5 Mundane Objects That Secretly Saved The World In ‘Stranger Things’
Most people think about the Demogorgons when they remember Stranger Things.
Maybe Eleven’s powers come to mind, or those creepy government labs. But dig deeper into the show’s biggest saves, and you’ll find something weird: half the time, it’s regular junk that actually prevents the apocalypse. A broken string of lights here, some old radios there — these random household items end up being more important than all the supernatural stuff combined. Turns out the real heroes of Hawkins weren’t the kids with psychic abilities.
1. Christmas Lights
Joyce Byers goes full crazy-mom mode when Will disappears, and honestly? Thank god she did. Those cheap Christmas lights she strung up everywhere turned her house into the world’s first interdimensional phone system. Will could make them flicker to spell out words, which sounds ridiculous until you realize this was literally the only way anyone figured out he was still alive in the Upside Down.
The lights worked because the Upside Down bleeds electromagnetic energy into our world. Basic electrical current + supernatural interference = accidental genius communication method. Without Joyce’s holiday decorations, Will dies in that alternate dimension, and nobody ever learns about the bigger threat lurking underneath Hawkins. Sometimes being the “hysterical” mom actually saves everyone.
2. Walkie-Talkies
Every ’80s kid had these things, but for Mike’s crew, they became military-grade communication equipment. While government agents with their fancy tech kept screwing up, four middle schoolers coordinated successful rescue missions using toys from RadioShank.
The walkies kept the party connected when they split up to cover more ground. Dustin used his to call for help when Dart got out of control. Later, when the Mind Flayer attacks hit multiple locations simultaneously, these little radios were the only thing preventing total chaos. Adults had phones, sure, but landlines don’t work when you’re hiding in abandoned buildings or running through monster-infested tunnels. Kid logic wins again.
3. Hairspray and a Lighter
Steve’s nail bat gets all the credit, but Dustin’s bathroom supplies probably saved more lives. Kid grabs Farrah Fawcett hairspray and a Bic lighter, creates an instant flamethrower that actually works against Demodogs. This wasn’t some movie nonsense either — hairspray really is that flammable.
The beauty of this combo was its availability. You can find aerosol cans and lighters in any house, car, or store in America. No special training required, no government clearance needed. Just point, click, and suddenly you’re wielding fire against monsters. Dustin figured this out faster than trained military personnel figured out how to deal with interdimensional threats. Teen desperation breeds innovation.
4. A Garden Hose
Nobody expects lawn equipment to become medical devices, but Stranger Things doesn’t care what you expect. When Billy gets possessed by the Mind Flayer, the gang needs to create a sauna hot enough to force the entity out of his body. Enter: the humble garden hose.
High-pressure water + enclosed space + maximum heat = homemade exorcism chamber. The hose provided the water pressure needed to generate steam and maintain dangerous temperatures. Later episodes showed hoses being used for cleanup, cooling, and basic medical care after various Upside Down encounters. Garden centers everywhere should sponsor these kids — they’ve proven hoses are essential survival equipment for the supernatural apocalypse.
5. A Radio at the Mall
Starcourt Mall’s radio system cracked the whole Russian conspiracy wide open. While government intelligence agencies somehow missed an entire secret base being built under a shopping center, Dustin and his long-distance girlfriend Suzie intercepted coded transmissions using standard retail communication equipment.
The Russians thought they were being clever with their encrypted messages, but they didn’t account for nosy teenagers with too much time and decent radio equipment. The mall’s PA system and communication setup gave the kids everything they needed to decode the plot, locate the base, and figure out that the Russians were trying to reopen the gate to the Upside Down. Sometimes the best intelligence work happens at Orange Julius, not Langley.
