91. Airplane Window Hole
Best Place to Purchase: N/A
Average Product Price: N/A
Have you ever been on an airplane, staring out the window listlessly, looking at the cloud formations, when you notice a tiny little hole in the center of the bottom of the plane window? That little hole has been the source of curiosity for decades, but we’ve gotten to the bottom of it.
Airplane Window Hole for Pressure @Chris Waits / Flickr.com
The way that airplanes are designed, that little hole in the window is required to help balance air pressure, keeping the cabin safe for passengers. So next time you fly, remember that the otherwise insignificant-looking detail is actually a life-saving modification.
92. Silica Packets
Best Place to Purchase: N/A
Average Product Price: $0*
If you have ever bought anything, from shoes to clothes to food, you’ve probably seen a tiny little white packet that says “DO NOT EAT” on it. This silica packet might seem like just a throwaway, but it actually has an important purpose: absorbing moisture.
Silica Packets Absorb Moisture ©jakkrit pimpru / Shutterstock
Silica packets absorb and hold water vapor, keeping it from damaging products and food. Silica is a desiccant, which means it acts as a drying agent while your package is in transit. Of course, once you receive your package, you should throw out the desiccant ASAP, as it is very poisonous to kids and animals.
93. Tire Treads
Best Place to Purchase: Walmart, Discount Tire Direct, Tire Rack, Sam’s Club
Average Product Price: $80-$150 per tire*
When you buy new tires, these tires come with tread depths of 10/32” or 11/32”. Certain SUVs, trucks, and winter tires might have deeper depths than other models. The U.S.D.T. recommends that you replace tires when your treads reach 2/32”, and there are a lot of states that make it a legal requirement that you replace your tires at 2/32”.
Tire Treads Tell You When It’s Time For a Replacement @dexel / Facebook.com
According to Car and Driver, most tires need to be inspected and/or replaced after six years. After ten years, they absolutely should be replaced, no matter how much tread they have left. You can test your tires’ tread with a simple penny. Flip a penny upside-down and run it through the groove. If you can see all of Abe Lincoln’s head, you need to replace your tires, as your tread is too low.
94. McFlurry Spoon Holes
Best Place to Purchase: McDonald’s
Average Product Price: $2.39*
McFlurries are a delicious, sweet treat that is perfect for any time of year. It doesn’t matter if it’s ten degrees below zero, you can’t say no to a McDonald’s McFlurry. If you’ve ever had one, you’ve noticed that the spoon is way different than your average utensil. It’s hollow and has a square hole in its handle.
McFlurry Spoon Holes @DelishDotCom / Twitter.com
The hidden purpose of the McFlurry spoon relates to how the McFlurry is made. The spoon is designed to fit onto the machine and stir the ice cream and toppings. Once it’s finished, the McDonald’s workers detach the spoon from the mixer and serve it to you.
95. Three Handles on a Jerrycan
Best Place to Purchase: Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, Amazon
Average Product Price: $50-$100*
Jerrycans date back to 1930s Germany, where they were called Wehrmacht-Einheitskanister. These jerrycans were used to carry fuel to German army vehicles, no tools or funnels required. The British and American militaries made their own jerrycans after seeing how useful they were to the German military.
Three Handles on a Jerry Can @Wikipedia
Jerrycans have three handles. The tri-handle design allows for someone to carry two empty jerrycans by hand. One person uses the middle handle to carry the jerrycan, or you could have two people carry one jerrycan, with each person gripping an outside handle. Basically, convenient carrying is the reason behind the triple-handled jerrycan.
96. Cedar Hangers
Best Place to Purchase: Amazon, Home Depot
Average Product Price: $12.36*
Moths and other pesky insects can wreak havoc on our clothing if we’re not careful. Aromatic cedar, with its distinctive scent, can help repel these insects. If you use cedar hangers on your clothing, they will keep moths from creating holes in coats, jackets, and pants. Cedar sachets, which you can hang in your closet, also work.
Hangers ©Mitch Shark/stock.adobe.com
Cedar repels moths as long as the odor is continuously strong. Sand the hangers with sandpaper every few months. That way, you’ll revive the scent. Dark-colored heartwood in red cedar has natural oils that not only repel moths but also kill their larvae.
97. Second Opening on a Gas Can
Best Place to Purchase: Home Depot, Tractor Supply Co., Amazon
Average Product Price: $20-$30*
Red gas cans have been around for decades, and they almost always have a certain look to them. They have a spout at the opening, from which you pour, and a spout on the handle. The small hole in the handle prevents a vacuum from forming when you pour.
Second Opening on a Gas Can @Holidays / Twitter.com
However, gas cans like this one have gone through quite a chance, thanks to state law. Gas cans have undergone a new design to prevent the spillage of gasoline. They also aren’t made with any metal anymore, as that was an explosion hazard. Though some might complain about the changes, they serve an important purpose.
98. Keyboard Bumps on “F” and “J”
Best Place to Purchase: Best Buy
Average Product Price: $119.99*
Those of us who learned how to type through Mavis Beacon might be able to guess why there are little bumps on your keyboard’s F and J keys. You’re supposed to position your hands with an index finger on each key—the right on the J and the left on the F.
keyboard bumps ©@noont/stock.adobe.com
The little grooves help people know where to put their fingers without actually looking down. You can position your hands based on feel, something that saves time. These little ridges even have a rather official name: homing bars. These homing bars are standard on both laptops and desktops.
99. Half Belts
Best Place to Purchase: Macy’s, Dillard’s, Amazon
Average Product Price: $50-$200 per jacket*
If you’ve ever seen a jacket with a half-belt on the back, then you’ve seen a part of history. A lot of features on our clothes have become so commonplace that we don’t even notice them, and the half-belt is one such feature. Usually found in the center-back of a coat or jacket, the half belt seems to not have a real purpose.
Half Belts @Pinner62764345 / Pinterest
It doesn’t cinch all the way around, so it doesn’t serve the same function as a regular belt. Apparently, the half-belt was a common feature on military jackets, as it helped keep excess material from getting in the way of the soldiers. Now, the half-belt has found more utility as a fashion accessory than anything war-related.
100. Hats With Pom Poms
Best Place to Purchase: Target, Amazon, Forever 21
Average Product Price: $10-$20*
Pom-poms look adorable on hats. They’ve become such a common part of a winter beanie that we barely notice them anymore. In fact, it’s a surprise if a winter hat doesn’t have one on it. Turns out, like the half-belt, pom-poms on beanies have a historical bent to them as well.
Hats With Pom Poms ©Evgeniy Eivo / Shutterstock
They were invented by the French. Members of the French Navy wore hats with pom-poms on them to prevent themselves from hitting their heads on the ceiling when there were storms at sea. A banged head could lead to a concussion or worse, so, believe it or not, these fashion staples constituted safety gear at one point.