ADVERTISEMENT

Even the biggest discoveries can happen by accident. So it's only natural that many of the world's famous products were created for one purpose but people found them useful for a completely different task.

In an attempt to learn about as many of these cases as they could, Redditor u/ljchazal posted a question on the platform, asking other users, "What products serve a better purpose than what they were designed for?" And everyone immediately started submitting their answers.

As of this article, there are 14K comments under the post, many of which provide surprising insights into such things as talcum powder or botox. Bored Panda went through them all and handpicked a selection we believe is worthy of your time. Enjoy.

#1

People Share Product Purposes That Aren't What They Were Designed For And Here's 30 Of The Best Ones Press and Seal sucks for food use in my experience, but we use it to apply numbing cream on my son's chest at home before he gets blood drawn from his port at the oncology clinic each week. It holds the cream in place and adheres to his skin well enough that the film doesn't get dislodged by the seat belt on the ride to the hospital. It comes off painlessly, which is not the case for any medical films we have tried. It's a strange little miracle in the pediatric oncology world.

Cancermom1010101010 , wikimedia Report

There are many approaches to creating a product. So to find out more about these practices, we contacted Chris Lefteri who's recognized throughout the world as a leading authority on materials and their application in design.

"In my work, the process starts with researching and finding materials and because it's about bringing material innovation to my clients, it's essential that we understand what the material can achieve and start designing from that," the creator of FixIts, a reusable bioplastic stick that is revolutionizing repairs and the fight against unnecessary waste and product obsolescence, told Bored Panda.

"If you play with materials, pull them apart and ask them what they want to be, then they will give you the answers. It's much more effective than designing products and then trying to fit a material into something you have already designed."

ADVERTISEMENT
#2

People Share Product Purposes That Aren't What They Were Designed For And Here's 30 Of The Best Ones The royal dansk danish cookie container, used by many for storing sewing/ knitting supplies

JanDiPyo , openfoodfacts Report

Add photo comments
POST
boredpanda_48 avatar
ZAPanda
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

why is this an international thing? we do this here in africa too, and yes, with royal danish.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Trying to determine whether or not a particular design is good, many turn to Dieter Rams and his '10 commandments.' According to Rams, good design is innovative, makes a product useful, is aesthetic, makes a product understandable, is unobtrusive, is honest, is long-lasting, is thorough down to the last detail, is environmentally friendly, and involves as little design as possible.

But can we say that something is inherently bad because people found a new use for it? One that wasn't foreseen by the manufacturer?

"I love products that are misused!" Lefteri said. "People do it all the time, the back of a chair to hang clothes, a brick to hold open a door, an upturned pot as a step to reach. It's inspiring to see creativity applied in this way. My product FixIts, which is a moldable plastic that can be reused again and again, was created exactly with this in mind. It lets consumers find their own uses and be creative in how to make, mold, and mend."

#3

People Share Product Purposes That Aren't What They Were Designed For And Here's 30 Of The Best Ones Amputee here. VR systems have been shown to reduce phantom pain. The proprioceptive illusion of a VR system is similar to mirror therapy but more effective.

Low_notes_z06 , flickr Report

Add photo comments
POST
talcottmargaret avatar
My Name Is Mars
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

VR is also being used to help those who suffer from chronic pain and it looks quite promising. That gives me hope as a 40 year old who's suffered from rheumatoid arthritis since the age of 6 and Adult Onset Still's Disease as well as fibromyalgia. Some days my pain is so intense I can hardly get out of bed much less be productive in any significant way.

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

Taking a broader look, Lefteri thinks that it's more and more important that we find new ways to use materials and products since the global community needs to really think about the impact we all make on our planet. "If you can reuse something rather than throwing it away then that's far better than it ending up in a landfill," Lefteri added.

And he's right. Every year, we dump a massive 2.12 billion tons of waste into the Earth — if we put all of it on trucks, they would circle the world 24 times.

Garbage is dumped on land-based dumpsites or in the oceans and include:

  • Construction waste;
  • Industrial waste;
  • Household waste;
  • Plastic waste;
  • Electronic waste;
  • Radioactive waste;
  • Sewage;
  • Run-off waste (fertilizers, pesticides, and oil from, for example, farms running off into groundwater, rivers, oceans).

We need to do better.

#4

People Share Product Purposes That Aren't What They Were Designed For And Here's 30 Of The Best Ones Sugar free gummy bears would be better marketed as gummy laxatives

Reasonable_Roger , flickr Report

Add photo comments
POST
boredpanda_48 avatar
ZAPanda
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yes, that's because they contain maltelol. Your body can't digest it, so it gets rid of it asap. Any sugar-free sweet ("candy") with maltlilol will do this.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#5

People Share Product Purposes That Aren't What They Were Designed For And Here's 30 Of The Best Ones Tampons were invented to plug bullet wounds and bloody noses. Then the nurses started using them to plug a different bloody hole.

oneburntwitch , pexels Report

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

Tampons are a medical and hygiene necessity. So why are they taxed?

