# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/41 "2023-01-14T22:58:33Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > WD-40 is interesting too. Water Displacement 40. Was originally used for missiles as an anti corrosive. Ok. Now it’s in just about every house a quick lubricant for small parts. Locks, hinges and stuff. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/APl0edZ8gI8/hqdefault.jpg "Hank Hill proves WD40 is the answer to all problems.") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APl0edZ8gI8) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/42 "2023-01-14T23:01:53Z")
I think Homer Simpson said that Beer is the cause and solution to all problems. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/43 "2023-01-14T23:07:15Z")
And no mention of WD-40 would be complete without some tedious wanker of a pedant pointing out that it’s truly objectively a horrible lubricant and should _never_ be used for that. It has lousy lubricity and evaporates relatively quickly leaving a gummy residue that attracts dust, sand, etc., from the air. Slippery for seconds, then slowly jams up the works for the rest of eternity. Until you use some better solvent to rinse it all out of there, and all the debris it attracted, then start over with a real lubricant. ---
**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, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/44 "2023-01-14T23:12:41Z")
At this point, I’d say that most people who buy WD-40 intend it as a lubricant, and that it’s its water displacement use that’s the use that’s better than intended. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/45 "2023-01-14T23:23:10Z")
> **[Cleanstream Water Bottle Cleansing Kit : Amazon.ca: Health & Personal Care](https://www.amazon.ca/Cleanstream-Water-Bottle-Cleansing-Kit/dp/B007KL4TRC)** > > Cleanstream Water Bottle Cleansing Kit : Amazon.ca: Health & Personal Care ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/46 "2023-01-14T23:56:49Z")
My dad was an electrician, and found that a vegetable peeler was perfect for stripping insulation on Romex wire. But that’s not a better use, just a different use. I think I may have the perfect antithetical example to this thread: Vise grips. A tool with the intended function of fixing things that are fucked up beyond repair. Not sure that can be improved. ---
**Author:** ![pirviii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pirviii/32/3233_2.png) [@pirviii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pirviii)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2023, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/47 "2023-01-15T04:01:05Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > Vise grips As a kid they were the channel changer on the TV, and I was the remote. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2023, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/48 "2023-01-15T04:38:58Z")
This is probably in the “alternate use” category rather than “better use”, but those large alligator-type paper clips are ideal for resealing many types of food bags – potato chip bags, frozen french fry bags, soda cracker packages, etc. In fact that’s all I ever use them for. Very handy kitchen gadgets. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2023, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/49 "2023-01-15T05:38:21Z")
Are you talking about these? > **[Amazon.com : Binder Clips Paper Clamp for Paper-130 Pcs Clips Paper Binder...](https://www.amazon.com/Binder-Clips-Paper-Paper-120-Assorted/dp/B0794VN392)** > > Amazon.com : Binder Clips Paper Clamp for Paper-130 Pcs Clips Paper Binder Assorted Sizes (Black) : Office Products I do the same thing ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2023, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/50 "2023-01-15T05:40:32Z")
Yes, exactly those clips. Don’t know what I’d do without 'em! ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2023, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/51 "2023-01-15T05:53:05Z")
Oh yeah, binder clips make excellent clamps for gluing small pieces of wood. ---
**Author:** ![omenran](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omenran/32/3318_2.png) [@omenran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omenran)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2023, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/52 "2023-01-15T07:16:05Z")
YMMV for _better_ and _intended_ is Ballistol. Sold in the US mainly for cleaning and maintenance of guns, though the US site also lists dozens of other uses. It also can be used as a disinfectant. [There are variations sold in Germany (Neo-Ballistol) that have gone though governmental approval for such use.](https://www.ballistol-shop.de/Body-Care/Ballistol-Universal-Oil_B_S_40_221.html) As I understand it, if it was officially approved for medicinal use, then it could no longer be sold as a lubricant/maintenance product. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2023, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/53 "2023-01-15T08:32:29Z")
[![](https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/H59495203642a40c08653ca742efb7b3bL/Electric-Handheld-Massager-Cordless-Rechargeable-Wand-Massager-for-Muscle-Back-Neck-Shoulder-Full-Body-Pain-Relief.jpg_Q90.jpg_.webp) ](https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/H59495203642a40c08653ca742efb7b3bL/Electric-Handheld-Massager-Cordless-Rechargeable-Wand-Massager-for-Muscle-Back-Neck-Shoulder-Full-Body-Pain-Relief.jpg_Q90.jpg_.webp) Advertised intended usage is seen at top right. Actual better usage is left as an exercise for the reader. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2023, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/54 "2023-01-15T08:56:29Z")
Lipton French onion soup mix has always been far superior for mixing with sour cream as a chip dip than as a soup mix. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2023, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/55 "2023-01-15T09:32:32Z")
or in meatloaf and hamburgers ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2023, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/56 "2023-01-15T10:57:32Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > large alligator-type paper clips are ideal for resealing many types of food bags I use them to clamp rolled up plastic tubes of toothpaste and similar as they get used up. Very rarely for holding papers together as I guess they are intended. Paper clips are usually better for that. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2023, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/57 "2023-01-15T12:19:52Z")
Though I despise it, I think don’t think cream of mushroom ‘soup’ is eaten as a soup very often. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2023, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/58 "2023-01-15T12:25:44Z")
Minoxidil (aka Rogaine) was originally intended to treat high blood pressure. Men taking it suddenly discovered that it helped regrow lost hair, which has since become its primary use. Pipe cleaners these days are used much more for crafts than for cleaning pipes. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2023, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/59 "2023-01-15T12:43:57Z")
id say computers i mean they’re better as a world library, game system ,news paper … than the calculator and file cabnients they were supposed to be in fact, I used to have a college teacher acquaintance that said " the internet is the modern library of Alexandria… and just as full of shit as the original … ---
**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 15, 2023, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215/60 "2023-01-15T13:51:02Z")
I did a whole thread once on whether cream of mushroom soup was a soup or an ingredient. I believe the consensus was “neither”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-have-better-uses-than-their-intended-function/978215.md?page=4)