1. We use it before we score it
A product is only reviewed after it has been used the way you would use it at home, for long enough to see what breaks, annoys or wins. Nothing is scored from a spec sheet, a press release or a manufacturer's demo.
2. The rubric
Each category is scored on five weighted criteria. Sub-scores are averaged into the overall figure you see out of 10, so two products in the same guide are always compared on identical terms.
| Criterion | Weight | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Real-world performance | 30% | How well it does the core job over days of ordinary use — not a one-off bench run. |
| Build quality & durability | 20% | Materials, finish, and what starts to loosen, stain or rattle after weeks of handling. |
| Ease of use | 20% | Setup time, how obvious the controls are, and how much of the manual you actually need. |
| Cleaning & upkeep | 15% | What routine maintenance really costs you in time — measured, not guessed. |
| Value | 15% | Price against what it delivers. A cheap product regularly beats an expensive one here. |
3. What the scores mean
- 9.0–10 — best in its category; we'd buy it with our own money.
- 8.0–8.9 — strong recommendation with a known trade-off, stated plainly.
- 7.0–7.9 — good for a specific buyer, not for everyone.
- Below 7— we say why we'd skip it. Products that fail their core job don't get recommended no matter how well they sell.
4. Independence
No brand pays for coverage, placement or a higher rank, and we do not send drafts to brands before publishing. We earn a commission when you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you — but retailers pay similar rates across the board, so a commission has nothing to gain from a particular winner. See our affiliate disclosure and editorial guidelines.
5. Coupon codes
Codes on our deals pages are checked by hand before they go live, and pulled when they stop working. Offers we collect automatically are never presented as hand-checked, and we never advertise a discount percentage we haven't confirmed at the store.
6. Updates and corrections
Guides carry the date they were last verified. When a new model changes the ranking, we re-test and update the guide rather than leaving a stale winner in place. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we'll correct it and note the change.