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50 People Share Hidden Features In Everyday Things That You’ve Probably Never Heard Of Before
Interview With Expert
We often get stuck in our own way of doing things and overlook tiny details that could make our lives much easier. For example, I recently learned that a metal ring on the side of my potato peeler can be used to dig out those pesky black spots.
There are plenty of people online who enjoy sharing these tricks to help out fellow netizens who haven’t heard of them. This time, Bored Panda found them gathered under this Reddit thread. So, we invite you to scroll down to find the most surprising objects with secret features that will make your life a bit more convenient.
While you’re at it, make sure to check out a conversation with industrial designers Celine Wong and Lisa Pechenkina, who kindly agreed to tell us more about the magic of hidden features in products.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
If you get an email in Outlook and you don’t want to deal with it right then but also don’t want to forget it altogether, right click or select the 3 dots on the email and select ‘Snooze’. Pick when you want the message to reappear (later that day, the next morning, etc) and it will be delivered at the top of your inbox at that time!
glitch-possum:
New Procrastination Ability Unlocked!!!
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#2
Rubbing alcohol kills bugs within seconds. Pour it into a spray bottle and go on a killing spree in a well-ventilated area.
hufflefox:
Also stops itching from bites. Dap some on those mosquito bites before you scratch and the welt shrinks and goes away.
keyboardtek 9 months ago
Do not spray alcohol on painted surfaces unless you want to ruin the finish.
#3
On Android. (not sure about Iphone), you can schedule text messages. I often send stuff to my employee late at night but I just have it scheduled to send the following morning. Plus it makes them think I'm up early doing boss stuff.
Bruce Horton 9 months ago (edited)
I did this when I wanted to create a message while the thought was fresh but I would schedule the message to be sent during normal business hours for the recipient. I didn't expect them to work the hours that I did.
Bored Panda reached out to industrial designers Celine Wong and Lisa Pechenkina, who kindly agreed to tell us more about how hidden features are included in products.
Wong believes that hidden features aim to bring joy to users by offering delightful moments of surprise. She further explained, “Take, for instance, the Gen 1 Apple Pencil, which always aligns its logo upward when rolled on a table. While not particularly useful, such features provide a sense of pleasure upon discovery, leaving a lasting impression on users. This extra touch sets brands apart.”
Wong pointed out that hidden features should never compromise a product’s design or user experience. “While it’s ideal for users to stumble upon them organically, it’s also acceptable if they remain undiscovered. For instance, I only found the hidden game on my Fellow kettle after owning it for two years, showcasing that discovery can occur over time without detracting from the product’s core functionality.”
#4
Potato peeler can peel a perfect slice of hard butter from the fridge. No tearing of bread trying to spread hard butter.
jon gilbertson 9 months ago (edited)
If you peel your potatoes, don't throw the peels away. fry the peels in some olive oil and sprinkle your favorite seasoning. Delicious.
#5
I recently read that the reason old-timey door handles/door knockers were made of brass was because brass kills bacteria.
#6
In the US, you can always call 911 from a phone even if the phone doesn't have service. Parents, remember this when giving kids old cell phones to play with.
quentariel 9 months ago
Works almost everywhere outside of the US too. And you can call from a cell phone even without sim card, or locked phone.
Pechenkina describes secret functions in industrial design as something that can help maintain a clean and minimalist design aesthetic. She provides an example of a hidden front camera in smartphones that manufacturers often hide at the top of the screen. “This design choice maintains a clean display surface, enhancing the overall sleekness of the device while users still know that their device has that front camera,” she adds.
She also mentions that “in some products, additional functionality can be hidden from prying eyes while the product owners know about that additional functionality. In compact apartments, furniture manufacturers offer hidden storage solutions, such as ottomans with built-in compartments or coffee tables with lift-up tops that reveal additional storage space. These hidden features maximize the use of limited living space, providing 2-in-1 solutions.”
#7
on both iphones and qndroid phones, if you take a screenshot, and then what to draw on it like circle something, or arrow, or write something, go ahead and make the circle BUT don't lift your finger off the screen for a second and it will turn into a more aestheticly pleasing circle (or character or whatever). works with letters, arrows, squares, circles, numbers...
