18 Brilliant Ideas for Using Ordinary Things in a Totally Different Way

Have you ever tried to brush your car headlights with toothpaste? Trust us — it works better than any professional cleaner you can buy in the shops. Some things have more than one everyday function, and life can be made so much easier in unexpected ways if you think outside of the box.

Bright Side collected a few simple hacks that fit into this category perfectly.

18. You can store and transport a pair of shoes very easily using a shower cap.

17. A magnet will help you keep all your small metallic things in one place.

16. You can easily open a tight jar lid with a tablespoon.

15. If you need to carry dirty clothes in your suitcase, use a bar of soap to get rid of the unpleasant smell.

14. To easily find the end of a roll of tape, just stick a paper clip to it.

13. An egg carton can become a great home for Christmas ornaments when they’re not hanging on the tree.

12. You can easily do a French manicure using an elastic band.

11. Use a file holder to store cans and save space in the kitchen.

10. To quickly sharpen your scissors, make a few cuts in some aluminum foil.

9. You can polish your car headlights with toothpaste.

8. Use towel hooks to fix your tablet to the wall. Now you can wash the dishes and watch your favorite shows at the same time!

7. Cut off the top of a package, and use it as a tie to keep the bag closed.

6. An ordinary cheese grater is a great solution for storing jewelry.

5. You can remove small stains from suede shoes using a simple nail file.

4. Use aluminum foil to cover things while painting and also to clean glassware.

3. Use a LEGO piece as a cable or key holder.

2. Use your car spoiler as a picnic table.

1. Use a pencil as a stylus.

The pencil "lead" is made mostly of conductive graphite and can conduct the small amounts of electricity required to activate the capacitive sensors in the touch screen. When you place your finger in the groove you made, the electricity from your body is conducted through the exposed graphite and activates the touch screen.

If you’re still not convinced or if you’re having trouble getting it to work, take these points into consideration:

• Make sure the pencil is free from oil. There may be a thin layer of glue on the lead that prevents contact, so just scribble on a piece of paper to get rid of that.
• Make sure your pencil is made from graphite and not another composite or recycled material (green/eco pencils).
• Make the groove closer to the tip to improve contact.