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We humans have an incredible capacity to persevere. When we need to drive in a nail but don't have a hammer, we easily realize that we can use a heavy, flat object—like a rock—in its place. When our table is shaky, we quickly understand that we can put a stack of tissues under one of its legs to stabilize the darn thing.

So to celebrate our creative thinking, we at Bored Panda have an ongoing series where we post pictures of fun and smart out-of-the-box solutions that make life better. Whether it's a DIY home hack or a business product is not important, what counts is that it gets the job done.

Continue scrolling to check out our latest collection and fire up our earlier publications here and here when you're done too!

#1

These Tables At My College Campus Use Solar Panels As Shade, Which In Turn Provide Power For The Charging Ports On The Table

These Tables At My College Campus Use Solar Panels As Shade, Which In Turn Provide Power For The Charging Ports On The Table

Gadevin Report

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#2

This Picnic Table With An Extension For Wheelchair Users

This Picnic Table With An Extension For Wheelchair Users

cothhum Report

To learn how to look at the world from a different perspective, we contacted UK-based creative Lorna Scobie.

"There is a lot that gets in the way of creative thinking," the author of 365 Days of Creativity: Inspire Your Imagination with Art Every Day told Bored Panda. "Don't worry, we all have those barriers and you can overcome them."

"Start by identifying exactly what it is that stops you from being creative so that you can then find solutions. Many of us fear making mistakes or doing something wrong, but with creativity, it's good to remember there is no such thing! Allowing yourself to embrace mistakes can lead to learning and to new discoveries—about yourself and the way you like to express yourself."

#3

Thailand Supermarket Ditches Plastic Packaging For Banana Leaves

Thailand Supermarket Ditches Plastic Packaging For Banana Leaves

Mothership.sg Report

#4

My Hotel Phone In Iceland Has A Special Button That Will Wake You Up If There Are Northern Lights In The Sky

My Hotel Phone In Iceland Has A Special Button That Will Wake You Up If There Are Northern Lights In The Sky

KristjanHrannar Report

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#5

Home Office Busy Light - WiFi Enabled LED’s In Door Jam Linked To My Work Calendar, When I’m In A Meeting It Goes Red And The Kids Know They Can’t Come In

Home Office Busy Light - WiFi Enabled LED’s In Door Jam Linked To My Work Calendar, When I’m In A Meeting It Goes Red And The Kids Know They Can’t Come In

Yellow is for knock first, green for coming in for a chat/draw on my whiteboard

rjcamz Report

Scobie said it's important to remember that everyone's creative habits are different when it comes to the specifics, but we can all add more creativity into our lives. "We often naturally fall into playing it safe and sticking with a routine that we know, but breakthroughs can happen when we force ourselves out of our comfort zone."

"A great way to fuel your creativity is to be playful and to explore. New experiences can kickstart our ideas, and even the everyday can look new in different lights, so be open to looking at your world in a little more detail. Feeling like you have the freedom to play and be expressive is very important to creativity, so perhaps set aside notebooks for drawing or journalling that are just for you, where you don't feel any pressure to share what you create."

#6

If You’re Bored At The Baltimore Airport You Can Learn CPR

If You’re Bored At The Baltimore Airport You Can Learn CPR

Jaws_V_The_Return Report

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#7

This Parking Lot Has Lights Showing You The Empty Spaces. Genius

This Parking Lot Has Lights Showing You The Empty Spaces. Genius

JiveMonkey Report

#8

This Duck Ramp

This Duck Ramp

JawsGoneWild Report

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#9

This Railing On Gazebo In Naples Has Braille Describing The View For Blind People. More Of This, Please

This Railing On Gazebo In Naples Has Braille Describing The View For Blind People. More Of This, Please

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It may sound obvious but we often disregard what's right in front of us. "Because there are just so many hurdles we can put up, the best thing is to ignore all your obstacles and just go for it," Scobie said.

