You might’ve noticed how, these days, many products that used to be essentials in every household are slowly disappearing from store shelves—just what’s going on?! There are a number of different reasons for this but one of the biggest is that younger generations have turned away from items their parents considered essential. They’d much rather purchase modern alternatives that fit their lifestyles better, so these items are losing their appeal. Here are nineteen products that are becoming obsolete because young people want nothing to do with them.
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Wedding China Sets
While fancy china sets used to be essential for newlyweds, it’s a different story these days because young couples have skipped the tradition of registering for fine china. They’d rather get practical dishes they’re able to use every day instead—owning expensive plates that only come out on special occasions doesn’t appeal to them. Versatile dinnerware fits their casual lifestyles, so the demand for ornate china is fading fast.
Signature Guest Books
Speaking of weddings, many young people have swapped traditional guest books out for more creative options—they might have guests sign a custom piece of art or record video messages, for example. It’s more interactive and gives them a unique keepsake that they may use to capture personalities & memories. To them, the standard guest book feels a bit stale and doesn’t offer the same sentimental value that they’ll get from these more unique options.
Paper Planners
Digital tools have largely replaced paper planners, as smartphones & apps give people organization systems that sync across their devices. Young professionals and students tend to prefer these digital options because they’re more efficient and easier to manage. It feels a little pointless carrying around a paper planner when you can access everything on your phone, then send it to your computer relatively easily.
Top Sheets
Using top sheets on beds is becoming less common since most young people stick with a fitted sheet & a comforter or duvet—it’s a lot simpler. Young people also think it’s more comfortable to take away the extra layer of a top sheet and that’s why many households are using them less. It also reduces the amount of laundry they have to do.
Canned Fruit
You won’t find canned fruit in the majority of pantries anymore and especially not in young people’s pantries, as they prefer fresh and frozen fruits. Young people believe fresh fruit has a better taste and more nutritional value, although science doesn’t quite support this. The nutritional difference between canned and fresh fruit is practically non-existent.
Electric Can Openers
Similarly, young people don’t see the point in electric can openers since they prefer fresh ingredients over canned goods, and many cans now come with pull-tabs, anyway. A bulky gadget taking up counter space isn’t appealing to them, so they’d rather use a simple manual opener to do the trick—it doesn’t need electricity or extra storage. The aim for younger people is to have a simple kitchen with minimal clutter.
Home Printers
Most young people don’t bother with home printers anymore since everything is going digital, whether that’s documents, forms, or even signatures. There’s really no need to deal with finicky printers & expensive ink—young people will just go to a library or use a printer at work if they need a hard copy. It’s less hassle than dealing with paper jams & maintenance at home and you also save on the cost of ink cartridges.
Bulky Wallets
Young people prefer slim cardholders to carrying thick, stuffed wallets, which is why the latter seems to be disappearing. If they carry cards, they’ll just stick a couple of essential ones into their phone cases—but most of the time, mobile payments are the norm. Not having a bulky wallet reduces the risk of losing important items or having them stolen, too, and who wants the discomfort of a wallet bulging in their pocket?
Disposable Plastic Utensils
It’s no secret that many young people are rather eco-conscious, so they’d rather have reusable cutlery sets than single-use plastic utensils—they’re compact & reduce plastic waste. It’s a small change that makes them feel they’re doing their part for the planet and reusable utensils are just nicer to eat with. For young people, the goal is to live as sustainably as possible through their everyday choices and disposable plastics just don’t fit into that mindset.
Formal Silverware Sets
Likewise, those fancy silverware sets reserved for special occasions are staying in the cupboards because young adults prefer practical utensils. These sets are able to handle everyday use & go straight into the dishwasher—the idea of polishing silver doesn’t work for young people’s busy lives. They’d rather invest in cutlery that’s durable and low-maintenance, especially since entertaining guests has become more relaxed too.
Paper Menus in Restaurants
Browsing paper menus is becoming a thing of the past because many restaurants have QR codes on the table now—just take out your phone & check out the menu online. Young diners like this approach because it’s quick and reduces waste, which fits in well with their digital-centric lifestyles. It also allows for restaurants to update menus easily without reprinting and having less clutter on the table creates a cleaner dining experience.
Flash Drives
Gone are the days when USB flash drives were essential for anyone in the working world because cloud storage services like Google Drive & Dropbox have made accessing files from any device quite easy. Young people love not having to keep track of tiny drives that they could lose and sharing files is much simpler online. You just have to send a link instead of passing around a physical device, saving time and plastic waste.
Traditional Wristwatches
The majority of young people aren’t interested in mechanical watches that need winding or movement to keep ticking and they’d rather buy a smartwatch. These devices do way more than tell time—they have notifications, health tracking, music control & so much more. You may also customize your smart devices with different faces and apps, which makes them far more personal than regular wristwatches.
Quilting Supplies
Many young people are more into digital art & photography than quilting and spending hours stitching a quilt doesn’t have the same appeal compared to quicker creative outlets. You also have the cost of quilting supplies, so it’s no surprise that young people often choose hobbies that are more accessible and fit into their digital headspaces. It’s a shame, really, because it means that quilting supplies just aren’t flying off the shelves like they used to.
Patterned Carpets
Speaking of fabrics, big, patterned wall-to-wall carpets don’t make the cut anymore—young homeowners prefer hardwood floors, sleek tiles or minimalist rugs. These options are easier to clean and better for allergies, while also fitting the modern aesthetic that many youngsters are after. Hard flooring tends to make spaces feel larger & more open too, yet patterned carpets don’t have the same versatility or practicality that young people want in their homes.
Napkin Rings
Casual dining is more the style among young people and that means they prefer using paper napkins or simply folding cloth ones without any fuss over napkin rings for elaborate table settings. The formality & extra effort of using napkin rings don’t fit with how young people like to entertain—they prefer laid-back gatherings. They believe the focus should be on the food and company, not on careful table settings, which has made napkin rings a thing of the past.
Formal Stationery Sets
You probably won’t see many young people investing in personalized stationery sets as texting, emails & social media allow them to deal with most communication digitally. Spending money on fancy paper and envelopes doesn’t make much sense when you’re able to send messages instantly online—young people also prefer the eco-friendly side of reducing paper use. Waiting for mail to arrive feels too slow for them and formal stationery isn’t part of the way they connect with others.
Household Answering Machines
Standalone answering machines for landlines are basically relics now since most young adults rely solely on cell phones and don’t even have a landline. There’s no need for a separate device when your smartphones can handle calls and messages seamlessly—keeping an answering machine feels outdated. Instead, young people enjoy using mobile technology because it involves fewer cords, fewer devices & less clutter at home.
Disposable Camera Film
Most phones have high-quality cameras that allow young people to snap endless photos & share them instantly, so waiting to develop film feels unnecessary. Digital photography allows for easy editing & filters too, which allows them to be creative without extra cost. As such, disposable camera film is fast falling out of favor with young people, especially since it’s often so expensive and inconvenient.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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