How We Research
Every guide on TidilyKept starts with one question: will this product work for the person who is shopping for it? For our floor cleaner guides, that means your floor type, the messes you clean and how much room you have to store the machine.
Here is how we answer it.
1. We start with your floors and your messes
A wet-dry vacuum mop picks up debris and washes the floor in one pass, while a steam mop uses hot steam on a pad. Hardwood, tile, laminate and vinyl floors can each call for different care.
We check the tank sizes, cord or battery details and pad or roller type the maker lists. When your floor limits the choice, we say to read your floor maker's care guide first.
2. We compare specs and features
We look at tank capacity, run time, cord length, weight, self-cleaning functions and whether the machine takes the maker's own cleaning solution.
We also note the warranty terms the maker lists. When a detail comes from the maker, we say so.
3. We look at buyer feedback
We read through what buyers report after using a floor machine. We look for patterns, like streaky floors, clogged brush rolls, leaking tanks, short run times or pads that are hard to clean.
One angry review doesn't sink a product. A pattern does.
4. We score each product
Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for. A product that's great for one buyer may score lower in a guide written for another.
Scores spread out on purpose. A 10 is rare.
5. We keep pages up to date
Products change, and some disappear from stores. Bissell, Shark and Tineco each sell many machines with similar names, so we check each model name and code before we write about it.
When we update a guide, the "Updated on" date at the top changes with it.
What our picks are not
Our picks are research, not lab tests. We don't claim to have cleaned floors with every machine we cover.
Our guides don't replace the maker's manual or your floor maker's care guide. Many floor makers limit steam and water on wood, laminate and vinyl, so follow both sets of steps.
We don't promise that any machine will suit every floor, and we make no cleaning, germ or safety claims. When a maker makes one, we label it as the maker's claim.