We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping Cleaning Vacuums The 8 Best Vacuums for Carpets, Tested and Reviewed These vacuums make it easy to clean up household dirt and debris—yes, even pet hair. By Barbara Bellesi Zito Barbara Bellesi Zito Barbara Bellesi Zito is a freelance writer from Staten Island, NY with more than 18 years of experience covering home and lifestyle topics for a variety of publications. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Jamie Fischer Jamie Fischer Jamie Fischer is a commerce writer for Real Simple. She has experience writing content for various digital publications including Parents, and is passionate about home, lifestyle, and beauty products. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 20, 2024 Fact checked by Shereen Jegtvig Fact checked by Shereen Jegtvig Shereen Jegtvig is an author, fact-checker, and expert with over two decades of experience in health and wellness within the lifestyle space. Our Fact-Checking Process In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Final Verdict Our Testing Process How to Shop More to Consider FAQs Take Our Word for It What Is Real Simple Selects? Photo: Real Simple / Rachel Marek A good vacuum is a necessity for a clean home, especially if you have a lot of carpet. After all, carpets hold onto dust, dirt, and moisture—and don’t even get us started on pet hair. But with so many options on the market, it can be overwhelming to decide which vacuum is indeed good for your cleaning needs as well as your budget. “Go for something that looks simple,” says Chris Willatt, founder of Alpine Maids, about choosing a vacuum. “Adding [multiple features] might make it five percent more powerful, but at the cost of adding complexity.” In short, if one of those “convenient” features breaks, you could be without a vacuum at all. To help you avoid decision paralysis, we’ve done the hard work for you and tested over 250 vacuums. When looking for the best vacuums for carpets, we focused on maneuverability, noise level, ease of emptying, and effectiveness in picking up hair and household debris—everything from sand and coffee grounds to pet kibble. Whether you prefer a sturdy upright vacuum, a cordless vacuum, or a canister vacuum with all the attachments that make it easy to get even the tightest corners clean, we’ve found the best vacuums for carpets in your home. Our Top Picks Best Overall Vacuum for Carpet: SALE Shark NV501 Rotator Professional Upright Vacuum at Amazon $300 $229 Jump to Review Best Budget Vacuum for Carpet: SALE Hoover MAXLife Pet Max Complete Vacuum at Amazon $190 $150 Jump to Review Best Splurge Vacuum for Carpet: SALE Dyson Gen5detect Cordless Vacuum at Amazon $950 $779 Jump to Review Best Cordless Stick Vacuum for Carpet: Levoit VortexIQ 40 Cordless Stick Vacuum at Amazon $230 Jump to Review Best Upright Vacuum for Carpet: SALE Shark AZ2002 Vertex Powered Lift-Away Vacuum at Amazon $500 $308 Jump to Review Best Canister Vacuum for Carpet: Kenmore Elite 21814 CrossOver Canister Vacuum at Amazon $400 Jump to Review Best Pet Vacuum for Carpet: SALE Shark ZU62 Navigator Zero-M Pet Pro Upright Vacuum at Amazon $280 $144 Jump to Review Best Robot Vacuum for Carpet: iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum at Amazon $265 Jump to Review Best Overall Vacuum for Carpet Shark NV501 Rotator Professional Upright Vacuum PHOTO: Amazon $229 at Amazon $267 at Walmart $270 at Farmandfleet.com Our Ratings Effectiveness 4.8/5 Maneuverability 4/5 Ease of Emptying 5/5 Portability 4.5/5 Noise Level 5/5 What Stands Out This reasonably priced vacuum has impressive suction and seamlessly transitions between carpet and other floor types. What Could Be Improved It is a bit top-heavy. There’s a lot to like about this vacuum, which is why it earned the title of our overall top pick. It cleaned up the debris from the carpet very quickly in our testing and transitioned seamlessly to hard surfaces. We liked the design, which wasn’t as bulky as other upright vacuums, and has handy included attachments. We found the setup easy thanks to clear instructions; in fact, unboxing it was the only thing that took long. The vacuum boasts impressive suction capabilities, and we appreciated that the suction power was very easy to adjust. The vacuum is a bit top-heavy, but it had good maneuverability on carpet, which is where it worked the best. Its swivel head makes it easy to turn around objects like chair and table legs, but it’s still a bit too large to fit under furniture. On the other hand, it has a lift-away pod that detaches from the base, allowing you to easily reach areas above the floor—and