ADVERTISEMENT

Products are usually well thought-out. After all, companies are investing time, money, and other resources into developing them. But even though they are created to satisfy a specific need, things happen and products can evolve into something else entirely, taking on new forms and applications.

To learn more about these examples, Reddit user u/EpicEllis2004 submitted a question to the platform, asking what are some of the products that have drifted away from their main purpose. Turns out, it's a topic that really interests people. In just a week, the post has received over 34K upvotes and 14K comments, providing quite a few interesting insights into consumerism. Here are some of the answers.

#1

21 Products That Somehow Lost Their Original Purpose, As Shared In This Online Thread History Channel... as far as I am concerned the secret relationships between aliens and the illuminati do not qualify as "history"

Ezequiel-052 , history Report

#2

21 Products That Somehow Lost Their Original Purpose, As Shared In This Online Thread Remember when MTV was a music television?

galactic-frog , Blude Report

#3

21 Products That Somehow Lost Their Original Purpose, As Shared In This Online Thread The toilet lid of a toilet. Seen too many not even know you're supposed to put the lid down before flushing. Microscopic fecal matter flies everywhere otherwise. Apparently this isn't common knowledge.

ShroomyKat , Curology Report

Add photo comments
POST
costa2706 avatar
Kari Panda
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This. So many arguements about putting the toilet seat up/down when honestly, everyone should just close the lid once they’re done. The particles spread up to 6 m (19 ft) otherwise.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#4

21 Products That Somehow Lost Their Original Purpose, As Shared In This Online Thread Slinky, the toy. It was originally designed during WW2 to help sensitive instruments remain steady on ships... to counter the effects of pitch, roll, and yaw. The engineer working on them knocked one off his desk accidentally, saw the way it moved from the table to the chair, to the floor, and a new purpose was born.

On a side note... during the Vietnam War, when the Slinkys were metal, radio operators would carry them through the deep jungles. If they couldn't get a good signal in the jungle mountains, they'd sling a Slinky high into the tree limbs while holding onto one end. It created an instant antenna extension that they would attach to the radio.

Single_Performance25 , Will Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#5

21 Products That Somehow Lost Their Original Purpose, As Shared In This Online Thread Q-tips. The only thing they are used for is the one thing you are explicitly told not to use them for.

bloblehead , Olivier Bergeron Report

Add photo comments
POST
amverablue avatar
skyrender avatar
Sky Render
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All joking aside, people used to use them to clean out their ears. Right up until some time in the 90s, boxes still showed that on the packaging as a primary appeal for getting them. Then someone realized that it was causing impacted earwax problems. Oops!

Load More Replies...
jessgunn77 avatar
JessG
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So, they tell you not to clean the ear *canal* with them. That mean don't go too deep in the canal. You're supposed to clean/wipe the outer 1/3rd of the ear. Wax inside the canal, close to the ear drum, should be there. It protects the ear drum, and there is absolutely no medical benefit of removing that wax. Also, you run the risk of pushing that wax farther down and having it result in impacted wax, and a perforated drum. They are also used for makeup applications and touching up nail polish, as well as arts and crafts, and electronic cleaning. (Also for medical and pharmaceutical use)

lordmysticlaw avatar
Lord Mysticlaw
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I use them for tidying up mascara and eyeliner, or nail polish. You know, when you accidentally coloured outside the lines a bit.

amyleigh-ritediesel avatar
Yuki Li
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What was their purpose lol? They are labelled as earbuds in my country.

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

People use them to clean out their ear canals. They say on the box (in my country, not sure about yours): Not to be used to clean out ear canals.

Load More Replies...
candacefitzpatrick avatar
Candace Fitzpatrick
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Says right on the box- do not put in ear canal... but that’s exactly why I buy them 🤷🏼‍♀️

leas_ avatar
Lea S.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The ear canal is not the outer part of your ear though - you jam that that far into your ear?

Load More Replies...
master_minds9 avatar
denzoren
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I use them now to apply topical medication or clean really narrow stuff.

idrow avatar
Id row
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've never understood how people can clean their ears with them. It just pushes wax further in.

leas_ avatar
Lea S.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you clean the outer rim PROPERLY it doesn't. If you jam it into your ear canal when it's already filled with wax - then it's an issue.

