That tape measure in your toolbox has a secret. The loose metal tab at the end isn’t broken—it’s designed to move. It shifts by the exact thickness of the tab itself to ensure accurate measurements whether you’re pushing against something or hooking onto an edge. Most people have no idea. And that’s just one example of how everyday tools get misused without anyone realizing it. From the plunger sitting next to your toilet to the WD-40 in your garage, there’s a good chance you’ve been doing it wrong this whole time.
Your toilet plunger probably belongs at the sink
Here’s a question that might change how you see your bathroom forever: what shape is your toilet plunger? If it’s that classic cup-shaped design with a flat rubber bottom, you’ve been using the wrong tool for the job. That style of plunger is actually meant for sinks and shower drains, not toilets. The flat design creates a seal on flat surfaces, which works great for drain openings but struggles with the curved shape of a toilet bowl. It can technically work, but you’re making the job harder than it needs to be.
For toilets, you want a flanged plunger instead. These have an extra rubber flap that extends from the cup, fitting snugly into the curved drain hole at the bottom of the bowl. Some stores also sell accordion-style plungers that work like a bellows. Next time you’re at Home Depot, take a look at the plunger section and notice how different they all look. Buy the right one for each job, and keep your toilet plunger far away from your kitchen sink.
Daisy-chaining extension cords is a fire hazard
At some point, everyone has plugged one power strip into another to reach a distant outlet or add more plug space. It seems harmless enough, right? Wrong. This practice, called daisy-chaining, is one of the most common electrical mistakes people make at home. The problem is simple physics. The more wire you add to a circuit, the higher the electrical resistance becomes. Higher resistance means more heat building up in places it shouldn’t be. That heat can eventually cause wires or components to catch fire.
There’s another issue too. When you chain multiple extension cords or power strips together, the first one in the chain gets overloaded. It ends up supporting way more devices than it was designed to handle. The outlet itself might also get pushed past its limits. Government safety guidelines specifically warn against this practice because it’s such a serious fire hazard. If you need more outlets or reach, find another wall socket instead. It’s a small inconvenience compared to dealing with an electrical fire.
Old surge protectors become dangerous over time
Speaking of power strips, here’s something most people never think about: surge protectors don’t last forever. That old power strip you’ve had since college might be a ticking time bomb. Over time, the components inside that protect your electronics from power surges wear out. Once they’re done, you’re left with what’s essentially a glorified extension cord that offers no real protection. Worse, the aged materials can become a fire risk themselves, especially if you’re using them in a daisy chain situation.
If you can’t remember when you bought your surge protector, that’s a pretty good sign it’s time for a replacement. Many manufacturers recommend replacing them every three to five years, or after a major power surge event. Some newer models even have indicator lights that tell you when the protection has worn out. Don’t just grab whatever old surge protector you find lying around for your next project. Check its age first, and when in doubt, throw it out and buy a fresh one.
Liquid and dry measuring cups aren’t interchangeable
Most kitchens have two types of measuring cups sitting in the same drawer. There’s the stackable set that nests together like Russian dolls, and there’s the glass Pyrex pitcher with red lines on the side. Many home cooks grab whichever one is closest without thinking twice. But these two tools are designed for completely different purposes, and using the wrong one can actually mess up your recipes. The stackable cups are meant for dry ingredients like flour and sugar. The glass pitcher is meant for liquids like water and oil.
Why does this matter? Try measuring water in a dry measuring cup sometime. You’d have to fill it right to the brim without spilling, and even then the water doesn’t sit flat. It forms a curved surface called a meniscus because of surface tension. That tiny difference can throw off precise recipes. Meanwhile, dry cups let you scoop flour and wipe excess off the top with your finger for exact measurements. You can’t do that with a glass pitcher. For everyday cooking, it probably won’t ruin dinner, but using the right cup makes the job easier.
Duct tape should never go on actual ducts
Duct tape might be the most misleadingly named product in hardware stores everywhere. Despite the name, using it on actual ductwork is one of the worst things you can do. The stuff was originally developed for the military to seal ammunition cases, not to repair heating and cooling systems. Its adhesive breaks down over time, especially when exposed to heat. Look at anything you’ve ever taped with duct tape and you’ll notice the sticky part eventually gets gummy or completely dries out and fails.