there are a few useful attachments to clean every nook and cranny, including a crevice tool, dusting brush, and upholstery tool. Emptying the dustbin is a clean and easy one-handed task, and the filter is also easy to access for cleaning or replacing. Other great features include LED headlights, which make it easy to see what you’re vacuuming, and a HEPA filter to trap allergens so they aren’t released back in the air while you vacuum. After using the vacuum for six months, we were shocked by how well it held up. Overall, this is a fantastic pick if you’re looking for something powerful, effective on a variety of surfaces, and easily adjustable in terms of suction power. Type: Upright | Weight: 15.5 pounds | Cord Length: 25 feet | Battery Life/Runtime: Not listed | Dustbin Capacity: 0.83 liters Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Best Budget Vacuum for Carpet Hoover MAXLife Pet Max Complete Vacuum PHOTO: Amazon $150 at Amazon $145 at Walmart Our Ratings Effectiveness 4/5 Maneuverability 4/5 Ease of Emptying 5/5 Portability 3/5 Noise Level 3/5 What Stands Out This model has attachments that clear upholstery of pet hair with just one pass. What Could Be Improved It is a little bulky and not ideal for stairs. Pet owners love their fur babies, but not the piles of hair and dander they leave behind. That’s why we love this vacuum, which cleared our upholstery of hair with one pass of the hose and a touch-up with the upholstery attachment. Unlike more complex models, this vacuum is easy to use right out of the box. It’s simple to put together, and we love that all the attachments fit right on it for easy storage. Though this vacuum is lightweight, it did feel a bit bulky when we used it. It’s also worth noting that it’s not ideal for stairs, and we found wrapping up the cord to be a bit unwieldy. Still, a convenient lever changes the suction settings, allowing you to transition from carpet to hard floors with ease. You might have to take a second pass on the hard floor—we found it was necessary when vacuuming both kibble and hair—but it did pick it up. We also appreciated the effortless process of pulling off and emptying the dustbin, though we would have liked it to snap back on a bit easier. If you’re looking for a sleek and modern vacuum, this vacuum’s old-fashioned appearance may not appeal to your taste. But performance far outweighs aesthetics, and for such a budget price, it’s a great addition to your pet-friendly household. Type: Upright | Weight: 17.1 pounds | Cord Length: 27 feet | Battery Life/Runtime: Not listed | Dustbin Capacity: 2.5 liters Best Splurge Vacuum for Carpet Dyson Gen5detect Cordless Vacuum PHOTO: Amazon $779 at Amazon $950 at Target $950 at Dyson.com Our Ratings Ease of Setup 5/5 Effectiveness 5/5 Maneuverability 5/5 Ease of Emptying 4.8/5 Portability 4.8/5 What Stands Out This vacuum’s heads allow for superior maneuverability with minimal effort. What Could Be Improved The heavy design requires two hands. Dyson has quite the reputation in the vacuum world, and we can certainly understand why based on our testing. The Dyson Gen5detect cordless vacuum impressed with its six attachments that include a Fluffy Optic cleaner head, a Digital Motorbar cleaner head, a hair screw tool, a built-in dusting and crevice tool, and a combination tool. While the attachments were slightly tedious to install, they worked well, allowing us to navigate different surfaces. The fluffy optic attachment proved particularly effective on grout and hardwood floors, taking only 47 seconds to clear hair. While large bits of Cheerios pushed forward at first, tilting the vacuum upward helped it suck up heftier items. We tested the hair removal vane on medium- and high-pile rugs (the tool offers three height adjustments depending on the pile), and it picked up debris from our carpet, capturing 99% on the first pass. In addition to its efficiency, this vacuum stood out for its maneuverability. The head effortlessly turns left and right with a slight turn of the wrist, requiring no lifting or adjusting, and it transitions seamlessly from hard floor to carpet. Emptying the vacuum was also a breeze—unclick the cylinder, hold it over a trash can, and push the red lever down. The process was intuitive and mess-free, and we only had to dig a few strands of hair out of the roller. While the battery life fell short of the manufacturer’s 70-minute claim, running for 51 minutes on low-power mode and nearly 13 minutes on high-power mode, its suction power made up for it. The noise levels of this vacuum vary depending on the setting and attachment used, and in the auto-setting, the vacuum was