# Discontinued types of items **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 18, 2007, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discontinued-types-of-items/419561 "2007-09-18T01:03:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2007, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discontinued-types-of-items/419561/1 "2007-09-18T01:03:21Z")
I know of two recent threads dealing with specific brand name products, [one I started](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=409097&highlight=apple+newtons), and [this one.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=403056&highlight=discontinued) But that’s not what I mean here. Instead it’s general categories of products which have gone missing and you can’t locate anywhere. For example I cannot for the life of me find a heat pad for the kitchen-you know, a flat pad which you place hot dishes on. Neither my local Walmart or Target has anything like that (Target had some of those metal ones on little rubber legs tho). So what items which used to be easily located are now scarce as sin? ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2007, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discontinued-types-of-items/419561/2 "2007-09-18T01:12:59Z")
Do you mean a pot-holder? They are in the same aisle as the dishcloths and placemats. One thing that I have been looking high and low for are Easy Off Microwave Oven Wipes. It comes in a packet that you put in the microwave and heat up. The steam/fumes loosen the grime, then you use the wipe to wipe it all away. I have only one left and I can’t find them anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2007, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discontinued-types-of-items/419561/3 "2007-09-18T03:08:16Z")
[Easy Off Microwave Oven Wipes](http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Off-Heat-Activated-Microwave-Wipes-Wrapped/dp/B000VLBGSS/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-6104024-9855800?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1190084745&sr=8-1) at [amazon.com](http://amazon.com). And if ya want a LOT of 'em, [these folks](http://janitorial-supplies.apluswhs.com/food-service-products/kitchen-cleaner/easy-off-microwave-wipes/REC76520-3436470/?src=yshop) will sell ya a case for 70 bucks or so. How dirty is your microwave? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2007, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discontinued-types-of-items/419561/4 "2007-09-18T03:18:46Z")
[QUOTE=John DiFool] I cannot for the life of me find a heat pad for the kitchen-you know, a flat pad which you place hot dishes on. [/QUOTE] [Insulated hot mats.](http://wdrake.resultspage.com/search?p=Q&ts=custom&w=insulated%20hot%20mats) That them? ---
**Author:** ![IrreverentTone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@IrreverentTone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IrreverentTone)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2007, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discontinued-types-of-items/419561/5 "2007-09-18T03:19:19Z")
[QUOTE=John DiFool] But that’s not what I mean here. Instead it’s general categories of products which have gone missing and you can’t locate anywhere. For example I cannot for the life of me find a heat pad for the kitchen-you know, a flat pad which you place hot dishes on. Neither my local Walmart or Target has anything like that (Target had some of those metal ones on little rubber legs tho). [/QUOTE] Google trivet or hot pad and you should see some that don’t have legs. Several people I know just use silicone pot holders instead. Plain glass covered butter dishes are a royal PITA to find these days. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2007, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discontinued-types-of-items/419561/6 "2007-09-18T03:28:23Z")
Powder toilet bowl cleaners like Vanish seem to have vanished from stores (same for Saniflush). The powder was always much superior to liquid or tablets. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2007, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discontinued-types-of-items/419561/7 "2007-09-18T13:33:54Z")
[QUOTE=Duck Duck Goose] [Easy Off Microwave Oven Wipes](http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Off-Heat-Activated-Microwave-Wipes-Wrapped/dp/B000VLBGSS/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-6104024-9855800?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1190084745&sr=8-1) at [amazon.com](http://amazon.com). And if ya want a LOT of 'em, [these folks](http://janitorial-supplies.apluswhs.com/food-service-products/kitchen-cleaner/easy-off-microwave-wipes/REC76520-3436470/?src=yshop) will sell ya a case for 70 bucks or so. How dirty is your microwave? 😃 [/QUOTE] OMG thank you thank you thank you! It’s not that dirty. I got the current package I have probably 2 years ago. I don’t have to clean the microwave very often, but these things are super and I want more. I’ll stock up. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2007, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discontinued-types-of-items/419561/8 "2007-09-18T15:01:59Z")
