When you're young and just starting out, don't you wish for a magic wand to take you to a wonderful time in the future when all your mistakes and successes in choosing appliances are known in advance? Well, you just have to ask a person who's been there.

The best coffee pot we ever bought was a Black and Decker Thermos Coffee Maker. It cost about $70.00, made great coffee and what's more, kept it hot for hours. Coffee tastes bitter when it cools off and is re-heated.

The best steam iron we came across is the German brand, Rowenta. Their top of the line model puts out steam like a car wash, yet is light and easy to use. I recommend using distilled water instead of tap water which contains minerals.

I could never understand why light weight in a vacuum cleaner got top priority. The insides of most vacuums reveals thin plastic motor mounts and poorly designed ar flow passages. The latest Dirt Devil upright with the removable dirt canister works pretty well, but doesn't have the quality of a Electrolux. Regular maintenance is necessary for a long life. Recently, Hoover offered a bagless model called