The furry pom-poms on top of some winter hats may be a fashion staple these days, but it has been used for very different reasons in the past. One of the first records of pom-poms being used was during the Viking era and is thought to have been attached to the top of hats to hide poor stitching.
They were later used by sailors as an extra layer of protection when the waters got rough. It also helped them to gauge the height of cabin ceilings when working below the deck. Pom-poms entered the fashion world during the Great Depression, as it was an inexpensive way to add embellishments to clothes. They grew in popularity during the ‘60s and have stayed in style ever since.
Ketchup Cups
It turns out we’ve all been using ketchup cups all wrong. These paper condiment holders are found at practically every fast-food restaurant in the world, yet someone failed to get the word out on how to use them. The cups are designed to unravel, significantly widening the opening so even the biggest nugget can fit inside.
Expanding the cups creates a saucer-like container that also allows you to fit more of your favorite dipping sauce inside. No more running out of honey mustard after downing just a handful of fries or having to juggle a dozen paper cups filled to the brim. Now, if only we could get them to stop being so stingy with the dipping sauces they’re willing to give us for to-go orders!
Pasta Spoons
Ever notice the large hole in most pasta spoons? While it’s great for draining the pasta, that’s not actually its intended purpose. The hole is a measuring tool and fits roughly one serving (two ounces) of spaghetti, fettuccine, or angel hair pasta. Some pasta spoons even have multiple holes that can be used to measure different portions.
The pasta spoon is easy to use. Simply slide some dry pasta into the hole until no more can fit, and repeat based on how many people you’re cooking for. It’s the tool you never knew you needed! We have a feeling the Italians invented this because if we are going to eat their food, we better eat ti properly.
Chupa Chups Lollipops
Remember Chupa Chups? The Spanish candy company created over 100 lollipop flavors, including unique options like Strawberries & Cream, Peach Yogurt, Choco-Vanilla, and Strawberry Yogurt. A small hole in the lollipop stick led many kids to believe that once they were finished with the candy, the plastic stick could be used as a whistle. However, that couldn’t have been further from the truth.
The hole was actually intended to ensure the candy was secure by having it solidify inside and outside of the hollow stick. It’s also designed to ensure someone choking on the stick can still get air into their lungs through the hole. Not exactly a whistle, but certainly not useless!
Box Cutters
We all have a box cutter lying around the house somewhere. Few people know, however, that this handy tool doesn’t need to be replaced each time the blade becomes too dull. In fact, each box cutter comes with about a dozen fresh blades, ready to use at a moment’s notice. Knowing how to access them, however, isn’t exactly common knowledge.
Ever wonder what the notches along a box cutter’s blade are for? These notches are actually perforated lines that allow you to break the top blade off when it becomes too dull to use. After you snap it off along the line, you’ll have a fresh blade at your disposal. Unless you use your box cutter regularly or tend to lose things, you’ll likely never need to replace it!