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

People Share Product Purposes That Aren't What They Were Designed For And Here's 30 Of The Best Ones Shaving cream, the super foamy cheap kind, cleans glass shower doors better than any cleaner!

WateringBird , flickr Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#7

People Share Product Purposes That Aren't What They Were Designed For And Here's 30 Of The Best Ones Congested? Vicks Vapor Rub. Cough? Vicks Vapor Rub. Headache? Vicks Vapor Rub. Squeaky door hinge? Vicks Vapor Rub. Dry skin? Vicks Vapor Rub. Anything stuck? Vicks Vapor Rub.

Steiger92 , flickr Report

#8

People Share Product Purposes That Aren't What They Were Designed For And Here's 30 Of The Best Ones I was prescribed a diabetes medication called Metformin, despite not having diabetes, which helped me to fall pregnant after almost 1.5 years of unexplained infertility so that’s pretty cool.

maps_mandalas , pexels Report

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

Metformin, have to take it twice a day for my diabetes. Read that they suspect it's a longevity miracle drug, tests are ongoing but only if you're not diabetic. smh 😔

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

People Share Product Purposes That Aren't What They Were Designed For And Here's 30 Of The Best Ones There's a prostate drug that my wife's doctor prescribed her for passing kidney stones. It relaxes the ureter, which let her pass the stones, which made surgery or other options unnecessary. I thought that was pretty neat.

Also, doc gave her another drug to lower her blood pressure (beta blocker), which reduced her anxiety almost immediately. All the time I've known her, she's been a nervous wreck over the most mundane things. Now she lives normally. She became a different person instantly. I could always see the shell she lived in and now it's broken away and gone. She's the person I saw behind the shell. Amazing.

Lebatolol (the BB) and flomax for the kidney stones.

ImJustSo , flickr Report

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

Beta blockers are listed as approved for anxiolytic use, it's listed in the medication leaflet. Is this a "different depending on country" based thing?

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

There used to be a rat poison that would make the blood in the vermin stop clotting and literally let it bleed to death on the inside and lacking vitamin k. It's also odorless and tasteless, so the rest or mouse would come back and have more blood thinning until it died. Well, eventually rats and mice became resistant to this poison (because the smart survive and learn to avoid it or they had higher forms of vitamin k), and this, combined with a Navy officer attempting suicide by taking this four blocks of this poison and being just fine after getting vitamin k to stop the blood thinnig effects led to the creators taking a different path for this now ineffective rat poison...

And that's the story of the popular heart drug Warfarin.

CrackersTheBigDuck Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#11

I very, very seldom use flathead screwdrivers for their actual purpose. They’re just so useful - chisels, scrapers, punches, exploratory instruments, very small crowbars, shitty chopsticks... the possibilities are endless!

king-of-the-sea Report

#12

People Share Product Purposes That Aren't What They Were Designed For And Here's 30 Of The Best Ones Botox. Originally used to control crossed eyes, then to control spasming facial muscles, when it was noticed it alleviated wrinkles. Now also used as a migraine treatment. Who would have thought injecting a toxin that temporarily paralyzes muscles would find such widespread usage?

toodlesandpoodles , picpedia Report

#13

People Share Product Purposes That Aren't What They Were Designed For And Here's 30 Of The Best Ones Ketchup cleans up brass and gold better than most toxic chemicals sold as cleaners.

deleted , pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
boredpanda_48 avatar
nfrlprdpr avatar
Mazer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s the vinegar, save your money, just use vinegar and for stubborn stains and rust or tarnish add baking soda if needed. Usually just soaking a rusty tool or tarnished metal can perform wonders

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

It’s the acid. A lot of toothpastes will polish well too, and 1/2 tomatoes.

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

Ketchup also removes fox poop smell when dogs have rolled in it.

law2342 avatar
Lola Williams
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Former jeweler here. Do not put toothpaste baking soda ketchup on your jewelry unless you want to have to pay to replace most of your stones and gems. The grit gets in between the prongs and widens them until they stone falls out please dont do this. If you dont want to use jewelry cleaner use mild dish soap. And not all stones can be submerged or cleaned please research your peices before diy cleaning. I cant tell you how many diamonds i have had to replace because of this rumor.

eunishaemerson_1 avatar
Eunisha Emerson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So does Hot Sauce. Tried the little packets from very well known American Taco franchise to clean an old penny as a kid. Holy Crap it worked well! All I did was let it soak a bit and it wiped clean.

