Immer Besser – that’s the slogan of Miele, probably the world’s best-known and best-loved premium appliance manufacturer. Harking clumsily back to my GCSE German, it translates as “Always Better” or ...

Woman loading clothing into a front-load washing machine - Kathrin Ziegler/Getty Images When the dog does something unspeakable to the couch cover or the kids leave their soiled gym clothes hiding in ...