[QUOTE=Hockey Monkey] One thing that I have been looking high and low for are Easy Off Microwave Oven Wipes. It comes in a packet that you put in the microwave and heat up. The steam/fumes loosen the grime, then you use the wipe to wipe it all away. I have only one left and I can’t find them anymore. [/QUOTE] I…didn’t know about these. What a great idea! I have to get some! Thanks for mentioning them. ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2007, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discontinued-types-of-items/419561/9 "2007-09-18T15:37:41Z")
[QUOTE=John DiFool] I know of two recent threads dealing with specific brand name products, [one I started](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=409097&highlight=apple+newtons), and [this one.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=403056&highlight=discontinued) But that’s not what I mean here. Instead it’s general categories of products which have gone missing and you can’t locate anywhere. For example I cannot for the life of me find a heat pad for the kitchen-you know, a flat pad which you place hot dishes on. Neither my local Walmart or Target has anything like that (Target had some of those metal ones on little rubber legs tho). So what items which used to be easily located are now scarce as sin? [/QUOTE] Did you mean a heated pad, to keep food warm? Here’s one: [http://www.zaccardis.com/toastess-classic-cordless-warming-tray.html?mr:referralID=5d82e7b8-0ce9-4066-a66c-4e6239a48506](http://www.zaccardis.com/toastess-classic-cordless-warming-tray.html?mr:referralID=5d82e7b8-0ce9-4066-a66c-4e6239a48506) ---
**Author:** ![Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zany_Zeolite_Zipper)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2007, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discontinued-types-of-items/419561/10 "2007-09-18T19:06:52Z")
Potato Flakes, the things that you put in soup with vegetable flakes and those itty bitty noodles to make it more filling. I’ve gone to cheap stores, upscale stores, Wal-Mart, bulk food stores, Costco, nobody has them. Whenever I ask someone where the potato flakes are, they hand me either scalloped potatoes, or instant mashed potatoes. I’m starting to think that I imagined the product ever existing. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2007, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discontinued-types-of-items/419561/11 "2007-09-18T19:35:14Z")
[QUOTE=IrreverentTone] Plain glass covered butter dishes are a royal PITA to find these days. [/QUOTE] Dollar stores tend to have stuff like this. It’s like they are considered too common or so inexpensive that no other store will carry them, but dollar stores always do. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2007, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discontinued-types-of-items/419561/12 "2007-09-18T19:40:05Z")
[QUOTE=Zany Zeolite Zipper] Potato Flakes, the things that you put in soup with vegetable flakes and those itty bitty noodles to make it more filling. I’ve gone to cheap stores, upscale stores, Wal-Mart, bulk food stores, Costco, nobody has them. Whenever I ask someone where the potato flakes are, they hand me either scalloped potatoes, or instant mashed potatoes. I’m starting to think that I imagined the product ever existing. [/QUOTE] I would be a bit confused too. I always thought Potato flakes were synonymous with instant mashed Potatoes. There are the Potato Pearls that I guess could be thrown in soup as a thickener, but they are just a more evolved species of Instant Mashed Potato generally. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2007, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discontinued-types-of-items/419561/13 "2007-09-18T20:18:23Z")
[QUOTE=Zany Zeolite Zipper] Potato Flakes, the things that you put in soup with vegetable flakes and those itty bitty noodles to make it more filling. [/QUOTE] Perhaps you need to ask for “dehydrated potatoes” instead of “potato flakes”. [Small diced dehydrated potatoes,](http://www.harmonyhousefoods.com/dicedpotato.html?gclid=CLiH0q7ozY4CFQSOFQodI03vAg) suitable for soups. [Dehydrated sliced potatoes](http://www.harmonyhousefoods.com/catalog/item/1624880/1065799.htm). These are the classic “scalloped potato mix” dried potatoes. If you want them in smaller pieces for your soup, you can crush them with a rolling pin. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2007, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discontinued-types-of-items/419561/14 "2007-09-18T20:26:28Z")
