There’s a bit of a cycle here: we write about a product, live with it for a while, then move on to something new and forget to follow up. Since you often ask for updates, here’s a concise roundup of how several of our household items have held up over time.
Cloth diapers
Surprisingly, we’re still using the same original 12 cloth diapers we bought in 2010, and two years later they’re still performing well. We haven’t replaced any, added liners, or expanded the stash. We do use a disposable overnight diaper occasionally—Clara finally started wetting through daytime cloth during sleep—but that’s only about seven disposables a week. Structurally they’re in great shape: a couple of diapers have lost a snap or two, but multiple snaps per side keep them secure. The fabric and color still look close to new, and the one-size design has really stretched with Clara as she’s grown.
Here’s the inside of them (photos taken recently):
We’re happy we chose all-in-one diapers since they’ve simplified laundry and storage. If you want more details about our cloth-diaper experience, see our original cloth-diaper post for tips and reader comments.
Karl the sectional
We still love Karl. After over a year of regular use by kids and dog, the sectional remains comfortable and looks nearly the same. We chose Dark Sivik Gray slipcovers—durable and forgiving—and they hide wear well. We haven’t needed to wash them often, but when we do they clean up nicely in our home washer and dryer. Our only minor issue is the velcro meant to keep the chaise cushion in place: it doesn’t align perfectly, so the cushion slowly shifts and needs occasional adjustment. Easily fixable if we ever want to add a strip of velcro to the back.
Ed the bed
Ed remains a sturdy, comfortable mattress from Ikea. After lots of late-night DIY sessions and everyday sleeping, it still performs well and gives us a reliable place to crash.
ORB hardware
Several readers have asked for an update on our oil-rubbed bronze (ORB) hardware. The pieces still look great; we don’t use the front door every day, but the hardware remains mint. High-traffic doors like the sunroom slider and the exterior door—used multiple times daily for our dog—are also holding up well. Our approach was simple: refinishing and light sanding for a consistent finish. We’ll report back if anything changes.
Kitchen stools
We’ve only had our kitchen stools for a few months, but they’ve been terrific for daily tasks. At roughly $33 a chair, they’re sturdy and comfortable enough for meals, laptop work, paying bills, or short stints of sitting. The flexible, supportive back is a major comfort factor—skip the backless version if you want more than brief seating comfort.
Chair in Clara’s room
This thrift-store chair has been a real winner for nursing and late-night stories. Its rounded shape supported my arms well during breastfeeding, and we always keep an ottoman close by. While some prefer a rocking or swivel chair, this armless slipper-style chair was comfortable and functional for our needs.
White cabinets
People often worry white cabinets will show dirt or be high-maintenance. In our experience, painted cabinets—especially with a durable alkyd finish—are easy to clean and don’t require special care. We wipe occasional splatters once or twice a week (a minute or less) and haven’t needed a regular dusting since painting. The bright white keeps the kitchen feeling clean and fresh.
White Corian countertops
We chose Glacier White Corian and have been pleased. It’s nonporous, resists staining, and is easy to wipe clean—even with tomato sauce or fruit juice. We avoid placing extremely hot pans directly on it (we always use trivets), but otherwise it’s held up without scratches or stains. The seamless installation was a huge bonus: crumbs don’t get trapped and the undermount sink integrates cleanly with the counter.
Open shelves
We love open shelving. Because we use the items stored there frequently, dust never has a chance to build up. Open shelves make daily tasks quicker—unloading the dishwasher, grabbing cereal while holding a toddler, or setting the table. They’ve made our kitchen more efficient and visually accessible.
HP Photosmart C4780
We added this printer as a counterpoint to the many positive picks: it’s been unreliable for wireless printing. Pages will sometimes print only partially or with long delays. If you rely on consistent wireless printing, this model may frustrate you. In the past we’ve had good luck with an Epson model, so that could be a better option for dependable performance.
Nikon D3000
We upgraded to the Nikon D3000 when Clara arrived and have been very happy with the results even as we’re still learning the camera. The DSLR delivers better family and blog photos than our point-and-shoot did. We later added a 50mm lens that helps in low light and for capturing moving subjects—great for photos of Clara and our dog—but we still use the kit lens for wider interior shots.
That’s the update — overall most of these purchases have held up well and remain favorites in our home. What items in your house have surprised you by how well (or poorly) they performed? Any brands you always trust or products you’d avoid? We love hearing recommendations and warnings from readers.
For posts about projects, mistakes, and tweaks we’ve made around the house, check our previous write-ups on lessons learned and room updates.