How we test
Every product we recommend has been bought, used and measured by us. Here is exactly how.
1. We buy it
We buy every product ourselves, and we buy the exact model we link to, so what you buy is what we tested. If a brand ever sends us a product for free, the review says so at the top.
2. We use it for real
We use it in a home over several weeks, not just on the day it arrives: the vacuum cleans our floors, the humidifier runs in the bedroom at night, the mattress topper gets slept on. Our tests happen in our test home.
3. We measure
We use the same tools for every product in a category: a timer, a kitchen scale for tank and bin capacity, a hygrometer for humidity, a sound level meter app on a phone, a plug-in power meter for running cost, and a tape measure. We write every number down, and the numbers in our tables come from those notes. Where a product is sold for a different mains voltage than the one we test on, the review says how it was powered.
4. We photograph and film it
Every photo and video on this site is ours, taken during the test. We show the good and the bad, including close-ups of flaws.
The Gears Score
Each product gets four scores from 1 to 10:
| Score | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Performance | How well it does its main job in our tests |
| Ease of use | Setup, everyday use, cleaning, and how clear the controls are |
| Build and durability | Materials, fit and finish, and how it held up during testing |
| Value | What you get for the price, compared with the other products we tested |
The Gears Score is the average of the four, rounded to one decimal place. We show all four numbers, so you can see why a product scored the way it did. We never copy star ratings or reviews from Amazon or other stores.
How we choose what to test
We look at what people search for and what sells at budget prices, then pick products we can buy and test properly. We do not accept payment to review a product or to change a score.
Our guides
Our cleaning and maintenance guides are written from what we did at home, step by step, with the tools we name. Where a guide was written before our photos were ready, the photos are added when the team has them, and the steps are not changed to suit a product we sell.
How we use AI
Our tests, measurements, photos and verdicts come from people. We use AI tools to help organize our notes and edit our writing, and a person on our team checks every article against the test notes before it goes live.
Updates and corrections
We update a guide when a product changes, its price changes a lot, or a better option appears. If you spot a mistake, email [email protected] and we will fix it.