"Even if you just have 5 minutes to begin your creative project, make a start. The first word or mark can be the hardest part, so just make any mark to conquer that blank page. Remind yourself that you are creative, and you can do it!"

#10

This Park Has A Tiny Water Fountain For Dogs

This Park Has A Tiny Water Fountain For Dogs

pie_ella Report

#11

My Park Installed Outdoor Workout Equipment Facing The Playground

My Park Installed Outdoor Workout Equipment Facing The Playground

vidat13 Report

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#12

Sink Area Designed For Drying

Sink Area Designed For Drying

reddit.com Report

#13

You Can Sit At The Ends Of This Picnic Table

You Can Sit At The Ends Of This Picnic Table

Cosmos_Cawboy Report

According to Scobie, tapping into our inner potential can be really beneficial to our daily life. "Being creative makes us happier, it makes us feel good! It allows us to express and process how we are feeling," she said.

But if you don't know where to start, "It can be useful, to think about when you might be able to fit creativity into your day and plan to give yourself more opportunities to do this for yourself – a few minutes at lunch perhaps, or as a way to wind down after work. However and whenever works best for you. There are no rules."

#14

My Eye Doctor's Office Uses Laminated Forms And A Wet Erase Marker To Cut Down On Paper Use

My Eye Doctor's Office Uses Laminated Forms And A Wet Erase Marker To Cut Down On Paper Use

jack-of-some Report

#15

Seems Like A Good Time To Finally Show Off The Spice Rack I Built

Seems Like A Good Time To Finally Show Off The Spice Rack I Built

StickyMustache Report

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#16

These Benches That Turn Into Tables

These Benches That Turn Into Tables

hotforhotpie Report

#17

This System Allows You To Know If The Package Has Been Handled Correctly

This System Allows You To Know If The Package Has Been Handled Correctly

shelchang Report

Popularized by positive psychologists Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and Jeanne Nakamura, there's this thing called the flow state. It describes a feeling where, under the right conditions, you become fully immersed in whatever you are doing.

"There’s this focus that, once it becomes intense, leads to a sense of ecstasy, a sense of clarity: you know exactly what you want to do from one moment to the other; you get immediate feedback," Csikszentmihalyi said in a 2004 TED Talk.

#18

Traffic Light For The Jedi. In Ukraine

Traffic Light For The Jedi. In Ukraine

imgur.com Report

#19

Books-A-Million Puts A Slip Of Paper Under The Stickers On Their Books To Prevent Sticker Residue Being Left On The Covers

Books-A-Million Puts A Slip Of Paper Under The Stickers On Their Books To Prevent Sticker Residue Being Left On The Covers

cynbad719 Report

#20

My Bracelet Came With A Paper Clip To Help Fasten The Clasp

My Bracelet Came With A Paper Clip To Help Fasten The Clasp

nomoredolls Report

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#21

This Shopping Cart Has A Spot For Kids To Stand On While The Parent Pushes

This Shopping Cart Has A Spot For Kids To Stand On While The Parent Pushes

zOneNzOnly Report

"If we get into flow, where our mind loses track of time and our stresses disappear completely, it feels so amazing," Scobie said.

"We all have so much stress to contend with nowadays, and I would say that creativity is an essential tool to help us relax. It doesn’t really matter what you do, as long as you enjoy it. You don’t have to create a massive oil painting, but you can if you want. It’s all personal to the individual."

#22

Movie Theater Tells You If There's A Scene Near The End Of The Movie

Movie Theater Tells You If There's A Scene Near The End Of The Movie

IConsumeLead Report

#23

This Elevator With Foot Pedals For Floor Selection

This Elevator With Foot Pedals For Floor Selection

Crackmacs Report

#24

This Restaurant Figured Out That Face Masks Fit In The Napkin Dispenser

This Restaurant Figured Out That Face Masks Fit In The Napkin Dispenser

ThexGreatxBeyondx Report

#25

A Very Clever Story-Time Chair

A Very Clever Story-Time Chair

SeriesOfAdjectives Report

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"We are all creative creatures, regardless of our profession," Scobie said, adding that if you would try to actively notice all the times in the day when you are able to be creative, you most probably would end up pleasantly surprised.

