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Tuesday, June 2, 2026

They don’t make them like they used to

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According a survey – 70% of adults say they regularly use at least one household appliance that’s more than 10 years old which is quite impressive. But when it comes to household appliances it must be said that some that were made more than 30 years ago REALLY last.

The oldest appliances (and other items) still in use in our houses

Apparently these are on average the 5 most popular ‘old’ items that people still use today:

5. The fridge

About 37% of people still use a fridge that’s over 10 years old. Some even report fridges still running after 30–40 years.

4. The oven or stove

Roughly 40% of households are still using an oven that’s more than a decade old.

3. The washing machine

Washing machines are typically used for around 9 years on average, but some households report machines still going after 20–40 years with maintenance.

2. The sewing machine

Old mechanical sewing machines are legendary for longevity — many Singer machines from the late 1800s and early 1900s still work today and remain in regular household use.

1. The cast-iron pan

Probably the champion. Cast-iron cookware regularly stays in use for 50–100+ years, with some pans dating back to the 19th century still used daily.

Phil de Lange
Phil de Lange
Phil de Lange is the producer of the Ryan O'Connor Breakfast show and has been with Smile 90.4FM since it's inception in 2013. Through his work on the breakfast show he has won two national radio awards. He has been in broadcasting for 15 years and has honed his talent at 6 different radio stations. Outside of radio he is also a podcast producer and award winning stand-up comedian.

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