Our editors continually review products to ensure we recommend only the best for our readers. Not only do we host our annual awards series, which tests hundreds of products across categories such as sleep, beauty, and travel, but last year we introduced a more focused testing series called Ranked.
From kitchen upgrades to refreshes on bathroom basics, our editors spend weeks trying name-brand, reputable products to see which ones come out on top.
We've been hard at work, testing products in our homes and at the TODAY offices for the next installation of Ranked home solutions. This chapter highlights basic upgrades to everyday items that promise to elevate and improve spaces of your home, from the kitchen to your closet.
On the 3rd hour of TODAY, Shop TODAY contributor Chassie Post shares the best of the best (according to our editors) when it comes to carpet cleaners, fabric shavers, air fryers and more.
Ranked home solutions seen on the 3rd Hour of TODAY
Ease of Use: 5/5 | Efficiancy: 4.5/5 | Volume: 4/5 | Ease of Cleaning: 5/5 | Overall rating: 4.63/5
With only one setting, this fabric shaver couldn’t be easier to use. Once turned on, the three blades work efficiently to tackle small and large pills alike, in even troublesome areas such as the groin.
Shigo also appreciates how the lint trap area on this shaver is separate from the area you grip when cleaning. “It made it super easy to clean without damaging the blades or device,” she says.
See more top picks for the best fabric shavers here.
Freshness: 5/5 | Packaging: 4/5 | Fabric compatibility: 5/5 | Overall score: 4.6/5
Don’t have enough time to iron or steam your clothes before work? How about on a business trip, or when traveling for a wedding? This simple solution has got you covered — with a simple spritz of wrinkle release spray, your clothes will be free of any creases or lines.
Writer Jannely Espinal tested it on numerous fabrics, including linen, silk and cotton, and waited 30 minutes to let the product seep in and dry before checking results. This unscented solution has an overall rating of 4.6/5, earning points for freshness and fabric compatibility.
See more top picks for the best wrinkle release spray here.
Air fry chicken nuggets/fries: 5/5 | Air fry full chicken: 5/5 | Roast potatoes: 5/5 | Bake cookies: 3/5 | Ease of cleaning: 5/5 | Volume: 5/5 | Ease of use: 5/5 | Overall average score: 4.71/5
When choosing an air fryer, expert chefs recommend looking for these six factors: weight, ease of cleaning, size, temperature range, heat circulation and aesthetics.
Not only is the Cosori TurboBlaze easy to use and clean afterwards, but it cooks foods — including a whole chicken — thoroughly, leaving it with minimal charring and instead, a dark tan color. Food aside, this air fryer has four different functions that are easy to use; you simply tap through the top buttons.
See more top picks for the best air fryers here.
Ease of Use: 5/5 | Versatility: 5/5 | Weight: 5/5 | Longevity: 5/5 | Startup Time: 5/5 | Overall rating: 5/5
Experts we interviewed said two factors make a steam mop exceptional: “easy to use and tough on dirt.” This one scored 5/5 ratings across the board in terms of ease of use, versatility and overall average score, among other categories, when tested by social media editorial assistant, Annie Shigo.
It only has two settings (more or less steam), which allows you to control how much steam the mop emits onto your floors, depending on the gravity of the mess you’re hoping to clean. And, it’s perfect for storing in small spaces thanks to its lightweight and thin size.
See more top picks for the best steam mops here.
Red wine: 5/5 | Coffee: 4.75/5 | Urine: 5/5 | Ink: 4/5 | Scent: 5/5 | Spray functionality: 5/5 | Overall average score: 4.79/5
Writer Danielle Murphy tested 10 carpet cleaning solutions by pouring red wine, coffee, even wolf urine (yes, you read that right), and scribbled blue ink onto carpet squares. She then used each solution according to the instructions on the packaging and used a microfiber towel to pat away stains.
Murphy prefers a cleaning solution that you can see working almost immediately. "This OxiClean spray foamed up on contact, getting deep into the rug almost instantly," she says. It earned a score of 4.79/5, ranking high in resolving each stain, including wolf urine.
See more top picks for best carpet cleaning solutions here.
Set up ease: 5/5 | Ease of use with paired app: 5/5 | Ease of use with smart home devices: 5/5 | Quality of light: 4.5/5 | Overall score: 4.88/5
Of all the smart lightbulbs tested, these "take the cake," per associate editor Allie Wise. They're simple and easy to set up, which is part of their allure. After scanning the QR code and downloading the app, you're prompted to connect to WiFi and then, the lightbulb.
"With the app, you can adjust the brightness, set the mood and even change colors on your smart light bulbs," says Wise. "The best part? The app allows you to choose from a selection of light shows, including volcanic colorways, fireworks, a holiday display and Vegas-style." It even connects to other smart home apps, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Home and more.