"There may be projects that you’ve set for yourself such as sketching, journaling, or coloring, or it might be little daily decisions you make such as the flowers you choose in the shop or the way you lay your table for meals. It’s all creative, and it’s all great."

#26

Tinder’s Warning To The LGBTQ Community

Tinder’s Warning To The LGBTQ Community

foxociety Report

#27

Plantable Calendar Made From Recycled Paper

Plantable Calendar Made From Recycled Paper

purutiger Report

#28

New Toaster Has A Finger Pull In The Cord

New Toaster Has A Finger Pull In The Cord

basquenv Report

#29

Boards Installed At The Traffic Light So You Don't Have To Get Off Your Bike While Waiting

Boards Installed At The Traffic Light So You Don't Have To Get Off Your Bike While Waiting

kraven420 Report

#30

University Has A Vending Machine With All The Things You Need As A Student, From Sanitary Pads To A Power Bank

University Has A Vending Machine With All The Things You Need As A Student, From Sanitary Pads To A Power Bank

DutchBrownie Report

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#31

This Arthritis Relief Cream Now Comes With An Easy Open Cap For Those With Arthritis

This Arthritis Relief Cream Now Comes With An Easy Open Cap For Those With Arthritis

Isaacb123g Report

#32

On The Walls Of Madrid’s Metro System Is The Entire Novel Of Don Quixote, So You Can Read While You Wait And Pick Up The Next Time Where You Left Off

On The Walls Of Madrid’s Metro System Is The Entire Novel Of Don Quixote, So You Can Read While You Wait And Pick Up The Next Time Where You Left Off

orangebananaaaa Report

#33

Genius

Genius

chosen_at_random Report

#34

IKEA Made Xbox And PlayStation Sized Boxes, That You Can Place And Check If It Will Fit On The Furniture You Want To Buy

IKEA Made Xbox And PlayStation Sized Boxes, That You Can Place And Check If It Will Fit On The Furniture You Want To Buy

TomaccoTastesLikeGma Report

#35

My Ruler Has A Raised End So It’s Easier To Pick Up

My Ruler Has A Raised End So It’s Easier To Pick Up

Iamthecello Report

#36

This Hotel I’m Staying At Has The Shower Shelf Accessible From Both Inside As Well As Outside

This Hotel I’m Staying At Has The Shower Shelf Accessible From Both Inside As Well As Outside

achilliesFriend Report

#37

This Pickle Jar Has A Little Handle Attached To A Basket That Makes The Pickles Easier To Retrieve

This Pickle Jar Has A Little Handle Attached To A Basket That Makes The Pickles Easier To Retrieve

BallSaxophonist Report

#38

These Tables Are On Railroad Tracks For Easy Moving

These Tables Are On Railroad Tracks For Easy Moving

noluckyno Report

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#39

This Restaurant Puts A Mesh Net Over Your Lemon So When You Squeeze It, No Seeds Get In Your Food

This Restaurant Puts A Mesh Net Over Your Lemon So When You Squeeze It, No Seeds Get In Your Food

