Remember When Things Were Made to Last?
You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again, but it’s true: they don’t make ‘em like they used to! These common household items used to be durable and long-lasting, but that just isn’t the case anymore.
Cast-Iron Skillets
Every kitchen needs a skillet, but you’d be hard-pressed to find one of decent quality nowadays. In the past, however, skillets - like those made by Lodge - could retain heat like no other and were versatile enough for other uses as well.
Glassware
How many glasses and pieces of glassware have you been through over the past decade? You probably don’t even have the same set that you started out with. Back in the old days, however, glassware was typically made from borosilicate glass, which could not only endure harsh temperatures without cracking but was also extremely resistant to thermal shock.
Cookware
You’d think that a bunch of pots and pans made from steel and iron would be able to survive plenty of damage, but that just isn’t the case today. Back then, however, cast-iron, copper-bottom cookware was extremely durable and distributed heat pretty evenly.
Dishes
There’s probably nothing more devastating than transporting a full plate of food only to accidentally drop it at the last second and watch it explode into tiny ceramic shards. While you still couldn’t get away with treating your plates like frisbees back in the day, ceramic dishes were at least a little more durable than they are today.
Ice Cube Trays
An ice cube tray often goes overlooked but quickly becomes essential during those hot summer months. Don’t be surprised if your plastic tray quickly becomes useless after sustaining the tiniest bit of wear and tear - it’s a far cry from the aluminum trays of yore.
Enamelware Cookware
While cast-iron pots and pans were certainly more durable than what we have nowadays, enamelware cookware was even tougher, being coated in vitreous enamel for extra strength. You’d be hard-pressed to find something of similar quality today, at least not at a reasonable price.
Manual Coffee Grinders
For most of us, our day only begins once we’ve had our first cup of coffee, and unless you’re drinking instant coffee, that means you’ll need a grinder. The coffee grinders of today are typically automatic and thus save you a bit of time in the mornings, but you can’t beat the consistency of the manual grinders of the past.
Vintage Tea Kettles
Kettles just don’t squeal nowadays the way they used to. The tea kettles of the past couldn’t just be plugged in - you had to place them on the stove. That pretty much necessitated that they be durable and heat-resistant, two qualities that are sorely missing from the electric kettles of today.
Dutch Ovens
If you’re looking for a slow, even cook for the stew you want to make, you’ll want to get your hands on a Dutch oven, preferably from a respectable brand like Le Creuset, who still produce theirs like the Dutch ovens of the past. That means excellent quality and fantastic heat distribution.
Egg Beaters
If you’ve only ever used an electric egg beater or mixer, you may have a tough time getting to grips with the manual egg beaters of the last century. These things take a great deal of effort to produce the best results, but their simplicity and durability are nigh unmatched.
Canisters
No doubt you’ve got plenty of dishes, containers, and canisters in your pantry containing a variety of different goods. But we can almost guarantee that whatever canisters you’re using aren’t nearly as good as the ones from the past, which were not only charming in appearance (in contrast to the minimalist styles of today) but were also much more durable.
Juicers
Having a juicer around isn’t a necessity, but it’s great if you’re a fan of fruit juice or are trying to be more healthy. There’s nothing inherently wrong with modern juicers, but they tend to be less reliable than manual juicers (if only for their reliance on electricity), which were simple yet effective.
Mixing Bowls
Whether you’re baking a cake or whipping up a sauce to go with your pasta, you’ll need a good mixing bowl, but good luck finding one that doesn’t stain and scratch easily. Older mixing bowls were made from stainless steel and were pretty resistant to both stains and odors, allowing you to maximize their use before tossing them out.
Butter Dishes
Believe it or not, people used to reserve a full dish just to store their butter in. These days, they’re not as common, and the ones you do come across just don’t have the same quality as those of the past, which also typically had some lovely, intricate designs and patterns.
Mid-Century Modern Furniture
Aside from the general look of modern furniture (which you may or may not be a fan of), there’s also a noticeable disparity between its quality and that of the furniture of the last century. Those pieces made from solid wood were especially sturdy and durable and could feasibly last you from the time you buy your house to the time you (potentially) sell it.
Antique Clocks
These days, grandfather clocks are more of a novelty than a functional piece of furniture. But even as recently as the last decades of the previous century, grandfather clocks were not only totally functional but exceptionally durable as well. There’s a reason that they’re often passed down from one generation to the next.
