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Did you know that Play-Doh was originally created as a putty to help clean up soot-covered walls in 1933? After becoming obsolete with the invention of vinyl wallpaper, it was rebranded as the fun modeling clay we know and love today. And did you know that Viagra was first sold as a blood-pressure lowering drug, used to treat symptoms of heart disease like hypertension and angina? It was only a few years later that their marketing team latched onto one of the side effects that male test subjects were experiencing in their clinical trials… Even Coca Cola was first sold as a way to counter morphine addiction, with its original formula containing coca leaf extract (the same plant used to make cocaine).  

Sometimes, what a product is marketed to do does not actually live up to the item’s full potential. In fact, that might be the case with many things you own, according to this thread on Reddit where consumers shared their brilliant and creative ways for using everyday products. Below, we’ve compiled some of the most innovative functions for these items, that are even better than their originally intended purposes, to help you pandas become more purchase-savvy. Be sure to upvote the answers you agree with or that share ideas you plan on trying, and then if you’d like to check out another Bored Panda article spilling genius ways to use items you might already own, you can find that right here!

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) Royal Dansk tins as sewing kits. It seems universal, every person I've spoken to, every ethnicity, age, culture--- they all know about it. Amazing.

hazelnutdarkroast , 2ezyo Report

Final score:
565points
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KJ
KJ
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The great gamble of childhood, biscuits or your grannies sowing kit.

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#2

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) I was a medic in the Army.

Tampons were part of my regular trauma kit in the field because they were perfect for quickly plugging gunshot wounds.

Myhandsunclean , Eric E Castro Report

Final score:
433points
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#3

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) The Daily Mail is excellent for house training puppies.

Farsydi , carterse Report

Final score:
409points
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rspanther
rspanther
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And for lining bird cages. But only if you can get it for free, they don't deserve any money.

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#4

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) A tennis ball. Entertains animals for days, works as an amazing massage tool in physical therapy, protect your floors from chairs that scratch and more!

siliconalleymarketer , Helena Volkova Report

Final score:
383points
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#5

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) Silly String is used by soldiers to detect tripwires.

kelephon19 , Ellen Davis Report

Final score:
371points
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karen snyder
karen snyder
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes. It's been a highly requested item by US military personnel since 2004. Also, the doctors who invented it were trying to create a spray on cast for broken bones.

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#6

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) Bluetooth speakers. I bought one once for it's intended purpose of listening to music, but then when I realized how small they actually are, they've pretty much became one of my favorite tools for office pranking and shenanigans:

* Record a co-worker's desk phone ringing, place the speaker behind their phone, and then start playing the ring tone over it
* Electronic whoopee cushion
* Hide it in an inconspicuous place in an otherwise open area, then play a whispering voice "Hey , look over here" as people walk by- great for people who believe in ghosts!
* If someone keeps a door closed normally, hide it as close to the door as possible, then play knocking sounds
* Hide it in a cubicle/office and just play random, loud sound effects

Pancake_Nom , Nicolas J Leclercq Report

Final score:
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YourSecretSanta
YourSecretSanta
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Calm down Satan (I say as I immediately open an online shopping store to see where I can buy one)

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#7

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) I always keep fingernail clippers in my purse because I can use them to cut SO. MANY. THINGS. Little plastic tags on new clothes, zip ties, or even yarn when you want to knit on a plane and they don't let you have scissors!

SwingGirlAtHeart , Bradley Gordon Report

Final score:
292points
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Polly Hart
Polly Hart
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait, they let people take knitting needles on planes again finally?

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#8

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) "Water pipes"

All over the smoke shop there are signs saying that all the glass products are "for tobacco use only." However, I find that they work much better for smoking marijuana over tobacco. Who knew?

Naweezy Report

Final score:
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#9

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) Hair conditioner works best as shaving foam than some brands of shaving foam.

ItsACaragor , Karolina Grabowska Report

Final score:
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#10

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) Listerine was used as a surgical antiseptic when it was first invented and now it's a mouth wash.

Naweezy , Mike Mozart Report

Final score:
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vglw
vglw
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many years ago, my grandmother used Listerine to disinfect scrapes on knees. That junk burns like fire but we never had an infected scrape.

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#11

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) Newspapers are really good for cleaning windows.

fresh_scents , Phil and Pam Gradwell Report

Final score:
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#12

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) Aluminum foil. People use it to wrap food while they can use it to make rockets, electromagnets and hats that prevent the government from mind-controlling you.

anon , David (Davo) Smith Report

Final score:
258points
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Uncanny
Uncanny
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, great for making funny cat videos when placed on kitchen counters!

