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15 Household Objects That Might Disappear in the Next 25 Years

Madeline WahlUpdated: Oct. 08, 2020

They may disappear before you know it!

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Changes in the home

Time is moving at a fast pace and sometimes it’s hard for your everyday household objects to keep up. Right now, you might have bookshelves, television sets, and lamps, but will all of those objects stick around for the next 25 years? Read on for a few things that may disappear from your home. For something more akin to spring cleaning, here are 43 things to get rid of in the next 43 days.

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DVDs, Blu-Rays, and VHS tapes

After a long day, you find yourself in your living room in front of the television. You decide to continue watching the show your currently binge-watching (or start a new classic show to watch), but what do you use to watch it? “One thing that will no longer be in use in the coming decades are all those DVDs and Blu-Rays sitting on your shelf—they are already headed the way of the VHS and will be obsolete soon,” James Boatwright, CEO of CodeGalaxy, tells Reader’s Digest. “With all the new technology coming out yearly, fewer people are opting to buy DVDs and Blu-Rays. Instead, people are streaming their movies from the many services available or even just purchasing the digital version so they can watch anywhere from any device, which includes beaming it to their TV directly from their device.” If you do find a few DVDs around the house, here’s how you can donate just about anything.

Stack Of Flower Pots For Sale In MarketTairat Junhuai / EyeEm/Getty Images

Plastic pots and disposable packaging of lawn care items

You may not realize it, but there is a lot of waste generated from home gardening, including disposable bags of potting soil and fertilizer, plastic pots, and even lawn bags for collecting fall leaves. Basically, plastic items. “My hope is that plastic especially will become less of a dominating force,” Dan Bailey, President, WikiLawn Lawn Care, tells Reader’s Digest. “We’re beginning to see some more biodegradable materials being used, but with organic materials, it’s difficult because they could potentially impact the material they’re packaged in. I feel this field is primed to ‘go green’ for obvious reasons, it just might be a balancing act.”

Bailey adds that there’s already an increase of more eco-friendly products like recycled rubber as mulch, which is better at hindering weed growth. “It also provides a use for the endless supply of tires clogging up landfills,” he says. Here are 13 ways green living can make you healthier.

To be lateGina Pricope/Getty Images

Alarm clocks

If you’re not a morning person, you’re probably familiar with the bright ring from an alarm clock. However, when was the last time you saw a physical alarm clock? “Alarm clocks will soon be a thing of the past,” Jesse Silkoff, co-founder and president of MyRoofingPal, tells Reader’s Digest. “With nearly everyone having a mobile smartphone now, people don’t have a need for a clock taking up space on the table by their bed.” This simple trick can help you fall asleep in 60 seconds or less.

Several remote controls are in trash top viewglebchik/Getty Images

Remote controls

“I predict that remote controls will go in the way of the dinosaurs within the next 25 years,” Antti Alatalo, CEO & Founder of Smart Watches 4 U, tells Reader’s Digest. “This is due to the proliferation of smart devices that we can control through our smartphones, tablets, or smartwatches. Our mobile device is usually always within arm’s reach and essentially acts as a universal remote control for the television, cable box, streaming box, HVAC, etc. As smart technology expands, I believe remote controls for appliances will become obsolete and gradually be phased out.” If you’re looking for more movies to watch, check out the most popular movie the year you were born.

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Calendars

Remember the days of crossing off each day on a physical calendar hanging on the wall as opposed to checking your smartphone? “It’s my belief that calendars and wall-mounted whiteboards and schedulers will soon disappear for good or become an extreme rarity,” Jason VanDevere, CEO and Owner of Goal Crazy Planners, tells Reader’s Digest. “Dates can easily be checked on our mobile devices. Any planning that needs to be done can also be jotted down via app with the information accessible on the go. Likewise, digital schedulers can be shared and synced across devices, so it can be quickly referenced or updated by family members.” Calendars can still be useful, like this definitive guide on how often you should be cleaning everything in your home.
credit cards stack including visa, master and maestroTanjalaGica/Getty Images

Credit and debit cards

Credit cards are one of these things you should be cleaning every day from now on. However, in 25 years, you may not need to worry about credit cards. “More and more people are using things like Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and others to perform digital transactions,” Jon Gibbons, a consultant for Smart Vacuums and home cleaning expert, tells Reader’s Digest. “They are faster and often more secure, giving customers and businesses peace of mind. Less plastic in the world is always a good thing.”

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Plastic containers

If you haven’t thought about how you store your leftovers, you might want to start. “When we store food in plastic, the odors and tastes seep into it over time and even the smallest scratches become ridden with bacteria,” says Gibbons. “Glass is more hygienic, easier to clean, and doesn’t retain tastes and smells like plastic does. They also last longer, making them a more economical choice as well as one that is kinder to the environment.” Try some of these food storage containers instead.
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Plastic bags

If you’re environmentally conscious, you’ve probably stopped using plastic around the house, including in plastic bags. “These are already becoming less common now that shops charge for them, but in the next 25 years they are likely to vanish completely,” says Gibbons. “People are becoming more environmentally aware, switching to durable reusable bags that they can take food shopping and on general shopping trips alike.” Here’s how one woman has been able to be plastic-free for 6 years—and what she recommends instead.

