Anthology of short stories from 1990s – someone invents cleaner which removes hair

[Milkyrain]

Hi, can anyone help? I am trying to remember the name of an anthology of short science fiction stories that I got from the school library in the 1990s. I only remember it very vaguely, in one story someone invented a cleaning device to remove dust, it is so popular even the queen buys one but it ends up removing hair as well. In another, a man is living on an alien planet with a giant pet spider. In another, a group of children have a toy robot/hologram that is broken and says the wrong things (I think it’s meant to be a soldier but has been given the mind/speech of another toy) but ends up saving them from some bullies. I can’t remember the rest, just that I liked it. I would love to know what it was.
Thanks for any help

 

[Somni]

Re: Anthology of short stories from 1990s – someone invents cleaner which removes hai

I remember this story ' In another, a group of children...' but I am afraid the anthology escapes me.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Re: Anthology of short stories from 1990s – someone invents cleaner which removes hai

The "cleaning device to remove dust" story could be (ha, go figure) "Dusty Zebra" by Clifford Simak, although it didn't remove hair. I have a lousy memory, but the others do ring a bell.

 

[Milkyrain]

Re: Anthology of short stories from 1990s – someone invents cleaner which removes hai

Thanks for your replies, unfortunately it isn't that