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Products That Are No Longer Used For Their Original Intentions

Coby Azriel
There are a ton of products that we use today that seem to have had some other purpose in the past. Whether it was paintball guns, Coca-Cola, or even the history channel, there are many products we use today that were meant to be something else entirely. Maybe you haven't heard, but chainsaws were used in childbirth. If these are the crazy things you're looking to find out, continue reading to see what you're using today against its intended purpose.

Face Masks

In a time where we have to worry about spreading a deadly virus around, we need to know how to properly use the right safety equipment. People don't seem very keen on using masks for their intended purposes, though.
Face Masks
Instagram/word.mc.krn
Everywhere you go, you'll see people using it as a mouthguard or even a silly-looking chinstrap. Masks are supposed to go over your whole mouth and nose, nothing more, nothing less. Please don't put yourselves and others at risk.

Zout

Although we use Zout for a variety of purposes and stains these days, it wasn't always as multipurpose as it is now. Although it was used similarly to today, it had a much more specific use in the past.
Zout
Instagram/mamalorenz
It was found to be an extremely powerful stain remover so doctors and nurses would use it to clean their clothing. That's right, Zout was mainly used for getting the bloodstains off of scrubs after they treated a patient.

MTV

Back in the day, MTV was exactly what its name stands for: music television. It was a channel that mainly played music and even music videos. But then it became something much different.
MTV
Flickr/Saulo Pratti
Nowadays you have all sorts of shows on there. Mostly reality shows like "Catfish" and "Teen Mom" are played on there but they still stick to their roots by having an annual MTV music award show.

Benadryl (and NyQuil)

Benedryl is an oral medication used for the treatment of allergy symptoms. Likewise, Nyquil treats similar symptoms but more with an approach to treating the common cold and its symptoms.
Benadryl (and NyQuil)
Instagram/katie_runs_rhodes
Nowadays, many people don't use them for their intended purposes, but rather as a sleep aid. This is because the active ingredients are proven to make you drowsy. It got to a point where Procter & Gamble made ZzzQuil to help people sleep.

Eggplant And Peach Emojis

Emojis, or emoticons, were originally created to bring messaging to life with a more visual representation of all the emotions and things we do in our daily lives. But they have since become a little bit twisted.
Eggplant And Peach Emojis
Instagram/jessiekanelosweiner
Specifically, the eggplant and peach emojis are now used for more...sexual natures. We're not going to explain it as everyone pretty much knows by now, but they definitely have a more inappropriate context than they used to.

Propecia

Propecia is an oral drug used for the treatment of male-pattern baldness. While today it's used to help regrow hair on men who are starting to lose it, it wasn't always known to have this effect.
Propecia
Wikimedia Commons/Nick Gray
Before becoming a baldness treatment it was used to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate. When the effects on male's hair were noticed, it was adjusted to be used for hair regrowth.

Rogaine

Just like the last item that helps hair grow back, Rogaine, also known by its generic name, Minoxidil, was not originally used to help hair grow back. It seems like hair regrowth is always an accident.
Rogaine
Instagram/gallery_maryamiran
As it turns out, Rogaine's active ingredient was originally used to treat high blood pressure. Eventually, it, too, was found to have a positive effect on baldness and began its use a treatment for hair loss.

Viagra

Rogaine isn't the only blue medication that was originally intended for blood pressure regulation. The little blue pill known as Viagra was also meant to help with blod pressure, though it was meant to help raise it, not lower it.
Viagra
Instagram/timerewind
That's how its current application came to be discovered. When doctors noticed that a side effect of it would cause erections, it bagan to gain traction unitl it was approved for use in conditions like erectile dysfunction.

Botox

There's no way you haven't heard of this "miracle" substance that helps remove wrinkles from one's face. But did you know that the reason it works is that it's one of the deadliest toxins known to man?
Botox
Instagram/dra.larissafs
It works by injecting the toxin, botulinum toxin type A, created by the same bacteria that causes botulism. It was originally meant to treat (and still does to this day) muscle spasticity problems. These are disorders that cause muscles to spasm, so by paralyzing them they can temporarily relieve patients of the issue.

