20+ Things You Forgot to Google What It’s For

So get this: an extra hole at the upper part of the sink has multiple hidden functions. First, in case someone forgets to close the tap the water won’t overflow, and the bathroom won’t get flooded. Second, thanks to that hole the water drains faster as it gives an escape for the air helping the water flow down.

Those two holes on the side of any Converse shoe are there not only to let the stinky air out. Sure, breathability is important for any athlete. The second reason is that athletes lace through those holes to get a better grip.

Donuts have a hole in the middle, and it doesn’t stand for O in Donut! It’s not designed for an easier grip either (though it can be quite convenient!). It’s actually made this way for mass baking so that they cook all the way through evenly.

Most metallic zippers have a hidden lock inside them to save you from awkward situations such as an undone fly. Oh boy. Don’t leave the zipper handle in an upward position. When you pull it downwards, it automatically locks. It’s all thanks to those tiny grooves hidden underneath the handle.

Almost any public toilet has a large gap between the floor and the door. The reason for such a zero privacy thing is to actually minimize the level of privacy and comfort so that people wouldn’t stay there long and there’d be no lines. It’s also easier to clean and safer if some emergency occurs.

Spoiled milk emits gases (like most foods when they go bad). A classic plastic milk jug has a concave shape on one side. So when the gases expand inside the jug, it expands too, and the concave shape curves out. Also, if you wanna save some milk for later and freeze it, the jug will expand when the milk gets solid as well, occupying more space in a jug.

Headrests in a car are about comfort, and detachable headrests are about safety. If you pull the headrest out of the seat you’ll see two bars, which are quite sturdy. If you ever get locked or trapped in a car, you can get out of there smashing the window with these bars.

Bath foam isn’t only for fun or a nice smell — it also helps regulate the temperature. The bubbles keep the water hot, so you can enjoy a bath for a bit longer. Anyway, it works for acrylic bathtubs only — those made of metal lose heat really fast either way.

Many cups and mugs have little grooves on the bottom on purpose. They’re designed for dishwashing machines. The grooves let the water flow and not spill over your feet when you take the cup out. Also, those grooves let the air flow, so the cup doesn’t crack even if the tea is scalding!

Almost all measuring tapes have a metal tip with a small slot on the end. You can use this slot to hang the tape on a nail or a screw to make measurements without anyone’s help. Sometimes this tip has a row of sharp points along the edge on one side. That comes in handy when you wanna leave a mark without using a pencil.

Doorknobs are usually made of brass, bronze, and some other copper alloys for a reason. They have an antibacterial effect, so they stop microbes from spreading. They get rid of a range of harmful germs pretty fast — within a couple of hours. But don’t forget to wash your hands anyway!

Grocery carts have loops for a reason. You don’t wanna put your jacket in a cart next to potatoes and onions. Hang it on a loop. This little hook-like thing is here to help you better organize the space in your cart. The carts also have a super handy grid.

Whenever the cart’s full, you just need to lift the grid and attach the shopping basket for extra purchases, placing it in between the horizontal bar above the wheels and the hooks the grid has. A point on an ointment cap is there for a reason, too. Most tubes are usually sealed with foil, and it’s better to avoid opening it with your fingers unless you’re ready to say goodbye to your nails. A point easily opens even the most safely sealed tube.

A pack of cotton pads has those strings on it so that we could hang it on some hook or holder. And no, there’s no need to untighten and tighten the pack again. Look at the bottom of the pack — it has a perforated line. Tear along it, and now you’re good to pull out a cotton pad.

If you ever tried a Nintendo cartridge to taste you’ll confirm that: they taste revolting, leaving a sour-bitterish aftertaste in your mouth. They’re covered with denatonium benzoate, one of the most disgusting flavors ever known! Actually, this taste is a kind of hidden function — it prevents people from swallowing those cartridges!

Silica gel can often be found in different things you buy like bags, shoes, and many others. Don’t throw it away! It’s meant to absorb excess moisture, so anytime your shoes are a bit wet just throw in a packet with silica gel.

Escalator brushes aren’t for keeping your shoes clean or polished. It’s for our safety! Brushes won’t let you come close to the edge, so a long coat or bootcut jeans won’t end up in between the steps.

Rough edges on the dimes aren’t just about design. The coins used to be made of precious metals to show their real value. People would shave off the edges, spending the shaven coins with the same value, and melt the edges into new coins. To avoid it, minters added that pattern, so people could tell if somebody cut that coin before.

Ever noticed a tiny hole in the bottom of a padlock? Its hidden purpose is to drain water to help avoid corrosion. It’s always the most convenient place to lubricate a padlock: a drop of oil in there will make it open and close easier.

Bottles have long necks for a reason. Hold the neck, not the bottle if you wanna enjoy a cold drink. The same goes for fancy glasses — their stem saves any drink from overheating, so hold it right!

Notebook margins are not some extra space for note-taking! In fact, people invented them to protect their notes. People used to co-live with rats, and these guys like gnawing on everything they see on their way, including paper! Still, rats weren’t able to chew more than the space left on the margins.

That black grate on a microwave isn’t just some fancy decoration. It’s called “a Faraday shield” and it prevents the rays from escaping the microwave. It also speeds up the heating, so you could enjoy yesterday’s leftovers faster. It may also block phone signals, so if you’re tired of numerous calls just put the phone into a microwave, but don’t turn it on!

All Tic Tac containers are designed to dispense one Tic Tac every time you open it. The lid has the same shape as the candy. Turn the container upside down, gently shake it and slowly open it, you’ll notice only one candy stuck between those lid grooves. So if you just open the container and shake it until five or even more candies fall into your mouth, it means you’ve been eating Tic Tac wrong all this time!

Those little holes in the airplane windows are designed to control the cabin pressure. They also protect the windows from fogging up as the temperatures drop and rise. By the way, the airplane window is round for a reason — this way, pressure is evenly distributed, so it doesn’t get deformed.

Blue bristles on a toothbrush are actually an indicator that it’s just about time to change the brush. As the bristles get in contact with water, the blue (or whatever other!) pigment fades away, so the more you use it, the duller the color becomes.

A triple handle on a Jerry can is there to make it easier for two people to carry it and distribute the fuel evenly. Gas cans often have a second hole that actually needs to be uncapped too before you pour the gas. The air passage will prevent it from pouring out, so no more fuel waste!

The tab on the rearview mirror does have a function — it holds your air freshener, a pair of foam dice, your graduation tassle, and some other useful stuff. But in fact, it works as a tumbler between day and night mode. It helps hold the glare from the car behind you — the car lights can blind you!