Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Explain Which Items Can Actually Be Used For A Different Purpose Than Intended

People Explain Which Items Can Actually Be Used For A Different Purpose Than Intended
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Multi-purpose and multi-task are the only the way. The new cornerstone of invention are items that can be used any which way you please. The way to design something can have a hidden meaning you never realized. Like, I'm sure the people who created the Snickers bar were just thinking about fun tasting craziness. They didn't know a Snickers bar, after a breakup.... could save lives.

Redditor u/HoldThisBeer wanted to know about all the treasures of multi-purpose by asking:

What's an item that can be used for a totally different purpose than it's originally meant for?

I use almost everything as a double resource. Pens are also era picks. Toothbrushes (Old) are razor scarpers and Adele is for sad AND happy times. Who can relate?

Smash

Season 4 Nbc GIF by Good GirlsGiphy

"A hammer can be used for a window opener."

- Evi1_Panda81

"Only once."

- GreatJanitor

Strung Out

"Silly string is used to detect bombs, since it sticks to the tripwire and makes it visible, while being light enough not to trigger it."

- Blooder91

"The juxtaposition of shaking a can of fun party string, to detect a life-altering string. I can only imagine the situation would have me enter a manic laugh."

- Awisemanoncsaid

Lead Ways

"You can use a pencil to rewind a cassette tape."

- boulomai_mathein

"Amen! Who would try to rw, or ff a cassette tape without having a cap to grab the gears?!? Pencils... PSHAW!!!"

- mike_e_mcgee

Scratched

"The corner of a wall to scratch your back, much like bears do on a tree. A blessing to those of us cursed with short/inflexible limbs."

- Silverback62

"I've been pushing my back against wall corners recently to massage my upper back and shoulder. It's the only way I can reach that spot while also applying enough pressure to relieve the muscle stiffness."

- H0lyThr0wawayBatman

So Many Things

justin long film GIFGiphy

"Ask a mechanic they all say a wrench is everything. Need a hammer? Wrench. Need a tool to pry something off? Wrench. Need a murder weapon? Wrench. Best thing to ever exist."

- ResidentDurian9845

Well, I feel educated. I need to test some of these theories. I have a ton of this laying around already. Let's learn more...

Face Stuff

Billy Crystal Crying GIF by MOODMANGiphy

"Facial tissue, Kleenex in particular, was invented to remove theatrical makeup."

- rosanymphae

Firestarter

"Potato crisps are perfect to start a fire when you have no tinder. They're so greasy that they burn really well. Same goes for tampons if you pull them apart a little. They also come packaged in waterproof plastic so even when it rains you always got some dry tinder material. If you go camping it's a good addition to your gear even if you're a guy."

- Heiminator

Clean it Up

"Vinegar is good for so many things. My grandmother always used it for cleaning and all my cousins and I have spray bottles filled with equal parts vinegar and water that we use for cleaning. It can also be helpful in getting rid of candlewax, or a natural weed killer, among other things. You can use apple cider vinegar to prevent fleas on your pets but I haven't actually done this, just have a friend who does it."

- DTownForever

Pour it In

"Pour melted wax into an egg carton packed with sawdust and let it cool and harden. Cut each 'egg' into quarters and store them. Take them camping with you or when hiking. A source of fire, and it'll burn continuously, letting you have plenty of time to build a fire with sticks in an emergency situation. I tested it with my bro. A quarter burned for like 15mins, outside in the rain."

"Might be silly, but it weighs nothing and have nothing to lose to have one on you. Addendum: if you're going to make this, make sure you do a test run. Outside, light with match or something. Nothing worse than placing false confidence into a survival item and it not actually working when it counts. I also heard you can pour cooling down wax over individual matches to make them more weather proof, but I never tried this."

- Someone_Who_Cared

Open Up

the lord of lightning vs balrog GIF by King Gizzard & The Lizard WizardGiphy

"Lighter as a bottle opener. Although you can use pretty much everything as a bottle opener."

- MainAdhesiveness2281

I can always use another bottle opener. And I do like lighters. I feel so enlightened about things and their purposes. And now I'm gonna go clean with my vinegar.

Want to "know" more? Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again. Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Donald Trump
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

White House's Post About Going Back To The Moon To 'Stay' Has Everyone Thinking The Same Thing

The White House was widely mocked online after sharing a post on X about their goal of bringing Americans back to the Moon and making sure they "stay," a declaration that prompted many to suggest the Trump administration should stay there while they're at it.

It all started when NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman wrote the following on X:

Keep ReadingShow less
James Talarico
Tico Mendoza/SXSW Conference & Festivals via Getty Images

James Talarico Has Perfect Response To Hegseth's Pastor Who Prayed For His Death On MAGA Podcast

Texas Senate nominee James Talarico spoke out after MAGA podcaster Joshua Haymes and pastor Brooks Potteiger—who counts Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth among his congregants—prayed that "God kills" Talarico.

Earlier this month, Talarico pulled off an upset against Texas Democratic Representative Jasmine Crockett, who has urged Democrats to support his candidacy as the 2026 midterm season kicks off.

Keep ReadingShow less
Anna Kendrick (left) and Kieran Culkin react during an uncomfortable 2010 press junket moment, as Michael Cera (right) remains at the center of the resurfaced interview.
@PATELICIOUSXO/X; Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

Video Of Anna Kendrick And Kieran Culkin's Uncomfortable Reaction After Interviewer Called Michael Cera 'Unattractive' Resurfaces

It’s the kind of interview moment that makes your skin crawl—and somehow, it only gets worse the longer it lingers.

Flash back to 2010, when Scott Pilgrim vs. the World was in full press junket mode, and its cast—Anna Kendrick, Kieran Culkin, and Michael Cera—were making the usual promotional rounds.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump; Kash Patel; Stephen Miller
Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images; Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Video Of Stephen Miller And Kash Patel Trying To One-Up Each Other With Their Fawning Praise Of Trump Is Giving Us The Ick

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and FBI Director Kash Patel had people cringing hard after they tried to one-up each other with their glowing praise of President Donald Trump during a roundtable about crime and public safety on Monday in Memphis, Tennessee.

Trump, who signed an executive order in September creating a task force dedicated to crime in Memphis, spoke in terms that gave insight into how his administration will use Memphis as a testing ground for its initiatives fighting urban crime.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Donald Trump; Joe Kent
@atrupar/X;

Trump Gets Brutal Reminder After Shaming Former Counterterrorism Chief For Remarrying Too Quickly After Wife's Death

President Donald Trump was given a blunt reminder of his own past after he shamed Joe Kent, the former National Counterterrorism Center director who recently resigned over the war with Iran, saying Kent had remarried too quickly after the death of his first wife.

Kent, a former Green Beret and political candidate with ties to right-wing extremists, was confirmed last July in a 52–44 vote to lead the National Counterterrorism Center, where he oversaw efforts to analyze and detect terrorist threats.

Keep ReadingShow less