Revealed: the most useless gadgets

To most Brits, it will read like a Who's Who of the gadgets that should have never made it out of the box.



To German Chancellor Angela Merkel it is a ringing endorsement of her view that technology shouldn't be developed just because it can.



Commissioned by e-retailer Reevoo and based on the views of 4,500 of its visitors, it is a list revealing the 20 most pointless household gadgets ever.



The Electric Nail file – costing £200 and doing what you can do for a few pence is the most gormless of them all, despite its claim of providing a professional-look finish.



It beat off the second most useless gadget – the laser guided scissors – seen as the most over-engineered solution to the 'problem' of cutting in a straight line.



In fact, the device even struggles to live up to its one aim, because the laser is attached to the scissors, meaning a shaking hand results in a shaking light.



The third most irksome product to waste consumers' money is the battery-powered candle – supposed to be safer and longer-lasting than the wax alternative.



It beat off the Soda Stream, foot spas and fondue sets – which came fifth, sixth and seven respectively in the league table of pointless kit.



"Reading genuine reviews can tell you if a gadget or gizmo is likely to be the best thing you ever bought or something that gets stuck in a cupboard and forgotten about within a week," Reevoo said.



The life cycle of the average gadget is just over one year, because more than 60% of people find that some gadgets are a waste of time when they open them at home.



The full list of the most inept inventions is as follows:



1. Electric nail files

2. Laser guided scissors

3. Electric candles

4. Soda stream

5. Foot spas

6. Fondue set

7. Hair crimpers

8. Egg boiler

9. Electric fluff remover

10. Electric carving knife

11. Trouser press

12. Face steamers

13. Teasmade set

14. Mini disk player

15. Facial tanners

16. Egg slicer

17. Electric tin openers

18. Yoghurt makers

19. Towel warmer

20. Back scratcher