alikat538 Report

#40

My Plastic Wrap Just Told Me To Add It To My Grocery List

My Plastic Wrap Just Told Me To Add It To My Grocery List

itsmer Report

#41

You Can Lock Up Your Skateboard By This Library

You Can Lock Up Your Skateboard By This Library

augburto Report

#42

An Egg Timer That Shows You How Hard Your Egg Is By Cooking It With The Egg

An Egg Timer That Shows You How Hard Your Egg Is By Cooking It With The Egg

cizzoo Report

#43

This Post Office Has A Helpful Size Guide If You Want To Buy A Box

This Post Office Has A Helpful Size Guide If You Want To Buy A Box

hesapmakinesi Report

#44

My Microwave Has A "No Beep" Setting

My Microwave Has A "No Beep" Setting

blr0067 Report

#45

Clever Decoration Idea Found At Aquarium Barcelona

Clever Decoration Idea Found At Aquarium Barcelona

quixotesque Report

#46

My Pen Has A Built-In Periodic Table

My Pen Has A Built-In Periodic Table

spile77 Report

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#47

Extra Long Scissors For Wrapping Paper

Extra Long Scissors For Wrapping Paper

denrae- Report

#48

This Mall Has A “Husband Depository” With Massage Chairs And Phone Chargers

This Mall Has A “Husband Depository” With Massage Chairs And Phone Chargers

co1063 Report

#49

This Korean Snack Has Two Notches On The Bag, So You Can Open At The Second Notch For Easier Access In The Later Stages Of Snacking

This Korean Snack Has Two Notches On The Bag, So You Can Open At The Second Notch For Easier Access In The Later Stages Of Snacking

cnostaw Report

#50

These Straws Made Out Of Pasta So They Don't Dissolve Like Paper

These Straws Made Out Of Pasta So They Don't Dissolve Like Paper

mazi710 Report

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#51

My Water Cooler Has A Built-In Pet Water Bowl

My Water Cooler Has A Built-In Pet Water Bowl

MotorboatingSofaB Report

#52

These Fan Pull-Strings

These Fan Pull-Strings

Rock7482 Report

#53

This Butcher Has A Vending Machine For After Hours

This Butcher Has A Vending Machine For After Hours

AusJonny Report

#54

These Batteries Are Flavored So Kids Won't Eat Them

These Batteries Are Flavored So Kids Won't Eat Them

Snackbot4000 Report

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#55

The Store In My New Town Has A Specific Aisle Where You Can Meet Up With Your Spouse If You Get Separated

The Store In My New Town Has A Specific Aisle Where You Can Meet Up With Your Spouse If You Get Separated

TheBeesElbow-IM Report

#56

On Many Japanese Toilets, The Hand Wash Sink Is Attached So That You Can Wash Your Hands And Reuse The Water For The Next Flush

On Many Japanese Toilets, The Hand Wash Sink Is Attached So That You Can Wash Your Hands And Reuse The Water For The Next Flush

reddit.com Report

#57

This Advil Is All The Same But Has Packaging With Two Different Lengths, So More Can Be Hung Up At Once

This Advil Is All The Same But Has Packaging With Two Different Lengths, So More Can Be Hung Up At Once

DownWithSckness Report

#58

A Man Bolted His Grill Onto An Old Lawnmower So It's Easier To Move Around

A Man Bolted His Grill Onto An Old Lawnmower So It's Easier To Move Around

thesecrickets Report

#59

The Drain Is Right Under The Soap Dispenser So It Doesn’t Stain The Sink

The Drain Is Right Under The Soap Dispenser So It Doesn’t Stain The Sink

droo46 Report

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#60

Hands-Free Hand Sanitizer Dispenser. Home Depot Showing Some Ingenuity

Hands-Free Hand Sanitizer Dispenser. Home Depot Showing Some Ingenuity

HopeThisIsUnique Report

#61

This Bench Designed Specifically For People That Want To Chat To Strangers

This Bench Designed Specifically For People That Want To Chat To Strangers

joetheteacher0208 Report

#62

These Cups/Glasses In The Freiburg Football Stadium Have Hollow Handles, You Can Carry Up To Four In A Single Hand

These Cups/Glasses In The Freiburg Football Stadium Have Hollow Handles, You Can Carry Up To Four In A Single Hand

Snoo_28562 Report

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#63

Wegmans Has A "No Candy" Lane, So Parents Don't Have To Drag Their Kids Past A Wall Of Sugar If They Don't Want To

Wegmans Has A "No Candy" Lane, So Parents Don't Have To Drag Their Kids Past A Wall Of Sugar If They Don't Want To

