You’ve sat on one.
You’ve stacked them.
You’ve used them as impromptu side tables, plant stands, or even drum sets.
But have you ever stopped to wonder:
Why does a plastic stool have a hole in the seat?
I mean, it’s not like it’s a cup holder.
It’s not ventilation for your back (though we’ve all joked about that).
No — that little round hole in the middle of a classic plastic stool?
It’s not random.
It’s not a design leftover.
It’s genius.
And it solves three major problems — with one simple hole.
Let’s explore why this tiny detail is one of the most brilliant pieces of everyday engineering you’ve probably never noticed.
🌀 1. Breaks the Vacuum – So You Can Actually Pull Stools Apart
Stacking plastic stools is easy.
Taking them apart?
Not always.
Without the hole, stacked stools can create a vacuum seal — especially when pressed tightly together.
Why?
Because when you lift the top stool, you’re pulling it away from a sealed surface.
Air can’t get in.
The pressure difference creates suction.
And suddenly, you’re wrestling with a stool like it’s stuck in glue.
But the hole?
It lets air rush in.
No vacuum.
No suction.
No awkward wiggling or knee-bruising struggle.
Just smooth separation.
It’s simple physics — and it’s perfectly executed.
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