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

Yup. I have de-oxidized several items with salt and vinegar (you can get industrial strength on Amazon real cheap). Just be sure to do one kind of metal at a time and don't ever use a metal container unless you want everything plated (ask me how I know 😅).

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

You can also use Denture Tablets from the Dollar tree as gemstone jewelry cleaner...bubble it & a toothbrush scrub on the stones...unless it plated & that plating has fissures...or Opal...NO Opals ever!! I use those toothy tab things for a Tom of stuff: Glass Hummingbird feeders, plonk a couple down the loo etc...$ Tree Ultra Brite 🦷 paste is great jewelry polish AND is approved by the ADA😁

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

My thrifty Yankee mother taught me to polish copper and brass with half a lemon dipped in salt.

libby6 avatar
Stargazer66
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's because it contains vinegar and tomatoes which are acidic. Ever clean tarnished pennies with lemon juice and salt as a kid? Same principal.

gwynnegreene_1 avatar
Gwynne Greene
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's because of the vinegar in the sauce, or the natural acid in the Romano which is used as a natural disintegrated product.

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

I'm gonna have to test that out on the globe I'm about to sell. lol

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

if you bleach your hair and go swimming too soon after your hair will go green, Ketchup will counteract that chemical reaction and your hair will return to blonde

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

Not sure about brass or gold but if you have something that has oxidation that you want to remove salt and vinegar (ahem, Tabasco sauce) works like a charm.

alanna-elric avatar
Alanna Elric
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love watching those coin cleaning videos where they coat the thing in ketchup

chrisd_7 avatar
Chris D
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Weirdly enough saliva is also really good as a degreaser. Spit on it, then when done just wipe over it with a wetnap. Easy day.

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

A museum curator taught me this when I was a docent. Whenever you see "enzymatic cleaner" on a restoration invoice, it very often means spit on a cotton swab. Saliva is a very good cleaning fluid for oil paintings, it seems.

Load More Replies...
alicia_15 avatar
Alicia de Cervantes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to work in a restaurant with a ton of brass. We used ketchup weekly. I wonder if that's why I refuse to have it in the house.

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

But you've got to smell the horrible stench of ketchup to use it. 🤢

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

I saw someone just dump ketchup on their sink to do this. But there was no difference. What a waste.

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

As does soda. Basically, anything with food grade acid or base does this.

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

It's mostly the vinegar. Ascetic acid is a natural antioxidant. The product CLR is just a stronger form of it with the odor removed.

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

I've still got a very clean spot on my tarnished aluminum baking sheet where a meal kit instructed me to roast tomatoes months ago. It's not just the vinegar in the ketchup, tomatoes themselves are pretty acidic.

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

Vinegar is a well known cleaner, but does have corrosive qualities.

blbrightonoswin_1 avatar
Brian Bennett
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Been there done that - does not empty your wallet as do toxic chemical cleaners do!

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

I used to clean cars at a rental company. We obviously didn't have enough time to deeply clean every car, and sometimes people would bring their dogs. We had a rubber brush for removing dog hair, but it hardly worked. Wearing a rubber glove and rubbing the hair off the seats and carpet worked wonders.

jpfrost17 Report

Add photo comments
POST
blbrightonoswin_1 avatar
Brian Bennett
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just tried this on on stair rug that vacuums just would not remove cat and dog hair - works super!

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

Binder clips.

I use them for everything except holding documents- closing chip bags, holding parking stubs or packets of headache powder on my visor in my truck, keeping cables bundled, keeping the trash bag from slipping down into the trashcan, holding up my mini Spider-Man bobblehead so it looks like he's clinging upside-down on the bottom of a shelf, keeping rubberbands contained so they can't take over my junk drawer...

TransmogriFi Report

Add photo comments
POST
desireemckinnon620 avatar
Desiree McKinnon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I use them to keep my phone charger cable from falling behind my desk, and to hold the bottom of the toothpaste tube after I've rolled it up

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

People Share Product Purposes That Aren't What They Were Designed For And Here's 30 Of The Best Ones sticky notes were invented on accident when the adhesive used in them was rejected as a glue because it wasn’t strong. The inventor had a musician friend who loved how easy it made pinning his sheet music up, and now we have post-its

Maria-Stryker , flickr Report

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

No way. Romy and Michele invented Post-its. I learned it in business school.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

Thalidomide.

