Clean smarter,not harder.
Buying guides for vacuums, carpet cleaners, steam mops, floor washers, pressure washers and cleaning supplies, matched to your floors, your mess and how often you clean.
Clean by surface and job
Carpet, hard floors, laundry or the driveway. The right tool depends on the surface first.
Vacuums
Stick, upright, canister and wet-dry
Floor & carpet care
Carpet cleaners, steam mops, floor washers
Laundry & supplies
Detergents, stain removers, sprays and tools
Outdoor & pro
Pressure washers and commercial gear
Kitchen & bathroom
Degreasers, descalers and specialty cleaners
Air & odor
Odor removers and deodorizers
Eco & refill
Concentrates, refills and reusable tools
Clean it right
- 01
Cleaning Chemistry: Acidic vs Alkaline Cleaners and What Never to Mix
Acidic cleaners remove mineral scale, rust and soap scum; alkaline cleaners cut grease and food soil; pH-neutral cleaners are safest on natural stone, wood and finished surfaces.
- 02
Cordless vs Corded Vacuum: Which Fits Your Home and Floors?
Cordless stick vacuums are light, quick to grab and great for hard floors, small homes and daily touch-ups, but most run 15 to 60 minutes depending on power mode, hold small bins and need battery replacement after a few years.
- 03
How to Choose a Pressure Washer: PSI, GPM and Nozzles
Compare pressure washers on both PSI (pressure) and GPM (flow); PSI × GPM gives cleaning units, a better single number.
- 04
How to Clean Pet Accidents From Carpet (and What Equipment Helps)
Act fast: remove solids, blot (never rub) as much liquid as you can, then apply an enzyme cleaner made for pet urine and let it sit as directed so the enzymes break down the odor-causing compounds.
- 05
Laundry Detergent Types Explained: Pods, Liquid, Powder and HE
High-efficiency (HE) washers need low-sudsing HE detergent.
- 06
Is a Steam Mop Safe for My Floors? A Floor-by-Floor Guide
Steam mops suit sealed ceramic and porcelain tile and some sealed vinyl.
Cleaning Gear questions, answered
What cleaner removes hard water stains?
An acidic cleaner or descaler, such as one based on citric acid, used on surfaces that tolerate acid.
Read: Cleaning Chemistry →Are cordless vacuums as powerful as corded?
The best cordless models are strong, especially on hard floors, but most corded uprights still clean thick carpet more thoroughly and never run out of battery.
Read: Cordless vs Corded Vacuum →What PSI do I need to wash a car?
About 1,200 to 1,900 PSI with a 40-degree nozzle, held at a safe distance, is enough for most cars.
Read: How to Choose a Pressure Washer →What removes dog urine smell from carpet?
An enzyme cleaner designed for pet urine, applied generously so it reaches the padding, and left for the time on the label.
Read: How to Clean Pet Accidents From Carpet (and What Equipment Helps) →Can I use regular detergent in an HE washer?
No. Use HE-labeled detergent. Regular detergent makes too many suds for low-water HE machines.
Read: Laundry Detergent Types Explained →Can I steam mop hardwood floors?
Most hardwood manufacturers advise against it. Heat and moisture can damage the finish and swell the boards.
Read: Is a Steam Mop Safe for My Floors? A Floor-by-Floor Guide →Plain answers about cleaning
Every recommendation starts with the floor, fabric or finish, using its maker's care instructions.
Each guide says who the equipment suits, who should look elsewhere, and what to check before you buy.
Brands cannot buy a review or a spot on a list. Partner codes save you money; they never decide what we recommend.
Prices are dated, codes are updated across the site at once, and pages are revised when a product, standard or rule changes.
The cleaning gear index
- 01VacuumsCordless stick, upright, canister, handheld and wet-dry vacuums.1 page
- 02Floor & carpet careCarpet extractors, spot cleaners, steam mops, wet-dry floor washers and mops.2 pages
- 03Laundry & suppliesLaundry detergents and stain removers, surface cleaners, descalers, microfiber and tools.2 pages
- 04Outdoor & proPressure washers, surface cleaners, commercial vacuums, floor scrubbers and janitorial gear.1 page
- 05Kitchen & bathroomKitchen degreasers, bathroom and shower cleaners, descalers and specialty surface cleaners.0 pages
- 06Air & odorOdor eliminators, enzyme sprays, deodorizers and fabric fresheners. HVAC filtration is covered by HomeSystemsTested.0 pages
- 07Eco & refillRefill systems, cleaning tablets and concentrates, and reusable cleaning tools compared on cost per use.0 pages