You have been peeling bananas wrong all your life! 11 fun life-hacks

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We use countless objects daily without questioning their design, yet many have hidden features or were meant for entirely different purposes. From kitchen tools to bananas, here are 11 everyday items you might be using all wrong—or that at least have surprising secrets built in.

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Yes, toothpaste was always intended to clean and polish teeth, but its mild abrasives make it effective for cleaning jewelry, removing stains from clothing, and even defogging mirrors.

Interestingly, the first toothpaste-like substance dates back to ancient Egypt, where a blend of pumice and vinegar was used for oral care. Modern toothpaste, which includes ingredients like baking soda—another household staple—explains why it’s so effective on surfaces beyond just teeth.

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That hole in your pasta spoon isn’t just for draining water; it can also help measure a perfect portion of dry spaghetti!

A single serving of spaghetti is about the amount that fits through the hole. This design prevents cooking too much or too little, though not all pasta spoons have holes large enough for accurate measuring.

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The latch inside gas pump nozzles was originally designed to shut off fuel flow automatically when the tank is full, not to hold the pump open.

Modern pumps use this mechanism as a safety feature, preventing spills and overflows. In some places, using the latch to hold the nozzle open is even illegal due to fire risks.

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Those metal loops on the back of grocery cart seats aren’t just for show—they’re designed to hold plastic bags with fragile items.

Hanging lighter bags here prevents them from being crushed by heavier groceries in the cart, yet few shoppers take advantage of this simple design. So, next time you go shopping, give it a try—it could be a real lifesaver.

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The hole in a soda can tab isn’t just part of the opening mechanism—it can double as a straw holder. Once you pop the can open, turning the tab around aligns the hole perfectly for a straw. This prevents the straw from floating or shifting while drinking.

While this wasn’t the original intent behind the design, it’s a clever and surprisingly convenient way to make use of an otherwise inconsequential design quirk.

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If you're like me, this has likely been a brain teaser since childhood: What is the blue side of a two-tone eraser for? Popular wisdom says it's for ink removal, but have you ever tried erasing ink with that side? It just completely obliterates the paper.

Well, it turns out the blue side of a two-tone eraser was actually designed for use on heavier paper, not for removing ink.

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The small bumps on the ‘F’ and ‘J’ keys exist to help typists find their hand placement without looking.

These tactile guides help your fingers find their way back to the home row, enabling faster and more efficient typing. Even if you're not a professional typist, you can rely on this feature to improve both speed and accuracy while writing.

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Ever watched a monkey peel a banana? You might be in for a surprise, because it turns out the easiest way to peel a banana is from the bottom, not the stem.

Monkeys naturally pinch the bottom of the banana and pull, avoiding the struggle of breaking the tough stem. This method also reduces the risk of squishing the fruit inside.

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The small hole at the end of a measuring tape is designed to hook onto nails or screws for one-person measurements. This feature provides a more stable grip when measuring long distances without needing an extra set of hands.

Also, the serrated edge on some tapes doubles as a tool for marking surfaces. So, next time you don't have a buddy around to help, don’t worry—your measuring tape has you covered!

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Many people use the drawer under their oven for storage, but it was originally designed as a warming drawer.

This compartment keeps cooked food warm while the rest of the meal finishes, though in some modern models, it may simply be intended for extra storage. Checking your oven’s manual might reveal its true purpose.

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Ever heard someone say you can judge a good wine by the depth of the indentation at the bottom of the bottle? Well, that’s a myth, though it may suggest a better-designed bottle.

The indent at the bottom of a wine bottle, called a punt, helps distribute pressure and maintain structural integrity. Originally designed to support the bottle against carbonation in sparkling wines, it’s now mostly tradition but still improves durability.

Who’s Louie Vitton?

People often spell these very famous brands wrong: Do you?

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Sure, we all recognize the brand with the three stripes: Addidas. Or is it Adidas? Would you be able to spot the correct spelling of very famous brand names? Well, hundreds of thousands of people each month fail to do so. Google’s records show massive numbers of searches for words like Louie Vitton, Gilete, Henikin, and Lecoste (spoiler alert: all are incorrect). Read on to discover some curious ways people spell brand names—and see if you can spot the real ones!

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The three-stripe giant was founded by Adolf "Adi" Dassler in Germany in the 1940s. As we know, it’s one of the world’s biggest names in athletic apparel and footwear. Yet, misspelling the name is surprisingly common.

