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.
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History Channel... as far as I am concerned the secret relationships between aliens and the illuminati do not qualify as "history"
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.
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.
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.
Q-tips. The only thing they are used for is the one thing you are explicitly told not to use them for.
The warming drawer on the bottom of all our ovens, which is used as pan storage for exactly %100 of oven owners.
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
Apparently paintball guns were invented for foresters/loggers/park rangers to mark trees (for cutting etc.) without having to approach each tree.
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..
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.
Ketamine is for horses and not for Saturday night.
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.
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.
Great for removing stubborn, leftover glue after pulling the label off a jar.
If it doesn't move and it should, WD-40. If it moves and it shouldn't, duct tape.
Never use classic WD-40 as a lubricant. It does the exact opposite; it removes grease (as well as grime).
Excellent comment. I have to tell people this all the time at work. It is NOT a replacement for light machine oil.
Load More Replies...It's a bad lubricant, but it's great for cleaning. Many people don't understand that that is actually what they're doing. Cleaning it. And protecting it. Real squeeky things need actual lubricants that last a little longer.
Yeah, I don't like using aerosols in general, but WD40 definitely is necessary for bike maintenance. Only lasts until it gets wet again though, so make sure to use grease to keep it working!
Load More Replies...Oddly enough, I've read that people do massage WD40 onto arthritic joints and it's supposed to work. I have terribly arthritic knees. Perhaps I should try it and see if it's true.
Load More Replies...It's one of those things you need in your home. You won't use it every day, but damn is it useful in so many ways. Lubricant, solvent, restoration, repair...
I still use it for that (as well lubricating) - Any equipment that gets wet - spray down with WD-40 before putting it away, keeps it from rusting.
It's also used to prevent rust a lot of the time also. I've also seen it used to protect parts that shouldn't get wet in cars.
I used it when my door lock keyhole got jammy (I live near the ocean so everything exposed gets rust etc), now it works like a charm in that it doesn't hold my key captive and refuse to let it go any more
Load More Replies...We have a friend who goes by his initials are WD (first and middle - he's a jr). In sports, his number was always 40.
Lubricant in large letters is displayed on the can. False advertising?
Load More Replies...Invented by Norm Larson of the San Diego Rocket Company in 1947. He sold them the rights in the late 50s and set up his own company allegedly developing a more superior product but, when he died suddenly in the early 70s, the company folded and the formula disappeared.
And finally for those who think that WD-40 is lubricant, they did release version of product which actually says lubricant on the can... I guess they just gave up :D
My can of WD40 lists "Stops Squeaks" as the first of several uses.
Load More Replies...It's great for cleaning them. Use oil afterwards.
Load More Replies...You only need 2 tools. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD-40. If it moves and it shouldn't, use duct tape.
it eventually becomes gunky and stops things from moving easily...
Another California invention from San Diego - first used WD-40 Multi-Use Product to protect the outer skin of the Atlas Missile from rust and corrosion. Also falsely claimed to help sore joints by a fan rag. They ran an article claiming that WD-40 would help cure your arthritic joints, One woman took that to heart and after copiously applying it to her achy joints, totally screwed her body up royally and became a multi millionaire by suing the paper.
You can also use it to get rid of wasp nests. You break the current one down and spray WD-40 where it was and they can't rebuild on that spot for a long time
You only need two tools: w-40 if it’s suppose to move but doesn’t; and duct tape if it does move but isn’t suppose to 😉
I mean, technically lubricating mechanical parts is one way of preventing rust, so it's still often being used indirectly for its original purpose, it was just discovered to work well for multiple purposes, I suppose.
I've heard some people use it when cooking steak! Spray it right on the meat! Um ... Eeewww...?
It also doesn't contain fish oil and is horrible for lubricating bike chains.
I´m not sure about this. Most people I´ve seen using it, they use it as a water displacement.
Noooooooooo..........run under cold water always...or ice water......I know a lot of people swear by these things...butter is one, but cold water will take the " heat" out, and stop the tissue damage in the skin. PS. Not trying to argue with anyone, got nothin but love for ya...but always open minded for friendly debate if you think, or know otherwise.( hey-Sometimes you gotta update your views. )((Pss. but I think I am mostly correct on this one, lol)
Load More Replies... 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
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!
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.
No thank you. I don't trust my clumsy hands to hold it steady at the neck.
Gloveboxes were originally meant to store gloves because people used to drive with gloves on for some reason.
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.
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.
Microsoft Excel/Google Sheets used as informal databases instead of as a data analysis tool
Facebook... originally intended to help college students meet, now used to control political behavior.
Zuck started it for dude-bros to rate the "attractiveness" of female students. So...It went from shitty to shitty in a different way, really.
Load More Replies...Lots of medical products had entirely different intentions! Dramamine was originally meant to combat hay fever, but turned out to be exceptional at preventing nausea (which is good as it's useless at preventing hay fever). Spironolactone was being tested for blood pressure uses until they realized that it acts as a testosterone blocker (it does actually affect blood pressure, but barely compared to more traditional blood pressure medications). Pharmaceuticals is basically an entire industry of "not what I was going for but let's roll with it".
Skin So Soft (S.O.S.) from Avon was a beauty product, but was found to be an excellent mosquito repellent
Should I say autotune software. I think it was invented to improve the mistakes made after recording, now it's used to enhance voice and sound quality, and hide flaws of the singer and musicians.
Coke was a soft drink before,now I use it to clean my toilet and sink.They're quite cheap.
Coke actually started out as a medicine and was developed by a pharmacist. It originally contained cocaine but that was removed in the early 1900's and became a drink.
Load More Replies...And canola (rapeseed) oil was originally developed as an industrial lubricant too - the petrochemical industry shut that down fast!
Load More Replies...Here in India, 'Clinic Plus' is still sold and promoted as a shampoo but is an amazing bike and basin/bathroom cleaner.
BoredPanda. It was created for art/photography and such and now it contains a lot of posts shaming people.
It seems like you pushed a Qtip a lot too far in your ear.
Load More Replies...Facebook... originally intended to help college students meet, now used to control political behavior.
Zuck started it for dude-bros to rate the "attractiveness" of female students. So...It went from shitty to shitty in a different way, really.
Load More Replies...Lots of medical products had entirely different intentions! Dramamine was originally meant to combat hay fever, but turned out to be exceptional at preventing nausea (which is good as it's useless at preventing hay fever). Spironolactone was being tested for blood pressure uses until they realized that it acts as a testosterone blocker (it does actually affect blood pressure, but barely compared to more traditional blood pressure medications). Pharmaceuticals is basically an entire industry of "not what I was going for but let's roll with it".
Skin So Soft (S.O.S.) from Avon was a beauty product, but was found to be an excellent mosquito repellent
Should I say autotune software. I think it was invented to improve the mistakes made after recording, now it's used to enhance voice and sound quality, and hide flaws of the singer and musicians.
Coke was a soft drink before,now I use it to clean my toilet and sink.They're quite cheap.
Coke actually started out as a medicine and was developed by a pharmacist. It originally contained cocaine but that was removed in the early 1900's and became a drink.
Load More Replies...And canola (rapeseed) oil was originally developed as an industrial lubricant too - the petrochemical industry shut that down fast!
Load More Replies...Here in India, 'Clinic Plus' is still sold and promoted as a shampoo but is an amazing bike and basin/bathroom cleaner.
BoredPanda. It was created for art/photography and such and now it contains a lot of posts shaming people.
It seems like you pushed a Qtip a lot too far in your ear.
Load More Replies...