Headrests in a car are about comfort, and detachable headrests are about safety.
39:06If you pull the headrest out of the seat, you'll see two bars, which are quite sturdy.
39:11If you ever get locked or trapped in a car,
39:13you can get out of there smashing the window with one of these bars.
39:18Bath foam isn't only for fun or a nice smell.
39:21It also helps regulate the temperature.
39:23The bubbles keep the water hot, so you can enjoy a bath a bit longer.
39:27Anyway, it works for acrylic bathtubs only.
39:31Those made of metal lose heat really fast either way.
39:35Many cups and mugs have little grooves on the bottom on purpose.
39:39They're designed for dishwashing machines.
39:42The grooves let the water flow and not spill over your feet when you take the cup out.
39:47Also, those grooves let the air flow, so the cup doesn't crack even if the tea is scalding.
39:53Almost all measuring tapes have a metal tip with a small slot on the end.
39:58You can use this slot to hang the tape on a nail or a screw and make measurements without anyone's
40:03help.
40:04Sometimes, this tip has a row of sharp points along the edge on one side.
40:09That comes in handy when you want to leave a mark without using a pencil.
40:14Doorknobs are usually made of brass, bronze, and some other copper alloys for a reason.
40:19They have an antibacterial effect, so they stop microbes from spreading.
40:24They get rid of a range of harmful germs pretty fast, within a couple of hours.
40:28But don't forget to wash your hands anyway.
40:32Grocery carts have loops for a reason.
40:34You don't want to put your jacket in a cart next to potatoes and onions.
40:38Hang it on a loop.
40:39This little hook-like thing is here to help you better organize the space in your cart.
40:44The carts also have a super handy grid.
40:47Whenever the cart's full, you just need to lift the grid and attach the shopping basket for extra purchases,
40:53placing it in between the horizontal bar above the wheels and the hook the grid has.
40:59A point on an ointment cap is there for a reason too.
41:02Most tubes are usually sealed with foil, and it's better to avoid opening it with fingers
41:07unless you're ready to say goodbye to your nails.
41:10A point easily opens even the most safely sealed tube.
41:15A pack of cotton pads has those strings on it so that we could hang it on some hook or
41:20holder.
41:20And no, there's no need to untighten and tighten the pack again.
41:24Look at the bottom of the pack.
41:26It has a perforated line.
41:28Tear along it, and now you're good to pull out a cotton pad.
41:32If you've ever tried a Nintendo cartridge to taste, you'll confirm that they taste revolting,
41:38leaving a sour, bitterish aftertaste in your mouth.
41:42They're covered with denotonium benzoate, one of the most disgusting flavors ever known.
41:48Actually, this taste is kind of a hidden function.
41:50It prevents people from swallowing those cartridges.
41:54Silica gel can often be found in different things you buy, like bags, shoes, and many others.
42:00Don't throw it away.
42:01It's meant to absorb excess moisture, so anytime your shoes are a bit wet, just throw in a packet with
42:08silica gel.
42:10Escalator brushes aren't for keeping your shoes clean or polished.
42:14It's for our safety.
42:16Brushes won't let you come close to the edge, so a long coat or bootcut jeans won't end up between
42:22the steps.
42:24Rough edges on the dimes aren't just about design.
42:27The coins used to be made of precious metals to show their real value.
42:31People would shave off the edges, spending the shaven coins with the same value, and melt the edges into new
42:37coins.
42:38To avoid it, Minters added that pattern so people could tell if someone cut that coin before.
42:44Ever notice a tiny hole on the bottom of a padlock?
42:48Its hidden purpose is to drain water to help avoid corrosion.
42:52It's always the most convenient place to lubricate a padlock.
42:55A drop of oil in there will make it open and close easier.
42:59Bottles have long necks for a reason.
43:03Hold the neck, not the bottle, if you want to enjoy a cold drink.
43:06Same goes for fancy glasses.
43:09Their stem saves any drink from overheating.
43:12So, hold it right.
43:14Notebook margins are not some extra space for note-taking.
43:17In fact, people invented them to protect their notes.
43:20People used to co-live with rats, and these guys like gnawing on everything they see on their way, including
43:27paper.
43:28Still, rats weren't able to chew more than the space left on the margins.
43:33That black grate on a microwave isn't just some fancy decoration.
43:38It's called a Faraday shield.
43:40And it prevents the rays from escaping the microwave.
43:43It also speeds up the heating, so you can enjoy yesterday's leftovers faster.