Airplane Ashtrays

Here's something you were probably wondering: why do airplanes still have ashtrays if you can't even smoke on a plane? Well, they were obviously there when it was legal, but today most people use it to shove their little pieces of trash into it.
Airplane Ashtrays
Instagram/frontlinerse
The reason they are still on airplanes today is because there needs to be a place to stub your cigarette on the off chance you actually decide to break this rule. No one wants cigarette garbage or a fire on the plane while it's in use.

Baking Soda

Amazingly, baking soda has been around for many millennia. As far back as 3500 B.C.E, Egyptians were using it as a soap-like product and also used it in a part of their embalming processes.
Baking Soda
Instagram/superdealsdakar
Today, we use it to bake goods as the name implies. It can still be used as an odor absorber, so its original use is still somewhat in practice today. However, you're more likely to eat it than you are to clean with it now.

Glove Compartments

You may be thinking that we're about to tell you these glove boxes were not always used for storage. The thing is, they were, but, as the name emplies, they weren't used to store all manners of documents and random things.
Glove Compartments
Instagram/bothofours926
They were actually used to store the gloves that people would wear out. Now we don't find gloves as fashionable anymore outside of Winter, but it's name as a glove box still stuck.

Q-Tips

Q-Tips have a variety of purposes. They can be used to clean small spaces that you can't typically reach, they can be used on delicate areas such as removing eye makeup, and they can be used to lightly dab antibiotic ointments on wounds.
Q-Tips
Instagram/targetdealfinder
They have so many more applications than we just listed, but the thing that most people use it for--cleaning out their ears--is strictly the one thing that you aren't actually supposed to use them for.

Jean Mini Pockets

Similar to glove boxes, we use another storage space for all manner of things aside from its intended purpose. The little pocket you find on the right side of your jeans was not always for change and small appliances.
Jean Mini Pockets
Instagram/ju.brick
In fact, the pocket was used for storing pocket watches back when people used those. The pocket provided a perfectly convenient way to store the watch without impeding the other things in your pocket and allowed easy access to it.

Cough Drops

Cough drops are always misused these days. People love to snack on them like they're candy, but they shouldn't be used in this manner. They have medicine in them that should be used only when needed.
Cough Drops
Instagram/ittybittybatmann
Aside from that, people also use many cough suppressants when they have a phlegmy cough. It's good to cough out that gunk, so if you're in need of a throat soother at that point, use something that still allows coughing.

Swisher Sweets

If you're not a smoker of any kind you've probably never heard of Swisher Sweets. These are individual flavored cigars, but today most people who buy these aren't using them for the tobacco inside.
Swisher Sweets
Instagram/swishersweets
Today, their typical application is to use the paper that the tobacco is rolled in as a holder for marijuana. People who smoke marijuana often empty out the cigar in order to use it to make a blunt.

Coca-Cola

Everyone knows and most people love the refreshing and crisp taste of Coca-Cola. But what you might not know is that it was invented for use in treating morphine addiction.
Coca-Cola
Instagram/ilamere
Yes, that's right. You may have heard that Coke used to contain cocaine and that it did. It was invented by Dr. John S. Pemberton who sought to cure his own addiction to morphine by combining kola nuts, coca leaves, and soda water into a beverage.

7-Up

Coca-Cola was not the only soft drink invented for a different purpose. The original use of 7-Up was to be a mood stabilizer and regulator using the ingredient llithium as the main source of the effects.
7-Up
Instagram/iamdjamison
Some people even think that the name of the drink was an implication to its uses. Seven is the atomic mass of lithium and the "up" would be a reference to the fact that it lift up your spirits.

The Slinky

The slinky is a marvelous spring-like toy that people love to play with. It's capable of climbing down the stairs all by itself which is a mesmerizing thing to watch. How did we get such a fun toy?
The Slinky
Instagram/1960s_1970s_photos
We're glad you asked. The slinky was originally used on naval ships as a tension spring in horsepower meters. In 1943, a marine engineer by the name of Richard James accidentally knocked one over and discovered its modern use as a toy.

