3 Annoying Design Flaws in Household Items

That space between the faucets and the wall

I don’t know who invented the modern sink and the hardware that goes with it, but I do know that whomever it was never once thought about the person who would be cleaning their bathroom or kitchen. The space between the back of the faucet and the wall is so tiny a sponge can barely fit in there sideways, let alone in a manner that will actually clean the space. I can certainly only get a sponge in there edgewise, and even that is a challenge. The frustration I feel when I’m trying to clean a sink is something I’ve had to learn to walk away from. If I didn’t, someone would find me hours later, scrubbing until the sponge falls apart, tears running down my face. You know why?

Because it’s never quite clean enough.

“S” hooks in lingerie

I suspect that when the little metal clasps shaped like an “s” first showed up in women’s lingerie, they seemed like a miracle of technology Right?compared to whatever was happening where the straps met the body of the outfit before. However, just because something seemed wonderful in the middle ages doesn’t mean it’s still a miracle today. The way those things slip and twist is not only annoying as hell, but it can be almost painful at times. Today they come in plastic as well as metal. This innovation does not make them any more comfortable. In fact, now they have a greater chance of breaking when they twist and turn with reckless abandon. I am certain there has to be something better. Right?

Seat Belts

Why do these things have to cut across my neck, promising to quickly and efficiently decapitate me should I need to hit the brakes going 65 miles per hour? I know now that there are things you can buy — or, in my own case, concoct — that stop this from happening. What I don’t understand is why these “fixes” have to be after-market! For a long time, I used a scrunchy hair tie, which I slid over the buckle and pulled to the center of my body. This brought the shoulder belt down where it didn’t bother me. Over time, I switched the scrunchie out for a carabiner. Works wonders!

The weird space under the agitator in the washing machine

Why the heck is in imperative that straps and twisted pant legs get stuck under the agitator? I swear to goodness that I’ve had more pairs of panties stretch out of shape by being caught around the agitator, requiring me to pull at them like taffy until they finally come loose. Somehow it seems like someone should invent a protective cover for that space. Don’t go telling me to buy a front-loading washing machine, though. I have what I have, and so do thousands of other families. Sometimes I think I was better off with the ancient wringer washer I had when I was in my 20s. Oh, the agitator still had that annoying strap-ripping space, but at least I could run the washer for as long as I needed it and be absolutely certain the clothing was impeccably clean and wrung out until it was almost dry just from the squeeze of the hand-fed wringer. Plus, today that thing would be worth a fortune!

There are many, many more household inventions that could be improved upon. I have a rather strong feeling that improvements have been suggested by the very women who have used these technologies for the last hundred years or so and rejected by the men who created the problems in the first place. Useability matters, but it can only be assessed by the end users.

What household items make you want to scream?