Load More Replies...
kona4me avatar
Kona Pake
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can also be used to apply ointment to your skin without getting any on your hands.

isabelaivan avatar
Isabela Ivan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cleaning the extra mascara that remains under the eyes? That s not harmful

jennifer-velazquez1 avatar
Jenn V.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are plastic q-tips. Please only ever buy the ones that are made with cardboard.

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

The cotton came off the top of one my grandmother was using and it never did get taken out by doctor as it was too deep.

leodomitrix avatar
Leo Domitrix
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Originally, the inventor made them b/c he saw his wife trying to clean the baby's ears. I've mostly used them for art projects to do a nice "smudge" without getting it all over my fingers.

glowworm2 avatar
glowworm2
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For years my mother would clean my ears with them. I found out the hard way that you're not supposed to do that when I accidentally managed to get the tips stuck in both of my ears without even knowing it. We discovered that after the doctor flushed them out after I was complaining about ear pain. Never used them this way again.

veni_vidi_vicky avatar
leas_ avatar
Lea S.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I use them to clean the outer part of my ear (which I've never had a problem with), to clean up after painting my nails, to clean my keyboard, to paint with, and to put vix or saline gel in my nose.

delivery-fabex avatar
The Claustrophobic Turtle
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Says the legend that someone used one of these to clear the Suez Canal.

sistence avatar
Lenka Smetanová
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What is it? Collecting DNA and then create fiction mass murderer across the East and central Europe because of the contaminate Q-tips from factory?

judysteelman avatar
Judy Steelman
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Right. Never ever put them in your ears or your dog ears unless your dog has huge ears.

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

Recreating a scene from Gladiators with a hamster? Damn mom was right

rahni avatar
Rannveig Ess
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If travelling or going away for a few days cover the ends of individual Q Tips liberally with your favorite eye shadow colors and bring them with in a baggie or slipped inside straws, bending or crimping the ends of the straws to make a cover. This saves lots of room by not having to take whole eye shadow or bush or even lipstick packages with you.

maverickatlarge avatar
Hugh Walter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lets be honest, they were invented for the one thing they say you shouldn't use them for. Mum used to make them from cotton-wool and a Kirby-grip (hair-clip) and set-to on squirming brother and I's ears!

beejayw avatar
Ben Smith
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The only reason it says that on the package is for lawsuit defense. Idiots shove them in too far and sue the company. So, of course they're used for ear cleaning and they are made to do so, just don't shove them in so far...

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

OMG! I hace taken the box in my bathroom and is true! (at least in Spain)

patrickspringer avatar
patrick springer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I stuck one in my ear as a toddler and punctured my eardrum. I got ear wax and bad ear aches and was imitating my parents cleaning my ears but stuck it too far.

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

I used them for cleaning the lenses on CD/DVD/laserdisc players.

xiavthegoat avatar
Jesus Christ
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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

I use them for make up purposes and to clean my keyboard.

scigib avatar
Karin Gibson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The guy who invented them made them because his wife had ear infections and lots of wax

joicain_1 avatar
Joi Cain
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm down to four q-tips a week whereas I used to forage wax once a day sometimes twice in one day. Nasty habit.

robertthompson_1 avatar
Robert Thompson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Invented by the Queen when she put cotton on the end of a tooth pick. Correct me in reply section.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

21 Products That Somehow Lost Their Original Purpose, As Shared In This Online Thread The warming drawer on the bottom of all our ovens, which is used as pan storage for exactly %100 of oven owners.

Newtracks1 , Grant.C Report

#7

21 Products That Somehow Lost Their Original Purpose, As Shared In This Online Thread Super glue was meant to be a temporary method of stitching a wound. It was used that way during the Vietnam War. Tell people today to super clue their cuts shut, however, and most will think you're crazy

BigBobby2016 , endolith Report

#8

21 Products That Somehow Lost Their Original Purpose, As Shared In This Online Thread Apparently paintball guns were invented for foresters/loggers/park rangers to mark trees (for cutting etc.) without having to approach each tree.

galactic-frog , Pengyi zhang Report

Add photo comments
POST
jyrihakola avatar
Jyri Hakola
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wonder how many minutes it took after the initial product release that 1st forester thought that it would be funny to shoot Mike on back.. Maybe hours but definetly not days..

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#10

21 Products That Somehow Lost Their Original Purpose, As Shared In This Online Thread Snuggy was originally designed for wheelchair users. Outerwear designed for walkers is cumbersome to take on and off for wheelchair users so snuggies were designed to help with this.