[QUOTE=IrreverentTone] Plain glass covered butter dishes are a royal PITA to find these days. [/QUOTE] [Glass covered butter dishes.](http://villagekitchen.com/mfg/arc/misc/butter_dishes/butter_dishes.html) [More glass butter dishes.](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/002-6691091-8813611?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=glass+butter+dish&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go) ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2007, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discontinued-types-of-items/419561/15 "2007-09-19T00:23:02Z")
[QUOTE=Tapiotar] Did you mean a heated pad, to keep food warm? Here’s one: [http://www.zaccardis.com/toastess-classic-cordless-warming-tray.html?mr:referralID=5d82e7b8-0ce9-4066-a66c-4e6239a48506](http://www.zaccardis.com/toastess-classic-cordless-warming-tray.html?mr:referralID=5d82e7b8-0ce9-4066-a66c-4e6239a48506) [/QUOTE] Thanks, but no. **Duck Duck Goose** nailed it, and I’ll likely order them this week. ---
**Author:** ![IrreverentTone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@IrreverentTone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IrreverentTone)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2007, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discontinued-types-of-items/419561/16 "2007-09-19T01:33:11Z")
Thanks **mnemosyne** and **Duck Duck Goose**. I just haven’t had much luck even at the dollar stores lately. And DDG, that style is larger than I need, I’m just looking for a narrow single stick style. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2007, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discontinued-types-of-items/419561/17 "2007-09-19T02:57:10Z")
[QUOTE=IrreverentTone] Thanks **mnemosyne** and **Duck Duck Goose**. I just haven’t had much luck even at the dollar stores lately. And DDG, that style is larger than I need, I’m just looking for a narrow single stick style. [/QUOTE] ’ [This one](http://www.amazon.com/Butter-Dish-Cover-Presence-64190AAH/dp/B0007XWVTI/ref=pd_bbs_6/103-6104024-9855800?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1190170059&sr=8-6) from the Amazon selection looks like it’s designed for a single stick. Target has something called a [Country Simple Butter Dish](http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-2/qid=1190170345/ref=sr_1_2/602-8388608-4857432?ie=UTF8&asin=B000ES5I4Q), single stick, although it’s ceramic, not glass, and has a rooster on the top. Does it have to be glass? There are ceramic, pewter, steel, acrylic, etc. single-stick butter dishes all over the Internet. I was quite fascinated to find one that retails for [$154.](http://brixstore.stores.yahoo.net/butterdishes.html) :eek: And eBay has butter dishes out the wazoo, too, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2007, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discontinued-types-of-items/419561/18 "2007-09-19T03:00:59Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Powder toilet bowl cleaners like Vanish seem to have vanished from stores (same for Saniflush). The powder was always much superior to liquid or tablets. I bet you could get 'em at a restaurant supply place. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2007, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discontinued-types-of-items/419561/19 "2007-09-19T03:07:10Z")
[QUOTE=IrreverentTone] Thanks **mnemosyne** and **Duck Duck Goose**. I just haven’t had much luck even at the dollar stores lately. And DDG, that style is larger than I need, I’m just looking for a narrow single stick style. [/QUOTE] I got one that looks just like [this](http://www.instawares.com/presence-design-glass-butter.64190aah.0.7.htm?LID=NXTG) at my local supermarket (I go to Jewel, which is owned by Albertson’s), except it cost maybe $3, not $25 ( :eek: ). If you have an Albertson’s or Albertson’s-owned store nearby, you might find one there. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2007, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discontinued-types-of-items/419561/20 "2007-09-19T03:07:58Z")
[QUOTE=fetus] I bet you could get 'em at a restaurant supply place. [/QUOTE] Saniflush does seem to exist, if you buy it by the case. But why can’t you get it retail? It’s much more effective than the liquids. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discontinued-types-of-items/419561.md?page=2)