quiet enough that we could easily maintain conversation or watch a TV show. Our only grievance is the heaviness of this vacuum; at nearly 8 pounds, you'll need two hands to comfortably hold and lift this model. Nevertheless, we think this machine’s powerful suction and flexibility make up for it. Type: Cordless stick | Weight: 7.7 pounds | Cord Length: N/A | Battery Life/Runtime: 70 minutes | Dustbin Capacity: 0.75 liters Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Best Cordless Stick Vacuum for Carpet Levoit VortexIQ 40 Cordless Stick Vacuum PHOTO: Amazon $230 at Amazon $300 at Wayfair $250 at Target Our Ratings Effectiveness 5/5 Maneuverability 5/5 Ease of Emptying 4.8/5 Portability 4.3/5 Noise Level 5/5 What Stands Out This powerful vacuum excels on all surfaces, from hardwood to carpet. What Could Be Improved The suction may be too strong for some carpeted surfaces. This vacuum swiftly cleared all debris from various surfaces, removing the hair well before the one-minute mark in our testing. Cleaning hardwood surfaces, even the stairs, which are typically a hassle, was a breeze. We easily removed dirt and particles from edges, corners, and crevices, even without the attachments. Along with its strong performance on hardwood, it somehow performed even better on carpet—we successfully removed all the hair and debris without any stalling or clogging issues. The suction was actually so strong that we occasionally had trouble moving it along the carpeted surface. While the vacuum lacks a specific tool for hair removal, we found no need for one. During testing, the vacuum suctioned in hair without dragging it along the floor or scattering it around. Only a few strands got caught in the brush roll, which was negligible considering how much hair we vacuumed. We found the noise level adequate on the lowest setting, though we did have to raise our voices when speaking over the vacuum on the highest mode. Transitioning between floor types posed no issues, but the square vacuum head occasionally got caught on chair legs, so we may have preferred a tapered design. Still, the swiveling feature facilitated easy corner navigation. Due to its top-heavy design, we experienced some forearm fatigue after holding it upright for a while, so you may not want to clean the entire house in one go. Even so, we had no trouble lifting it or leaning it against the wall without falling down. Overall, this model’s affordable price and sheer power make it a force to be reckoned with. Type: Cordless stick | Weight: 7 pounds | Cord Length: N/A | Battery Life/Runtime: 40 minutes | Dustbin Capacity: 0.6 liters Real Simple / Rachel Marek Real Simple / Rachel Marek Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Rachel Marek Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Best Upright Vacuum for Carpet Shark AZ2002 Vertex Powered Lift-Away Vacuum PHOTO: Amazon $308 at Amazon $450 at Wayfair $355 at Walmart Our Ratings Effectiveness 4.8/5 Maneuverability 4/5 Ease of Emptying 5/5 Portability 4.3/5 Noise Level 3/5 What Stands Out The pivoting head makes it simple to maneuver on carpet, hardwood, and stairs. What Could Be Improved Pulling the roller backward requires considerable effort. We found this vacuum rather easy to maneuver, thanks to the pivot head that made it simple to turn. The roller is quite powerful when moving forward; however, pulling it backward requires a bit of an arm workout. It works great on carpet and trim and transitions well to hardwood surfaces where it also is highly effective, making this a good choice for those with both carpeting and hard flooring. This model stood out for its versatility, as it can be used as both an upright and a handheld vacuum—all you have to do is remove the pod from the base and add an attachment to clean upholstery, shelves, or stairs. Though it's heavy, we didn't find it tiring when using this method. We also appreciate the simple process of emptying the dirt bin; just push a button and the bottom opens to let out debris. After using the vacuum approximately three times a week for six months, it maintained its high-quality performance. We were pleasantly surprised that no excess hair got stuck around the roller brush, and the foam filter was clean after use. The 30-foot cord also winds up easily, allowing us to vacuum several rooms before needing to find a closer outlet. We did find it odd that the base holds only two of the three attachments. Still, this is a solid vacuum for the price, particularly if you plan to use it on hardwood floors and carpets. Type: Upright | Weight: 16.38 pounds | Cord Length: 30 feet | Battery Life/Runtime: Not listed | Dustbin Capacity: 0.9 liters Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Best Canister Vacuum for Carpet Kenmore Elite 21814 CrossOver Canister Vacuum PHOTO: Amazon $400 at Amazon $450 at Walmart Our Ratings Effectiveness 4.5/5 Maneuverability 4.8/5 Ease of Emptying 4.5/5 Portability 4.5/5 Noise Level 5/5 What Stands Out The roller brush accumulates no hair. What Could Be Improved The hose may get tangled during cleaning. Though less common, canister vacuums are among the most durable options, and this pick from Kenmore is no exception. During testing, this vacuum was effective on carpet and car mats, though it did face some challenges on hard surfaces. It has various attachments, including a crevice nozzle, upholstery brush, dusting brush, and fan tool. It also has a HEPA filter, which traps allergens and irritants, making this pick ideal for pet owners and those with allergies. We also appreciated that no hair was wrapped around the brushes or wheels. After using it on the carpet, the roller brush was hair-free, and even on hard surfaces, hair accumulation was minimal. The setup process was straightforward, and we appreciate that the vacuum offers hidden storage for attachments under the canister. Thanks to the wide base, we covered large spaces with minimal passes. The lightweight head was easy to lift on stairs, reaching even the smallest crevices and nooks. While maneuvering around our space was easy overall, the hose tangled around us, and the canister sometimes got stuck behind furniture. Unlike cordless models, this canister vacuum does need an outlet during use. Even so, you can effortlessly retract the cord by pushing the foot-height lever. The bag-emptying process was a bit confusing, requiring a bit of trial and error and two-hand removal. However, we completed the tests without emptying the bag, and a handy LED light illuminated when the bag was full. Type: Canister | Weight: 23 pounds | Cord Length: Not listed | Battery Life/Runtime: Not listed | Dustbin Capacity: Not listed Real Simple / Grant Webster Real Simple / Grant Webster Real Simple / Grant Webster Real Simple / Grant Webster Real Simple / Grant Webster Real Simple / Grant Webster Best Pet Vacuum for Carpet Shark ZU62 Navigator Zero-M Pet Pro Upright Vacuum PHOTO: Amazon $144 at Amazon $250 at Wayfair $289 at Walmart Our Ratings Effectiveness 5/5 Maneuverability 5/5 Ease of Emptying 3/5 Portability 3/5 Noise Level 3.5/5 What Stands Out It moves from hard surfaces to carpets of varying pile levels with ease and has a long cord and extendable attachments. What Could Be Improved The vacuum is heavy, so it can be a bit challenging to use on stairs. You may have noticed that there are a lot of pet-friendly vacuums on our list. That’s because vacuums made with pets in mind typically have stronger suction, which is good for vacuuming carpets. In particular, we recommend this Shark vacuum, which cleans up cat food and dog hair very quickly from both hard floors and carpet. This vacuum proved to be durable during our testing, as it continued working up to our standards after six months of use. While it maintained its performance on carpet, it did scratch our hard vinyl floors. That said, we still recommend this pick for those living in a predominantly carpeted household. The extra-large dustbin is easy to empty when there are larger or heavier pieces of debris, but dust and hair need a little extra effort to clean out. This vacuum is quite heavy if you attempt to manage it with just one hand, so it is a bit of a chore to use on stairs. However, it is very efficient with its stair cleaning, so you won’t mind the arm workout or having to take more time to wipe out the dustbin. The long cord makes it easy to carry up the stairs and all around the house without having to constantly plug in, unplug, and plug in again. We also liked the extendable hose attachment, which made it easy to get into hard-to-reach corners and even remove some dust from the ceiling. While you might prefer a lighter cordless stick vac for easy on-the-spot cleaning, this powerful vacuum is ideal for deep cleaning. If you’ve got pets, you’ll want this to clean your space, as it masterfully takes on both carpets and hard floors with ease—and it contains a HEPA filter, which will help keep pet dander contained while you clean. Type: Upright | Weight: 16 pounds | Cord Length: 25 feet | Battery Life/Runtime: Not listed | Dustbin Capacity: 2.6 liters Real Simple / Rachel Marek Real Simple / Rachel Marek Real Simple / Rachel Marek Real Simple / Rachel Marek Real Simple / Rachel Marek Best Robot Vacuum for Carpet iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum PHOTO: Amazon $265 at Amazon $219 at Walmart $280 at Ace Hardware Our Ratings Setup 5/5 Effectiveness 5/5 Noise Level 3.5/5 Maneuverability 5/5 Features 3/5 What Stands Out It's very proficient at picking up hair and other debris, including sand embedded in carpet. What Could Be Improved It lacks features like smart mapping, object avoidance, and self-emptying capabilities. The Roomba 694 was very efficient at picking up hair (both pet and human) as well as cereal. Pet owners will be happy to know that pet hair didn’t get tangled up in the brushes, though longer human hair will. Good news: It’s easy to remove hair from the brush roller, and it’s even easier to empty the dustbin. There aren’t many features on this robot vac, but it does sync up via Wi-Fi to an app that makes it super easy to get rolling—literally. The initial setup is done through the app, and we felt like an expert user after just a couple of cleanings with it. We were happily surprised to see how well it picked up sand, too, even when it was embedded in the carpet pile. Where it struggled—and this is often the case with robotic vacuums—is making the transition between bare floor and rug. It doesn’t have mapping capabilities, so you’ll have to block or guide it to avoid places you don’t want it to go. Though it’s good at maneuvering around chair legs and other large obstacles, be warned: It “ate” two socks and went right through pudding piles (our version of pet mishaps), which could be a problem if you decide to set up the vac to run while you’re not at home. Still, for what the vacuum is supposed to pick up, it did very well, and at a very affordable price compared to other robot vacs. After using it for six months, we don’t think it would necessarily suffice as your household’s only vacuum, as you may still want an upright alternative for true deep cleaning. Even so, its consistent performance makes it a long-lasting investment. Type: Robotic | Weight: 6.8 pounds | Cord Length: N/A | Battery Life/Runtime: 90 minutes | Dustbin Capacity: Not listed Real Simple / Rachel Marek Real Simple / Rachel Marek Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Henry Wortock Real Simple / Rachel Marek Final Verdict The Shark NV501 Rotator Professional Lift-Away Upright Vacuum earned our top spot for the way it skillfully managed various floor textures without missing a beat, particularly on carpets. We liked that it offered the best of both worlds, allowing you to utilize the lift-away pod to reach hard-to-clean spots like stairs, upholstery, and even shelves. Our Testing Process We’ve tested over 250 vacuum cleaners, including upright, cordless stick, canister, handheld, and robotic models. Our tests focused on ease of setup, noise level, effectiveness on both hard floors and carpeting, maneuverability (using a timed obstacle course), portability, ease of emptying, and overall value. For vacuums designed specifically for pet households, we tested the vacuums’ ability to suck up real pet hair, and for cordless stick models, we tested runtime and charging time. We also tested most of the vacuums in real-world conditions, evaluating their long-term performance after one month, three months, and six months of use. How to Shop for Vacuums for Carpets Like a Pro Type The best type of vacuum for your home is really the one that you’ll have the easiest time using. “I like uprights because [they’re] all one piece,” says Willatt. Upright vacuums are also particularly well-suited for carpeting, because they’re typically more powerful than cordless stick vacuums and can more easily lift up hair, dirt, and debris that’s embedded in carpet fibers. (Our best overall pick, the Shark NV501 Rotator Professional Lift-Away Upright Vacuum, is an upright vacuum.) On the other hand, it’s hard to beat the convenience of cordless stick vacuums. While they typically aren’t as powerful as corded upright vacuums, cordless stick models are much more lightweight and easier to store, as shown by the Levoit VortexIQ 40 Cordless Stick Vacuum, our best cordless stick choice. They’re best if you have mostly low-pile carpeting or a combination of carpet and hard flooring, and typically last between 30-60 minutes before they need to be recharged. Canister vacuums aren’t as popular, but they tend to be the simplest and most durable models. They have a main unit with a motor and either a vacuum bag or dustbin, and a long hose that can be used with several different attachments for vacuuming your entire house (our best canister pick is the Kenmore Elite 21814 Pet Friendly CrossOver Canister Vacuum). If the idea of a bagged vacuum is intimidating, take note that