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30 Things That Are An Integral Part Of An American House, As Assumed By Non-Americans In This Online Group
Now that we live in such a global environment, there is nothing weird in admitting that we’re influenced by various cultures. Naturally, by being interested and learning about other countries' customs, habits, foods, and other things, we learn about their everyday life, and how it’s similar or different from our own. One of the most interesting, often talked about and compared places is the United States. Having this in mind, Reddit user @u/Ryrylx was curious to find out what are some of the things that non-American people have noticed and now are convinced that these items are in every American house.
Whether it’s picked up from shows or movies or seen in one of their travels, users online were quick to provide their answers to the question that received almost 48K responses. While some people reminded everyone of some American “classics” such as peanut butter or the variety of dressings and sodas found in one’s fridge, other users were fascinated by the garbage disposal installed in the sink and “washing machines where you put everything in the top”.
What are some of the things that you think every American has in their home? Leave your suggestions in the comments down below!
More Info: Reddit
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#2
Laundry dryer. In my country almost everyone dries their laundry on a wire outside, so the concept of a dryer is baffling to me. I only see them in American Movies & shows. Do majority of you have it or not?
Frando Bone 3 years ago
Probably every house has both but it depends on where you live and the time of year whether you can line-dry or not. Where I live I can technically line-dry all year but can't do so when it's windy and dust is blowing.
#3
Air conditioning
Frando Bone 3 years ago
Depends on where you live. I grew up in WA state, and it's not common there. I also lived in Alaska; no one has it in their homes. Where I live now, you wouldn't survive summer without it.
#4
Every American household have a drawer full with random s**t (died batteries, screws, shoelace etc)
#5
That garbage disposal thing I always see in shows and movies
Edit/update: In ten 10 hours, I've gotten nearly 20k upvotes and 317 replies. Some of you dudes and dudettes have very passionate opinions about your garbage disposals, I love it
Squirrelly Panda 3 years ago
The proper use of a garbage disposal is for those food scraps that inadvertently gets in the sink during food prep or clean up. So convenient to turn on the tap. Run the disposal for a moment, and the mess is gone, theoretically won't clog the drain. Most food scrap should go in the compost at best, bin at worst, but it is nice to not have to muck about with cleaning a nasty drain strainer for the bits that make it to the drain.
#6
Drywall....lots of drywall
Eat Dirt Crow 3 years ago
I mean, it's not like we have stacks of drywall just laying around the house. They're usually hanging around the walls and ceilings.
#7
Fridge with ice dispenser built in
Squirrelly Panda 3 years ago
We do like our cold drinks and our convenience. So, I guess I do resemble this comment.
#8
Eggs *in* the fridge
sturmwesen 3 years ago
Isn't it because in the US they wash the protective layer off before sale?
#10
Individual cans or bottles of soft drinks
#11
A gallon of milk in the refrigerator
Squirrelly Panda 3 years ago
Yeah, we in the U.S. never have warmed up to shelf stable milk, and milk does go well with the cereal mentioned in another post.
#13
Cereal
Uncommon Boston 3 years ago (edited)
There is not any cereal in the photo. One a bag of 'Cereal Toppers', not sure what it is
#15
A garage fridge. Filled with beer and frozen boxes of c**p from Costco.
#16
A dishwasher.
Sans Serif 3 years ago
A dishwasher cycle can often be more conservative of water than hand washing and rinsing. A gallon or two versus quite possibly many more!
#20
Oh oh, the washing machines where you put everything in the top! This fascinated me when we visited the states. They’re huge!
Frando Bone 3 years ago
and they suck too...because they frequently go off balance in the spin cycle.
#21
Just a literal block of cheese just chilling in the fridge. I'm certain they woke up randomly at 3am and go 'Omg cheese sounds good right now.'
MotherofGuineaPigs 3 years ago
Always have cheese n the fridge and peanut butter in the cupboard
#23
I’m convinced almost every american has a mountain of pillows on their bed
Firstname Lastname 3 years ago
We have a mountain of stuffed animals instead of pillows. Much more cuddly.
#24
Bbq sauce
#25
Apparently americans are rather fond of Pickles and Peanut Butter. Is that a fair assumption to make?
Edit: I meant either or not both at the same time. ☠️
harpling 3 years ago
There's a maternity clothing store near me called "Pickles and Peanut Butter." The owner said that's what she always craved while pregnant.
Frando Bone 3 years ago
HA! I love that! Not a woman here, but in the brand industry and that's brilliant.
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Michael Largey 3 years ago (edited)
There are some sweet or hot pickles that might go quite well with peanut butter. But I'll leave the taste-testing research to my fellow Pandas.