#8
Many libraries in the U.S. have portable wifi hotspots and laptops that you can check out for a month at a time.
Tempest_in_a_TARDIS:
My local library has a "Library of Things," and I love it! You can check out wifi hotspots, telescopes, laminators, a home theater projector, an external CD/DVD drive, and lots more. It's really great for when you need something for a project but don't want to invest money in it because you'll only use it once or twice.
#9
You can set custom keyboard shortcuts. I use @@ to paste my email and && to paste my address. It’s really useful
Edit: For iPhone: Settings-> General->Keyboard->Text Replacement
ॐBoyGanesh 9 months ago
I’ve so many I can’t keep track. If I type and “H” & “P” together I get: Harry Potter, Boy Wizard; The Chosen One. I use them for random script, too. Like “om” or “aum” becomes: ॐ.
Pechenkina believes that in complex products, the inclusion of hidden features serves a crucial purpose. “For example, keeping the main interface simple for most users while sneaking in advanced features for those who need them. This way, everyone gets a straightforward experience, but more advanced users can still access those extra tricks when they need them. It’s all about balancing simplicity with depth, especially in digital design.”
She also explained the different ways hidden features could be made easily discoverable to users without compromising the design of the product. “This could involve QR codes on household appliances linking to online tutorials or augmented reality overlays showcasing hidden functionalities in designs.”
#10
Your city's library card likely has access to of thousands of free audiobooks and ebooks by connecting it to an app called Libby. Some popular books have waitlists but some titles you can borrow right away. Truly a game changer if you're into reading and trying not to spend big bucks on books.
keyboardtek 9 months ago
Library Genesis is what all the college kids are using. Like Napster was for mp3, Library Genesis is for books.
#11
Most people hold walking sticks wrong and get like 5% of the support you could get, the handle is supposed to face forward, like with crutches, it keeps the weight distribution correct and in line with your shoulder.
Memaw Mitch 9 months ago
Also I see them used won't when using a cane/walking stick due to a knee, ankle, foot injury. It is supposed to be used with the opposite hand, creating a tripod. Bad leg and cane together, then good leg by itself.
#12
A lot of people forget that most of our smartphones have compasses built in them.
Another great method is the use of customizable features that allow users to tailor their experience and adjust the visibility of secret functions to their preferences. For instance, “a wearable fitness tracker may analyze user activity patterns to suggest advanced workout modes or health-tracking features. Embedded sensors or companion apps [can] gather user usage data and preferences [so] the product can adapt its interface to highlight or suggest hidden features [that are] tailored to individual user behaviors.”
She concluded by saying, “These are just a few examples of how I ensured that hidden features enhance user experiences without overwhelming the overall aesthetics and usability of products in the past, but I believe that, depending on a particular problem, we can find creative solutions that would show that additional functionality when it’s needed.”
#13
In windows, WIN+number launches the application you have pinned on your taskbar. Eg. I pin the calculator as the first app so WIN+1 launches the calculator when I need it.
#14
If you find the childsafe function on the cap of a prescription medicine bottle annoying (and you don't have kids you need to protect), a lot of the tops are designed to be used upside down as well, as normal, easy-to-open screw tops.
#15
YouTube has no ads if you retype the video or playlist link in browser with a dash (yout-ube).
Daniel Atkins 9 months ago
Ublock origin does this on computers. It is a plugin and once installed not more ads.
#16
Rubbing alcohol can clean the inside of your car windshield . Ever notice how the inside is kind of smeary, it's from off gases from the plastic from the dashboard. Just put some alcohol on a paper towel, wipe the glass well and then get a clean paper towel or microfiber, spray glass cleaner, dry all and you will have the shiniest window.
Toothless Feline 9 months ago
The hard part is that so many modern cars have the base of the windshield so far from the dashboard that a normal person can’t reach far enough. You have to get extensible tools to clean it.
#17
Every time i dig into the settings of my phone (samsung galaxy) i find a bunch of features that arent default on but are actually useful. Like when taking a selfie, rather than awkwardly trying to hit the shutter button, you can just show the camera your palm and it starts a photo countdown.
