There were times when we couldn’t live without items like car keys and newspapers, but now, they’re things of the past, just waiting to be discarded for good. Take a trip down memory lane with us and reminisce about 15 everyday household items that you won’t find anymore despite them once being so common.
DVD Players
DVDs have long since become a thing of the past due to streaming services like Netflix and HBO, so people don’t really have a use for DVD players anymore. It’s rare for even the most popular movies to be released in DVD format anymore, and that’s unlikely to change.
Piggy Banks
If you didn’t have a piggy bank in the 20th century, you clearly weren’t a money saver! They were incredibly common, and some people still used them in the early 2000s to save cash. In a twist of fate—especially considering interest from digital savings accounts—using a piggy bank now doesn’t seem so smart.
Landline Phones
Landline phones were essential for communication back in the day, but today, they’re almost nowhere to be found. In fact, CNN predicted in a recent report that by 2025, landline infrastructure will be almost completely replaced by smartphones, with only 5% of them remaining in 2030.
Console TVs
Almost every household owned a console TV in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, but with people preferring larger screens, there was difficulty managing their sizes and weights. Eventually, everyone began to opt for flat-screen TVs instead, so now, you’ll only see console TVs as vintage furniture, if at all.
Popcorn Poppers
If you were craving popcorn in the ‘90s but the store was closed, electric poppers were there to save the day. All you needed was some corn, salt, and oil, and you were good to go. However, microwave ovens soon took over, so popcorn poppers are now a very rare sight.
Record Players
Back in the ‘60s, you couldn’t listen to your favorite music if you didn’t own a record player. They were essential for music enthusiasts around the world, but as Brittanica remembers, cassettes and CDs took over in the ‘80s. Even these have been replaced by streaming platforms in today’s digital age.
Slide Projectors
In the past, enormous TVs that now give us home cinema experiences simply didn’t exist. To compensate for small TV sizes, we instead used slide projectors to watch movies on our walls. That’s ancient history now though – even when you see projectors in today’s cinemas, you’re likely looking at a digital equivalent.
Bankbooks
Also called a passbook, a bankbook was the only way to manage your finances before online banking arrived. You had to take the physical book to the bank for any transaction, and it was the only way to keep track of your finances. Looking back on this, it seems so old-fashioned.
Phonebooks
Phonebooks were also used to record information by pen and paper, but for phone numbers. They were similar to the digital contact lists of today, and were an essential part of any social life. However, today you’d be surprised to find a pen and paper in a household, let alone a phonebook!
Paper Maps
Forget Google Maps – before the internet came along, maps were huge pieces of paper, essential for navigation. These have now been replaced by digital equivalents, and it’s probably for the best. Unsurprisingly, The Guardian learned that 77% of adults couldn’t even use a paper map – they truly have very rare.
Portable MP3 Players
The introduction of portable MP3 players, particularly the iPod in 2001, was mind-blowing when invented. People carried them everywhere, whether they were on a morning walk or on the train to work. Sadly, smartphones are now the go-to option for listening to music, and MP3 players are left gathering dust in the attic.
Car Keys
The sound of jingling car keys used to be heard in almost every household, but buy a new car today, and you’ll probably have a plastic key fob or even a smartphone app to start it. This isn’t all that new though—the BBC had already termed car keys obsolete back in 2014.
Plastic straws
Plastic straws became popular in the mid-20th century as they were cheaper to make and more durable than paper straws, which had been used since 1888. Sadly, plastic puts the environment in danger, and paper straws now have the last laugh. Some countries have even outright banned plastic straws!
Newspapers
When was the last time you picked up a newspaper? Sadly, TV, social media, and the internet are likely your go-to media sources for breaking news and entertainment today. What’s particularly sad is that there’s little chance of a newspaper revival, because manufacturing and distribution is just too expensive.
Polaroid Cameras
Before everything went digital, Polaroid cameras were ideal for producing high-quality, homemade family photographs. Unfortunately, camera companies didn’t anticipate how much of an impact digital cameras would have, and they lost their market. However, a revival of Polaroid cameras is starting to occur due to the vintage quality and aesthetic.
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