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Bouche Clay 3 years ago
No pickles here. No pickled anything. I hate vinegar based salad dressings. I do like that vinegar cleans pennies so nicely.
KM 3 years ago
You don't actually need vinegar for pickling, that's just one recipe, that's as far as I understand is popular in the US. Here we've been pickling cucumbers, tomatoes and other veggies for generations without vinegar, there are some simple recipes online)
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TeenieMeanie 3 years ago
Sauerkraut, kimchee, dills, gherkins, cornichons, and pickled jalapeños in my fridge right now. I may have a problem.
Michael Largey 3 years ago
Problem? Your only problem is which to eat first!
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Well-Dressed Wolf 3 years ago
I love both dill and gherkin (sweet) pickles. I grew up with my mom making tuna salad with sweet gherkins instead of dill pickles and I prefer it that way XD
Cary Huether 3 years ago
I eat that every once in awhile. Good stuff. So is pickles and cheese in a sandwich.
Celtic Pirate Queen 3 years ago
My former FIL had a peanut butter, mayo, pickle and bacon sandwich (on Wonder bread) for lunch every day. Seriously, EVERY DAY.
Celtic Pirate Queen 3 years ago
Although - my former FIL had a peanut butter, mayo, bacon & pickle sandwich every single day for lunch. No, I never even WANTED to try it.
Corby Neal 3 years ago
I went to school with a girl that always had pb&j sandwiches with pickles on it. It was actually really good.
DrGirlfriend 3 years ago
I grew up eating pickles and peanut butter sandwich. Dill pickles. The crunch and sweet and the pickle.. it's actually amazing 😁. I can no longer eat anything good due to a.bad bladder.. STAY HYDRATED PEOPLE ONCE YOU GET I.C games over.
Marty BlackEagle-Carl 3 years ago
we're indoctrinated as kids to like peanut butter, cheap lunch alternative for kids.
Desiree Cretan 3 years ago
I don't like peanut butter. I eat peanuts but peanut butter for some reason to me it just stinks and it amplifies when i'm pregnant. Pickles I eat but not as a craving. I haven't touch a pickle since i got pregnant.
Susan Green 3 years ago
You better believe it’s both at the same time. Peanut butter and dill pickle sandwiches are so good.
Hey! 3 years ago (edited)
I just told my husband I lost my jar of PB somewhere. I had surgery 3 days ago and I can't think straight. I tried pickles and BP after I read a few mysteries and the heroine ate those sandwiches. It's good. I also like it with jam or butter so it doesn't stuck on the roof of my mouth. I got a lot of picked stuff but never tried sauerkraut and I think I should.
Benita Valdez 3 years ago
Who doesn't like pickled vegetables? Currently we have sweet horseradish pickles from a farmers market, pickled cucumbers and lettuce from the Asian market and pickled asparagus from Lidl. Oh and some pickled beets
kim morris 3 years ago
Yes, Americans like Peanut Butter, it's a staple (or was, until allergies became prevalent, and no one knows why yet) in elementary schools. We grow up on peanut butter and jam sandwiches. Pickles are the tart that cuts the sweet of barbeque. The tang makes for a nice yin to the yang.
#27
Those f*****g red disposable beer cups
#28
Plastic bags
Firstname Lastname 3 years ago
Alternatively, an ever increasing pile of reusable and paper bags when people forget certain places have banned plastic bags.
#29
Something that is individually wrapped that doesn’t need to be individually wrapped
Frando Bone 3 years ago
Compared to Singapore?? LOL They would individually wrap grapes if they could LOL
#31
An outside porch. Basketball net. Basement. Walk in closet. Top loader washing machine . Triangular college flag. Outside post box. Bedroom window that teenagers come and go by at night. Front doors which aren’t locked.
John Ambrose 3 years ago
This OP thinks we still live in a 1950s sitcom and not a capitalist dystopia over here.
#32
A garbage shredder thing in the sink
Industrial quantities of soda
Blueberry breakfast pancake mix
Assorted boxes from Amazon
Dad's ugly comfy chair
Coupons
#33
A thermostat
EDIT 1: the thermostat I’m referring to is the little dial attached to the wall in every American movie and house I went to while visiting.
EDIT 2: to those asking what the alternative is
A reverse cycle air conditioner we turn on when we’re no longer comfortable.
If it gets hot we turn it on and select cold
If it gets cold we turn it on and select heat
EDIT 3: I’m aware some people call these “heat pumps” but no one calls them that where I live
Sans Serif 3 years ago
"A thermostat" is a rather obscure inclusion. It's the logical component of a heating/cooling system to prevent them from running out of control. Not much different than those in refrigerators, ovens, space heaters. etc. Heating/cooling systems might be more apropos here...
