Technology is evolving fast, and with it, many things we once relied on are slowly disappearing from our homes and daily lives. Whether it’s due to digital upgrades, smarter alternatives, or changing habits, several obsolete household items are fading into the past in 2025. What once felt essential now seems unnecessary, bulky, or even inconvenient. Some of these changes may surprise you—others might already be sitting unused in a drawer or closet. Here are nine familiar items that are on their way out this year.
1. Landline Telephones
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Not long ago, having a landline was a staple in every home. But now, most people rely entirely on their mobile phones for calls, texts, and even video chats. With unlimited cell plans, strong Wi-Fi calling, and smart assistants like Alexa and Google, traditional home phones feel clunky and outdated. Many households have disconnected their landlines completely, especially younger generations and apartment dwellers. By 2025, landlines are firmly categorized as obsolete household items.
2. Physical Checkbooks
Remember writing checks for rent, groceries, or the electric bill? These days, most of those transactions happen digitally via apps, online banking, or auto-pay systems. While checks are still accepted in some places, they’re rarely anyone’s first choice. Carrying a checkbook feels increasingly outdated—especially as younger adults embrace payment platforms like Venmo, Zelle, and Apple Pay. As more businesses go cashless, the need for handwritten checks is fading fast.
3. DVD and Blu-ray Players
Streaming services have made it easier than ever to watch movies and shows instantly—no disc required. As a result, DVD and Blu-ray players are gathering dust in entertainment centers across the country. Even newer gaming consoles, like the digital-only PS5, are moving away from physical media entirely. For collectors and nostalgia buffs, discs still have value—but for the average viewer, they’re being replaced by convenience. In 2025, disc players are among the most rapidly disappearing obsolete household items.
4. Alarm Clocks
That classic buzzing alarm clock on your nightstand has officially been replaced—by your smartphone. Whether it’s a gentle chime, sleep tracking app, or voice assistant reminder, waking up has gone digital. Most people now use their phones or smart home devices for alarms, calendar reminders, and morning routines. Traditional alarm clocks are being boxed up or left behind in guest rooms. They’re no longer necessary in an always-connected world.
5. Printer-Fax Machines
Once a staple in both home offices and small businesses, printer-fax machines are becoming relics of the past. Cloud storage, email, e-signature software, and secure portals have replaced most of what fax machines used to do. Even printing is on the decline, with documents shared via PDF instead of paper. All-in-one machines still exist, but they’re now mostly gathering dust or being phased out in favor of sleeker tech. In 2025, it’s rare to find a fax line still in use.
6. Manual Can Openers
More canned goods today come with pull tabs, making manual can openers less necessary in many kitchens. While they’re still useful for some products, newer designs and electric models are replacing the old twist-style openers. Some households haven’t used theirs in years and may not even remember where they stored it. As packaging becomes more user-friendly, this humble tool is slowly joining the list of obsolete household items. Convenience is winning out over tradition.
7. Cable TV Boxes
With the rise of Netflix, Hulu, YouTube TV, and other streaming services, cable subscriptions are plummeting. Fewer homes have cable boxes, and many providers are now offering app-based viewing instead. The days of flipping through 200 channels with a remote are nearly gone. Smart TVs and streaming sticks have made bulky cable boxes unnecessary. In 2025, they’re more likely to be recycled than repaired.
8. Rolodexes and Paper Address Books
Storing contact information on paper used to be vital for both personal and business communication. Now, our smartphones, email apps, and cloud-based calendars do it all automatically. Rolodexes and little black books filled with phone numbers are relics of another era. Even emergency contacts are stored digitally, making paper records seem clunky and inconvenient. It’s another item that’s becoming irrelevant with each passing year.
9. Basic Calculators
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You probably have one in a drawer somewhere, but how often do you use it? Today, calculators are built into every phone, tablet, and laptop—not to mention smartwatches and virtual assistants. Even students often use apps instead of handheld calculators, except for specialized models in standardized testing. As basic models fall out of use, this once-essential tool joins the list of fading tech. Convenience and multifunction devices are pushing single-purpose items into obscurity.
Out with the Old, in with the Smarter
These obsolete household items served us well for years—but the future has moved on. What’s disappearing isn’t just physical—it’s a shift in how we communicate, entertain, and organize our lives. Technology continues to streamline everyday tasks, making older tools feel more like clutter than convenience. If any of these items are still collecting dust in your home, it might be time to let go—and make room for the next wave of innovation.
Which of these items are you still holding onto—and which ones have you happily replaced? Share your thoughts and nostalgic favorites in the comments!
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