You would think that by your age you’d have figured out how to use most household items and make the most out of your “ordering takeout” experience. But you’ll be surprised by these 11 items you’ve actually (probably) been using completely wrong!
1. Pizza Boxes
What if I told you that ordering pizza doesn’t only mean you don’t have to cook, it also means you don’t have to wash any dishes? #MindBlown, right? Well, if you rip off the top half of the box, you can make plates out of it. And then, should you be one of those people with self control, you can fold the bottom half to make a half-pizza half-box.
2. Chinese Takeout Boxes
The same goes for boxes of Chinese and Thai food takeout. If you unfold them, they turn from boxes into plates! ProTip: Be sure the box isn’t lined with foil on the inside before microwaving. You’d be surprised how many times I’ve set my food on fire like this.
3. Tic-Tac Boxes
2 calories per Tic-Tac, but how do you make sure half the box’s contents doesn’t end up in your mouth in one go? Actually, they’ve taken care of that. If you play your cards right, you can get one tic-tac at a time.
4. Fabric Samples
I always assumed they give little fabric samples with new clothes so that when I (inevitably) rip a hole, I can patch it right up. IT TURNS OUT, those fabric squares are actually for testing out how the material reacts to certain washing conditions. Simply throw it into the machine with some other clothes and you can see whether it shrinks or the colors fade!
5. The Arrow on the Gas Gauge
Your tank is almost empty. You roll up to the gas station. But which side is your tank on? The car manufacturers have actually made sure you always know the answer, if only you knew where to look for it. The arrow to the right of the “Gas” symbol indicates which side your tank is!
6. Tin Foil Boxes
It’s the little things that set good products apart from great products. I love it when manufacturers take care of my needs and make sure I can get some tin foil without having to take the entire roll out of the box. Simply push in the tabs on the sides of the box and you’re good to go. Again, we’d all know this if we bothered reading instructions.
7. Soda Can Straw-Holder
We all know how annoying it is when the straws pop out of our carbonated drinks. Save yourself the trouble when using tin cans and just use the tab to hold the straw in place while you drink your beverage.
8. Dental Floss
I’m just going to assume you floss. It’s the right thing to do. If you do, you know how annoying it is to have your fingers go numb cuz you’ve wrapped the floss around them so tight. Instead, make a loop of floss first. It will make your morning (and evening!) routine so much easier!
9. The Tiny Pocket in Your Jeans
The first denim jeans were made in 1871 by Jacob W. Davis and Levi Strauss. Back in those days people didn’t have wristwatches. This his exactly what that tiny pocket is for! However, considering you’re living in the 21st century, that pocket might be better suited for a lighter or a pack of gum!
10. The Hole in the Pasta Spoon
Let’s be real – nobody knows how to cook just the right amount of pasta. We love ourselves too much to cook too little, but we don’t love our figures enough to not cook too much. It turns out that the whole in your pasta spoon is the exact measure of one portion of pasta!
11. Toilet Covers
Public bathrooms are a nuisance, but also a necessary evil. God bless the inventor of the single-use toilet seat cover. Turns out we’ve been using it wrong though. 9/10 of my friends rip the middle part out or place it in the back. However, the right way to use it is to keep the flap in the front as this will avoid the cover from falling down before you have the chance to take a seat. PLUS, once you flush, the cover gets pulled down automatically!
