Handy Features Explained! by Pam Crooks

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1. What is the purpose of the little hole in padlocks?

It allows water to drain if the padlock is left outside or whatever.  Also, if you’re afraid the padlock will jam up, just pour a little oil in that hole so it won’t!

2. Why are headrests detachable?

This was the only one my husband didn’t know (that I asked him about.)  One might want to detach the headrest for his own reason, but an important tip is that if (God forbid) you are trapped in your car, removing the headrest will allow you to use the metal posts to break open the window to escape.

3. What is the purpose of the can’s tab?

Besides opening your beverage, that is!  Just turn the tab around, and it will be a straw-holder for you!  (I honestly had no idea!!  I just put the straw in the main hole!)

4. Why does a tube of toothpaste have these colored blocks at the end?

 

These blocks will come in either blue, red, green, or black.  (Yep, my tube of Crest had a red block!)  They are “eye marks” that machines in the factory will read to know when and where to cut the tube, then seal for packaging.

5. Why do some garments come with little swatches of fabric?

One might think the extra fabric is used for mending, which is what the buttons are for, right?  But nope.  The little swatches are to be used for washing to test for shrinkage or color bleeding.  Although, I would certainly use it for mending a little hole if I had to!

Did you guess all five correctly?

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Pam has written 30 romances, most of them historical westerns, but she's proud of her contemporary sweet romances featuring the Blackstone Ranch series published by Tule Publishing, too! Stay up on the latest at www.pamcrooks.com

15 thoughts on “Handy Features Explained! by Pam Crooks”

  1. No, I sure didn’t , the only one I guessed for was wrong! Now I know what all these things are for, Thank you so much for sharing this awesome information. 🙂 Have a great weekend.

  7. Once I read it, I remembered about the hole in the padlock being for drainage.
    I have a tool in our car for breaking the window. As much trouble as I have getting the headrest off during normal times, I wouldn’t want to have to do it in an emergency.
    I did know about the pull tabs.
    The marks on the tubes were new to me. With so much automation, it makes perfect sense.
    As for the patches, I am terrible about checking for color fastness and shrinkage. I just throw it in and hope for the best.
    Thank you for the information.

    • You’re very welcome, Pat. Glad you enjoyed the info.

      My nephew who owns his own car repair shop was unaware of the headrest posts being used to break out windows. The long posts, he says, are used to adjust for comfort, but safety and escape? A bonus, right? And I agree – it’s tricky getting the headrest out in the best of circumstances!!

  8. I figured out the padlock question and knew the answer to the soda can question, but learned something new with the other 3. Thanks for sharing.

  9. The headrest and the soda can, I can now remember reading or hearing about previously. These bits of trivia are so enlightening and I love finding out new things. Thank you so much, Pam.

  10. Glad y’all enjoyed learning these little tidbits of info! It was fun pulling them all together. I actually saved back one or two and will post them in the reader group soon.

    Thanks for joining me!!

  11. An interesting group of facts. The old pop- top cans had an interesting use. The dime-sized metal pieces could be used in place of dimes in many machines. Naturally, the laundromat moved to quarters to prevent their use.

  12. No, I didn’t! I got numbers two & three right, but I think my ideas for number five were pretty good anyway. lol

    And don’t wash that tiny little swatch of fabric in your washer… it’ll get totally lost if it shrinks!! 😀 haha

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