The unknown purposes of everyday items

• The long neck on beer bottles
• The holes in airplane windows
• The bumps on the “F” and “J” keys
• The tiny buttons on your jeans
• The arrow on your gas gauge
• The holes at the bottom of padlocks
• The black grating on microwave windows
• Wooden coat hangers
• The extra holes in your running shoes
• Most childproof prescription bottles can be bypassed
• The hole in the cap of a ballpoint pen
• The dip in the bottom of wine bottles
• The little hole next to your smartphone’s camera
• The mini jean pocket
• The blue part of the eraser
• The hole in your pot handle
• The disc under bottle caps
• The metal bit at the end of the measuring tape
• The brushes on the sides of escalators
• Silica gel packets
• Notebook margins
• The hole In your spaghetti spoon
• The boot loop
• Brass doorknobs
• Screwdrivers that work with wrenches
• The marks between your tire treads
• The holes on the side of Converse sneakers
• The grooves on bobby pins
• Airplane seat hooks

You probably don’t think much about the items you use in your day-to-day. But if you did, you’d probably be surprised by some of their features and the purpose behind them. From those tiny buttons on your jeans, to the tab at the end of your measuring tape, check out these everyday items that have hidden features that make them much safer, more useful, and overall more interesting. And on top of that, you’ll understand why some items are designed the way they are.

Intrigued? Just click through the gallery to learn more.

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The long neck on beer bottles

The long neck on beer bottles is for convenient holding and to minimize the heat transfer throughout the bottle from your hands coming in contact. This way, your beer will stay cooler for longer.

The holes in airplane windows

Those tiny holes have two purposes. Firstly, to compensate for the difference in air pressure as the altitude changes. Secondly, to prevent the window from fogging up.

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The bumps on the “F” and “J” keys

The bumps on the “F” and “J” keys on your keyboard are there to guide the index fingers as you type. If you know that your fingers are there, then it’s easier to type without looking.

The tiny buttons on your jeans

Called rivets, they were designed by Levi Strauss to protect the weak points of the pants. They help against wear and tear.

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The arrow on your gas gauge

Since 2010, all manufactured cars have an arrow next to the gas. This way, you know for sure what side the gas tank is on without having to get out of the car to check.

The holes at the bottom of padlocks

The small holes are actually used to pour oil into. So if your padlock becomes rusty, just pour some oil in. It also allows any liquid, like water, to seep out.

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The black grating on microwave windows

This feature is called a Faraday shield or cage. It’s there to keep the electromagnetic energy inside the microwave, and to protect you from radiation exposure.

Wooden coat hangers

You might think that wooden coat hangers are simply a fancier version of a plastic or wire ones. But in reality, they actually have a unique purpose to them. Made of cedar wood, not only do they have a nice scent, they’re also known to repel bugs and moths.

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The extra holes in your running shoes

Those tiny holes are there so you can tie your shoes in different ways, depending on your preferences and comfort.

Most childproof prescription bottles can be bypassed

Many childproof prescription bottles can be bypassed simply by flipping them upside down. This makes it so much easier to access your medicine. But make sure no children are around.

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The hole in the cap of a ballpoint pen

The hole in the cap is actually a safety feature. A lot of people put the pen cap in their mouths and accidentally inhale it. So the hole actually allows air to pass through. Imagine how many lives this feature has saved!

The dip in the bottom of wine bottles

Called a punt, it helps chill the bottle faster and make it resistant to high pressure. It also makes the bottle easier to hold and pour.

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The little hole next to your smartphone’s camera

The tiny hole next to the camera is in fact a microphone. Smartphones usually have three microphones: one on the bottom edge of the phone, one under the speaker grill, and one next to the camera lens.

The mini jean pocket

Have you ever wondered why your jeans have a tiny pocket inside a pocket? Well, they were originally designed for people to put their pocket watch in!

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The blue part of the eraser

The blue part is actually not for erasing ink like many believe. Instead, it’s to erase pencil on thicker types of paper.

The hole in your pot handle

These are actually designed to hang your pots and pans. But you can also use them to hold your kitchen utensils while you’re cooking.

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The disc under bottle caps

The little disc under the cap of a soda bottle is there to help trap the carbon dioxide inside the bottle. Otherwise, you couldn’t enjoy a fizzy drink.

The metal bit at the end of the measuring tape

This bit can be used to hang on a nail for measurements, without using your other hand. Also, if you take a closer look, the stub is also serrated on one side. This can be used for marking points without using a pencil.

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The brushes on the sides of escalators

You might have cleaned your shoes with them, but they’re actually a major safety feature. To prevent accidents, where clothes and bags get stuck in the escalator, these nylon bristles are there to keep you away from the dangerous part.

Silica gel packets

Have you ever wondered what these small packets that come with some products are? They’re actually filled with silica gel beads that can absorb humidity in an enclosed environment up to 50%. This helps the product remain nice and dry.

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Notebook margins

The notebook margins were originally invented because of mice. Back in the day, mice would often appear inside of homes and chew on the edges of notebook paper. So in order to protect what was written, manufacturers created margins. Today they’re still useful, like for writing notes.

The hole In your spaghetti spoon

The cooking spoon for spaghetti usually has a hole in the middle. It’s mainly used to help drain water. But some can be used to measure a single serving of spaghetti.

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The boot loop

If you own a pair of military-style footwear, then you’ve probably noticed loops at the top and back of the boots. Well, they’re there to help you pull the shoe up when you put them on.

Brass doorknobs

Have you ever wondered why doorknobs are mostly made of brass? This is because brass is more resistant to bacteria, which is important as doorknobs are used by so many people.

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Screwdrivers that work with wrenches

If you slide the end of the wrench over the screwdriver, then you can get more torque. This is great when working at awkward angles.

The marks between your tire treads

Known as tire markers, they help measure the tread depth as part of your regular vehicle maintenance. They also represent the minimum height of your tread. If it gets lower than the recommended limit, then it’s time to change your tire. The tire tread grips the road and wears down as you drive. So going below the limit can pose a danger to your safety. 

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The holes on the side of Converse sneakers

Those holes actually have multiple functions. From allowing air in to keep your feet cool, to allowing you to tie your shoes in different ways.

The grooves on bobby pins

Bobby bins usually have grooves on them. Their function is to help grab the hair better. When putting them in, do so with the grooved part near the scalp.

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Airplane seat hooks

Not everyone takes off their blazer or jacket on an airplane. But if they do, they might not know where to hang it. If you look closely at the seat in front, then you’ll actually find a hook for it.

Sources: (Postoast) (Home Hacks)

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