12 Ordinary Objects With Seemingly Trivial Features That Actually Have a Special Purpose
We often overlook small details on familiar objects, thinking they’re there just for aesthetic purposes. But the serrated edges on crackers, the indents on plastic milk bottles, and the different color bristles on toothbrushes didn’t come about by accident. It turns out that all these features have a special purpose that can make our lives easier. And some features, like the extra hole in the kitchen sink, can be used in a completely different way.
Mirrors in the elevator
A mirror inside an elevator can be helpful when you need to quickly tidy up your clothes and fix your hair before an important meeting. However, the main purpose of this accessory is safety. Mirrors in elevators reduce the risk of theft and allow a person in a wheelchair to get out safely if the lift itself is too small to turn around in. Mirrors also reduce anxiety for people who suffer from claustrophobia by visually enlarging the small space and helping it feel less like a trap.
Serrated edges on crackers
The serrated edges on Ritz crackers are not just there to make them look pretty. These sharp edges can be used to cut the cheese, if it’s not too hard, before putting it between two crackers and eating.
Holes in the prongs of an electric plug
The little round holes on the plug prongs are not just put there to save on metal during production. Inside the socket, you can usually find protrusions that align perfectly with these holes. As a result, the plug sits tighter in the socket and won’t fall out due to its own weight or that of the cord. In addition, this improves the contact between the socket and the plug.
Indent on a plastic milk bottle
The circular indent on the plastic container helps the packaging retain its structural integrity. If the bottle is accidentally dropped, the notch simply pops out, allowing the milk to safely move around inside, thus making the packaging less likely to burst. Moreover, you can freeze milk in this type of container without having to transfer it to a different one. The notch prevents the bottle from exploding when bacteria in the milk start to multiply, producing gas as a result.
A forgotten Monopoly rule can change the course of the entire game.
Some people completely forget one rule of this board game. If a person lands on a vacant spot — whether it’s a street or an establishment — and is unwilling to buy it at the set price, the property is then put up for auction, which means it can be bought by any player who names the highest price. This, incidentally, significantly reduces time spent on the game.
An extra light bulb that comes with a chain of festive lights
The bulb with a red stripe at the base, which can be found in some festive light kits, is not intended as a replacement for a broken one. If the light set doesn’t have a special switch that changes the mode, making it flicker, the same effect can be achieved with this special bulb. Replace one of the regular light bulbs with the one that has a red strip, and the lights will alternate between turning off and lighting back up again. If there are more than 50 bulbs in the chain, however, the bulb will only have an effect on one section of the chain.
Two holes in the lid of a soy sauce bottle
The two holes in the lid of a soy sauce bottle are there to help achieve a precise measure of the amount of liquid. To stop the sauce from pouring freely, which often ends up flooding the entire dish, you just need to block the top hole with your finger. This way, by quickly blocking and unblocking the hole, you can easily add the exact amount of sauce to your liking.
Different color bristles on a toothbrush
Most companies now equip their toothbrushes with special indicators that signal when it’s time to throw it out. Blue bristles are the most common for this purpose. If the blue parts of the brush start to get thinner and the bristle color fades, that means it’s time to get a new toothbrush.
Red lanterns on porches
Red lanterns usually appear in front of houses in February, but this has nothing to do with Valentine’s Day celebrations. This is how people in the US express their concern about heart disease issues. February is officially recognized as American Heart Month, and health officials urge everyone to dress in red and decorate their homes with lights of the same color in a bid to raise awareness.
A recess in the bottom of the oven helps to clean this appliance.
Most modern ovens have a special steam cleaning program. Water is poured into a special container on the bottom of the oven, and then all you have to do is start the cleaning program, which runs for 10 to 30 minutes. If this function is not available, you can simply place a container of water in the oven, set the temperature to 450°F, and leave it on for 20 minutes to an hour.
Medicine container lids
Many prescription medicines are sold in a bottle with a very tight lid, which can be difficult to open. This is to prevent small children from accessing the pills. However, if you live alone, you don’t have to suffer through opening the bottle every time. The top of the lid is threaded, so if you turn it upside down, the bottle can be opened and closed with a few easy movements.
The color of the clip on a bread packet
Many bakeries use colored plastic clips to tell customers exactly when the bread was baked. Bread baked on a Monday is marked with a blue clip; Tuesday — green; Thursday — red; Friday — white, and on a Saturday, it’s yellow. On Wednesdays and Sundays, bakeries are often closed, so there are no special clip colors for those days.
Bonus: a dish soap dispenser can be inserted into the extra hole in the kitchen sink
Some kitchen sinks have metal rivets that cover an extra hole. These are usually intended for installing another tap or placing it on the opposite side of the sink. But it can also be used for other purposes. For example, a dish soap dispenser can be inserted into this hole to save space and reduce clutter in the work area.
What little-known functions of everyday objects do you know about?