Technology grows by leaps and bounds, and something that used to be ubiquitous and common in the nineties, and even the 2000s, is now hopelessly outdated. So goes the sad song of the floppy disk, which in our current age might as well be used for something else – a single email holds far more information.
Unless you’re an internet historian or want to teach your kids about the dark days of the early World Wide Web, toss these in the trash. Anything you can get from them is free on the internet, most likely.
Another Room Dedicated to Keeping Things Cool
This is called a cold closet. It could be seen as a predecessor to the pantry, but it was specially designed to keep things cool, usually at the edge of the house. They held fruits and veggies before most people had access to refrigerators.
They couldn't keep food frozen, but they were the perfect place to keep vegetables, dairy products, and meats fresher for longer. During harvest time, people stored herbs and produce in these cold closets to keep them from rotting, and if you have access to one, you can still use it if your fridge is full.
A More Recent Feature
Not many people have a lot of use for a landline anymore. That means the number of phone jacks people are using has dropped dramatically. Internet service providers still need them, but if you have a modern modem and router, you should only need one in your home, when just a few decades ago every single room needed one, without a doubt.
As wi-fi becomes more and more popular, the phone jack will slowly become less useful. Eventually, we may not need them at all, which is sure to make architects and interior designers happier.
Film Development is About as Common as Milkmen
Hipsters and people who just can't bear to part with their old film camera may still use this service, but otherwise getting your film development is a waste of time. Everybody has a camera in their pocket, and many have easy printers to use, which means mailing your film to a development facility only to wait patiently for an envelope of photos (which might not even look good) is hopelessly outdated.
Professionals might still develop their own film, but most cameras and printing equipment is good enough for anybody. Even a Polaroid prints its own pictures.
They Might be Worth Something
Most people these days have an Apple phone, an Android, or a Google phone, which means the lightning-fast world of mobile phone technology has left your old flip phone in the dust. But they aren't totally worthless.
While some people enjoy the simplicity of a simple flip phone – just texts and calls for me, please – most don't spare a second thought if they come across their old model. Some communities even look down on them, since drug dealers and other criminals use them as burner phones. If you're looking for a little bit of cash and have enough of these lying around, search for the closest place to trade them in.