Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I like the way people still say Tupperware even though its probably not Tupperware they're using

156 replies

soupyspoon · 10/08/2025 14:37

And I do it too.

(and Im old enough to remember actual Tupperware)

OP posts:
TorroFerney · 11/08/2025 07:44

suburburban · 10/08/2025 17:30

Mil says sweep for vacuuming which sounds archaic. Sweep is using a broom not a vacuum cleaner.

I must admit I say hoover

Does she mean a carpet sweeper, I remember my grandma having one. It wasn’t electric but it whirred and you used it like a vacuum cleaner.

gannett · 11/08/2025 07:27

I imagine most people will learn and use the words "tupperware" and "hoover" and "sellotape" at a pretty young age - before they learn that all those things are technically brand names.

RainbowZebraWarrior · 11/08/2025 07:25

Crucible · 10/08/2025 16:11

You're not hoovering. That's a brand name too. You're vacuuming.

And Mr Hoover apparently stole the patent for the first machine from.his friend Mr Spangler. So youre actually Spangling.

Show quote history

I love this and might have to start using it. "I'm off to do some Spangling"

isthismylifenow · 11/08/2025 06:09

Leilaandtheloggerheads · 10/08/2025 21:47

Where the heck is this?! Who is their right mind calls toothpaste Colgate?!? 🤯

Show quote history

About half the country.

Most of whom haven't lost their mind.

See also Vaseline. Any petroleum jelly is Vaseline.

Mistyglade · 11/08/2025 01:08

Not quite the same but I heard myself say orangeade the other day.

HoppingPavlova · 11/08/2025 00:56

@soupyspoon (and Im old enough to remember actual Tupperware)

You do realise that’s an odd statement, given Tupperware only went out of business last year? So, ‘actual Tupperware’ has been around until extremely recently😁.

I’ve been around several decades and as well as my own Tupperware I’ve collected over that time, I also have some from my mum and MIL when cleaning their things out. I generally don’t use the old stuff for food, as standards for plastics for food have evolved over the years, but for sewing bits and bobs, odd stuff, and DH appreciates it for containing screws/washers etc.

I’ve been married a long time, and Tupperware has been the only thing that has ever threatened our marriage. I do recall words to the effect that if one more piece made its way into the house things may be over🤣. My kids grew up not knowing anything else and I pretty much have entire kitchen Tupperware sets put aside in storage for each of them when they settle in their own homes.

merrymelody · 11/08/2025 00:52

We had Tupperware parties even into the 2000s. It was expensive though so there was more emphasis on “party”, much to the hostess’s dismay. 😂

MasterBeth · 10/08/2025 23:17

dunroamingfornow · 10/08/2025 19:46

It took me years to realise that’s what Blue Peter meant by “ sticky backed plastic “ 😂

Show quote history

It wasn't!

suburburban · 10/08/2025 22:45

soupyspoon · 10/08/2025 21:07

Is she thinking of a carpet sweeper?

Show quote history

Yes probably but it grates and dh says it as well (probably to annoy me😀)

like we’re in the 1950s

Tedsnan1 · 10/08/2025 22:26

My daughters calls her glass containers Tupperware.
Makes my teeth itch.

RigIt · 10/08/2025 22:16

tilypu · 10/08/2025 15:27

The word 'a' comes in very useful here.

I would store something in 'a' tub. Or similarly, marinate someone in 'a' tub.

I guess if people wanted to, they could bring 'some tubs' or 'a tub' but I don't think I've ever said that to anyone.

And yes, I have heard people say 'a tupperware'.

But I don't see the point in using three syllables, when one will do (and it's also more accurate, as none of my tubs are actually Tupperware).

Show quote history

If you are going to marinate someone, I would use “the” tub, rather than “a” tub. It’s bigger.

TidalShore · 10/08/2025 22:16

squashyhat · 10/08/2025 15:46

Velcro is a trade name but I'm not sure what you would call it otherwise - fuzzy hooked tape? Grin Also Fablon, forever known to Blue Peter viewers as sticky backed plastic

Touch tape or hook and loop :)

NeedWineNow · 10/08/2025 22:15

My workbox with all my cottons, pins, dress making scissors etc is Tupperware. My mum bought it for me when she went to a party hosted by her friend who was a Tupperware agent. I must have been about 15 so it's got to be nearly 50 years old.