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#13

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) Pipe cleaners, meant for cleaning tobacco pipes. More often used in a million craft projects.

StovardBule , Wesley Fryer Report

Final score:
252points
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Ray Heap
Ray Heap
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cleaning the toner feeder tubes on large industrial printers.

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#14

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) I have noticed the upvote / downvote buttons have far more utility as “I like this” / “F**k you” buttons than as a rating of how relevant the content is which it was made for

Naweezy , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:
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somed ay
somed ay
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For real. And the “was this review helpful?” button on Amazon is used exclusively to rate the product itself.

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#15

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) Melamine foam, AKA magic eraser sponges and Mr. Clean Magic Sponges.

Melamine foam was originally used as pipe insulation and soundproofing but was later discovered to clean surfaces like magic!

dkcs , Trevor Cox Report

Final score:
214points
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Robert T
Robert T
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where do you think pool noodles came from? They're just pipe insulation.

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#16

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) Two things. Duct tape and baling twine.

Add wd40 in the mix and you can fix almost everything.

its_over9000 , Karolina Grabowska Report

Final score:
205points
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#17

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) I use the metal dental tool for pill openers. I have a hard time opening up tiny pill packets so I used my metal plaque thingy to open them. I have four or five hidden in random places. I mean what cruel AF person would design migraine meds in that freaking things. I also have one for cleaning out my tobacco water pipes but I just saw a post here that tells me I have been using my water pipes wrong. Who knew? :-/

anon , Free Dental Photos Report

Final score:
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#18

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) Dawn dish soap. That s**t gets anything off anything. Also, if you wash your car with it in the water when bugs hit your windshield the first week or so, they just bounce off like rain x

CottonCandyTacos , KitchenFunWithMy3Sons Report

Final score:
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Ace
Ace
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Any brand does the same, but it's quite corrosive so should not be used on car paintwork.

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#19

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) Toothbrushes for cleaning bikes and cars (not the whole car, just little corners).

anon , Brainstorm Innovations Report

Final score:
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#20

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) Toothpaste. It can be used to fix issues with plastics. Most notably it can be used on your headlight lenses as an abrasive to remove the yellowing effect that happens to car headlights over time. It can also be used to buff scratches out of CDs/DVDs/Blu-Rays. If you have a Formica countertop with a stain, a whitening toothpaste can be used to buff the stain out.

putsch80 , Tima Miroshnichenko Report

Final score:
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Jo
Jo
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But please! Don't use it to clean your glasses, especially if the lenses have some kind of coating on them. My younger son taught us the hard way...

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#21

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) Barbie doll's legs. They served as a great scratcher for my itchy leg when I had a cast on it. The arch of her foot was perfect.

anon , susan402 Report

Final score:
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RAM31280
RAM31280
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The frame of Barbie's legs have been used to as fingers on prosthetic hands.

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#22

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) Viagra WAS intended to help treat high blood pressure

ItsAllAboot , Tim Reckmann Report

Final score:
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Jill Jones
Jill Jones
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is also used for pulmonary arterial hypertension. I take six 20mg a day, and the main thing that has kept me alive the past three years. FYI- I'm female

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#23

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) Vinegar: not just used to put on your hot chips
Bicarbonate of soda: not just used for cooking

Have a blocked sink? If you can, remove the drain cover, pour in some bicarb and then follow with white vinegar. It fizzzes and causes a reaction that helps loosen the blockage. Throw some hot water down the drain. Repeat if necessary. Soooooo much cheaper than a plumber.

Create a paste of bicarb and water. Use it to scrub stubborn stains off your stove top.

Grab an empty spray bottle. Put I cup of white vinegar and one cup of liquid dish washing detergent. Wet the shower screen, spray the mix on and leet it sit for about 10 mins. Grab a light scouring pad and starting at the top, scrub (lightly) the glass. You might need to be a bit heavier on the bottom of the glass. Rinse off and voila! Clean clean glass! Also good on the oven doors too! Actually...any glass.

baccgirl , Mike Mozart Report

Final score:
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Jj321
Jj321
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I use Vinegar in laundry. It helps keep away musty smells and works like fabric softener.