Originally developed as treatment for morning sickness, Thalidomide infamously caused serious birth defects in thousands of children. However, a cancer research lab in the 90s found out that Thalidomide cut off blood vessels shortly after the same lab discovered that solid tumors need new blood vessels to grow. Thalidomide has turned out to be a good potential treatment for multiple myeloma.

beaverteeth92 Report

#18

People Share Product Purposes That Aren't What They Were Designed For And Here's 30 Of The Best Ones If you’re in an Asian household, dishwashers serve as excellent drying racks, as do empty ovens.

overdramaticteen , flickr Report

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

In my office there was always big deal to never leave dishes in dishwasher because people are incapable of checking if the dish is clean od dirty and just put dirty dishes among clean ones. Also, the sink was full of dirty dishes, so it's better to just empty the dishwasher immediately

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#19

People Share Product Purposes That Aren't What They Were Designed For And Here's 30 Of The Best Ones Talcum powder is great for getting excess sand off your feet when you get off the beach and want to put your shoes on without getting sandy socks and shoes for the rest of the day

PM_ME_YOUR_DOGSNCATS , flickr Report

#20

Q-tips are meant for cleaning my ears and don't let anyone else tell you otherwise

TheFunkmaster223 Report

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

If we're not meant to clean our ears with them then why does it feel like having an orgasm when we use them? 🧐

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#21

People Share Product Purposes That Aren't What They Were Designed For And Here's 30 Of The Best Ones A disposable razor will get all the loose bobbles from your clothes.

deleted , flickr Report

Add photo comments
POST
gclayton025 avatar
olx
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

also will cut your clothes if you're not *very* careful. just- trust me.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

People Share Product Purposes That Aren't What They Were Designed For And Here's 30 Of The Best Ones Hairspray takes toddler ink pen doodles off my couch. While it makes my hair look just awful sometimes.

speckledapron , pexels Report

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

I swear I used so much Aquanet in the early 90s lol I can almost smell the fumes now

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

People Share Product Purposes That Aren't What They Were Designed For And Here's 30 Of The Best Ones Play doh was wallpaper cleaner before it was a kid toy

YellohDJDan , flickr Report

Add photo comments
POST
blbrightonoswin_1 avatar
Brian Bennett
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We used something like 'Play doh to clean the keys of our Typewriter internal keys back in the olden days - it was a bit stiffer. Used something like Play doh to strengthen my hands after an injury - back in the olden days!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

Pipe cleaners. As a teacher and a pipe smoker, I can safely say I use them for arts and crafts about 1000x more often than I use them to clean out my pipe.

MusclesRipley Report

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

As a child I thought pipecleaner was one word, didn't twig that it was cleaner of pipes until I was about 6, and we moved next door to a pipe smoker. It may have been when I said oh look, Mr Dykes is using a pipe cleaner to clean his pipe, sound of penny dropping

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

People Share Product Purposes That Aren't What They Were Designed For And Here's 30 Of The Best Ones Melon baller. It's for making balls from melons but works perfectly to take the core out of apples and pears.

deleted , pixabay Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#26

Ive used the same carabiner as a keyring for over a decade.
Its never had to support anywhere near the kilo Newtons its listed to be able to support.
Slipping keys on and off it is kilo tonnes easier and secure than normal key rings though.

Nooobish Report

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

I have two attached to my electric scooter. It doesnt have any kind of storage so we bought two of these and hung an old backpack on the back of the scooter. Now I have a "trunk" in my mobility aid :)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

Vacuum sealers.

My FoodSaver never sees anything edible. Instead, I use it to protect infrequently used items from dust & moisture, and to make archived papers (taxes, passport, etc.) easier to store. It's also very useful to repackage bulky or specialized cleaning products & supplies & emergency items.

Food, that just gets eaten, usually.

deleted Report

#28

People Share Product Purposes That Aren't What They Were Designed For And Here's 30 Of The Best Ones Bubblewrap initially was just fancy wallpaper.

Also, superglue was invented by accident, when engineers couldn't separate glass sheets after attempting to make clear plastic. Later it was used in battlefields to temporarily close wounds.

daktarasblogis , flickr Report

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

Wall paper 🤔 I'd feel as though I'd walked in on Dexter, getting his kill ready 😵

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

My dad bought a fruit scale specifically for the purpose of weighing meatballs. His reasoning was that, if all the meatballs he prepared are the same weight, he'd only have to poke one to know whether or not they were all cooked because the heat absorption would be more or less identical.

PresidentMagikarp Report

Add photo comments
POST
penelopegold1972 avatar
Penelope
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Except when your oven heats unevenly. Which is another headache altogether.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

People Share Product Purposes That Aren't What They Were Designed For And Here's 30 Of The Best Ones Scarf hanger = camisole holder.

princessmouseskin , pixabay Report

Note: this post originally had 40 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.