Writing this from my daughter's student house and in the process of helping her move into her new place, it occurs to me just how many student rooms/houses I've helped her and her sister vacate over the past few years. And how many kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms I've given that final clean before the girls hand the keys back to the owner, (so I can be sure that everything's perfect and the deposit comes back intact). Well, when you're not familiar with a room, it's easy to see bits that have been missed in the cleaning process, isn't it?

Some houses are very easy to clean and the fittings and appliances seem to have been designed and installed with careful thought regarding the need to keep them looking good. Others seem to have been designed and installed in a way that makes life difficult, with so many awkward ridges and hard-to-reach nooks and crannies that I find myself tutting with exasperation.

I'd love to know what percentage of your R & D budgets - whether you're involved in designing bathrooms, kitchens, appliances or furniture for the home - is spent on the cleanability of your products. And of course it's not just about the money. I'd also be interested in finding out what sort of tests are carried out and by whom, to see whether what you're selling is still going to be looking good in years to come.

Please do let me know - and I'd be happy for your answers to remain 'off the record' if you'd prefer.

Jan Hobbs