#18
Hearing aids, believe it or not, are also used as an aid to distract your brain from tinnitus or other very annoying audio intrusions.
Amanda Rose 9 months ago
That is why I love mine. I have 75% hearing loss and tinnitus (really fun combination!). my audiologist told me that I would be better off with the kind that hook over the back of your ears to help balance out the various directions sounds are coming from.
#19
“Potato water” is great for cleaning silver. The starchy salted boiled water after you’ve cooked potatoes, let it cool and throw in your jewellery, fancy cutlery, whatever, all the dirt comes off and then just a quick polish.
badmotorfinger 9 months ago
Tooth paste works great also. Bonus is that your jewelry smells minty fresh.
#20
The metal posts in your cars headrests can be used to smash the window in an emergency - same as the little hammer you can get.
Candid Panda 9 months ago
Yes, but headrests are a bit tricky to remove from the seat since they have a small button to press in order to release. So it may be cumbersome to remove in an emergency.
#21
On galaxy phones when you take a screenshot theres a square with down arrows that will automatically extend the screenshot to get more in the picture.
Edit: apparently this works for all Androids!
#22
Those little plastic “tables” in the middle of your pizza box keep the cheese from sticking to the cardboard, but they also can be used to hold down the neighboring slice, so you can remove your slice without touching any others.
Christos Arvanitis 9 months ago
They also serve as nice guest tables to serve tiny teacups to mice
#23
Honda CR-Vs from the early 2000s have a secret picnic table under the floor in the back.
#24
Whistles are built into the zippers of a lot of outdoor equipment, like backpacks and jackets.
Brandy Gray 9 months ago
I think theres only a couple brands that do this and obviously it's not the zipper.
#25
Garlic press - you don’t have to peel the garlic before pressing, the press does it for you.
#26
Many microwaves have a secret silent mode. The most common methods to activate it are holding either 0, 1 or 2 for about five seconds. If none of these work, try holding Start or Cancel for five seconds. Otherwise, search for your microwave brand and include the word “mute”.
#27
Hair dryers can double as de-wrinklers when you're too lazy to iron your clothes.
Marie Lane 9 months ago
And there is almost always a hair dryer in hotel rooms, but not necessarily an iron.
#28
Put a damp paper towel over rice, tortillas, or just about anything that dries out in the microwave to keep it soft.
#29
My VW automatically switches the vent to recirculate, when I shift to reverse. This minimizes the intake of exhaust gases when backing up.
#30
Many ceiling fans have a switch to reverse the direction for differences of summer and winter Temps. Your fans should pull up in the winter and push down in the summer.
Alison Hobbs 9 months ago
I may be wrong but, I think that's the wrong way round. Warm air rises so, it needs pushing down in the winter and pulling up in the summer
#31
A lot of screwdrivers/nut drivers have a hole at the top of the handle. That’s so you can insert another screwdriver (usually a Phillips head one) and now it’s like a t-driver for extra leverage.
#32
On a smart phone if you are typing and hold down the space bar button you can then scroll left and right to move the cursor on the text!
#33
Measuring tapes.
The metal clip at the end moves 1/8" to account for the thickness of the end clip in both the push and pull motions.
The hole at the end is for placing on the edge of a nail to get measurements from odd spots.
The red numbers are all 16" apart to help you measure standard stud bay distances.
The little black diamonds are every 19 3/16" so you can evenly mark and break down a standard 8' sheet of stock into 5 equal parts.
If you need to get a quick half of a whole measurement, lock the tape at the whole measurement, and fold the end of the tape to touch the body of the tape, your half mark is right there at the inside bend. Can also be used for lazy subtraction or addition of measurements.
EDIT - The most commonly added thing here, by an overwhelming margin, is that tape measures often have the physical size of the body of the tape measure marked on it somewhere so it can be used for "inside" measurements. Honestly, this is one of those things I forgot to add because I use it so often that I've just memorized the size for my tape (3 1/2") and never think about it.
