# What Products Have Better Uses Than Their Intended Function? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 14, 2023, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215 "2023-01-14T14:16:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/1 "2023-01-14T14:16:04Z")
People claim you can use vinegar or baking soda for many things. **But what product do you think is more useful than its usual use?** ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/2 "2023-01-14T14:44:33Z")
There used to be things marketed as “ink erasers”, made of rubber with abrasives embedded in it, that would “erase ink” by scraping off the top layer of paper. You don’t see them on the market any more, no doubt because they really didn’t work well for what they were supposed to do: Half the time, you’d just destroy the paper, and “erase” by creating an entirely new copy without the mistake. But it’s a darned shame that you can’t buy them any more, because even though they sucked at erasing, they were the absolute best tool for the job of cleaning corroded electrical contacts. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/3 "2023-01-14T14:51:47Z")
Look on Amazon under “sand erasers” though “ink eraser” works, too. You can also find those half and half erasers for pencil and ink. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/4 "2023-01-14T14:53:49Z")
A cheap plastic lighter (especially Bic) is the perfect tool for opening beer bottles. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/5 "2023-01-14T15:02:15Z")
A classic in this regard is the use of superglue for fuming to detect fingerprints, though it’s debatable if society is better served by such usage in comparison to sticking things together rapidly. And they’re continually coming up with unforeseen ways to deploy that magical stuff, [WD-40](https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/brilliant-ways-to-use-wd-40/).\* \*if they could work the bugs out, I bet it’d be great for fixing arthritic joints. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/6 "2023-01-14T15:04:39Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > it’s debatable if society is better served by such usage in comparison to sticking things together If this thread is inevitably destined to be filled with _interesting_ alternative uses for things that aren’t necessarily _better_ than their intended function, the question must be asked - is this is a better use for this thread? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/7 "2023-01-14T15:16:17Z")
Indeed, that reminds me, they were the best for cleaning the HO train tracks. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/8 "2023-01-14T15:16:45Z")
We could ask…or we could just roll with it. It is up to we. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/9 "2023-01-14T15:19:44Z")
This is not an example. They are still better as lighters and not as good as a church key anyway. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/10 "2023-01-14T15:36:13Z")
Back in my college marketing class they mentioned Avon’s skin-so-soft that once it was found to be a bug repellent and more people were using it for that then skin soft reasons they kept that to themselves for many years as they would have to back any claim of such things if they advertised it as doing so which would be expensive and not necessarily be provable. Quite a bit later they did make that jump into that claim but it took about a decade or so. ---
**Author:** ![Dandan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@Dandan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandan)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/11 "2023-01-14T15:54:11Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > This is not an example. > They are still better as lighters and not as good as a church key anyway. Never heard of this, so GOGGLED it! I’d say a Bic is at least as good as a church key, especially if you don’t have a C K in your pocket. You’d probably stand a better chance of finding a Bic in a pocket among a random group, and beer won’t give you lung cancer, which meets the “better uses” criteria. Dan ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/12 "2023-01-14T15:58:09Z")
Q-tips? Supposedly they aren’t meant for earwax removal, but _come on_. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/13 "2023-01-14T16:04:54Z")
What about Silly Putty? I remember using it to clean typewriter keys and those Selectric balls. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/14 "2023-01-14T16:06:08Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I bet it’d be great for fixing arthritic joints. 😛 Nah, that’s what Windex is for (see: _My Big Fat Greek Wedding_). ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/15 "2023-01-14T16:20:55Z")
How do we count products whose intent shifted? Play-doh is a much better toy than it is a wallpaper cleaner, Slinkys are much better toys than antennas, Silly Putty is a much better toy than it is an electrical insulator, and Viagra is much better at treating erectile dysfunction than high blood pressure, but they’re all now marketed primarily or exclusively for their “unintended” uses. > [@Dandan](#): > > You’d probably stand a better chance of finding a Bic in a pocket among a random group I don’t know about that, since a lot of Swiss army knives and similar pocket tools include a bottle opener. I especially don’t know about it now, with smoking largely being replaced by vaping. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/16 "2023-01-14T16:32:45Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > How do we count products whose intent shifted? I was going to suggest the internet, but on reflection DARPA probably always had porn in mind. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/17 "2023-01-14T17:12:04Z")
> [@Dandan](#): > > > [@What\_Exit](#): > > > > This is not an example. > > They are still better as lighters and not as good as a church key anyway. > > Never heard of this, so GOGGLED it! I’d say a Bic is at least as good as a church key, especially if you don’t have a C K in your pocket. You’d probably stand a better chance of finding a Bic in a pocket among a random group, and beer won’t give you lung cancer, which meets the “better uses” criteria. > > Dan Hope you didn’t hurt yourself making that stretch. mmm ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/18 "2023-01-14T17:21:53Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > How do we count products whose intent shifted? Play-doh is a much better toy than it is a wallpaper cleaner, Slinkys are much better toys than antennas, Silly Putty is a much better toy than it is an electrical insulator, and Viagra is much better at treating erectile dysfunction than high blood pressure, but they’re all now marketed primarily or exclusively for their “unintended” uses. Likewise, I can’t personally attest to Kleenex’ utility as a cold cream remover (it’s originally marketed use). But it does make an excellent, disposable alternative to a handkerchief. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/19 "2023-01-14T17:47:05Z")
According to Bored Panda and Reddit, here’s 40 of them: > **[“What Product Has A Better Use Than Its Intended Function?” (40 Answers)](https://www.boredpanda.com/products-better-use-than-intended/)** > > With just a little thinking outside the box, you might find an even smarter way to use these products! ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/20 "2023-01-14T18:29:40Z")
Preparation H is a medication is used to temporarily relieve swelling, burning, pain, and itching caused by hemorrhoids. In its original formula it was an excellent topical medication to reduce bags under the eyes. However, the manufacturer did not like this “side benefit” so the formula was changed. This occurred sometime in the early 1970s. The current formula no longer works. However, the meme persists to this day. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215.md?page=2)