There may be times when we come across something in our home, perhaps in a drawer or in a box in the attic, and we have no idea what it is. When we see these things, we sometimes turn to the Internet for the answers we need.
There are also times when some things are so difficult to identify that the Internet even has a hard time. Such was the case with some of the following 15 hidden gems that truly took someone by surprise.
It’s not just a matter of understanding why these items are no longer in use—it’s understanding what they were used for in the first place. You will appreciate this as much as we did.
1. “I found this plugged into the wall at my Airbnb. My host claims it’s a night light. Can I get some confirmation?”
Answer:
Yes, it’s a night light. More specifically, it’s an LED nightlight with a built-in photosensor. These devices detect ambient light, turning on at night and off during the day. The black dot visible on the front is the light sensor.
2. “My mother-in-law bought this house built in the early 1900s. On the first floor, there are these two doors. They are very small, about the height of a soda can.”
Answer:
It’s a cat door. These mini doors allowed house cats to move freely between rooms, especially when homes were designed with closed-off kitchens or storage areas. Their size fits a typical adult cat.
3. “What is this small plastic pouch with red gel and a metal disc inside?”
Answer:
It’s a reusable hand warmer. When you click the metal disc, it triggers a chemical reaction that solidifies the liquid and emits heat. After cooling down, you can reset it by boiling in hot water.
4. “What’s this hollow metal box with sharp grooved edges?”
Answer:
It’s a specialty saw attachment for an oscillating tool. Electricians use it to cut precise holes in drywall for installing electrical boxes—hence the grooves and square shape.
5. “What are these small waxy minty sticks — they look like hot glue sticks.”
Answer:
These are dental wax sticks, often used by people with braces. They help prevent irritation by covering sharp brackets or wires inside the mouth.
6. “What’s this 4-inch all-metal cylinder tool with looped ends?”
Answer:
This is a comedone extractor—a skincare tool used to remove blackheads and pimples. The loops provide controlled pressure around the blemish for hygienic extraction.
7. “What is this red glass light I found while metal detecting?”
Answer:
It’s a navigation light lens from a boat. Red lights are positioned on the port (left) side of boats, and green lights on the starboard (right), allowing vessels to identify direction in the dark.
8. “What is this small vintage ceramic container with a cork? I believe it’s from the 1940s.”
Answer:
It appears to be a soy sauce dispenser or condiment bottle. These small corked containers were common in mid-20th-century kitchens and may hold value as collectibles.
9. “What’s this aluminum cube with circles featuring additional cubes with circles?”
Answer:
That’s a Turner’s Cube. It’s a machining test object made by apprentices or hobbyists to demonstrate precise cutting skills using a mill. It’s now a popular fidget or desk toy for engineers.
10. “What is this diamond-esque shaped glass object? It’s a little bigger than the size of my palm.”
Answer:
It’s a decorative paperweight. These were often used in offices or libraries to keep papers from blowing away, especially before air conditioning or digital files became the norm.
11. “It is the size of my hand, the white top screws on and off, and the red bag part expands and is pretty thick. What is it?”
Answer:
That’s a mini hot/cold compress pack. You can fill it with hot or cold water and use it for soothing headaches, muscle pain, or minor injuries. The screw cap seals it shut securely.
12. “What is this phone charm thing? It comes apart and looks like a macaroon when put together.”
Answer:
It’s a screen cleaner disguised as a macaron. The soft pad inside is used to wipe off fingerprints and dust from smartphone or tablet screens.
13. “What is the red pointy plastic used for?”
Answer:
It’s a tab can opener. Before modern easy-open lids, this tool helped lift sharp metal pull-tabs on soda and food cans, reducing the risk of cuts.
14. “We received this in a goodie bag but have no idea what it’s supposed to be used for.”
Answer:
That’s a purse hook. You unfold it and place the round end on a table edge, letting the hook hang underneath. Then you can hang your bag to keep it clean and off the floor.
15. “My father-in-law gave this to me as a gift.”
Answer:
The object in question is a Mason mouth gag—a surgical tool once used to keep a patient’s mouth open during medical or dental procedures. While outdated today, it’s part of medical history and often kept as a curiosity.
Why Are These Items So Confusing?
Many of these strange objects are no longer in everyday use. They were either:
- Highly specialized, like the oscillating saw attachment or Mason gag
- Replaced by modern alternatives, like the hand warmer or paperweight
- Disguised in appearance, like the screen cleaner macaron
As time passes, once-common tools can become relics, and their purpose is no longer obvious.
Tips for Identifying Unknown Objects
If you’ve found something strange in your home and have no clue what it is:
- Take a clear photo with size reference (e.g. a coin or your hand)
- Search via Google Lens or image reverse search
- Ask online communities like Reddit’s r/whatisthisthing
- Look for manufacturer stamps or labels
- Ask older family members, who may recognize it from earlier decades
Conclusion
Mystery items don’t have to stay mysteries forever. With a little curiosity and research, everyday people have identified all sorts of strange tools, gadgets, and collectibles hiding in plain sight.
So the next time you say, “Found something strange?”—you might just have a historical artifact or forgotten invention on your hands.
Sources (anchor text format)
- LED Night Light with Sensor – Home Depot
- Reusable Hand Warmer Function – ExplainThatStuff
- Dental Wax for Braces – Colgate
- Comedone Extractor Tool – Healthline
- Navigation Light Colors – BoatUS
- Turner’s Cube Explained – Wikipedia
- Mason Mouth Gag – Anesthesia Museum
- Purse Hook Uses – Amazon
- Macaron Screen Cleaner – Amazon
- Oscillating Tool Blade Uses – This Old House