VACCUUM cleaners, where would the modern homemaker be without one?

The trouble is when a broken one has to be replaced there's far too many models to choose from, but then in this spoiled society its the same with all goods.

My 20 years old Vax gave up the ghost on Thursday, and after checking it over I presumed the engine had packed up and went off to buy a new one.

I selected the one I wanted, but Sods Law kicked in and of course they didn't have it in stock. I plumped for a middle of the road, white, light bagless model.

After the old pull along it's like wrestling with a monster. I hadn't had it 10 minutes before the flex was sucked inside the brushes and a piece of covering stripped off.

Every loose tassle is tangled round the brushes -- and it's impossible to hoover over a rug. Even the Greek flokati ones, the thickness of a sheepskin, are scrunched up into its jaws. Some time-saving contraption when I've been forced to revert to the olden days by taking them outside for a good shaking.

The thing's also snapped up my shoulder bag handle and the draw string from round the bottom of a jacket

It can't be left at an angle, either falling over or having to be rebooted to unlock it from the upright position. To clean in a corner a series of tools stuck around its perimeter have to be dismantled and fitted into the pipe.

One thing I can't complain about though is its dirt-busting efficiency. It's sucking up so much stuff it must be cleaning under the floorboards as well.

I've learned two lessons from this exercise:

1 Don't dash out and buy a new one before getting a second opinion on the old one. My Vax only needed a new plug!

2 A pull along is much easier.

It just shows that when replacing houshold items it pays to do some homework.