15 Everyday Things That Have a Hidden Purpose

The things that we use every day become such a huge part of our routines that we seldom notice their simplest features. However, look carefully and you may notice that your favorite items have been designed to do much more than you thought. For example, the little brushes by the side of an escalator are not for polishing your shoes but are actually an interesting safety feature.

Bright Side has found some day-to-day things that have always had some amazing hidden features that we probably never knew about.

1. The tiny button on your jeans has never been truly acknowledged.

These tiny buttons are called rivets and they’re placed on your jeans at areas that are most likely to tear apart from strain or movement. Now you know what’s keeping those pairs of jeans in your wardrobe last forever.

2. The number “57” embossed in the middle of the Heinz ketchup bottle

This number has been staring at us forever but according to Heinz, only 11% of people know that it has nothing to do with the product label. It’s a sweet spot to tap on to get the sauce onto your plate. So next time you use a bottle, stop banging the bottom of it and try hitting this spot.

3. Grooves on the bottoms of cups

These little grooves at the bottoms of your cups are designed to make washing them in the dishwasher more convenient. When placed upside down, the grooves allow the water to flow rather than stagnating and spilling over your feet when you take them out.

They also allow cool air to flow beneath the cup and keeps them from cracking when they heat up with hot beverages.

4. The holes on the handles of utensils aren’t just to hang them.

Most of you may have hung utensils through the little holes on your pots and pans’ handles. However, these can also be used to hold the spoons while cooking to avoid the utensils from getting messy.

5. The hole in the cap of the pen has nothing to do with the pen or the ink.

Who isn’t guilty of nibbling their pens while snoozing through a lecture? It’s no wonder that most swallowing accidents occur in children between the ages of 6-15 years.

The cap has a hole to allow air passage to prevent choking if someone swallows it.

6. The little pompoms on beanies aren’t just an extra touch of cuteness.

This style was introduced to French sailors so that they wouldn’t beat their heads on the ceilings of the ship that were too low. Later, the design was adapted by army troops and that’s how the pompoms ended up on our cute beanies!

7. The little slot at the end of measuring tape

Most measuring tape comes with a metal stub with a small slot on the end. The slot can be hung on a nail for measurements, without needing another hand. Notice carefully and you would see that the stub is also serrated on one side. This can be used to mark points without using a pencil.

8. Most childproof prescription bottles can be altered.

Most plastic medicine bottles come with childproof lids. However, not many people know that all you need to do is turn them upside down and they’re no longer childproof.

It’s important to make sure that this is done only when the medicine bottles are designed for this purpose and you are sure that there will be no children around it.

9. The ridges on the “F” and “J” keys on the keyboard

Ever wonder how you can just type effortlessly without looking at the keyboard? Well, thanks to these small ridges on the “F” and “J” keys, your index fingers can locate other keys with your muscle memory.

10. The brushes on the sides of escalators aren’t for polishing your shoes.

You may have been using these escalator brushes to clean your shoes, however, these bristles are actually a big safety feature. One of the biggest reasons for escalator mishaps is people getting their clothes and bags stuck in them when they stand too close to the sides.

These nylon bristles play with your mind and make you keep your feet away from the escalator’s skirt panels, hence avoiding accidents.

11. You can use your screwdrivers as wrenches as well.

A lot of screwdrivers can be easily slid through a wrench and are used to create more torque. This feature is especially helpful at complicated heights and angles.

12. The arrow next to the fuel tank symbol in the gas gauge

The little arrow next to the fuel tank sign in your gas gauge depicts which side of the car your fuel tank is on.

This feature is extremely handy when you’re driving a rented car.

13. The little wings on an apple charger

The wings on your laptop’s charger can be flipped up to wind the wire, hence keeping it tangle free in your bag.

14. The little dot next to the camera on an iPhone is not a flash.

This little dot is not a flash, it’s a microphone for recording when you’re using the back camera.

15. Most locks have a little hole next to the keyhole.

The little hole helps drain water from the lock when it is used outdoors to prevent it from clogging and rusting. This hole can also be used to oil the lock’s hinges.

Did you find these hidden features useful? Let us know in the comments below!