12 Bathroom Products That Used to Be Everywhere
Here's a nostalgic look at 12 once-common bathroom products that have largely disappeared from modern homes.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
These 12 bathroom products were once everyday staples, defining the self-care and cleaning routines of past decades. From nostalgic fragrances and quirky gadgets to décor choices that leaned more on charm than practicality, they reflected the trends and habits of their time. While a few still exist in niche markets, most have faded due to changing tastes, better alternatives, or health concerns.
1. Jean Naté After Bath Splash
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This lemony body splash was a post-shower ritual for many in the 1960s through the 1980s. Packaged in its tall, yellow-labeled bottle, Jean Naté was often applied generously to cool down after a bath. It’s still available in limited quantities but has lost its once-ubiquitous status.
2. Binaca Breath Spray
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A tiny bottle of Binaca was a must-have for freshening breath in the 1980s. It offered a quick minty spray and was often kept in purses, pockets, or medicine cabinets. Chewing gum and long-lasting mints have largely replaced it.
3. Prell Shampoo (in the tube)
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Before its green liquid was bottled, Prell came in a toothpaste-style tube. It was known for its thick consistency and super-clean scent. The bottle version survives, but the iconic tube packaging is long gone.
4. Sea Breeze Astringent
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Sea Breeze was a tingly blue liquid that teens of the 1980s and 1990s swore by for oily skin. Its strong alcohol scent and cooling sting made it feel like it was really “working.” Today, gentler skincare products have taken its place.
5. Johnson’s Baby Powder (in metal tins)
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Once a staple on every changing table and bathroom shelf, Johnson’s Baby Powder used to come in decorative metal tins. The product became controversial due to talc-related lawsuits, and packaging shifted to plastic before sales were halted in some countries. It’s no longer the household staple it once was.
6. Fuzzy Toilet Seat Covers
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These soft, carpeted covers for toilet lids were all the rage in the 1970s and 1980s. While they added a cozy touch, they were notoriously unhygienic and hard to clean. Today’s minimalist bathrooms have little room for them.
7. Tickle Deodorant
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Tickle came in a rounded, pastel-colored bottle with a curved cap and was a fun, floral-smelling roll-on deodorant. It gained popularity in the 1970s thanks to its playful marketing. The product disappeared in the early 1990s, leaving only memories.
8. Avon Skin So Soft Bath Oil
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Originally marketed as a skin softener, Skin So Soft gained unexpected fame as a mosquito repellent. For decades, it sat proudly in many bathrooms as a multi-use product. While still sold, its cult following has diminished.
9. Decorative Toilet Paper Dolls
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These crocheted or porcelain dolls hid spare toilet paper rolls under their puffy dresses. Found in many 1960s through 1980s bathrooms, they were a mix of function and kitsch. You rarely see them now outside of antique stores or grandma’s guest bath.
10. Blue Toilet Bowl Tablets
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Dropping a blue tablet into the tank was once the go-to method for cleaning and freshening the toilet. The resulting vibrant blue water seemed high-tech at the time. Many now avoid these due to plumbing issues and environmental concerns.
11. Shower Radios
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Battery-powered radios that suction-cupped to the shower wall brought music into the bathroom before smartphones. They were a novelty in the 1980s and 1990s and often came with a waterproof tuner dial. Streaming has made them nearly obsolete.
12. Curling Iron Holders Mounted on Walls
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Wall-mounted metal holders for curling irons and blow dryers were once standard in many bathrooms. They kept hot tools safely tucked away and added a salon feel. Now, heat-resistant mats and vanity drawers serve the same purpose more discreetly.