Pedialyte

This drink was originally used for the purpose of keeping young children hydrated. The name is actually a portmanteau of the words pedia, the Latin word for child and electrolyte, a chemical that helps keeps us hydrated.
Pedialyte
Instagram/flyallyssa
However, because of its proven effectiveness at rehydration and the fact that it's safe for younger ages, adults typically like to use it to fight off hangovers. Now that's one heck of a difference.

Digestive Biscuits

As the name implies, these cookies were used in the aid of digestive issues, such as the prevention of flatulence. Since then, however, they have become something much more delicious.
Digestive Biscuits
Instagram/bloggers_turn_around
As it turns out, adding some chocolate and dunking them in a hot drink have proven to make these cookies one of the ultimate snacks. They are no longer just for our stomach, but also for your enjoyment!

Preparation H

Preparation H is used in the treatment and prevention of hemorrhoids. They do this by shrinking the blood vessels around the anus and tightening the skin to prevent further incidents and hernias.
Preparation H
Instagram/katalemarket
Due to their effectiveness at tightening skin, however, people like to use it as a cream to help treat wrinkles. That's not what it was originally used for and may not necessarily be the safest, but that won't stop everyone.

Super Glue

This extremely sticky substance, often referred to as a cyanoacrylate, was not originally intended for use as a bonding agent. Well, it was, but it was more so for the bonding of human tissue than anything else.
Super Glue
Instagram/cunningham_wood_work
During the Vietnam War, this substance was used to close up the wounds that soldiers received in battle. It wouldn't be until later that super glue would be used as an amazingly sticky bonding agent.

Ketamine

If you've ever had a proper class on drugs and their effects on the body (think back to high school maybe) then you would know that Ketamine is often illegally used as a recreational drug.
Ketamine
Instagram/fivestarmemeking
The fact is that Ketamine is supposed to be used to tranquilize horses, not help you trip out. This substance can be highly dangerous when used for other purposes, so it's best to steer clear of using it this way.

Beer Bottle Necks

Here's something you probably don't always think about: the shape of a beer bottle was specially designed for a specific purpose. Today, we tend to ignore that purpose for convenience.
Beer Bottle Necks
Instagram/beerbottlee
As it turns out, you're supposed to hold the bottle from the neck. This allows you to keep the drink cold. By holding it by the body, the heat produced from your hands warms up the beer and you end up having a warm drink before you can finish it.

Toilet Lids

At this point in your life, you may or may not be wondering if the toilet seat has another purpose other than keeping the smell inside the toilet or for use as a chair. Some people even use it as a shelf for their clothes while showering.
Toilet Lids
Instagram/pfrsch
As it turns out, its function isn't entirely that obscure. Most toilets don't have a huge problem with splashback, but if yours does, consider putting the lid down to prevent splattering dirty water all over the place.

Kotex

You're likely to have used these products for menstrual cycles, but did you know that they weren't always for that purpose? Well, you're about to find out what they were for.
Kotex
Instagram/online_shop_afkhami
While they have technically always been for soaking up blood, the products that became known as Kotex came from leftover cellucotton (which was wood-pulp fiber) used for bandages in World War I. The name is an alternative spelling of the combined words "cotton-like texture".

Bubble Wrap

This is one of the most fun packing materials we have ever played with. Everyone becomes addicted to popping the bubbles on bubble wrap because of how incredibly satisfying it can be.
Bubble Wrap
Instagram/ igorpugdog
However, as good as it is at keeping our packages safe during shipping and handling, its original purpose was something wildly different. As it turns out, it was originally invented as a new textural experience for use as wallpaper. Can you imagine?

Oven Drawers

Many of you might have seen this on your own oven. The drawer at the very bottom that you probably use as storage has a much more specific purpose in mind.
Oven Drawers
Instagram/lindseymgurganious
The drawer is actually a food-warming drawer. It is meant for you to keep your prepared food in to keep it warm while you put something else into the oven. Because it isn't meant to cook anything, it became a perfect place to store the pans that go into the oven.

Silly Putty

Silly putty was not always the fantastic toy that it was destined to be. Before anyone realized it could "take up comics in full color" it was used for something that makes a lot more sense when you think about it.
Silly Putty
Instagram/comicbook_ads
Silly Putty was created by accident when scientists were looking for a synthetic rubber substitute. Eventually, it failed to do that, and in looking for a practical use for it, no one could find one. But as a toy, it was great, so now we have modern Silly Putty.