Candle Holders
Candles, in general, don’t see as much use as they did before, especially because they’re often a less effective light source than lamps and bulbs. Unfortunately, that means that candle holders are rare as well, and the ones you do find typically don’t have the same love poured into them as the ones of yesteryear.
Bed Frames
These days, you can get away without having a bed frame, but they were pretty much essential before. Luckily, that also meant that they were often made to last, and their wrought-iron construction made them exceptionally durable.
Rocking Chairs
Like grandfather clocks, rocking chairs are more of a novelty nowadays, but there’s an irreplaceable homely quality to them that you just don’t find in modern furniture pieces. It helped that they were also designed with longevity in mind.
Picture Frames
Besides the fact that digital galleries have made printed photos obsolete (for some people, at least), picture frames today are usually made from plastic and thus don’t last very long. The frames of the past, on the other hand, were typically solid wood or metal, with a clean glass insert that kept your pictures safe.
Figurines
Figurines are completely decorative and therefore aren’t an essential household item, but that doesn’t excuse the generally poor craftsmanship of figurines today. Old figurines (typically made from porcelain) were long-lasting.
Chandeliers
Chandeliers aren’t exactly common household items, but if you ever want to make your space seem a little more elegant, try and get your hands on a vintage piece. These chandeliers were durable and lovingly made and retained their brilliance for years.
Leather Sofas
Quality furniture, in general, is difficult to come by nowadays, but it’s especially difficult if you’re looking for a good leather sofa (considering the prevalence of pleather and faux leather). Old leather sofas, meanwhile, were long-lasting, durable, and supremely comfortable.
Bookshelves
Aside from the fact that fewer and fewer people actually spend time reading nowadays, a good bookshelf is hard to find. In the old days, bookshelves were made of solid wood and were sturdy enough to fit your entire library without bucking under the pressure.
Mirrors
You’ve likely got at least one or two mirrors in your house, but they may not have the same quality as those from a few decades ago. Vintage mirrors typically had solid wood or metal frames, and beveled glass that made them both functional and ornate in equal measure.
Radiators
With so many air conditioning options nowadays, the need for traditional, old radiators has diminished, but it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if you were stuck with one. After all, they’re generally quite durable and still perform their function well, and they add a certain old-timey charm to your house.
Ceramic Tiles
When it comes to floors, there’s a surprising amount of variety to the materials you can use, from polished wood to smooth stone. However, ceramic tiles - while definitely old-fashioned - inch out over the others in terms of their sheer durability, and they’re able to withstand heavy foot traffic.
Trunks
Home storage solutions are difficult to come by - you’ve either got an attic or basement, or you don’t. Back in the day, people used to have trunks to store their belongings, and these heavy wooden chests were not only spacious and functional but totally durable, too.
Rugs
If your space is feeling a bit bare, you probably need a rug. Unfortunately, many store-bought rugs and carpets today just don’t last very long and are prone to fast wear and tear. On the other hand, older rugs were typically hand-woven and could last for decades with the right amount of care.
Door Knobs
This one may seem like nitpicking, but it’s true - door handles today are either very ornate (in wealthier households) or purely functional. Back in the day, however, even modest homes could boast having lovely brass door knobs.
Ladders
Ladders aren’t exactly a necessity, depending on your needs, but even a nice vintage step ladder can add plenty of charm to your house. Indeed, they were also made with plenty of love and care and could last you years.
Razors
Razors are pretty common, but most people will settle for the cheap, disposable varieties. On the other hand, safety razors like the ones they used to make will not only last you (with minimal care, by the way), but they’re also more environmentally friendly.
Lighters
Even if nobody in your household is a smoker, you’re bound to have at least one lighter lying around. Unfortunately, modern brands just don’t have the longevity of something like a Zippo, which was not only refillable but totally rad as well.
Tupperware
Every household needs some Tupperware containers. Unfortunately, Tupperware and plastic-ware in general just doesn’t have the same quality today as it did in the past, and it doesn’t help that the Tupperware Brands Corporation actually filed for bankruptcy in 2024.
Kitchen Knives
Knives may have a practical purpose, but that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t look good or be made with love and care. Old kitchen knives, in particular, were so well crafted that you could easily pass them down from one generation to the next.