Garbage heap of colourful empty Nespresso disposable espresso capsulesEThamPhoto/Getty Images

Disposable coffee pod machines

If you’re buying coffee pods, this might come as bad news. “I can bet money that disposable pod coffee machines as we know them will be obsolete in 25 years,” Alex Azoury, Founder & CEO, Home Grounds, tells Reader’s Digest. “Eco-friendly initiatives and innovation are what will stand the test of time, so I bet that we will have a more eco-friendly alternative that is just as convenient. Perhaps this will look like compostable pods, or making reusable pods the standard in all machines like Nespresso or Keurigs. I just don’t foresee the disposability of these items continuing to be a selling feature as rules and public attitudes around waste reduction continue to veer towards more eco-friendly products.” Take a look at these reusable versions of things you use every day.

Overhead view of empty plastic bottles (full frame)ULTRA.F/Getty Images

Plastic water bottles

As more people become environmentally conscious, the usage of reusable bags and water bottles is on the rise. What is going by the wayside? Plastic water bottles. Not only do plastic water bottles come in, well, plastic, but when exposed to heat that plastic may seep into the water you’re drinking. Here’s the reason why water bottles have expiration dates.

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Checkbooks

When was the last time you took out your checkbook and wrote a check? If you do find one, you might need to wipe the dust off of it. “If it hasn’t disappeared already, the checkbook will be a relic of the past come 25 years,” Ty Stewart, CEO & President of Simple Life Insure, tells Reader’s Digest. “I remember learning how to balance a checkbook back in high school as well as how to properly fill out a blank check. It was emphasized how much these things were keys to successful budgeting and therefore responsible adulting.” Here are just a few money rules to memorize before you’re 40.
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Paper checks

Along with checkbooks, you probably won’t see checks, either. “While that sentiment is true—you do still want to set a budget and track your spending—the reality is online and mobile banking is the way to do so. We’ll only see digital-first personal finance proliferate the next few years,” says Stewart. “In fact, with so much fintech innovation out there, it’s probably a good thing physical checks and checkbooks are becoming obsolete. Folks get so much more visibility and insights into their finances through online platforms and apps.” Here are just a few creative ways to create a budget you can actually stick to.
Pile of black plastic garbage bags.Mint Images RF/Getty Images

Garbage bags and garbage bins

Do you dread dragging your garbage can out to the end of the driveway? In a quarter of a century, there may be new practices put in place. “This may be a pipedream, but I can imagine that most garbage bins and plastic garbage bags will be replaced with more complex recycling and compost programs and biodegradable bags,” Ian Kelly, VP, Operations, NuLeaf Naturals, tells Reader’s Digest. “I think that people will be less inclined to send things to the landfill, and recycling and compost programs in municipalities are growing steadily. Perhaps in the same way that young people today don’t know what a floppy disc was, the young people of tomorrow won’t know what a black garbage bag was for.” To get started ahead of time, here are 30 ways to recycle just about anything.

Intercom on wall at building entranceLetizia Le Fur/Getty Images

Traditional alarm systems

You’re probably tech-savvy enough to have one of these best home security systems according to experts. If not, take note! “Technology is changing at such a rapid pace that many household items will look quite different in the next few decades. When it comes to home security, it’s safe to assume that traditional alarms and hardwired systems will soon become a relic of the past,” Kristen Bolig, Founder of SecurityNerd, tells Reader’s Digest. “Many companies are already offering wireless sensors, cameras, and motion detectors that are compatible with smartphones and mobile applications. These systems come loaded with advanced technology straight out of a James Bond film. They allow you to control your entire security system with the click of a button on your phone. Say goodbye to old school home security and hello to the future.”

Kitchen RefrigeratorTriggerPhoto/Getty Images

The “mega-fridge”

How many times have you opened the fridge and sheepishly noticed the long-forgotten container of unidentifiable and most-likely expired foods in the back left-hand corner? “One of the items I don’t expect to see after 25 years is what I call ‘the mega-fridge'” David Cusick, Executive Editor of House Method, tells Reader’s Digest. “Gigantic, stainless steel refrigerators were a trend in previous years, but as more people are growing accustomed to ordering their groceries, you really don’t need to keep as many ingredients on hand. Instead of letting vegetables rot in the crisper drawer (we’ve all done it), we’ll just order them prior to cooking, and get it delivered in 30 minutes or less.”
Cusick adds that another trend is to downsize in creative ways and grow your own herbs in a home garden. “What’s more, I expect home cultivators to become more popular over the next quarter-decade. These devices, like the ones made by Danby, allow you to grow vegetables indoors at home,” Cusick says. “More space for devices like that means less space for the refrigerator and other appliances that will see less use.” Next, make sure you know these jobs that might disappear in the next 25 years.

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Originally Published: October 10, 2020

Madeline Wahl
Madeline Wahl
Madeline Wahl is a Digital Associate Editor/Writer at RD.com. Previously, she worked for HuffPost and Golf Channel. Her writing has appeared on HuffPost, Red Magazine, McSweeney's, Pink Pangea, The Mighty, and Yahoo Lifestyle, among others. More of her work can be found on her website: www.madelinehwahl.com