360-survey-jerk Report

#64

This Free Airport Machine Sanitizes Your Phone And Passport In 25 Seconds

This Free Airport Machine Sanitizes Your Phone And Passport In 25 Seconds

kad2017 Report

#65

Fly Swatter Comes With Detachable Tweezers To Pick Up Flies

Fly Swatter Comes With Detachable Tweezers To Pick Up Flies

NDR-113 Report

#66

My Protein Powder Scoop Is Designed To Sit On A Lip Just Under The Lid So You Don't Have To Reach Into The Powder To Grab It

My Protein Powder Scoop Is Designed To Sit On A Lip Just Under The Lid So You Don't Have To Reach Into The Powder To Grab It

Jbinksy Report

#67

A Measuring Cup With A Built In Scale

A Measuring Cup With A Built In Scale

thenickwinters Report

#68

This Milk Bottle Shows You How Much Milk Is Still Inside

This Milk Bottle Shows You How Much Milk Is Still Inside

MoonSoup42 Report

#69

This Hi-Hat Stand Is Used As A Handsfree Sanitizer Dispenser

This Hi-Hat Stand Is Used As A Handsfree Sanitizer Dispenser

twopointohyeah Report

#70

The Books At The Bottom Are Flipped At An Angle You Don’t Have To Bend Down To See

The Books At The Bottom Are Flipped At An Angle You Don’t Have To Bend Down To See

SirChiefsLot Report

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#71

My Dishwasher Has A Spot Specifically For Chopsticks

My Dishwasher Has A Spot Specifically For Chopsticks

vce5150 Report

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Horatio Jay
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nice but, omg, my in-laws put all of their nice wooden chopsticks in the dishwasher, and the older ones all look awful. FFS, people, it takes approximately 1 second to wash a chopstick properly by hand. Never put wood in a dishwasher!

Bella Jones
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My friend puts her WOODEN CHOPPING BOARD in the dishwasher. I feel your pain.

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lara
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never put anything made of wood in a dishwasher, especially not wooden cutting boards, wooden serving pieces, bowls, or wooden handled knives and NEVER your good knives.

Pat Head
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would like a holder for my stainless steel drinking straws.

Alex Foster
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg yes! Hand washing them is a pain because I have to get out the little tiny brush that came with them and I can't put them in the dishwasher, they'd just fall through.

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Kusotare
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you only have one pair of chopsticks (or two, if the other side of the dishwasher has an identical rack), AND you only eat with them every now and then, this might be fine (let alone the wisdom of putting them in the dishwasher in the first place), but if you use chopsticks several times a week and you want the chopsticks to last a long time, this is not practical.

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#72

One Pubs Solution To Social Distancing

One Pubs Solution To Social Distancing

fly-me-to-the-moon Report

#73

This Cafe Lets You Silently Tell People You're Willing To Share Your Table

This Cafe Lets You Silently Tell People You're Willing To Share Your Table

trifflec Report

#74

This Grocery Store Displays These Nuts And Other Snacks Upside Down So You Can See The Contents More Clearly

This Grocery Store Displays These Nuts And Other Snacks Upside Down So You Can See The Contents More Clearly

zachcruse Report

#75

How This Cookie Monster Mug Has A Built-In Cookie Holder

How This Cookie Monster Mug Has A Built-In Cookie Holder

RedBeardx86 Report

#76

My Local Meat Pie Shop Puts The Animal On Top So You Can Tell What Type It Is

My Local Meat Pie Shop Puts The Animal On Top So You Can Tell What Type It Is

Ur-mum-is-normal Report

#77

This Door Handle Sanitizes Your Hands

This Door Handle Sanitizes Your Hands

DuckingDucksters Report

#78

Finally, A Real Solution

Finally, A Real Solution

man_in_the_mirra Report

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#79

This Souvenir Shop In St. Petersburg Has Currency Conversion Tables On The Bottom Of Their Shopping Baskets

