15 Everyday Objects With Features Most People Never Use
Most of us have been using the same handful of objects for years without ever stopping to inspect them. Fair enough: nobody wants to read the instruction manual for a stapler. But a surprising number of ordinary things have tiny features designed to solve problems we have simply learned to live with. The loose end of a tape measure is not broken, the little arrow on a fuel gauge is trying to help, and those extra holes in running shoes are not there for decoration. Some are clever safety details, while others are leftovers from uses we barely need anymore. Here are 15 everyday objects with features most people never use.
The Bumps on Your Keyboard Are Tiny Guides
Those raised lines on the F and J keys tell your index fingers where to land, letting touch typists find the home row without looking down.
That Loose Tape Measure Hook Is Supposed to Move
The metal hook shifts by its own thickness so the tape can measure accurately whether you are pulling it against an outside edge or pushing it against a wall.
Your Fuel Gauge May Tell You Where the Gas Cap Is
On many cars, the tiny arrow beside the gas-pump symbol points toward whichever side of the vehicle has the fuel filler door.
The Tab Under Your Rearview Mirror Has a Night Mode
Flip the tab on a manual rearview mirror and it changes the viewing angle, cutting down the glare from headlights behind you after dark.
The Hole in a Pen Cap Is a Safety Feature
On vented pens such as the BIC Cristal, that little opening helps the cap meet safety standards intended to reduce the risk from accidental inhalation.
That Tiny Jeans Pocket Used to Hold a Watch
The little pocket tucked inside the larger front pocket was originally designed for a pocket watch, back when carrying one was considerably more useful.
Your Stapler May Have a Temporary Setting
Rotate the metal plate beneath the staple on many desktop staplers and the legs bend outward instead, making the staple much easier to remove later.
The End of a Utility Knife Can Help Replace the Blade
On many snap-off utility knives, the removable end cap doubles as a blade snapper, letting you break away a dull segment and expose a fresh edge.
Those Extra Shoe Eyelets Can Stop Your Heel From Slipping
The uppermost eyelets on many running shoes can be used for a runner’s loop, a lacing method that holds the heel more securely in place.
That Diamond on a Backpack Is Not Just Decoration
Known as a lash tab or “pig snout”, the slotted patch on many backpacks was designed for attaching extra gear with straps or cord.
Binder Clip Handles Are Removable
Once a binder clip is attached, squeeze its wire handles sideways and they can slide right out. The metal body will keep gripping the papers without them.
That Tiny Hole in a Coffee Lid Helps You Drink
The second, much smaller opening lets air enter as coffee leaves through the drinking hole, helping the liquid flow smoothly instead of awkwardly glugging out.
Your Vegetable Peeler May Have a Potato Eyer
That little scoop beside the blade on many peelers is there for digging out potato eyes and other blemishes without hacking away half the vegetable.
The Loop on the Back of a Shirt Is for Hanging It
The locker loop on the back of some button-down shirts was created so the shirt could hang in a locker without getting wrinkled.
Your Foil Box Can Hold Its Own Roll
Some foil and plastic-wrap boxes have perforated tabs on the ends. Push them inward and they hold the cardboard tube in place while you pull out a sheet.