43:48It may also block phone signals, so if you're tired of numerous calls, just put the phone into a microwave.
43:54But don't turn it on.
43:56All Tic Tac containers are designed to dispense one Tic Tac every time you open it.
44:01The lid has the same shape as the candy.
44:04Turn the container upside down, gently shake it and slowly open it.
44:08You'll notice only one candy stuck between those lid grooves.
44:12So, if you just open the container and shake it until five or more candies fall into your mouth,
44:17that means you've been eating Tic Tac wrong all this time.
44:21Those little holes in the airplane windows are designed to control the cabin pressure.
44:26They also protect the windows from fogging up as the temperatures drop and rise.
44:31By the way, the airplane window is round for a reason.
44:35This way, pressure is evenly distributed, so it doesn't get deformed.
44:40Blue bristles on a toothbrush are actually an indicator that it's just about time to change the brush.
44:46As the bristles get in contact with water, the blue or whatever other pigment fades away.
44:51So, the more you use it, the duller the color becomes.
44:56A triple handle on a jerry can is there to make it easier for two people to carry it and
45:01distribute the fuel evenly.
45:03Gas cans often have a second hole that actually needs to be uncapped too before you pour the gas.
45:08The air passage will prevent it from pouring out, so no more fuel waste.
45:14The tab on the rear-view mirror does have a function.
45:18It holds your air freshener, a pair of foam dies, your graduation tassel, and some other useful stuff.
45:24But in fact, it works as a tumbler between day and night mode.
45:28It helps hold the glare from the car behind you.
45:30Those car lights can blind you.
45:38Ever wondered what that little hole at the top of your sink is for?
45:42There can be one, two, or three of them, depending on the design.
45:46These holes may appear under the near rim facing the mirror.
45:49They may face forward if they're between the faucet valves.
45:53The holes are there to prevent an overflow and to allow air in the drain to circulate.
45:57If the hole wasn't there, a basin filled with water would drain slowly because of the resistance it puts on
46:04the air going out of the drain.
46:06Your bathtub also has this hole, but the kitchen sink doesn't.
46:09A bathtub takes longer to fill, so you may get distracted, walk away, and forget you're filling the tub.
46:16So it's kind of more necessary there.
46:19The kitchen sink has overflow protection in the shape of the divider between the two standard basins.
46:24And this divisor rises lower than the rim.
46:29The majority of hiking backpacks have a secret feature that can literally save your life.
46:35If you have one, take a closer look at its chest strap.
46:39You'll see there's a built-in whistle on its buckle.
46:41It's for situations where you're all alone, stuck somewhere while hiking, or you were in a group but eventually separated
46:49from them.
46:49Uh-oh.
46:50Not all backpacks have a whistle, but those modern ones, designed specifically for mountain biking, hiking, snowboarding, skiing, and other
46:58similar outdoor activities, do.
47:02Now, speaking of backpacks, and I was, many brands have standard models that come with a patch sewn into the
47:09outer part in the shape of a diamond.
47:11We call this the lash tab, or as some say, pig snouts.
47:16Originally, the manufacturers came up with this feature, so people could carry an ice axe during mountaineering.
47:22They made it from leather because they wanted to reduce the possibility of freezing.
47:27Of course, the average backpacker doesn't go on such adventures.
47:31But the patch is still useful because you can hold and immediately access some items like headphones or a bottle
47:38of water.
47:38Or tie your hiking shoes and some other essential things so you have more room inside your backpack.
47:46So, why do shopping carts have a grid system instead of being solid?
47:50There could be a couple of reasons for that.
47:53Manufacturers use less metal, so a cart is both lighter and cheaper.
47:57Also, the supermarket staff can see what's in your cart more easily.
48:01It's easier to keep the cart clean this way, too.
48:04Imagine if it was sealed and somebody spilled orange juice or milk inside of it.
48:09It's easier for a cart to drain this way if it's outside in the rain.
48:15Speaking of holes, why do you think laundry baskets often have holes?
48:19It's for the laundry inside to breathe.
48:22If you use it for dirty laundry, it's harder to vent the sealed basket and prevent your laundry from mildewing.
48:28Also, baskets without vents harbor way more static electricity.
48:35Have you noticed there's a funky little loop on your ski glove?
48:38Yup, the one on the finger.
48:40These gloves are specifically made for snowboarding, skiing, or some other alpine uses.
48:45Because of the loops on the finger, you can hang your gloves on the pack using a carabiner.
48:51Face their opening down, and gloves won't fill with any debris or snow while you're hiking or participating in some
48:57other winter activities.
