Did you know the chainsaw wasn’t originally invented to cut wood? It first appeared in the late 18th century as a medical tool meant to help during difficult childbirths. As terrifying as that sounds, it looked nothing like the large, powerful device we know today—though it probably wasn’t a particularly pleasant sight either.
It just goes to show that products don’t always end up being used the way their inventors intended. One Redditor asked people to share things that are now commonly used for completely different purposes, and the responses were full of surprising examples. We gathered some of the most curious ones here. Scroll down to see what they shared.
#1
The chair in your bedroom. It was never designed to be a wardrobe, yet here we are.
Image source: JustASingleMomOnline, Nik/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
#2
Everything is a hammer, unless it’s a screwdriver, in which case it’s a chisel.
Image source: patiofurnature, Oxana Melis/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
#3
Qtips cleaning my ears.
Image source: KSUOwls98, Getty Images/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
#4
Pedialyte. Same use- dealing with dehydration, but instead of children with fevers, adults who have had too much alcohol.
Image source: optimisticdata, Curated Lifestyle/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
#5
I use the vacuum sealing machine meant for food to save left over caulking tubes or any item that will ruin when exposed to air. Place the tube or left over glue in a bag and even a year later good to go.
Image source: Bumblbi, Mufid Majnun/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
#6
Bubble wrap was originally invented to be wallpaper.
Chainsaws were originally invented to help during childbirth.
Image source: BrewMan13, Getty Images/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
#7
Ozempic.
Image source: tamaralynnchambers, Curated Lifestyle/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
#8
Baby oil – no one uses that to fry babies.
Image source: thisbitbytes, Getty Images/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
#9
Something like half of prescription meds are used for something other than the indication they’ve been approved for.
Image source: zed42, Getty Images/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
#10
Good ol butterknife screwdriver.
Image source: Kabutroid, Maryam Sicard/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
#11
Although the manufacturer gave up many decades ago, the classic answer is “Kleenex”. It was originally marketed to be used with cold cream to remove makeup. Eventually it became obvious that they were selling far more of them for people to blow their noses into, and they became “nasal tissues”.
Image source: Dorsai56, Getty Images/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
#12
The Danish cookie tins that are used as sewing kits.
Image source: turb0_encapsulator, Antonio Prado/Pexels (not the actual photo)
#13
Tennis balls to wash your duvet.
Put the duvet in the washing machine, and toss three tennis balls in as well.
Wash. The tennis balls will agitate the duvet.
Same with the dryer. The tennis balls will keep the filling in the duvet from clumping.
Image source: MBAdk, Rhamely/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
#14
Pipe cleaners.
Image source: zydeco100, Curated Lifestyle/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
#15
Tooth brushes when worn should not be thrown away. They make excellent grout and cleaning brushes.
Image source: Binda33, Getty Images/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
#16
Most university/college degrees. Many people are doing something other than using the degree they have.
Image source: Michigander_4941, Pablo Merchán Montes/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
#17
Swiffer dry mop pads: best nail polish remover ever, instead of cotton balls. 1 bloop of nail polish remover on one of those dry pads, and your nail polish will come off in 1 clean shot. The nail polish remover won’t evaporate, stays wet, and makes it so fast and less wasteful with the nail polish remover. I cut mine up into little strips. Done.
Edit: Discovered this by accident + out of laziness when I ran out of cotton balls and one of those pads was near me. I’m never going back. It works so well.
Image source: DonatellaVerpsyche, Curated Lifestyle/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
#18
Elmer’s gluestick as an eyebrow block in makeup application.
Image source: Practical-You7120, Karolina Grabowska/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
#19
Paper clips, they are used for everything mate, I went to school with McGyver.
Image source: Veneboy, Manav Jain/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
#20
Melamine sponge (magic eraser) will scuff the surface of both acrylic paint and solvent based paint (not tried on oil) just enough to key it for a fresh layer of gesso/paint/thick medium/whatever; without damaging canvas integrity.