TooMuchHotSauce5 , lynn Dombrowski Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#11

21 Products That Somehow Lost Their Original Purpose, As Shared In This Online Thread Ketamine is for horses and not for Saturday night.

jibbletmonger , Steven Cornfield Report

Add photo comments
POST
donotreplytokjk avatar
Otter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's been approved for use as a human sedative, it's used in operating rooms and ICUs. And remember those Thai kids that were trapped in the flooded cave? Each kid got a shot of Ketamine before the final rescue, it kept them quiet as heroic spent hours dragging them to safety through a dangerous flooded cave.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

21 Products That Somehow Lost Their Original Purpose, As Shared In This Online Thread Bubble wrap was invented as fancy wallpaper.

galactic-frog , David Maier Report

#13

21 Products That Somehow Lost Their Original Purpose, As Shared In This Online Thread WD-40 was developed as a rust preventative (it’s even in the initials: “WD” means “Water Displacement”). Nowadays people use it to lubricate mechanical parts.

bluebirdgm , FHKE Report

Add photo comments
POST
thatguv avatar
ThatGuv
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Great for removing stubborn, leftover glue after pulling the label off a jar.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

21 Products That Somehow Lost Their Original Purpose, As Shared In This Online Thread Pipe cleaners,

Use them for all sorts of arts and crafts as kids. It wasn't till I owned a tobacco pipe and went to buy them that it actually clicked

TouchedbyJebus , Cannabox Report

Add photo comments
POST
underwood213 avatar
F-Dup
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh my Jesus Christ. I haven’t thought about these since I was in primary school. Back then, I assumed the ‘pipe’ in pipe cleaner referred the things that ran along the walls of my house and I didn’t question it. It’s only now, reading this as a fully grown adult, that I realise it’s not that kind of pipe at all. That update has been pending for decades!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

21 Products That Somehow Lost Their Original Purpose, As Shared In This Online Thread I think people already know this but the neck on the beer bottle is actually supposed to be held so you don’t warm your drink too fast.

bigbenis21 , Story Ninety-Four Report

Add photo comments
POST
michellesavage226 avatar
Michelle M
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No thank you. I don't trust my clumsy hands to hold it steady at the neck.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

21 Products That Somehow Lost Their Original Purpose, As Shared In This Online Thread Iirc Play-Doh was invented to clean wallpaper

spacelordmthrfkr , Betsy Weber Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#17

21 Products That Somehow Lost Their Original Purpose, As Shared In This Online Thread Gloveboxes were originally meant to store gloves because people used to drive with gloves on for some reason.

Yah-ThnPat-Thn , Mark Doliner Report

Add photo comments
POST
donotreplytokjk avatar
Otter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People used to drive with at the very least - gloves, dust coats, goggles, and hats on, if not full face masks. Because cars didn't have roofs or windows and the roads weren't paved, anyone who drove the first cars was going to get all the dust, mud, or weather in the world in the face.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

21 Products That Somehow Lost Their Original Purpose, As Shared In This Online Thread Minoxidil was originally developed to treat high blood pressure and people reported unusual hair growth all around the body, since it promotes blood flow to the skin pores. They came up with a topical version and voila, millions of people smear that sh*t on their scalps and beards everyday and its the one of the only clinically proven ways to cure baldness.

LeagueOfLucian , amazon Report

#19

21 Products That Somehow Lost Their Original Purpose, As Shared In This Online Thread Viagra. It’s a heart medicine originally.

VegetableWishbone , Syed Ikhwan Report

Add photo comments
POST
donotreplytokjk avatar
Otter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's still used for some heart problems, and I have no idea if anyone who's sick enough to need it for medical reasons can still enjoy the side effects.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

21 Products That Somehow Lost Their Original Purpose, As Shared In This Online Thread Botox was created to treat migraines

lovejetblack , Sam Moqadam Report

#21

21 Products That Somehow Lost Their Original Purpose, As Shared In This Online Thread Microsoft Excel/Google Sheets used as informal databases instead of as a data analysis tool

rwilldred27 , Joe Anderson Report

Add photo comments
POST
surajar avatar
Suraj A R
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think MS Excel was always used as a data analysis tool, where as MS Access was used as an informal database since 1992

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda