How we rate

Most comparison sites tell you what they picked. This page tells you how—clearly enough that you can disagree with us.

Two scores on every product

Buyer Score (0–100) measures how a product works out for people who already own it: ratings, written review themes, sales momentum, and price relative to peers.

Standards Score (0–100) measures what we found when checking safety signals, environmental cost, claim honesty, and independent verification. Priority topics for a category count double.

Our process

1. Lock the graded topics for a category before scoring any product.
2. Verify specs from primary listings and manufacturer docs—not recycled roundups.
3. Check certifications against issuing-body registries when claimed.
4. Scan recalls, warning letters, and major safety notices.
5. Score, blend into an overall rank, then revisit when models change.

What scores cannot tell you

No score replaces your constraints: room size, pet hair reality, budget ceiling, or brand preference. Use our ranking as a shortlist, then confirm the live Amazon listing, return policy, and current price before you buy.