48:59Like falling and rolling down the hill, like what I tend to do.
49:02Now, even if you're not a professional alpine climber or something like that, it can still be good for you
49:09to use so-called carabiner clasps.
49:11With them, you can dry the gloves with the fingers upward.
49:15That way, if there's any condensation, it won't pull in the fingers but roll out the bottom.
49:22You know those silica gel packets that come with new bags, shoes, and many other products?
49:27Think twice before you throw them away.
49:30You might want to keep them because they preserve the freshness of your shoes or some other product you got
49:35them with.
49:36These bags are like a drying agent since they drive the moisture out of their surroundings.
49:40You can use them for other things, like, for instance, when you need to dry out your phone or something
49:46else that got water in the wrong place.
49:50Now, when dealing with a stapler, you can accidentally staple pages you didn't really want to put together.
49:56It's not easy to remove them unless you use a simple trick.
50:00Pay attention to the front part of your stapler.
50:03See that metal plate over there?
50:05It's called the anvil.
50:07Turn your stapler upside down.
50:09This way, you can spin the wheel to the temporary staple option so it won't be so hard to remove
50:14the pins.
50:15Yup, the anvil is there so you can adjust the settings for the stapler.
50:22Now, we're so used to toothpaste being multicolored that we mostly don't even wonder why it's so.
50:28Well, back in the 1970s, people became more aware of how important dental hygiene is.
50:34They wanted their toothpaste to do more than simply clean their teeth.
50:38That's why Aquafresh was the first company that came up with a toothpaste that had ingredients for mouthwash, too, which
50:45is the blue stripe.
50:47Later on, they added red, which represents ingredients that help you take care of your gums.
50:54Aluminum foil boxes have a feature we can truly call hidden.
50:58It's not like anyone bothers to take a close look at the side of the box, right?
51:03There are rounded perforations you can punch through with your fingers.
51:07Just press your finger into the resulting hole and hold it.
51:17Beanie pom-poms look like a cute, or ugly if you're not a fan, ball on the top of your
51:22hat.
51:22It may not have a specific purpose today, but it hasn't always been a fashion detail.
51:28One of the possible explanations says that beanies are something the Vikings invented
51:33because they were looking for a way to keep their ears warm throughout the long, cold winters.
51:38After some time, they added pom-poms at the top, too.
51:42They were supposed to prevent the seams from coming apart.
51:45Well, I'm guessing the traditional horns were added sometime after that.
51:51You can find a tomato pin cushion for pins and needles in many households.
51:56But check this strawberry dangling from the top.
51:59It's kind of weird, considering this fruit doesn't grow on tomatoes.
52:03But in this context, strawberries are there for needles you're using at the moment
52:07so you don't get lost while searching through a bunch of other needles on a cushion.
52:13Take a look at the cap on top of your toothpaste tube or a cream.
52:17This pointed cone you see inside the cap is helpful when you're opening a new tube
52:22because you can use it to puncture the seal.
52:26Yup, no need to look for something sharp or use your nails.
52:31Is there a pattern of blue and white bristles on your toothbrush?
52:35Sure, it looks a bit more stylish like this.
52:38But this feature has an actual purpose.
52:41Manufacturers designed the blue dye to wear off.
52:43This mostly happens at the same time
52:45when you're supposed to be getting a new toothbrush.
52:48They recommend doing it every three to four months.
52:51But in case you forget, it can be a handy reminder.
52:57Many cars have black dots along the window edges.
53:00It's a cool design, true.
53:02But car manufacturers probably wouldn't spend so much of their money and time
53:06adding something that didn't have a practical use.
53:09These dots are something we call fritz,
53:12which are different than fritz the German guy.
53:14When the temperature in your car reaches extreme fluctuations,
53:18the fritz are there to make sure the rim of the glass doesn't shatter.
53:22Good idea!
53:25Gas cans have a very small second hole.
53:28It's there to prevent some sort of the glug
53:31that occurs when air gets sucked into the hole as you pour the liquid out of it.
53:35Because, when something like this happens,
53:38the flow of liquid is not even,
53:40which means more of it will end up all over the floor.
53:43The hole is also there to help vent the gas
53:45and prevent the can from bursting in between uses.
53:48And that's a good idea, too.
53:50The hole is also there to help you.
53:50The hole is also there to help you.
53:50The hole is also there to help you.
53:51The hole is also there to help you.
53:51The hole is also there to help you.
53:51The hole is also there to help you.
53:51The hole is also there to help you.