#34
Hot pockets
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
They used to taste better than they do now. I suspect the manufacturer swapped out good ingredients for cheap s**t to increase profits, and basically ruined a good thing.
#35
Someone with diabetes
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
Diabetes is a human malady. It doesn’t care about artificial lines drawn on maps.
What do you think ?
Caro Caro 3 years ago
HUH??? What kind of people wrote this thread? Where do they come from? It's like saying most USA houses have a toilet. DUH. Most of the things mentioned here are available in the modern western world. They may look a little different but that's about it. Oh GOSH ... you have a washing machine? I mean really. Sheesh
wowbagger 3 years ago
Since turnabout is fair play: I watch a lot of British crime dramas. From these I've learned that every house in the UK has a collection of transferware dishes displayed on a china hutch. Also, everyone is having an affair, and it leads to a lot of murders.
MimSorensson 3 years ago
And a butler. I’m fairly sure. And, possibly, a massive candle stick.
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Colette Connor 3 years ago
I feel like most of the things on this list could be in any house in any country. The only one I would consider "American" is the waste disposal in the sink, not that I think every American has one but more I have not seen or heard of one in any other country.
Justin Trouble 3 years ago
I'm from america I only have about a quarter of those things that the entire rest of the world has. So here is my assumption based off tv and movies that every house in Europe has. Turnips
Rebecca Broscombe-Adams 3 years ago
Unless these are answers from the 3rd world this is a ridiculous thread.
Nathaniel 3 years ago
A handegg that father and son can play catch whilst having a father/son talk.
JC 3 years ago (edited)
Ahh yes, the American hand egg as opposed to the European testicle boing boing that can neither be thrown nor kicked with any accuracy. Also, let's not forget the futballers who deserve an Academy Award every time someone hurts their feelings and they end up rithing in pain on the pitch until they're healed by the magic sponge...or a yellow card.
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Dirk Daring 3 years ago
I would like to point out to a lot of the commenters here that the list does not say that these things are ONLY found in American homes.
JMil 3 years ago (edited)
I have 24 from the list (live in the US). Edit: gotta get me a musket
Nikki Sevven 3 years ago
I'm American and have very few of these things in my house. It constantly baffles me how people can understand that diversity exists within their own country, but simultaneously believe Americans are a bunch of clones who think, behave, eat, drink, etc. exactly alike.
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Trentin Quarantino 3 years ago
Other than the gun, the waste disposal, and a sofa facing a studio audience, many homes in Europe have these
Caro Caro 3 years ago
HUH??? What kind of people wrote this thread? Where do they come from? It's like saying most USA houses have a toilet. DUH. Most of the things mentioned here are available in the modern western world. They may look a little different but that's about it. Oh GOSH ... you have a washing machine? I mean really. Sheesh
wowbagger 3 years ago
Since turnabout is fair play: I watch a lot of British crime dramas. From these I've learned that every house in the UK has a collection of transferware dishes displayed on a china hutch. Also, everyone is having an affair, and it leads to a lot of murders.
MimSorensson 3 years ago
And a butler. I’m fairly sure. And, possibly, a massive candle stick.
Load More Replies... Colette Connor 3 years ago
I feel like most of the things on this list could be in any house in any country. The only one I would consider "American" is the waste disposal in the sink, not that I think every American has one but more I have not seen or heard of one in any other country.
Justin Trouble 3 years ago
I'm from america I only have about a quarter of those things that the entire rest of the world has. So here is my assumption based off tv and movies that every house in Europe has. Turnips
Rebecca Broscombe-Adams 3 years ago
Unless these are answers from the 3rd world this is a ridiculous thread.
Nathaniel 3 years ago
A handegg that father and son can play catch whilst having a father/son talk.
JC 3 years ago (edited)
Ahh yes, the American hand egg as opposed to the European testicle boing boing that can neither be thrown nor kicked with any accuracy. Also, let's not forget the futballers who deserve an Academy Award every time someone hurts their feelings and they end up rithing in pain on the pitch until they're healed by the magic sponge...or a yellow card.
Load More Replies... Dirk Daring 3 years ago
I would like to point out to a lot of the commenters here that the list does not say that these things are ONLY found in American homes.
JMil 3 years ago (edited)
I have 24 from the list (live in the US). Edit: gotta get me a musket
Nikki Sevven 3 years ago
I'm American and have very few of these things in my house. It constantly baffles me how people can understand that diversity exists within their own country, but simultaneously believe Americans are a bunch of clones who think, behave, eat, drink, etc. exactly alike.
Load More Replies... Trentin Quarantino 3 years ago
Other than the gun, the waste disposal, and a sofa facing a studio audience, many homes in Europe have these
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