We also hoover (with a Shark) and have biros and sellotape.

SprayWhiteDung · 10/08/2025 22:10

We refer to all toilet paper as 'Bronco' - even though the brand disappeared a very long time ago.

We also call kitchen roll 'Burly' - after the brand that Marge Simpson uses, which doesn't actually exist in real life! If we're mentioning it to anybody else, it takes us several seconds to remember what normal people actually call it!

SprayWhiteDung · 10/08/2025 22:07

There was some kind of legal case (or at least a potential one) with Google, whereby they were wanting to stop it becoming a generic verb meaning 'to use any search engine on the internet'.

Although you'd think it a compliment, it's actually a big disadvantage to companies when their brand becomes the byword for any alternatives of that kind of product, as they can no longer legally protect their brand name from being freely used to refer to competitors.

At least Google do have the lion's share of the world search-engine market; but I'm not convinced that all that many people under 30 even know that Hoover is a brand name - which is reflected in their low share of the market.

Imagine having a very long-standing brand whose name people will almost universally invoke, whilst either spurning the very idea of actually choosing one of your products, or not even realising that you sell them!

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 10/08/2025 22:05

Apologies if posted previously, but this list is fascinating:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_generic_and_genericized_trademarks

‘Escalator’ and ‘heroin’ were once trademarks!

List of generic and genericized trademarks - Wikipedia

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_generic_and_genericized_trademarks

Leilaandtheloggerheads · 10/08/2025 22:00

dunroamingfornow · 10/08/2025 19:46

It took me years to realise that’s what Blue Peter meant by “ sticky backed plastic “ 😂

Show quote history

Sticky backed plastic was clear sticky sheeting that you can cover entire sheets of paper or workbooks with. The generic name for sellotape is “sticky tape” or maybe “adhesive tape”.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 10/08/2025 21:59

There are alot of people on here taking this TOO FAR and the brand name police will be after you…

SprayWhiteDung · 10/08/2025 21:57

TinyTempest · 10/08/2025 15:19

My mum always called it 'Tubberware'! 🤣🤣🤦‍♀️

I love that - I might start using that myself!

I also liked it when they had it on The Simpsons - one of Marge's sisters was holding a party to sell it - and they called it Supperware!

Leilaandtheloggerheads · 10/08/2025 21:55

Nourishinghandcream · 10/08/2025 15:47

Jeep as a generic name for any 4x4.
Transit for any type of medium sized van.

Hoover is the one that really gets me though 😖

Hahaha! Soooo annoying!! “Oh are you going in your Jeep?”

“No, I’m going in my Land Rover”

the fact there’s way more Land Rovers in the UK than Jeeps makes it even more maddening 😂😂

Leilaandtheloggerheads · 10/08/2025 21:48

Jetski is another. Though mine actually IS a Kawasaki Jetski!

Leilaandtheloggerheads · 10/08/2025 21:47

isthismylifenow · 10/08/2025 21:24

It happens a lot where I live, the main brand is what the items is called.

It doesn't matter what toothpaste you have, it's all Colgate. Sensodyne Colgate, maybe even Aquafresh Colgate.

Same with fizzy drinks. It's all Coke. This would be a totally normal conversation when, for eg we order a pizza:
would you like a Coke with that?
Yes please.
Okay what flavour?
Fanta please.
OK shap (which means OK sorted)

And any dishwashing liquid is called Sunlight.

Where the heck is this?! Who is their right mind calls toothpaste Colgate?!? 🤯

Gingernaut · 10/08/2025 21:46

toiletpiper · 10/08/2025 15:22

@Gingernaut what is their real name?

My mistake

I conflated Jeye's Fluid with J-Cloths

These things

I like the way people still say Tupperware even though its probably not Tupperware they're using
Rainydayinlondon · 10/08/2025 21:46

Nurofen instead of ibuprofen

panadol not Paracetamol

Leilaandtheloggerheads · 10/08/2025 21:45

I call them tubs or boxes