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

Serena Williams; Coco Gauff
Michael Buckner/Variety/Getty Images; Robert Prange/Getty Images

Serena Williams Offers Cheeky Advice To Coco Gauff After She Smashed Her Racket Following Australian Open Loss

There's no better person to take advice from than someone who's gone through exactly what you're going through right now. Having four Olympic Gold medals might not hurt, either.

While participating in the Australian Open quarterfinals, tennis star Coco Gauff was moved to tears when she lost the competition to Elina Svitolina. But the cameras kept rolling after she stepped off the court, revealing that she smashed her tennis racket out of frustration once alone in the back halls of the athletic center.

Keep ReadingShow less
TikToker Romeo Bingham; Dr. Pepper
@romeosshow/TikTok; Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto/Getty Images

People Are Floored After Dr. Pepper Actually Uses TikToker's Catchy Jingle In Commercial

Let's be real: You'll never get what you want if you don't shoot your shot.

That was what TikToker Romeo Bingham decided when she was bored and suddenly came up with the idea for a new jingle for Dr. Pepper.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jennifer Grey Shares Poignant Thoughts After 'Dirty Dancing' Sequel Is Set To Start Filming—And Fans Are Thrilled
Taylor Hill/FilmMagic; Getty Images

Jennifer Grey Shares Poignant Thoughts After 'Dirty Dancing' Sequel Is Set To Start Filming—And Fans Are Thrilled

In 1987, audiences had the time of their lives when Dirty Dancing hit theaters. Nearly 40 years later, that story is officially stepping back onto the dance floor.

Lionsgate announced Tuesday, January 27, that Jennifer Grey will reprise her role as Frances “Baby” Houseman in an upcoming Dirty Dancing sequel. The project will be produced by The Hunger Games and Crazy Rich Asians producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson, with filming expected to begin later this year.

Keep ReadingShow less
TikTok logo
illustration by Cheng Xin/Getty Images

TikTok Now Claims A 'Power Outage' Is To Blame For The App's Massive Glitches—But The Internet Isn't So Sure

The new owners of U.S. TikTok—American investors to satisfy safety concerns about the app created by the Chinese technology company ByteDance—have an explanation for ongoing problems experienced by users beginning Sunday morning.

For context, MAGA Republican President Donald Trump infamously ranted about the app and vowed to permanently ban it from the United States during his first term in office.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Megyn Kelly; Picture of Alex Pretti from memorial
The Megyn Kelly Show; Octavio Jones/AFP via Getty Images

Megyn Kelly Slammed After Boasting About Why She Doesn't 'Feel Sorry' For ICE Shooting Victim Alex Pretti

Right-wing talk show host Megyn Kelly was slammed after she shared her reasons for not feeling "sorry" for ICU nurse Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot by ICE agents over the weekend.

Calls for an investigation have intensified from across the political spectrum after analysis of multiple videos showed ICE officers removing a handgun from Pretti—a weapon that authorities said Pretti was permitted to carry but was not handling at the time—before fatally shooting him.

Keep ReadingShow less