they’re better for those with allergies, because you won’t ever have to empty the bags and potentially re-release their contents into the air. Real Simple / Rachel Marek Suction Power A vacuum’s suction power is measured in wattage. Higher wattage means a stronger suction, but Willatt notes the same wattage might perform differently across different vacuums, depending on the strength of the motor. Carpeted surfaces need a higher suction—and if you have multiple types of flooring in your space, you’ll want to ensure there are various settings to vary the suction power accordingly. Dustbin Capacity The dustbin capacity is important to keep in mind so that you’re not having to empty it out halfway through your cleaning. Larger is typically better, but be careful—depending on where it’s located on your vacuum, it might make it difficult to navigate in or under tight spaces. Ideally, you’ll want a dustbin that’s easy to empty without causing more of a mess. Attachments According to Willatt, simpler is better for vacuums, especially if a broken attachment gets in the way of the vacuum’s main function. But attachments are undeniably useful depending on your home’s cleaning needs. If you have pets, a handheld attachment that cleans upholstery, stairs, and other tight spots will be very important for removing hair and dander. More Vacuums for Carpet to Consider Samsung Jet 75 Cordless Stick Vacuum: We loved how lightweight and easy to maneuver this vacuum is, and we found it to be highly effective on pet hair. Surprisingly, this vacuum actually performed best on carpet versus hardwood, which isn't usually the case with cordless stick vacuums. Still, we were disappointed at how quickly it ran out of battery, so it's best for small spaces. Bissell 1984 Air Ram Cordless Vacuum: This vacuum struggled with food debris like cereal and popcorn, though it did well picking up fine debris like coffee grounds and hair. However, we found that long hair easily wrapped around the roller, which didn’t bode well for future uses. It was harder to push on carpet, and there was no adjustment for medium or high pile carpet. We also would have liked some attachments for hard-to-reach areas, as the suction wasn’t strong enough for tight corners. Real Simple / Rachel Marek Questions You Might Ask Can a vacuum be too strong for carpet? More suction power isn’t always better, depending on your floor surface. Don’t just buy the vacuum with the highest suction power you can afford and think you’ve scored a winner. “If you have really long [pile] carpet and really high suction, that vacuum is going to be a terrible fit for you,” says Willatt. If you have deep-pile carpet, make sure you read the manufacturer’s guidelines for care; if you damage the carpet with your vacuum, you could void the warranty. How often should you vacuum carpet? Vacuuming regularly is crucial, especially if you have a busy household that includes kids and/or pets. For high-traffic areas in busy households, you may need to vacuum every day, while lower-traffic areas (like bedrooms) can be vacuumed weekly or biweekly. What is the easiest type of vacuum to push on carpet? Upright vacuums, despite being the most effective on carpet, can be heavy and difficult to push. If that’s a concern, there are lighter stick vacuums that are much easier to maneuver on carpet. It also depends on how large your space is. Area rugs in a small space will likely not require as powerful a vacuum as wall-to-wall carpet in a larger home, so a lighter vacuum is perfectly functional. Take Our Word for It This article was written by Barbara Bellesi Zito, a freelance lifestyle writer based in Staten Island, NY, and updated by Jamie Fischer, a commerce writer for Real Simple. To compile this list of best vacuums for carpets, they analyzed testing insights we compiled after testing over 250 vacuums. For expert advice on what consumers should know when purchasing carpet vacuums, Barbara consulted Chris Willatt, founder of Alpine Maids in Denver, CO. What Is Real Simple Selects? Next to each product on this list, you may have noticed a Real Simple Selects seal of approval. Any product appearing alongside that seal has been vetted by our team—put through tests and graded on its performance to earn a spot on our list. Although we buy most of the products we test, sometimes we do get samples from companies if purchasing a product ourselves isn’t an option. All products go through the same rigorous process, whether they are purchased or sent by the company. Love our recommendations? Check out more products that have earned the Real Simple Selects, from humidifiers to cordless vacuums.