THEY DO, IN FACT, MAKE THINGS LIKE THEY USED TO

Does today’s technology fall apart faster than it used to? You may think it does (* and it DOES), but a recent study finds that it doesn’t (* except that is DOES!). Norwegian researchers did a study of household appliances to see if they last as long as they used to. They examined decades of sales and ownership patterns in Norway to see how long appliances lasted in real-world use. What they found is:
– Washing machines and ovens did show significant lifespan decreases.
– Refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, and dryers have maintained fairly consistent lifetimes throughout the years.
– Washing machines went from a working lifespan of about 19 years to less than 11 years. Although researchers found that Norwegian families ran approximately two washing cycles weekly in 1960, but by 2000, this had jumped to eight cycles per week, putting more wear and tear on the machine.
– Oven lifespans shortened from 24 years to around 14 years. The researchers believe that this is probably due to the fact that many ovens are built into cabinetry, and kitchen remodeling often triggers oven replacement for aesthetic reasons.
* No, the reason ovens break down is that they put the electronic control panel too close to the hot part of the oven. Electronics hate heat.
* If you don’t want your washing machine use to go from two cycles a week to eight, you could try finding a better deodorant.
* Did you know: the word “refrigerator” is Norwegian for “food warmer.”
* In Norway, when they make a prank call, do they ask, “Is your refrigerator skiing?”