I Was Today Years Old: Five Things We Just Learned How to Use (Correctly)

I Was Today Years Old: Five Things We Just Learned How to Use (Correctly)

We’re living in a golden age of “Wait… what?” You know the moment.

You find out a tool or trick you’ve been using since childhood has an actual purpose you never realized.

So in the spirit of humility and hilarity, here are five things we’ve all been using wrong, and what to do instead.

1. The Hole in the Elevator Door Isn’t for a Key, It’s a Manual Override Slot

Have you ever noticed the tiny keyhole on the elevator doors in public buildings? It’s not a secret maintenance room.

It’s a tool slot for firefighters and technicians to open doors in emergencies manually.

Trying to jam your house key in there while panicking? Not gonna help.

2. Toilet Plungers Come in Two Shapes, And You Probably Have the Wrong One

The classic red dome-shaped plunger is for sinks, not toilets. 

Toilets require a flange-style plunger (the one with a rubber funnel at the bottom).

If you’ve been using the sink one… well, that explains some splashback.

3. There’s a Correct Side for Aluminum Foil

That shiny side? It reflects heat. The dull side absorbs it.

When baking or wrapping food, face the shiny side inward for heat reflection, and dull side out to retain moisture or vice versa depending on your goal.

Bonus: Most people don’t care. But now you can pretend you do.

4. You Don’t Need to Rinse Dishes Before the Dishwasher

Modern dishwashers are built to detect grime.

If you pre-rinse, the sensors assume the dishes are clean and underperform.

Let the machine do its job; unless you're running a dishwasher from 1992 held together by duct tape and good intentions.

Source: Consumer Reports, May 2023

5. That Drawer Under Your Oven is a Warming Drawer, Not a Storage Locker

If you’re like most of us, that drawer is crammed full of pans and baking sheets.

But it’s designed to keep cooked food warm until serving.

The heat from the oven above makes it perfect for holding mashed potatoes while you finish the fried chicken.

The Real Takeaway?

We’re all out here winging it.

But a Kentucky Dude isn’t afraid to admit when he just learned something new, then shout it from the porch like a town crier with a cold beer.

So go check your plunger. Flip your foil. And stop rinsing those dishes like a chump.