Did you know not all plungers are the same? Those red, bell-shaped ones are meant for sinks and tubs, not toilets. And here's one more toilet-related product you might be using wrong: A toilet paper roll patent from 1891 shows the toilet paper going over the top, not under.
Here are a few things you might not know about five common household items . . .
1. Plungers. Those red, bell-shaped ones are for sinks and tubs. For toilets, you need the kind with a flange at the end that fits into the opening at the bottom of the bowl. Or get one of those "bellows plungers" that look like an accordion.
2. Stainless steel pans. Most people don't know you can season them like a skillet, so they're easier to clean. Just coat the inside with oil. Then put it on medium-high heat for a few minutes . . . let it cool down . . . and dump the extra oil out.
3. Phone chargers. Leaving your phone plugged in all night is hard on the battery, because as soon as the power dips, it starts to "trickle charge." So it's better to charge it during the day, and unplug it when it's done.
4. The drawer under your oven. A lot of people assume it's for storing pans. But look close. It might be a broiler or a warming drawer.
5. Toilet paper rolls. Should the paper go over or under? Illustrations from an 1891patent show it going OVER THE TOP, not under. So that was the original intention.