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#24

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) I use default web browsers to download Firefox/Chrome.

phony-pony , Gustavo da Cunha Pimenta Report

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#25

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) Clear nail polish works so well to fix small holes or seal things.

Edit: like the small hole in my giant popsicle floatie

steveofthejungle , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:
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#26

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) Neoprene. Apparently it was originally used as a lining for industrial waste but obviously now makes a good wetsuit (and has many other industrial uses).

notenoughtimetoride , Lee Balicki Report

Final score:
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#27

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) Tube guitar amps. They were never intended to produce distortion, but a whole genre of music was born by "misusing" them!

DaveCanada , Kristian Bjornard Report

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#28

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) A whole slew of medications.

My daily medication is an anti-seizure medication. Works like s**t as an anti-seizure medication, but works **fantastically** as an anti-psychotic.

BoneYardBetty , Darina Belonogova Report

Final score:
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Robert T
Robert T
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When used in different doses they have different effects. Lorazepam can be used as an antiemetic, and methotrexate (a chemo drug) to slow down osteoarthritis.

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#29

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) Paint can opener. I'm a cable technician, and I find myself outdoors in all manor of conditions. I keep a paint can opener in my vehicle to get mud, dog c**p, and rocks out of the treads of my boots. Way better than the stick that breaks. Now, I keep one in my personal vehicle for when we take the dogs out to the park.

Edit: I'm aware there are dozens of flat objects to open paint cans, but the thread was about better alternative uses for objects, and a paint can opener fits the bill. Also, props to those who added that the tool makes a great free bottle opener.

mistergreen06 , myogtacticalgear Report

Final score:
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#30

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) Avon Skin so Soft works as an amazing bug repellant. We go camping fairly regularly and always take a bottle!

chickensundae , Ron Lach Report

Final score:
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#31

I never once used baby oil on my baby... but I use it to remove eye makeup whenever I wear eye makeup.

metubialman , Toiletries & Cosmetics Wholesaler Report

Final score:
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Kayjunmoon
Kayjunmoon
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And to remove tar from your skin if you inadvertently step on some on a beach.

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#32

Silly Putty is great to clean your car. All the little crumbs and dust that sink into the console creases and door lock controls. Just press and pick it up, fold putty, repeat.

Picodick Report

Final score:
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ShaZam Beaubien
ShaZam Beaubien
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Silly putty can be used to pick up Glitter spills. It's the fastest way to remove glitter.

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#33

My grandma keeps a special pair of scissors for when we're eating pizza.

I have admired that stroke of brilliance my entire life.

Phyndah Report

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#34

Apparently, coca cola has some amazing cleaning purposes. Lime stains, water rings, oil stains in the driveway, just google or youtube it.

Jean_Lily Report

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#35

Slotted spoon (spaghetti scoops)

I bought a really good quality one to use as a back scratcher

popepipoes Report

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#36

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) Condoms are awesome.

They are used to cover gun barrels, cook meatloaf, waterproof phone covers, ice packs, and everything in between.

If you ever need a cheap, waterproof container that can be used for many different things, use a condom.

nebuchadn3zzar , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:
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#37

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) Safety pins, originally designed to fasten cloth baby diapers now used in a million other ways.

Edit: I'm a little surprised no one mentioned separating eyelashes after applying mascara, popping blisters, removing splinters, and protesting the President.

Also I once knew a goth girl who lined her backpack with them so ppl would respect her personal space in the hallway. Worked for her apparently and as far as I know she didn't get in trouble.

Gloworm02 , Carol VanHook Report

Final score:
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Greenmantle
Greenmantle
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not sure I'd want a sharp metal object that close to my eyes... hopefully there's some other way of doing it

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#38

Sealable sandwich bags (Ziploc design, not the foldover ones) are great waterproof bags for phones. Reddit in the shower. Sure, that's it. "Reddit."

On an unrelated note, buy shares in sandwich bag companies.

Jackpot777 Report

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JJ
JJ
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes! That's how I used my e-book-reader in the bathtub before there was a waterproof one available.

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#39

"What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?" (40 Answers) Originally, gasoline was a by product of making kerosene. Dunno if it counts but by products don't usually have an intended use.

YddishMcSquidish , D.L. Report

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Marilyn Holt
Marilyn Holt
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I heard that about petroleium jelly too (vaseline). Oil field workers found that it made their hands soft and protected cuts and scrapes.

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#40

Mayonaise. Its amazing for removing stubborn stcky residues. Use it a lot in my job.

anon Report

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