Image source: CrazyPlatypusLady, Karolina Grabowska/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
#21
Duct tape fixes basically everything.
Image source: CartRiders, Getty Images/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
#22
A few classics:
* WD40 and duct tape – marketed narrow, used for literally everything, and the companies lean into it.
* Vaseline – sold as skin protectant, half the internet uses it for eyelashes, squeaky hinges, and “personal” reasons the label will never mention
* Baby oil / baby powder – the “baby” branding is doing a lot of polite pretending.
* Sharpies on skin for tattoo stencils, surgical marking – not the intended surface, universally done anyway.
Image source: RespawnedAndBroke, Towfiqu barbhuiya/Pexels (not the actual photo)
#23
My father bought a box of 500 (!) dehydrated napkins for our wedding; they look like white mints, but if you add a few drops of water, they unfold and are made of quite high quality paper. I keep a small ziplock of them in my toiletry bag; many European hotels don’t supply washcloths and these are made of thick enough paper to last for a few days of face-washing. They’re also great for camping. Thanks, Dad!
Image source: clucksters, Hoyoun Lee/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
#24
I use Dawn dish soap to take oil stains out of clothing.
Image source: MamaPajamaMama, Kampus Production/Pexels (not the actual photo)
#25
Ngl, zip ties are for cable management on paper, but in reality they are the only thing holding every aging car bumper and backyard fence together.
Image source: Single_Lake_8008
#26
Baby lotion as insect repellant.
Image source: cool-but-not-really
#27
Microsoft Excel is NOT a database!
Image source: Grandizer1973, Mika Baumeister/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
#28
Uncle Ben’s ready rice.
Image source: morethanonefavorite, Ahmed/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
#29
At this point, GPUs?
Image source: GammelGrinebiter, Sumeet Singh/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
#30
I got an avocado smasher for making guacamole. Though good for guaq, its the absolute most perfect thing for making deviled egg filling.
Image source: SleepyCountingSheep, RDNE Stock project/Pexels (not the actual photo)
#31
I turned a heating pad for my back into a warmer for horse bits. Designed a clamshell device to put it in, place the bit across the inside, and close it. Warms them up quickly and safely in the winter.
Image source: Equizotic, Curated Lifestyle/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
#32
I use my adjustable hammer to loosen nuts and bolts occasionally.
Image source: Pimp_Daddy_Patty, cottonbro studio/Pexels (not the actual photo)
#33
Those black alligator clips for holding papers…..are the best chip clips ever. I worked in a lab and we used the hell out of them for just about anything.
Image source: Pahanka
#34
Vicks Vaporub for nail fungus treatment.
Image source: NewTomorr0w
#35
I came here to look for a Super Glue comment. As far as I know it was designed to be used as ‘liquid stiches’. I still use it for that more than anything else, but almost no one believes me when I recommend it for wound closure.
Image source: fretless6
#36
Whipped cream charger canisters. For some strange reason the community around my local dodgy gas station smoke shop are making so much whipped cream that they need industrial-sized 4-liter tanks of mango-flavored nitrous oxide available for purchase 24 hours a day. I guess there are a lot of confectioners living in the rough part of town.
Image source: CarrotCumin
#37
The cheapest hair conditioner on the shelf is the best shaving cream I’ve ever used. It’s slicker than snot on a doorknob, it won’t dry your skin out, and the bottle lasts a year or more, for like $5.
Just don’t spill any on the shower floor.
Image source: Awkward_Pangolin3254
#38
Apparently ramen is a universal filler for damaged masonry. At least according to TikTok. .
Image source: TheEmperorForget
#39
Butter knives. The Swiss Army knife of kitchens everywhere. It’s a screwdriver, lock picker, garden tool and, if it’s a good one, a pry bar.
Image source: Knitspin
#40
Tennis balls to help furniture or walkers slide.
Image source: 1chickpea
#41
Nutcrackers to open pesky bottle lids.
Image source: Cryptoprocta42
#42
Chopsticks for checking the moisture in my plant soil.
Image source: Diligent_Tonight_236
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