Whenever I visit my grandparents’ house, I always think to myself how much the world has changed over the last few decades. Most of the gadgets, furniture, and appliances at their place remind them of something, but, to be honest, I feel that most of them aren’t really needed.
I sometimes find it so strange how quickly technology progresses, how these once-new gadgets lurk silently in the background, relics of an earlier era. In this list, I am going to share with you 12 such household items no longer required in a Boomer household.
Featured Image Credit: Ron Lach /Pexels.com.
Lava Lamps
My grandpa had a lava lamp and I found it super cool. It had that edgy, rainbow glow of the ’70s. But now, lava lamps are just old news.
Casserole Dishes with Plastic Lids
You know those old casserole dishes with the plastic lids? They were ideal for carrying food to family gatherings, but now most of us use glass containers with airtight lids. The new containers are stronger, easier to wash & look better.
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Instant Cameras (Polaroids)
My grandparents had an old Polaroid camera & we used to take our pictures with it. The images would flash in the frame and we’d all shake it to develop. With smartphones and digital cameras now, Polaroid-waiting is sort of corny. And with your smartphone phone you can take as many pictures as you like and post them instantly.
Cigarette Smoke Dens
Back then, smoking was more common at home, even in rooms specifically designed for it. My grandparents used to have one of these “smoke dens.” Now, with the health risks of smoking so widely publicized, smoke dens have become virtually extinct.
Heavy Drapes
My grandma’s had these big heavy curtains covering all the windows, to keep the light out and the house closed. But now most people go for lighter window coverings, such as blinds or sheer curtains, which are less blocking & allow more light in.
Corded Vacuums
I remember my grandma’s old corded vacuum cleaner, always getting tangled up in the cords. Cordless vacuums are easier to use & lighter than corded vacuums.
Rotary Phones
I remember going to my grandparent’s and using that old rotary phone. It was painful to dial a number, but that’s how it worked at the time. Nowadays, we have cell phones everywhere, and there it is odd to see those old rotary phones just sitting there.
Button or Dial Radios
My grandpa listened to the radio on his old dial-up. There were buttons for every station and that old squelch sound. And now we play music on our phones, or on smart speakers, or through streaming apps. Those tin-pot radios are dead in the digital age.
Fax Machines
Grandpa still has a fax machine in a corner of his room, for business letters. But thanks to email, the cloud, and file-sharing apps, you don’t even need a fax machine anymore. These days, everything is done in a much quicker & more efficient manner over the Internet.
VHS Tapes & VCRs
When I was little, I used to sit in front of my grandparent’s television, watching movies on VHS. But now, with streaming services, VHS tapes and their VCR players look just out of date. And I bet there’s a box of old movies in their attic that are dusty.
Record Players (Without Vinyl)
Grandma had this old record player, but most of the time, it didn’t even have records to play. Record players have made a bit of a comeback, but for many of our grandparents, their players are just gathering dust without the vinyl to go with them. They’re more of a nostalgic piece now.
Typewriters
My grandpa used to type letters and documents on his typewriter. It made that lovely clack-clack sound, but with computers and word processors, typewriters are mostly useless now. No one wants them now with all the digital alternatives available.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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