I have been cursing whoever designed my bathroom basin for two years, because I couldn't get down the sides of the overflow to clean it (where does that black gunge come from, only clean water goes down it?). Today, I accidentally found out that the whole thing lifts up and the cavity underneath is then very easy to clean with an old toothbrush.

I still think some designers of kitchen equipment have never had to clean them, though - my oven has little slots which are just large enough to get crumbs and fat inside but too narow to get a cloth in to clean them - I have to wrap a paper towel round a knife.

Obviously designed by men Greatnan

The oven door of my new all singing and all dancing cooker has a double piece of glass that has to be dismantled if you need to clean it ??

And what about the milk jugs and teapots that won't pour properly?

Too right, Lilygran. I must have spent a fortune on teapots that don't pour properly and eventually bought a dark blue 'Brown Betty' from a local, old fashioned ironmongers and it is brilliant.

Yes, I have never found a stainless steel teapot that didn't dribble - I stick to putting a teabag in a mug now!

Why do so many tea shops have those little stainless steel milk jugs that dribble all over the place? You'd think that as they spend all day serving tea they would know that milk jugs and teapots that pour properly are crucial!

I have just had the usual tussle with a tin of corned beef - why on earth can't they put them in rectangular tins that you can open with a tin opener? Of course, the key broke off after half an inch. I managed not to cut myself - I remember one poor woman who died after getting infection in a wound from a corned beef tin.

I cannot open those tins - I even used the special can opener hook my friend gave to me - as I have an arthritic condition I can't open a list of stuff. I've even been know to go next door to open various bottles that are welded on with plastic stripping. As for corn beef tins - forget it! I struggled for ages, neighbours were out, in the end in my fury I chucked it out. Can't open most plastic bags - the list goes on. However, a lot of people without any sort of arthritis etc find those and Spam tins just impossible. Oh and sardine tins also difficult. The design has been that way since forever, as I remember them from childhood.

Most of the tins here now have pull rings, but they often break off so it is back to the tin opener. I have tried so many different types, with wheels, etc. but I am now back to the old fashioned type which seems to work round corners!

I've often wondered that too, jamjam, about jugs in tea shops. At home I put a tiny smear of butter under the lip. Prevents drips.

My dogs love sardines but I hate opening the tins. No matter how careful I am I always end up with a huge dollop of oil on my T shirt. Uggh!

dorset I find that my electric can opener works on corned beef,and spam tins. It goes round the corners quite well.
Hope that helps

Ring pull cans invariably shower me (usually with tomato soup on a new white T shirt) likewise the peel off lid on yogurt pots and I use nutcrackers to open most screwtop caps.
As to bathroom design, a friend has a very chic bathroom with a square flat-bottomed basin. I always feel very embarrassed when I stay as I find it impossible to swill any water round it after brushing teeth etc.
And as for belfast sinks - I have had one in my utility room for years and simply cannot see the appeal, cleaning the bottom is a major job (Stomps off in cloud of righteous indignation!)
The basis of good design has to be twofold - pleasing to the eye and PRACTICAL in use.

And ideally, designed by somebody who might be expected to use it!

And don't get me started on childproof pill containers - Granny proof more like!

I help out sometimes at a mother and toddler session. The sippy cups with lids defeat me, both getting them on and getting them off. Juice all down the T shirt.

Vacuum packed salmo and mackerel fillets where the plastic is moulded so close to the fish and the tray it won't come off....not good when you are starving enough to eat the plastic.....

This so funny, all the stuff listed has given me probs as well, glad I'm not the only one. Lilygran sippy cups - have to ask older GD to undo those. Ella46 thanks for the tip I don't have an electric can opener but it can go on 'the list'.

Sippy cups - oh how I hate them, I too have great problems getting the lids off.
My pet hate is cucumbers with plastic wrapping.
Nice tip about the messy jugs bags - thank you

Youngest granddaughter has a sippy cup that has the plastic cover to seal the spout when travelling INSIDE the lid!

Not quite "bad design" more like a huge hate - I really detest supermarket self-service checkouts and now they are beginning to appear in Boots and M&S. They are an abomination

Handy if you realise on your way out of the shop that you've forgotten just one item, though. Saves queueing.

Don't get me started on self-service checkouts! Nine times out of ten, they don't work. You can't buy booze - or scissors! Or newspapers if there's a free DVD, or paracetamol, without getting authorisation from an assistant and it is rare that an assistant is at hand. The machine rejects your own bag and is quite incapable of recognising items you've just zapped ( unexpected item in the bagging area). And if they start to work properly lots of part-time low-paid (mainly) women workers will lose their jobs .

I have Jacuzzi taps which are perfectly round so you can't turn them with wet hands. Very pretty in a show home, useless in practice. Also, I have just been called to the washing machine by my husband asking if the conditioner compartment should be full of water. And black gunk. No it shouldn't but the design is so awful that it always is.