Why don't things work any more?

I read a forum post the other day about ant powder not working, or fly spray, or weed killer - and this weekend discovered that oven cleaners no longer clean ovens!!!  

Now I wonder what's happened to washing powder?  In my grandma's day it was common to see washing being boiled, shirt collars and cuffs being scrubbed, or a washboard being used to get things clean.  Then we got twin tubs, then automatics, and then fantastic biological washing powders, and none of that was necessary any more.  We just popped our clothes in and they came out sparkling clean.  

Recently we've started to be advised to 'add' stain removers, and 'fresheners', and 'anti-bacterials' to our washing machines, and yet washing with all this now doesn't get cuffs or collars clean!!!  I've just found myself scrubbing the cuffs of a shirt worn by my OH for just a day AFTER it had been through the wash.  It was a 'best' shirt, too, worn for only a short time, not a working shirt, and thought 'GRRRR, why should I need to do this'? 

Why don't things work any more?  And does anyone else have any pet hates about household products or other items which no longer 'do what they say on the tin'???

(Val edited the title for you, David)