Play-Doh

Play-Doh, like Silly Putty, was also not invented to be used as a toy. While we now use it as a reusable clay to creaft all sorts of fun projects, its original purpose was something far different than now.
Play-Doh
Instagram/chalkandapples
Also similar to Silly Putty, Play-Doh had a knack for "taking up" things into its mass. Though instead of comic ink, it was used to remove dirt and grime from wallpaper. Who knew that this stuff was so good at cleaning?

Mentos

These delicious dragees were not always the sweet, fruity candy that they used to be. In fact, they were originally a much more refreshing flavor. They were originally a minty flavor.
Mentos
Instagram/candyhunting
They were invented in 1932 in Poland by a pair of brothers, Michael and Pierre van Melle. They were marketed as breath mints that had a very caramel-like texture. Eventually, they were given fruity flavors to appeal to different cultures.

Chewing Gum

If you thought that Silly Putty would make sense as a rubber substitute, what do you think about chewing gum instead? That's right, this addictive food was originally meant for that same purpose.
Chewing Gum
Instagram/unijimnez
It was originally given to Thomas Adams for use as a rubber substitute when Mexico's former president, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, brought chicle, a natural gum produced by certain trees, to New York in the 1860s.

Snuggies

Snuggies are the perfect blanket for everyday life. They have sleeves so that you don't have to take your arms out from the warmth and comfort and a convenient pocket for whatever you might need.
Snuggies
Instagram/lacey_roseee_
The didn't always start out as a blanket for the perfect lazy day. They were originally intended for people in wheelchairs so that the blanket wouldn't impede their mobility. But it was marketed to everyone because it really is just that good.

Duct Tape

Duct tape, or even "duck tape" is honestly one of the best products in this world. If you have something broken that needs fixing, this type of tape can really save whatever it is you need it for.
Duct Tape
Instagram/dylantaylornow
As for what it was meant for, think about why we sometimes refer to it as "duck tape". It turns out that this tape was meant to create a waterproof seal, much like that of a duck's feathers. Now it all makes sense.

Lysol

While it has always been a cleaning product of sorts, it wasn't until more modern times that Lysol was marketed purely as a disinfectent. Before then, it was more for more feminine hygiene practices.
Lysol
Instagram/freestufffinder
They marketed it towards women to be used in the process of douching, although it was not approved as safe for use (it wasn't). It was also subtly marketed as a form of birth control, as the chemical that used to be in it could be used a spermicide and sometimes caused abortions. It also damaged sensitive human tissue.

Pipe Cleaners

When was the last time you actually used pipe cleaners to clean a pipe of some kind? Some people might use it now to clean their reusable straws, but because no one really smokes pipes, these tools real purpose has fallen into obscurity.
Pipe Cleaners
Instagram/learningwithvictoria
Now, we typically use these for arts and crafts projects. With their fuzzy texture and malleable shape, children love to use them in all sorts of inventive and decorative ways.

Kleenex

Kleenex is some of the best tissues for runny noses. In fact, they are so popular that many people just say "Kleenex" instead of a tissue. But their use as a facial wipe was not always so popular.
Kleenex
Instagram/maria.beez_87
Originally marketed as a replacement for cold cream towels, they were supposed to be used to apply skincare products. Eventually their absorbancy and usefullness as a disposable handkerchief borught them into the spotlight.

WD-40

This fluid is the ultimate in anything metallic. Not only does it lubricate metal contacts, but it also helps to stop squeaking that might come from rusted parts or general friction, such as in door hinges.
WD-40
Instagram/7008films_oficial
However, it wasn't always intended for that purpose. Originally, it had been made in order to prevent rusting in metal parts. It did this by displacing water and was basically a waterproofing agent.

The History Channel

This channel was meant to teach a whole lot about our history. Whether it was ancient Egypt or modern-day USA, this channel was going to have your back. But what has since been meant for our history has become something else.
The History Channel
Instagram/ancientaliens2021
Nowadays, this channel sports all manner of conspiracy theory shows. Their biggest catches are aliens and how they might have somehow been living on earth this whole time. Aliens making the pyramids? Yeah, right.