Hot air ducts create the perfect conditions for duct tape to fall apart. The heat causes the adhesive to melt and lose its grip, sometimes within just a few months. Plus, duct tape doesn’t actually seal very well against moisture or air leaks. If you need to repair ductwork, buy tape that’s actually made for the job. The Duck Tape brand sells HVAC aluminum foil tape specifically designed for this purpose. Save your roll of duct tape for the countless other odd jobs it’s actually good at handling around the house.
WD-40 is not actually a lubricant
Got a squeaky door hinge? Most people reach for the WD-40 without a second thought. It’s been the go-to fix for sticky, squeaky, rusty problems for decades. But here’s the thing: WD-40 isn’t really a lubricant. Even the company’s own website admits this. The name stands for Water Displacement, formula 40. It was designed to displace moisture and clean surfaces, not to lubricate moving parts. When you spray it on a squeaky hinge, it works temporarily by cleaning out the gunk and rust that was causing the friction.
The problem comes later. Since WD-40 is more of a solvent and cleaner than a true lubricant, it eventually evaporates and leaves behind bare metal. That metal-on-metal contact means your hinge will start squeaking again, sometimes worse than before. The official WD-40 website recommends using their product first to clean the area, then following up with an actual lubricant. You can try WD-40 Silicone for slightly better lubrication, but a proper oil or grease will give you longer-lasting results on moving parts.
The right order matters when fixing squeaky hinges
Now that you know WD-40 isn’t a lubricant, what should you do when that door hinge drives you crazy? The answer is a two-step process that most people skip. First, spray the hinge with WD-40 to clean out all the dirt, dust, and rust that’s accumulated over the years. Work the hinge back and forth a few times to make sure the solvent gets into all the tight spaces. Wipe away any excess gunk that comes out. This cleaning step is where WD-40 really shines.
But don’t stop there. Once everything is clean, apply a proper lubricant like silicone spray, white lithium grease, or good old-fashioned machine oil. This creates a lasting barrier between the metal parts that will keep things moving smoothly for months or even years. Think of it like washing your car before waxing it—the WD-40 preps the surface, and the lubricant does the protecting. Skipping either step means you’ll be back spraying that hinge again much sooner than necessary.
Your tape measure’s loose hook is a feature
If you’ve ever noticed the metal hook at the end of your tape measure wiggling around, you might have assumed it was cheap construction or years of wear. Not the case. That little bit of play is completely intentional and serves a specific purpose. The hook moves back and forth by exactly its own thickness. When you hook it onto the edge of a board, it extends outward. When you push it against a flat surface, it collapses inward. Either way, you get an accurate measurement from the true end of the tape.
Without this movement, your measurements would always be off by the thickness of the metal hook. Depending on whether you’re hooking or pushing, you’d get a reading that’s slightly too long or too short. Most people don’t know about this clever engineering solution built into every decent tape measure. If your hook doesn’t move at all, or if it moves way more than it should, then you might actually have a problem. But a small amount of wiggle means your tape measure is working exactly as designed.
Using a shop vac as a backup plunger works
What happens when you’ve got a clogged drain and no plunger in sight? Before you panic, check if you have a shop vac in the garage. These powerful vacuums can actually clear drain clogs when used correctly. Make sure you’ve got it set to vacuum liquids, not dry material. Create a tight seal around the drain opening with the hose and turn it on. The suction can often pull out whatever’s causing the blockage, especially in sinks and shower drains where the clog isn’t too deep.
This trick works best as a temporary solution or when you’re dealing with minor clogs close to the surface. It’s not a replacement for having the right plunger, but it can save the day in a pinch. Just remember to clean out your shop vac thoroughly afterward—nobody wants drain gunk sitting in there until the next project. And if you find yourself using this trick more than once, it’s probably time to invest in a proper set of plungers for different drains around the house.
The tools sitting in your home right now all have specific purposes that aren’t always obvious. A plunger designed for sinks won’t work well on toilets. Duct tape fails on actual ducts. WD-40 cleans but doesn’t truly lubricate. Even something as simple as measuring cups come in varieties meant for different tasks. Taking a few minutes to learn how these everyday items actually work can save time, money, and frustration. The next time you reach for a familiar tool, ask yourself if you’re really using it the way it was intended.