#34
Pedestrian crossing control boxes (i.e., beg buttons) in the UK have a little cone on the underside to assist visually impaired users. If you hear a crossing beep, you might not know whether your crossing is the active one. But the little cone rotates when the crossing you engaged is active, so you know for sure.
https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-ouch-22706881
#35
Most libraries have passes to your favorite local museums, zoos, and major attractions that you can check out for free and save hundreds of dollars a year.
#36
There are tabs on the sides of aluminum foil, Saran wrap, parchment paper, etc you press in that holds the roll in the container.
#37
The stapler built into the work printer is the best stapler in the office. If your stack of documents can fit in the slot at all, it’ll staple.
#38
Most pocket knives that copy the swiss army knife model, have an Awl. This is used the same as a needle, but for sewing-together leather pieces. Makes a good leather-punch if you lost weight and need some new belt notches.
#39
In windows 10, naming a jpg file "folder.jpg" will make that image (and only that image) the preview for the folder. Great when viewing in extra large icons.
#40
You can replace the large jar on your blender with a mason jar when you need to blend or chop a small volume of something.
Just screw the cap with the blades onto any small mouth canning jar and proceed.
Blenders were designed for this use.
ॐBoyGanesh 9 months ago
Wouldn’t that depend on the blender model? I’ve a Breville blender and broke the glass. While waiting for a replacement to take forever to ship, I bought some cheap Oster, Kitchen Aid & Cuisinart blenders from the thrift shop, but none fit. None fit Vitamix either. I know there are a few sizes of mason jar openings, but I can’t see this as a given.
#41
Hold a spoon under hot- hot water, then place it onto a mosquito bite. Feels awesome and the itch goes away!
#42
The top rack in most dishwashers adjusts up and down so you can fit taller things in the top rack. There are little clips on the sides of the rack that you use to adjust it. Go take a peek at your dishwasher 👀
#43
Most vegetable peelers have a metal ring on the side. It’s to dig out black spots from potatoes.
#44
Photoshop's eye-dropper tool can pick up colour from outside the PS window. Just click and hold while inside the window and then drag outside. I always mention this on questions like that because it is soooo useful.
#45
On CD players, when you hold rewind, you can go into 'negative seconds' on an applicable track. Some albums used the 'negative seconds' on a CD to put an in-between opening to a song so that when you skip to the song, you also skip the opening. More interesting is an example like Relient K's Mmhmm album. If you hold rewind on the very first track long enough and let go, you will hear the album's hidden track (which is also the album's title track at that). It's mostly an instrumental with humming, but it's good and interesting and sadly a great novel way of hiding hidden tracks that quickly is disappearing with the mass' move to digital.
Edit: just wanted to thank you all for showing me so many other albums that did this. It's crazy how many of them did, yet I only really knew about a few. Like even knowing about this little secret didn't make it something I regularly checked for simply because of how obscure and rare I already knew it to be.
Ace 9 months ago
I guess those of us that simply put the CD in the slot and let it play normally would never realise these hidden bits were hidden. I do remember one right at the end of an album (Travis) where you needed to let the final track continue playing for about three minutes of silence to hear another song.
#46
Dude, did you know that most staplers have a built-in staple remover on the bottom? Mind blown!
Irishwoman abroad 9 months ago
They used to have a sharp bit that could pop out, but most don't now
#47
Some tubes of medicine have a pointy thing on the cap that allows you to pierce the tamper resistant packaging.
#48
The bottom of a ceramic coffee cup is great for sharpening knives. Hold the knife against one side of the exposed ceramic ring, raise 15 degrees, and carefully slice forward scraping the knife against the bare ceramic. 5-6 strokes on each edge usually works for me.
#49
The apple logo on the back of iPhones is a secret, programmable button.
#50
I had been using disposable five-blade razors for years before I realized there's a single blade on the flip side for doing edges.
What do you think ?
Mike F 9 months ago
So many grumpy people today! Jeez, if you don't find something useful, scroll down. Hells bells, even I'M not that grouchy all the time!
Jesha 9 months ago
You should see how some people get if there's a minor swype typo (a swypo if you will). Reading comprehension tanks, they start foaming and slapping the keyboard furious, FURIOUS that someone dared to not write things with absolute precision for such as a twitter or reddit post.
Load More Replies...