Corn Flakes

What can we say about Corn Flakes? They're a breakfast cereal that's healthier than most and has a pretty mild and bland flavor. That lack of sugar was actually a big part of why this cereal was created.
Corn Flakes
Instagram/shemiransuper
Oddly enough, this cereal was supposed to be eaten to prevent the urge for masturbation. Mr. Kellogg was a very religious man and he felt like certain foods were capable of inspiring "self-pollution". Bet you didn't expect to hear that one.

Microwave Ovens

Microwaves were not originally intended to heat up your food. That was an unintended discovery that led to the commercial use of microwave ovens as food cookers. You might have also heard that microwaves were made to take cryogenically frozen animals out of their frozen state. This was also not its first use.
Microwave Ovens
Instagram/cuisinart
Microwaves had been found to heat up whatever source the waves were passed through. The first application of microwaves was in diathermy, a physical therapy treatment that involved heating up parts of the human body.

Frisbees

Would you believe us if we told you that frisbees used to be pie trays? The trays were made by the Frisbie Pie Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut back in 1871. Tha's where they get their name as well.
Frisbees
Instagram/c.calv
Local college students in the area realized their potential for flight and would throw them at each other, yelling "Frisbie!" Eventually, almost a century later, the actual toy would be invented and named for (though misspelled) the pie company that started it all.

Paintball Guns

We all love to play paintball. If you haven't had a chance, it's a great and exciting way to play with guns in a way that doesn't hurt anybody. Yes, we know that sounds bad, but it is true that you're basically playing war without any actual (serious) injury.
Paintball Guns
Instagram/nowayjose_stills
Apparently, these were originally invented for foresters or loggers to mark the trees they were working on from afar so that they din't have to go all the way over to each and every tree to mark them.

Mauve

Yes, we're talking about the color. This colored dye was originally created by accident while a scientist was trying to synthesize the chemical quinine in the lab. But then its use became that of a color dye.
Mauve
Instagram/simonmhughes
Quinine back then was used for the treatment of malaria, but nowadays you can find it in tonic water; it's what gives tonic water that bitter taste. It can also be used to help treat muscle cramping.

Facebook

As big as the company is now, Facebook wasn't always meant to be the social media giant that it is today. The name of it is based on face books that used to be handed out in colleges to help students get to know each other and find people with similar interests.
Facebook
Instagram/daiki_takashima
Mark Zuckerberg originally intended for it to be basically the same. You'd go to the website and be able to find out information about different people. Now, many privacy laws are in place and social media has become a totally different kind of medium.

Chainsaws

This one is definitely going to surprise you, if not horrify you. The original purpose of the chainsaw was to be used as an osteotome, or a tool for cutting bone. It was primarily used in surgical operations called a symphysiotomy.
Chainsaws
Wikimedia Commons/Sabine Salfer
A symphysiotomy is a procedure in which a joint in the pelvis is cut in order to widen the birth canal when a baby is having a hard time coming out. As you can guess, this procedure led to many terrible side effects and is no longer done today.

Cellphones

Arguably a joke that we put into this list, it is also true that we tend not to use cellphones for their intended purpose. The phone was created to make calls, but now we use it for everything but.
Cellphones
Instagram/ladyhbomb86
While obviously everyone still makes phone calls on them, we tend to use it mostly for music, games, and texting. Most of the younger generation don't even make phone calls anymore.

LSD

This infamous drug has psychedelic effects that have been attributed to some of the creative processes of many artists, including the band The Beatles and others. Although it was banned in 1968, it created a large following in hippy culture.
LSD
Wikimedia Commons/Psychonaught
Originally, however, it wasn't meant to be used for its psychedelic effects. In 1938 it was created to be a type of respiratory and circulatory stimulant called an analeptic, which would have been used to treat a variety of conditions,

Poppers

While popular in the gay scene for reasons we are not about to share today, these inhalants were not originally used recreationally, but rather medically and therapeutically.
Poppers
Instagram/sk8l_ex90
It was originally used to treat chest pains, as the inhalant was very good at stopping them. The name also comes from the popping sound that came from popping open the heart medication that used to contain them.

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✍ WRITTEN BY

Coby Azriel

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