This is going to sound idiotic but anyway. Do you ever just randomly discover a very simple utility you have used for forever performs a function… besides what we all know? And I don’t mean high-end stuff, I mean the totally mundane object, the background stuff. The objects you don’t see vertically anymore because they are… forever there? The foil box, that pair of jeans, that pen that you have been chewing on, whatever. The stuff that attracts your attention only when it goes missing or stops working. And then one day we hear someone say “oh yeah, did you know that this random thing you use daily actually also does XYZ?” and we are sitting there blinking… how the heck was I supposed to know that?
And it’s not even hidden per se, it’s just not… obvious? Or maybe it is and we have all been so oblivious or distracted we haven’t noticed. And the second you find that out, you’re a little angry, kind of personally offended that no one mentioned it before. Anyway. That’s what this is. A running tally of those things hiding in plain sight just mocking us all along.
1. Spaghetti Ladle
The hole in the middle of your spaghetti ladle is actually there to measure out one serving of pasta. So smart!
2. Pen Cap
Have you ever wondered why there are holes in the top of pen caps? Since so many people are in the habit of chewing on their pen caps, the hole acts as a safety feature. If someone accidentally gets the cap stuck in their throat, the hole will allow air to still pass through the cap.
3. Fuel Gauge Arrow
That arrow beside the fuel gauge on your vehicle’s dash is there to remind you which side of the car your gas cap is on.
4. Cosmetics’ Expiry Dates
Yes, cosmetics and skincare products do expire! There will be a little container on the back of the product showing a number followed by the letter “M.” That number indicates how many months the product is good for before it should be thrown out.
5. Takeout Containers
The sides of those square takeout containers are meant to be folded down so that the container can be used as a plate!
6. Metal Lock
You may have noticed that most locks have a small metal hole on the bottom. This hole allows any water to drain out of the lock so that it doesn’t then freeze and jam the locking mechanism. Genius!
7. iPhone
That small dot beside an iPhone’s camera lens is actually a tiny microphone. It’s there so that you can still record sound when using the rear camera.
8. Small Jean Pocket
Have you ever wondered what the purpose is of that tiny pocket on your jeans that’s too small to put anything in? When jeans were first invented, that pocket was meant to carry a pocket watch in!
9. Soda Can Tab
The hole in soda can tabs is meant to act as a straw holder. Who knew?!
10. Wine Bottle Indentation
You know, the dimple at the bottom of wine bottles? Like the big dip in? That isn’t just for aesthetics. Originally, it helped glassblowers make the bottles stand upright. But with champagne and sparkling things, it serves a real purpose and distributes the pressure inside. So, they won’t explode. No kidding.
Curious to learn more? Discover the purpose behind the indent at the bottom of a wine bottle and why it’s more than just tradition.
11. Pot Handle Spoon Holder
The hole in the end of a cooking pot’s handle is meant to act as a spoon rest while cooking! This was super obvious, right? But personally I think so many people still have no idea or never thought about it.
12. Extra Fabric
Most people think that the extra scrap of fabric that comes with a spare button when you buy a new clothing item is for clothing repairs. However, that little fabric swatch is actually to test how it washes. That way, you’ll know that your clothing won’t get ruined when washed with certain detergents, etc.
13. Fast Food Cup Lid
If you take the lid off a fast food cup, it becomes the perfect-sized coaster! When you bring a drink back home or to work over your lunch break, you won’t have to worry about water rings ruining your desk or table.
14. Ketchup Cups
You know those little ketchup containers offered at fast food restaurants? If you pull the tabs to the side, they expand and create much more room for ketchup!
15. Tic Tac Lid
There’s actually a slot on the inside of a Tic Tac lid that’s supposed to act as a dispenser. Although, we all know it’s hard to eat just one!
16. Aluminum Foil Box
Okay, Those little tabs on the sides of the aluminum foil box? The ones you’ve probably never even noticed unless you’ve somehow ripped them off? They’re apparently end locks. You’re supposed to punch them in, and then they hold the roll in place, so it doesn’t go shooting out when you’re just trying to tear off a piece like a normal person. I didn’t believe it at first, it felt like some random packaging fluke or whatever. It’s not.
I mentioned this to my grandma once while she was fighting a roll of foil mid-meatloaf prep and she actually stopped moving. Like froze solid. Then she looked at the box, pushed the tab in and said, deadpan, “You knew this and didn’t tell me?” Like I had betrayed her. I’m pretty sure she’s still mad.
But it’s kind of weird. Stuff like this gives me a feeling that we are all just going about life surrounded by hidden instructions and no one is decoding the code. Hidden functionality in everyday objects — it kind of excites me? I don’t even know. It’s like finding cheat codes in real life.
