15 Obsolete Chores We Had to Learn as Kids
These old chores were once part of everyday life, but kids today would have no clue where to start.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
Long before smartphones and smart homes, some chores actually took effort, and a little creativity. These were the daily tasks our parents made us do, even if they barely make sense now. Kids today would probably just Google how to do them.
1. Rewinding VHS Tapes
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If you did not rewind a VHS tape, you were guaranteed to hear about it from the next person. You had to wait, listen to the buzzing, and then finally press stop at the right spot. Kids now would probably try swiping it like a phone.
2. Ironing Dad’s Handkerchiefs
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There was a time when people ironed handkerchiefs like they were sacred. As kids, we stood by a hot iron, flattening tiny squares we knew would just get stuffed into a pocket. It was oddly satisfying, even if completely unnecessary now.
3. Cleaning Ashtrays
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Back when smoking inside the house was normal, ashtrays were everywhere — and guess who had to empty them. The stale smell clung to everything, and you always ended up dropping some ashes on the carpet. That chore disappeared faster than smoking indoors did.
4. Hanging Laundry on a Clothesline
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Before dryers were common, laundry went straight to the backyard on a sagging line. You had to pin everything just right so it would not fall into the dirt. Rainstorms always showed up right when the last sock was dry.
5. Recording Songs Off the Radio
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Making a mixtape meant hovering near the radio and slamming “record” the second your song came on. You always missed the first two seconds or caught a DJ talking at the end. Still, that messy tape felt like gold.
6. Cleaning the TV Screen
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Before flat screens, TVs were giant, dusty cubes with screens that practically attracted fingerprints. You had to wipe them with a dry cloth, which never really worked. Then, you adjusted the antenna again just to see the picture.
7. Rolling Coins for Deposit
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Banks used to require neat rolls of coins, which meant sitting at the kitchen table counting change like it was a full-time job. Your fingers would be blackened by the time you finished. It was a tedious kind of math lesson.
8. Polishing Shoes
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We had to dig out the shoe polish tin, open the brush, and rub wax into leather until it gleamed. It was messy, smelly, and you always ruined your socks doing it. Now, most people do not even wear polishable shoes.
9. Defrosting the Freezer
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Older freezers iced up like a winter cave, and defrosting it meant unplugging the whole thing and waiting. You chipped away at blocks of frost with a spatula while puddles formed on the floor. It was an icy mess no one wanted.
10. Replacing Vacuum Bags
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Vacuuming was not complete until you wrestled a paper bag out of the machine and accidentally puffed dust in your face. You had to line up the bag just right, or it would not fit. That one chore felt more complicated than it had to be.
11. Washing the Car by Hand
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Weekend car washes involved a bucket, an old sponge, and a hose that kinked every five seconds. You got soaked no matter how careful you were. However, seeing it shine afterward felt like a job well done.
12. Cleaning the Remote Control
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Back when remote controls were covered in grime and had stuck buttons, cleaning them meant popping out the batteries and scrubbing them down. You used a Q-tip and a lot of hope, and they still barely worked.
13. Making the Bed Military-Style
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Hospital corners were a thing, and your bed had to look like it was ready for inspection. Folding those sheets tight enough to bounce a coin was an art form. Now, most people are lucky if the duvet is pulled up.
14. Sharpening Pencils by Hand
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Every pencil had to be ready for homework, and that meant cranking the wall sharpener or using a handheld one that always jammed. You ended up with uneven tips or broken leads. Mechanical pencils saved an entire generation.
15. Dusting Each Shelf Item by Item
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Instead of swiping across a shelf, you had to lift every trinket, photo frame, and ceramic figurine. You wiped each one down like it was a museum piece. It was the ultimate test of patience.