Angie Parkinson

The Haier HLC1700AXS offers what people are seeking in a washer dryer combination – compact convenience. It's also noticeably more energy efficient than many we compared.

REVIEW The Hoover Smartwash Automatic was excellent at stain removal and has some innovative features, but it might be a little too expensive to fit into every budget.

The Kenmore 41302 is not the best for energy efficiency, but it has a large capacity and a host of other convenient features. Steam cleaning is one of the standout features. Not everyone considers this a must-have, but it is nice. Steam can be great for getting tough stains out.

Large capacity is generally regarded as a selling point, but not everyone has a sprawling laundry room. If you need a compact front loading washer, we recommend the LG WM1388HW.

With an interior capacity of 5 cubic feet, the Samsung WF50K7500AV is a big front load washer. This means you can do fewer loads of laundry, since you can put considerably more items into it for each wash cycle and still have enough room for clothes to get thoroughly cleaned.

The Kenmore Elite 41072 has a massive 5.2-cubic-foot interior and a host of other family-friendly features. This is the largest front-load washing machine in our comparison so it can hardly be expected to be the most energy efficient, but if you have a big family it is worth a look.

The Maytag MHW3505FW has a stellar warranty and is one of only a handful of washers that clean with steam for less than $1,000. The Steam for Stains wash option can be added to select cycles, and will be a great tool for removing tough stains.

The Bosch WAT28402UC is a speedy and compact front load washer that will be ideal for small living quarters since it measures only 24 inches wide. It has a host of convenient features, but they come at a relatively high price.

Review The Samsung WF5000AW has a big capacity without a big price tag, and it is very energy efficient compared to other popular models.

REVIEW The Bissell PowerLifter is an affordable carpet cleaner that does a good job of ridding your carpet of built-up dirt and grime.

The Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet tied for the second best in our stain removal tests. It was also very easy to use, maintain and maneuver.

The Hoover SteamVac SpinScrub had the fourth highest score for stain removal in our comparison. There were a few other failings, however, that affected its rank, but this carpet cleaner has respectable cleaning power.

The Bissell PowerForce PowerBrush had one of the weakest performances in our tests. It was not without merit, though. It did clean our test stains and leave our carpet fresh and clean, like all the others. And it was also the least expensive.

REVIEW The Hoover Powerdash Pet Compact is a pet-friendly carpet cleaner which is powerful for a lightweight model.

Review Despite Miele's reputation, this vac struggles with pet hair, making it tough to recommend.

Review The Shark IONFlex is an older stick vacuum and has since been replaced by newer models.

Review This vacuum has a good capacity and a long runtime, but is an older model now.

Review The Dyson V6 has a short battery runtime and is not the best at cleaning carpets, but is an excellent choice for hardwood floors.

Review Another great performer from Dyson, the v10 Cyclone is a competent stick cleaner.

Review The Bissell BOLT 2-in-1 Cordless reaches a full charge in record time.

Review The Shark Navigator Freestyle has a cleaning bin twice the size of most cordless vacuums.

Review The Black & Decker Cordless Lithium Ion Stick + hand vacuum is a 2-in-1 tool that makes it easy to clean your house, RV or car.

Review The Shark Steam Mop is pretty basic, but it did clean our floors to a shine in testing and the price is quite nice. All the steam mops we tested can offer cleaner floors without any chemicals so in that sense the original Shark steam mop is servicable.

The Light 'N' Easy Lightweight Steam Mop was not the fastest at cleaning, and the fact that we had to constantly pump was annoying, but it got the jobs done. And comes at a budget-friendly price that is hard to ignore.

Review The H20 X5 Mop came out as the best versatile mop in our round up. Powering through spaghetti sauce, orange juice, soda and mustard, this mop cleaned stains that had been on the floor for several hours.