Guess Undheit 9 months ago
Android phones include a Right To Left mode for left handed users and those using rtl languages. Search for "Build Number" if it's different than these steps: (1) Click "Settings" (2) Click "About" (3) Click "Build number" seven times" (4) Go up to "Settings" and select "Developer Options" (5) Click "Force RTL". [ ... ] The advantage of RTL is that the select buttons are now on the opposite site for those holding the phone in the left hand. This reduces the chance of accidentally activating something. Now if only mobile browsers would allow "Force Align Right" so that lefties don't accidentally hit links while scrolling.
FreeTheUnicorn 9 months ago
Please stop spreading safety myths, BP, you can't call 911 if you don't have signal, you can only do this if your network/credit has run out but another network is connected. This is a dangerous lie to spread. People remember this and rely on it. It is incredibly irresponsible to let this post and so many like it appear regularly. Put all the frivolous stuff on here you want, but please take down wrong emergency procedures.
James Doe 9 months ago
Nope it isn't. You can dial emergency service without a Sim card and use all networks with signal (not only the one you subscribe to). So it's very sound advice to 1. Be careful that your small kid can call emergency service even without Sim. And 2. You should always try to reach them, even if your phone says no signal.
Load More Replies...
Gavin Johnson 9 months ago
iPhone users. There’s a double / triple tap option. If you want quick access to a feature you can turn it on and assign the torch or take a screen shot or whatever to it. A quick double tap on the back of your phone and it’ll do your bidding. Settings > Accessibility > Touch then scroll to the bottom, you’ll see back tap, it takes some getting used to, give it time and it’ll become second nature.
Ole Peder Amrud Hagen 9 months ago
Most of these are Americans trying to take feeble, little steps into the modern world. There are too many to go into detail about, but this is one that stands out: 'a pointy thing on the cap that allows you to pierce the tamper resistant packaging'. 🤯
Mike F 9 months ago
So many grumpy people today! Jeez, if you don't find something useful, scroll down. Hells bells, even I'M not that grouchy all the time!
Jesha 9 months ago
You should see how some people get if there's a minor swype typo (a swypo if you will). Reading comprehension tanks, they start foaming and slapping the keyboard furious, FURIOUS that someone dared to not write things with absolute precision for such as a twitter or reddit post.
Load More Replies... Guess Undheit 9 months ago
Android phones include a Right To Left mode for left handed users and those using rtl languages. Search for "Build Number" if it's different than these steps: (1) Click "Settings" (2) Click "About" (3) Click "Build number" seven times" (4) Go up to "Settings" and select "Developer Options" (5) Click "Force RTL". [ ... ] The advantage of RTL is that the select buttons are now on the opposite site for those holding the phone in the left hand. This reduces the chance of accidentally activating something. Now if only mobile browsers would allow "Force Align Right" so that lefties don't accidentally hit links while scrolling.
FreeTheUnicorn 9 months ago
Please stop spreading safety myths, BP, you can't call 911 if you don't have signal, you can only do this if your network/credit has run out but another network is connected. This is a dangerous lie to spread. People remember this and rely on it. It is incredibly irresponsible to let this post and so many like it appear regularly. Put all the frivolous stuff on here you want, but please take down wrong emergency procedures.
James Doe 9 months ago
Nope it isn't. You can dial emergency service without a Sim card and use all networks with signal (not only the one you subscribe to). So it's very sound advice to 1. Be careful that your small kid can call emergency service even without Sim. And 2. You should always try to reach them, even if your phone says no signal.
Load More Replies... Gavin Johnson 9 months ago
iPhone users. There’s a double / triple tap option. If you want quick access to a feature you can turn it on and assign the torch or take a screen shot or whatever to it. A quick double tap on the back of your phone and it’ll do your bidding. Settings > Accessibility > Touch then scroll to the bottom, you’ll see back tap, it takes some getting used to, give it time and it’ll become second nature.
Ole Peder Amrud Hagen 9 months ago
Most of these are Americans trying to take feeble, little steps into the modern world. There are too many to go into detail about, but this is one that stands out: 'a pointy thing on the cap that allows you to pierce the tamper resistant packaging'. 🤯
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