10 Everyday Items You're Using Totally Wrong

Microwave with cross

Cheapism / ilkermetinkursova/istockphoto

Cheapism is editorially independent. We may earn a commission if you buy through links on our site.
Microwave with cross
Cheapism / ilkermetinkursova/istockphoto

It's Never Too Late To Learn Something New.

Life can be a tricky thing to navigate, and it just so turns out that many of us really could do well by having some kind of universal instructional how-to manual to ensure that we don't end up horrendously misusing everyday products and items completely incorrectly. 


You'll likely walk away from this helpful article having your own clutch course-corrections for an ultimately more smoothly navigated existence. 

Plunging Toilet
SchulteProductions/istockphoto
Young female using deodorant after shower in bathroom
fizkes/istockphoto

Only Using Deodorant on Your Armpits

Deodorant isn't actually only intended for just your armpits. In fact, you can efficiently use deodorant on many other parts of your body, like your legs and your thighs. Good smells all-around. 

Microwaved Lasagna
Spauln/istockphoto

Placing Food in the Microwave Incorrectly

If you're finding yourself in the recurring and unfortunate predicament of dealing with various foods that you attempt to heat up in the microwave, only to realize they've been unevenly heated, you'll want to put your next plate of food near one of the edges of the inside of the microwave, and not in the microwave's center. 


Related: 20 Microwave Recipe Hacks You Need To Know

Carpenter Measuring a Wooden Plank
stevecoleimages/istockphoto

Missing A Tape Measure's Hidden Feature

There are small markings that are plotted out on tape measures to ensure that you're able to find the correct position for wall studs. The black diamonds on the tape measure are referred to as literal "stud finders", and they'll ultimately help you mark off the center point that's located between two studs. 


Related: The Worst Home Maintenance Mistakes You Can Make

Close-up of a male buyer's hand pushing a shopping cart in a household chemicals department
Stockah/istockphoto

Not Using the Loops on Shopping Carts

Many shopping carts are specially designed with helpful loops that can actually be used to carry your extra grocery bags. They'll be able to keep your grocery bags remaining upright in case they have any fragile items, or you'll have that much additional storage space if you ended up having a big groceries haul. 

They are ready for the oven now!
PeopleImages/istockphoto

Misusing Your Oven Drawer

Okay, so this one came out of left field. It turns out that many of us in this day and age are in fact using the drawer that's located underneath the oven incorrectly. It was supposed to be used as the spot where you could store a meal you'd just cooked up, and help keep it warm while you attended to cooking dessert in the oven. (Though keep in mind that some oven drawers are actually broilers, so check yours first.)

Blender Filled with a Light Purple Liquid, Berries, and Spinach, Being Blended, Selective Focus, By a Smiling Woman, Blurred Plant in the Left Foreground
Luna Vandoorne/shutterstock

Filling Your Blender Incorrectly

You'll want to make sure that your blender is operating at maximally efficient capacity by putting the right amount of food in the blender. Plus, you'll be even better off by putting whatever liquid you're going to use first and then putting the berries in afterwards. 


For more handy lifehacks, sign up for our free newsletters.

wintergreen tic tacs
Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

Not Using the Tic Tac Dispenser

So, it turns out that that very convenient design feature located on the inside of the Tic Tac dispenser's lid is intended to dispense one Tic Tac at a time. Simply flip the Tic Tac box over, turn it on its side, and then open. You should see one tasty Tic Tac sitting, ready for consumption.


Related: I Tried 6 Tic Tac Flavors, and Only 2 of Them Will Freshen Your Breath

Shiny Aluminum foil on wooded table.
LifestyleVisuals/istockphoto

Not Securing Your Aluminum Foil

It can get to be very frustrating when you go to use your handy aluminum foil, only to have the entire roll of aluminum foil come out. There is a quick and easy fix, and it's stamped right on the box. It literally says, "Press Ends To Lock Roll". If you look on the sides of the aluminum foil box, you should see small grips, and then you simply push those small grips in to hold the foil in its place. 

Full dishwasher
Vesnaandjic/istockphoto

Loading Your Dishwasher Incorrectly

To make sure that your dishwasher operates with max efficiency, don't overload your dishwasher and stack your plates on top of each other. Your best bet is to organize your dirty plates from carbs in the middle and then protein on the edges. 


When you do this, the carb plates will be located underneath your dishwasher's most powerful water streams. Then, the edges of the plates will be able to undergo the lengthiest soaking times, which is best for the harder-to-clean protein spots. 


Related: 15 Things You Should Never Put in the Dishwasher