Everyday Items You Are Using Wrong
Most people never get an instruction manual for everyday household items, yet we act like we know exactly how they work. The truth is, many common objects have features or tricks we overlook. Here are fifteen items that work better—or at least make more sense—when you use them the way they were designed.
The Hole in a Pasta Spoon Isn’t for Decoration
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The circle in the middle of your pasta spoon roughly measures one serving of dry spaghetti. Slide uncooked noodles through the hole until it’s full, and it comes out to be about 2 ounces, or one portion. This design helps you avoid cooking a pile of pasta for one person.
Peel Bananas Like a Monkey
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Peeling bananas toward the stem end seems logical, but it often leaves you mashing the fruit. The better method is to pinch the bottom and peel upward. This approach reduces strings and bruising. Monkeys have been doing it this way forever.
Your Oven Drawer Isn’t for Baking Sheets
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The drawer under your oven might look like storage space, but in many models, it’s actually a warming drawer. Its purpose is to keep food hot until serving time. Manufacturers like GE and Whirlpool confirm it’s built for holding dishes at safe temperatures, not for hoarding muffin tins and cupcake trays.
Toothpaste Marketing Wants You to Waste Product
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Full-brush dollops of toothpaste in ads are designed for aesthetics, and not hygiene. The American Dental Association says adults only need a pea-sized amount per brushing. Kids need even less. Anything more just increases foam and doesn’t clean better.
The Heinz “57” Trick Actually Works
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If you’ve been pounding the bottom of a glass ketchup bottle, there’s a cleaner method. Heinz recommends tapping the raised “57” etched into the neck. The spot applies the right pressure to release the ketchup in a steady stream.
That Tic Tac Lid Has a Built-In Dispenser
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Shaking Tic Tacs into your hand is messier than it needs to be. Flip the container horizontally, open the lid, and a single mint will slide into the tiny indentation built into the cap. This keeps you from dumping out half the box.
Plastic Wrap Rolls Are Meant to Stay Put
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The cardboard tabs on the sides of your cling film box aren’t just part of the packaging. If you push them in, they lock the roll in place. This stabilizes the tube so it doesn’t fly out when you pull or tear.
Your Dishwasher Has Prime Real Estate
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Not every spot in the dishwasher cleans equally well. The bottom rack generally gets the most direct spray, which is why pots, pans, and heavily soiled dishes belong there. The top rack is better for glasses, cups, and lighter items, since the spray there is gentler.
A Blender Needs Liquids First, Not Last
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Loading your blender in the wrong order slows everything down. Start with liquids, followed by soft ingredients, then frozen items or ice. This sequence allows the blades to generate a vortex that pulls everything downward and reduces stalls. Major brands like Vitamix and NutriBullet recommend this method, too.
Those Shopping Cart Loops Are More Than Decoration
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On many grocery carts, the metal loops near the child seat are designed to hang reusable shopping bags upright. This keeps fragile items like eggs or chips from getting squashed under heavy groceries. It’s a design borrowed from European stores but overlooked by most shoppers.
Sponge Sanitation Isn’t Optional
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According to the USDA, microwaving a damp sponge for one minute or boiling it for five can remove most bacteria. Just rinsing it after use isn’t enough. A study in Scientific Reports found sponges can carry pathogens like E. coli if not cleaned frequently.
The Cap on Ointment Tubes Has a Job
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Ever noticed the spike inside the cap of certain cream or toothpaste tubes? It’s meant to pierce the foil seal. Instead of digging for scissors or keys, twist off the cap, flip it, and press down to open the tube cleanly.
Beauty Blenders Work Better Wet
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Using a dry makeup sponge soaks up more foundation than it applies. Dampen the sponge before use, and it expands slightly, which prevents absorption and helps makeup glide on more smoothly. The bounce effect blends the foundation without streaks.
Your Takeout Box Isn’t Just a Container
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Those folded paper takeout boxes used for Chinese food can unfold into plates. The design allows them to open flat to provide a built-in serving surface without the need for extra dishes. Just remove the metal handle, then gently pull the flaps apart.
Post-It Notes Peel Better Sideways
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Most people pull sticky notes from the bottom, which curls the paper and makes it harder to stick. Peeling them from the side keeps the paper flat. This trick, shown by 3M engineers, helps notes stay in place and look cleaner.