"Addidas" is wrong. So is "Addiddas." "Addias" just looks like a typo. It’s actually much simpler than many people think: it’s Adidas, like Adi-Dassler. Yet, over half a million people misspell it on Google every month.

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Founded in Italy in 1939, this legendary brand is synonymous with speed, luxury, and a very particular shade of red. These cars have won countless races and become a symbol of prestige.

So why the confusion? It might be the Italian pronunciation that trips people up. But "Ferari" just drops a letter too many. The correct spelling is Ferrari. On average, the brand is Googled with common misspellings around 123,000 times a month!

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As many spelling options to choose from as there are available flavors. This luxurious ice cream brand, born in NYC, went a bit far in trying to evoke European flair. It’s not Danish or Swedish—it’s from the Bronx.

So why the umlauts in the name? The founders chose it to sound Danish and suggest "old-world craftsmanship," even though the word itself means absolutely nothing. The confusion is understandable. Here’s the correct spelling, once and for all: Häagen-Dazs.

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The crown jewel of French fashion, founded in 1854 and famous for its iconic LV monogram, luggage trunks, and handbags. Its French pronunciation might be tricky to type out. "Louis Vitton" tries to keep the vibe but doesn’t hit the mark. "Luis Vuitton" is close in sound, but Luis is too Spanish to be French.

The correct spelling is Louis Vuitton. Easy to remember: two Os, two Us, two Is, two Ts.

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Founded in 1864 in Amsterdam, the green-bottle beer is one of the most recognized brands in the world. Its red star is famous across more than 190 countries. But spelling it? That’s another story.

"Heinken" is a usual slip. Heinikin is, again, close enough. But the correct spelling is Heineken. On average, the brand is Googled with common misspellings about 90,000 times a month!

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The razor giant with the smoothest slogan—"The Best a Man Can Get"—was founded in 1901 by an American businessman (no, he wasn’t French). But King C.'s surname is a spelling trap for millions, even today.

"Gillete" is missing a letter. So is "Gilette." "Gilete" just gives up entirely. The correct spelling is Gillette, and it’s time we learned it!

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This popular athletic shoe brand hails from Japan, but its name is rooted in Latin: Anima Sana In Corpore Sano "A healthy mind in a healthy body." That should be enough of a hint to remember how to spell it!

It’s not "Ascis" or "Ascics". It’s "Asics," a very beautiful and simple-enough acronym.

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You read that correctly — some people Google this brand as "Hillfigure." The red, white, and blue prep style might be iconic, but spelling this designer’s name is still a challenge.

The double "l" in "Hillfiger," the rogue "n" in "Hilfinger," and "Hillfigure" all turn up frequently in searches. The correct spelling is Tommy Hilfiger—and it’s misspelled roughly 23,400 times a month!

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That little green crocodile has stood for French casual elegance since the 1930s. This is another surname that confuses people. It belonged to the tennis legend nicknamed "The Crocodile" for his tenacity on the court.

But whether it’s mistaken for two words ("La Coste") or phonetically bent into "Lecoste," the spelling can trip people up. The correct way to write it is Lacoste.

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Coco changed fashion; she changed the way the world saw elegance and simplicity, and taught us the power of a little black dress. And yet, her timeless name is often lost in translation.

"Channel" might sound correct, and to others, so could "Chanell." But there’s only one way to spell high fashion—and it’s Chanel.

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South Korea’s automotive powerhouse is a puzzle both for pronunciation and spelling. Eventually, one might learn that the accepted pronunciation is "HUN-day."

What about the correct spelling? "Hundai" is an understandable and common detour. "Hiundai" is another widespread but incorrect one. The correct spelling is Hyundai. Yet, 605,000 times a month, people search using one of the incorrect options!

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If you can tell which of the three is correct on the first try, congratulations: you are a pro. Founded to rival Ferrari, this Italian supercar brand is all about roaring engines and luxury speed. But all those syllables can make one swerve.

"Lamborgini" drops an "h." "Lambogini" is a bit too off. Indeed, the correct spelling is Lamborghini. Another of the most mixed-up brand names googled every month!

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Finally, can you tell which one is correct? Another Italian luxury brand that leaves us staring at the keyboard. Founded by Domenico and Stefano, this brand’s name is a unison of both their surnames.

The first mistake is forgetting the ampersand—it is indeed part of the name. Another mistake is adding an unnecessary second "c" to "Dolce," or subtracting a necessary "b" from "Gabbana." So, here’s the correct spelling: Dolce & Gabbana.