The use of magnets in everyday life
Everyday life without magnets is hard to imagine.
The refrigerator door stays open without magnetic closures, the electric toothbrush in the bathroom does not work, and the loudspeaker in the living room suddenly falls silent.
Whether in devices, closures or holders, magnets provide significant assistance every day and yet go mostly unnoticed.
In this FAQ article, we show you where magnets can be found in everyday life and what functions they perform.
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Magnets in the home: everyday aids with magnetic pull
The first magnet that may come to mind when you think of household magnets is the classic fridge magnet. Photos or notes can be attached with refrigerator magnets, adding a personal touch to the kitchen. But that's not all. Magnets are clearly noticeable and useful in many other areas of everyday life.
How magnets tidy up the kitchen day-to-day
Staying in the kitchen, we encounter other visible magnets in everyday life that ensure order and efficiency. For example, knife racks or knife blocks that keep kitchen knives safely within reach and save space on the worktop. Metal strips in combination with spice jars and small neodymium magnets are popular accessories as well and transform kitchen walls into versatile, stylish organisation zones. Magnetic hooks or magnetic wardrobe knobs are also utilised in the kitchen, for example, to hang kitchen utensils on the refrigerator or other ferromagnetic surfaces.Additionally, magnets are an important component in many kitchen appliances that are equipped with electric motors. Examples include microwaves, blenders and coffee makers. The built-in magnet supports the conversion of electrical energy into mechanical motion through the interaction of magnetic fields and electric currents. Magnets also perform an important control function in switches and relays by selectively opening or closing electrical circuits. Magnetic force plays a dual role in refrigerators and freezers, too: as a component of the motor and for controlling the internal electronics.
The following points illustrate once again where magnets are used in the kitchen:
- Knife racks and magnetic knife blocks
- Magnetic hooks or magnetic wardrobe knobs
- Magnets in the motors of microwaves, blenders and coffee makers
- Magnets in switches and relays for controlling electronics
Fun fact from the supermagnete team: Even the lid of your Thermomix is magnetically designed.
According to Thermomix, some models have small magnets above the mixing bowl handle that signal to the appliance whether the lid is correctly positioned.
This is a clever example of safety by means of magnetic force, as the cooking process only starts when the lid is closed.
Magnetic DIY projects for the kitchen
Magnets provide numerous ways to customise your kitchen. With a little creativity, functional and stylish projects can be realised to fit perfectly into everyday life.
Magnets in the bathroom: discreet and functional
You'll also encounter magnets every day in the bathroom. Often unnoticed, but with a clear function:- In electric toothbrushes, for contactless energy transfer and vibration during brushing.
- Built into practical multi-purpose containers or modular shelf boxes that can be attached to ferromagnetic surfaces where needed.
- In the magnetic soap holder, to save space on the sink edge or in the shower.
A look at larger appliances reveals that magnets often play a technical role that is central to everyday life. In washing machines and tumble dryers, an electric motor with magnetic components ensures that the drum rotates reliably. Smaller magnets are also used in relays and magnetic switches for control and safety functions, such as opening and closing the door. Electronic scales also utilise the effects of magnets. After weighing, a small magnet ensures that the pointer on the weight display returns to rest. This works via so-called eddy currents: when a metal object moves in a magnetic field, a slight resistance is created, slowing the movement. As a result, the pointer does not oscillate for long, but remains stationary. This gives you a quick and accurate result.
Magnetic DIY projects for the bathroom
Magnets offer countless possibilities for designing your bathroom to be both unique and functional. Let yourself be inspired:
Magnets in everyday life for decoration and tidiness in the sitting room
Whether in loudspeakers, remote controls with magnetic mounts or recessed magnets in TV cabinets, magnets are an invisible but effective part of everyday life. Loudspeakers, for example, would remain silent without magnets. The built-in electromagnet interacts with a permanent magnet to generate vibrations. As electrical signals pass through, the magnet attached to the diaphragm is attracted and repelled. This causes the diaphragm to vibrate, producing sounds or, more specifically, sound waves.Magnets in the sitting room at a glance:
- Recessed magnets in TV cabinets
- Remote controls with magnetic mounts
- Speaker boxes whose electromagnets interact with permanent magnets to generate sound waves
Fun fact from the supermagnete team: In older television sets, magnets were used to focus and precisely align the image.
If an external magnet came too close to the housing, the image could become permanently distorted or discoloured.
This is a classic effect that many still remember from the era of tube TVs.
Modern sets, such as plasma or LED TVs, instead work with different technologies and no longer require focusing magnets.
Creative magnet projects for your sitting room
Discover creative magnet projects for your sitting room. Magnets don't always serve a technical purpose; they can also add function and style to decorative applications.
Why magnets are indispensable in the office
We also encounter magnets in everyday life at the office. For example, in headsets, microphones and loudspeakers. They are even used in telephones, such as for the vibration setting. In this function, a small magnet works together with a coil to generate movement. Without magnetic force, there would be no vibration.Modern computer technology also impressively demonstrates how widespread magnets are in our daily lives. Laptops, for instance, contain magnetic contacts that detect whether the lid is open or closed. In traditional hard drives, strong magnets moved the read and write heads precisely across the storage disks. Magnets are also built into headphones: when current flows through the coil, it generates a magnetic field that acts on the fixed magnet, causing the diaphragm to move. This produces sound, just like a loudspeaker in your sitting room. Magnets are used in headphone charging cases as well, namely to open and close the case.
These points show once again where magnetic force provides technology and convenience:
- Headsets, microphones and loudspeakers
- Telephones, laptops and hard drives
- In various charging cases for headphones, for secure opening and closing
Magnetic DIY ideas for everyday office life
Your office is more than just a work area; it is your creative space. With magnetic DIY projects, you can make it not only more functional but also more personal. Let yourself be inspired.
Magnets in other smart everyday applications
The applications are endless: whether for our furry four-legged friends or for riding an e-bike, magnets have a smart use there, too.
For some cat flap versions, the cat wears a small magnet on its collar, which unlocks the flap's lock when it approaches.
This ensures that the door is only open for your own furry friends.
Neodymium permanent magnets are also installed in e-bike motors.
They provide a compact, efficient drive with high torque.
In some models, the same motor also acts as a generator, allowing some of the energy to be recovered during braking.
These examples clearly demonstrate that magnets perform a wide variety of tasks in everyday life, from the mundane all the way to modern drive technology.
As versatile as the possible applications of magnets are in everyday life, careful use of their existing power is equally important. Please follow the safety instructions for safe handling.
