We often hold onto a bunch of old things because we think they might be worth something one day. Most items usually go the opposite direction. Year after year, household products are worth less, usually due to advances in technology & changing tastes. Here are twelve household items that lose their value every year. Which item surprised you the most?
Mattresses eight to ten years old
You might assume that a mattress looks fine, but after eight years, it’ll have wear & tear that you’re not able to see. The springs will start sagging & the foam softens. Worst of all, you’ll struggle to resell it because resale buyers are naturally squeamish about hygiene, and donation centers usually reject them. The best brands also lose their value after a decade.
Upholstered sectional sofas
It’s easy to think that sectional sofas will last forever. Then they start creaking every time you sit down. The corners will start to sag & the cushions will lose their firm bounce, while the fabric itself will pill.
It’s going to be hard to find any buyers for a piece of furniture with faded arms, which you may not notice because it happens over a long time. But it does happen.
Large area rugs with visible use
Unfortunately, rugs don’t age gracefully, since the high-traffic areas on them will darken & the fringes fray.
You could try doing a deep clean. But that rarely brings back the showroom color that resale buyers are looking for, and shipping a rug is also a pain. Any small stains or weird odors will also massively reduce the price.
Gas grills
Chances are, the burners on your gas grill will start rusting quite quickly, and the ignition may begin sputtering, too. Its value will drop like a rock. Replacement parts for most grills aren’t cheap, while moving a heavy one is a lot of hassle.
Buyers know this. They’re not interested. Every long, hot summer will add a little more corrosion and reduce the grill’s resale value.
Over-the-range microwaves past 10 years
Unlike most products, microwaves don’t really get a second life. They start to fail after ten years. The magnetron inside weakens & buttons stick, and sometimes, the fan also rattles loud enough to make you question why you didn’t use the oven instead. The repair costs make it pointless to bother reselling them.
Patio furniture cushions and umbrellas
The sun & rain will always beat outdoor fabric, and they cause the cushions to fade. They’ll also make the foam flatten. Unfortunately, those aren’t the only problems, as mildew happens much more often than people realize, and even one summer of strong UV will break down the threads. Who’s going to want to buy faded furniture?
Smoke alarms past the 10-year mark
You may not think that smoke detectors have a shelf life. But they do. After a decade, the sensors inside start to weaken, and it’s not something that you may notice by pressing the “test” button. You can’t even resell an old smoke detector because buyers want one with a fresh manufacturing date. Just get rid of it & buy a new one.
Console or ultrasonic humidifiers
One of the worst things for a humidifier is hard water. It ruins it. Mineral film coats the tank & clogs the filters, which makes the device smell rather bad. Cleaning the humidifier doesn’t really help. You’re unlikely to find any buyers for an old device like this, especially since they don’t want to deal with the maintenance, so you might as well dispose of it.
Fine leather living room furniture
It really doesn’t matter how much you thought your leather sofa was going to be an investment. It won’t stay that way for long. After just a few years, the surface will dry out & the cushions will lose their shape, while sunlight causes the color to fade. Most buyers know what aging leather looks like. They’re not going to pay for it.
Solid wood dining sets from the 80s and 90s
There was a time when heavy oak dining sets seemed quite high-quality. But most people today want lighter & smaller tables. They’re also quite a challenge to move, and not many people want to haul such a bulk item. Even though they cost thousands back then, each year that these sets sit unsold, they’re losing their value.
Formal drapery panels and valances
Oh, custom drapes. Many people used to brag about having them, although now, they tend to collect dust in storage bins because styles move on & fabric fades. New homes have rather different window sizes. Sadly, luxury fabric doesn’t fare too well after some sun bleaching, and most people rarely reuse formal drapes now. The resale prices get smaller every season.
Old kitchen knife sets
Sure, knife blocks feel timeless. Yet the blades don’t last for very long because steel dulls after some time & rivets loosen. Missing just one knife also ruins the set. You can forget all about selling them once rust spots appear, since buyers want full & sharp matching sets. Use them if you want to. But don’t expect to make much money from them later.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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