15 Common Things That Too Many People Fail To Use Properly

You’d be very surprised at just how many people are in dire need of instruction manuals for most everything. Not everyone possesses the same level of common sense. Some people need the extra guidance, and that’s totally fine. With that being said, we rounded up some items that plenty of people are using wrong, while the makers pretend like they don’t know the whole time.

1. Q-Tips

Okay. Do Q-Tips feel absolutely sensational when you use them on your ears? Pretty much, yes. However, that is not their intended use and it states so on the actual containers. You don’t want to go and end up with a nasty ear infection now.

2. Flat Head Screwdrivers

It turns out many tools are terribly misused. This rings especially true for flat head screwdrivers. Flat head screwdrivers are used by folks to things like chiseling, prying, mixing, cutting, etc. Pretty wild.

3. Play-Doh

It turns out Play-Doh wasn’t originally intended to be the amazing and interactive toy that it is today. It was actually intended as a wall cleaner for soot. Isn’t that a trip?

4. Duct Tape

Duct tape is a prime example for this collection of common products that are widely misused. Duct tape was originally designed for sealing ducts. However, people obviously proceeded to start using it for all kinds of quick fixes, ranging from minor car blemishes to literal temporary home repairs.

5. Condiment Cups

This one always blows my mind. The condiment cups that are readily available in fast food restaurants are actually able to be stretched out to practically three times their original size. However, most people are only using them as mini dipping cups. What a shame.

6. Grape Bricks

Back during the Prohibition era, grape bricks (dehydrated grapes) had a label that read something along the lines of, dissolving the brick in a gallon of water, don’t then place the liquid in a jug that’s away in the cupboard for twenty days. This could result in wine. They had no idea what they were starting up with that.

7. Batteries

You’d be very surprised. People very often will misuse batteries. This generally happens by leaving those batteries in devices for too long, or just not disposing of the batteries properly.

8. Magic Erasers

Magic Erasers were originally created with the grand purpose of acting as an effective soundproofing and also an insulation material. Later on though, they were discovered to be quite effective as a cleaning product.

9. Toothpaste

Toothpaste is so wildly overused by far too many folks. You wouldn’t think that. However, it turns out that you only need a small portion of toothpaste to get the job done. We’re talking around half of what you might be seeing as the recommended amount in various advertisements.

10. Butcher Block Knives

The knives that are available in butcher block sets are actually most effectively stored so that the knives’ blades are facing upwards. If you store those blades with their sides down, that’ll end up dulling the knives that much faster because you’re essentially scraping the knives’ cutting edges against wood.

11. Laundry Detergent

Laundry detergent, much like toothpaste is also oftentimes overused. It turns out you really don’t need to fill that laundry detergent cap to the “4 or 5 line mark.” It really takes very little soap to effectively clean your clothes.

12. Canes

This one hurts. Literally. You’ll oftentimes spot people walking their canes positioned against their bad legs. However, the proper way to walk with canes is in the opposite hand of your bad leg.

13. Can Openers

This one’s sure to stir the pot. Many people will use can openers by clipping the can with the actual can opener on the side of the can. However, you’re actually supposed to attach the can opener so that it sits on top of the can. It’ll make that much more sense to you once you try it out for yourself.

14. Plungers

It turns out there are actually two different kinds of plungers. One plunger is the standard kind of plunger with a simple, bowl-shaped rubber head. This is the kind of plunger that will work best on flat surfaces such as a sink or a tub. Then, there is the toilet plunger. This plunger has a narrower and protruding flange that’s attached to the bowl-shaped part. This is the kind of plunger that works best operating on the shape of a toilet drain.

15. Heinz 57 Ketchup Bottles

No more do you have to waste away precious time while aggressively smacking the bottom part of the glass of Heinz 57 ketchup bottles. Heinz actually reports that the best way for you to go about getting the ketchup out of their glass bottles is to simply tap the 57 that’s on the neck of the bottles. Try it out for yourself.