The award for bad design in 2007 has to go to Bissel. We recently bought one of their vacuum cleaners and it has to be the worst design I've ever seen (worse than Volvo, and you know how I feel about them).

On the first day it picks up dirt fairly well. But don't go near it without your shoes on because it is top heavy and falls over at the slightest touch. It is heavy and gives your bare toes a healthy whack, Ouch!!!.

On the second day it clogs up, because there are several small airways in it that won't allow the smallest piece of paper to pass (Now why did I buy a vacuum cleaner? It wasn't to pick up pieces of dirt and paper was it?).

So you have to dismantle it to clean it out (remember the days when you could just change the bag? Well this one is advertised as being easier because you don't have a bag). Out comes the Philips screwdriver and you take it all apart. Then you get your wire coathanger which you straighten out and put a hook in the end to try to unclog the thing.

Finally you get it unblocked. You then empty the box and wash out one of the filters. The other filter has to be replaced, but the store (Home Depot), where you bought the machine doesn't stock the replacement filters. AND, nor does ANY STORE IN TOWN. In fact the cleaner doesn't even have the size of the replacement filter printed ANYWHERE on it.

So, not knowing where to buy the replacement, you make do with a generic piece of filter cloth which you cut down to size.

GREAT! you've got it working again - FOR ANOTHER DAY.

So back to ...The award for bad design in 2007 has to go to Bissel...