This Souvenir Shop In St. Petersburg Has Currency Conversion Tables On The Bottom Of Their Shopping Baskets

midoree Report

#80

This Notebook That's Also A Calculator

This Notebook That's Also A Calculator

iritian Report

#81

This Holder For My Oreos

This Holder For My Oreos

fuzziblanket Report

#82

My Pencil Has A Built-In Ruler

My Pencil Has A Built-In Ruler

bugcatcherpaul Report

#83

This Mug I Found With A Tea Bag Holder

This Mug I Found With A Tea Bag Holder

nextjesus Report

#84

This Picnic Table Has A Built In Seat For Infants And A Small Bench For Kids

This Picnic Table Has A Built In Seat For Infants And A Small Bench For Kids

kittenmittens1000 Report

#85

This Sushi Restaurant Has Tables That Simulate Traditional Japanese Seating While Letting You Sit Normally

This Sushi Restaurant Has Tables That Simulate Traditional Japanese Seating While Letting You Sit Normally

hotfire922 Report

#86

Restaurant Toilets Forces You To Sanitize Your Hands On The Way Out

Restaurant Toilets Forces You To Sanitize Your Hands On The Way Out

Takiller Report

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#87

I Was Today Years Old When I Realized The Bottom Of A Gatorade Bottle Is Made To Hold The Cap

I Was Today Years Old When I Realized The Bottom Of A Gatorade Bottle Is Made To Hold The Cap

SupaJon Report

#88

This Old Mug Has A Mustache Protector

This Old Mug Has A Mustache Protector

Donut153 Report

#89

This Soup Bowl That Also Holds Crackers

This Soup Bowl That Also Holds Crackers

luckydice1224 Report

#90

This Box Of Dates Comes With A Built In Area To Throw Away The Pits

This Box Of Dates Comes With A Built In Area To Throw Away The Pits

rustyfinch Report

#91

My Gum Came With Post Chew Wraps To Spit Your Gum In

My Gum Came With Post Chew Wraps To Spit Your Gum In

SilentSalamander972 Report

#92

There Is A Mall In China That Offers "Husband Storage" Where Wives Can Leave Their Husband While They Shop

There Is A Mall In China That Offers "Husband Storage" Where Wives Can Leave Their Husband While They Shop

reddit.com Report

#93

A Touch-Free Holy Water Dispenser Inside A Church In Poland

A Touch-Free Holy Water Dispenser Inside A Church In Poland

Szpagin Report

#94

This Wheelchair-Accessible Picnic Table

This Wheelchair-Accessible Picnic Table

sellwinerugs Report

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#95

Local Music Shop Using A Hi-Hat Pedal As A Hand Sanitizer Dispenser

Local Music Shop Using A Hi-Hat Pedal As A Hand Sanitizer Dispenser

ChrisWhiteWolf Report

#96

My Mug Has A Tea Bag Compartment

My Mug Has A Tea Bag Compartment

abbylicious47 Report

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#97

This Bathroom Door Handle That Doubles As A Hand Sanitizer Dispenser

This Bathroom Door Handle That Doubles As A Hand Sanitizer Dispenser

gothamvigilante Report

#98

The Cap Of This Apple Juice Bottle Has An Engraved Arrow, Which Indicates The Direction Of Rotation To Open It

The Cap Of This Apple Juice Bottle Has An Engraved Arrow, Which Indicates The Direction Of Rotation To Open It

2312micha Report

#99

Just A Genius Bag Design

Just A Genius Bag Design

Getresva Report

#100

This Restaurant Has Receptacles In The Table So You Won't Spill On Your Phone

This Restaurant Has Receptacles In The Table So You Won't Spill On Your Phone

reddit.com Report

#101

Hands-Free Sanitizer Dispenser

Hands-Free Sanitizer Dispenser

SaltyFiredawg Report

#102

This Package Tells You What Temperature To Grill Your Burgers To And Why

This Package Tells You What Temperature To Grill Your Burgers To And Why

Goldini73 Report

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