See more top picks for the best smart light bulbs here.
More Ranked products, tested by editors
Efficiency: 5/5 | Scent: 4/5 | Freshness: 5/5 | Distribution: 5/5 | Overall rating: 4.75/5
Associate editor Shannon Garlin tested sprays on coffee and honey, while reviewing them based on these factors: efficiency, scent, freshness and distribution.
Lysol, a well-recognized and household name brand, earned an overall rating of 4.75/5, with its disinfectant ingredients helping it stand out among the rest. "It should kill most bacteria and viruses from toilets and countertops (rather than just quickly clean up residue and spills)," she says.
See more top picks for the best multipurpose cleaners here.
Freshness: 5/5 | Scent: 5/5 | Ease of use: 5/5 | Reusability: 5/5 | Overall rating: 5/5
Marathoner and our in-house shoe expert, Emma Stessman, knows a thing or two about odor-ridden shoes. Shoe deodorizers offer a quick and easy solution to sweaty sneakers or a neglected gym bag, by "reducing odors."
Experts recommend searching for deodorizers that include key ingredients like baking soda and activated charcoal, since "they can both absorb moisture and odors." Arm & Hammer is well-known for their baking soda inclusion on their list of ingredients, helping these deodorizers earn an overall rating of 5/5, among other categories.
See more top picks for the best shoe deodorizers here.
Reusability: 5/5 | Portability: 4/5 | Effectiveness: 4/5 | Overall rating: 4.3/5
This "extremely reusable" lint roller can be washed and used time and time again to rid clothing, couches and more of pet and human hair alike.
Former editor Amanda Fama utilized the help of her cat, as well as dryer lint from the machines in her building, to rid cotton tees of debris, counting how many swipes it took for each lint roller to successfully clean each tee.
See more top picks for the best lint rollers here.
Ease of use: 5/5 | Quickness: 5/5 | Effectiveness: 4/5 | Control: 5/5 | Overall Score: 4.75/5
By now, it's no secret that Shigo prefers a clean space (she even wrote the guide on what to shop for your favorite clean freak). And when tough stains threaten to ruin your favorite pair of pants or a nice blouse, she recommends Miss Mouth's.
These editor-tested and approved wipes are well-loved around the Shop TODAY office, for their fast-acting and truly stain-removing features. "After using these wipes on the stains, I knew instantly that it was a winner," Shigo says. "The product does a lot of the work for you, with the design of the wipe being made to really get into the marks."
See more top picks for the best instant stain removers here.
Weight rating: 3.5/5 | Average performance rating: 3.75/5 | Ease of use rating: 5/5 | Volume rating: 5/5 | Overall average rating: 4.31/5
Described as "sleek" and "worth every penny" by associate editor Kamari Stewart, this handheld vacuum quickly rose to the top as overall best for its ease of use and its innovative concentrator attachment.
This attachment helped Stewart reach nooks and crannies otherwise neglected and left behind, scooping up crushed chips out of couch crevices.
See more top picks for the best handheld vacuums here.
Size rating: 4/5 | Efficiency rating: 5/5 | Volume rating: 5/5 | Ice capacity rating: 5/5 | Overall rating: 4.75/5
Based on features like size, efficiency, volume and capacity, Garlin deemed this countertop ice maker the 'best overall' of the ones she tested, although it was a tough call.
The determining factor that pushed this one into the winning slot? "This machine was the only option that provided ice bags, which I thought was clever if you wanted to store extra ice in the freezer or bring it to a party," she says.
See more top picks for the best countertop ice maker machines here.
Scent containment: 5/5 | Size: 5/5 | Tech features: 5/5 | Volume: 5/5 | Design: 5/5 | Overall rating: 5/5
A smart trash can is one of those purchases you deem silly, until you actually invest in one and realize how much of a game-changer it is.
Fama tested these trash cans in her New York City studio apartment — a small space where it quickly becomes evident if you've forgotten to take out the trash. This 'best overall' smart trash can had 5/5 ratings in every single category, including scent containment, which "exceeded" Fama's expectations.
See more top picks for the best smart trash cans here.
Former TODAY recipe editor Kelly Vaughan tested five stainless steel pans, ranking them in terms of appearance, comfort, ease of cleaning, price and overall performance. Similar to air fryers, Vaughan tested a variety of foods within each pan to truly review versatility.
"Even though it took the longest to boil water out of these top five contenders, it fully delivered when it came to cooking food," she says. "The salmon flipped nicely and evenly without sticking to the pan, the onions caramelized evenly without getting burnt and the steak took just seven minutes to cook medium rare with “nice color.”
See more top picks for the best stainless steel pans here.
Meet the experts
Our team features a range of qualified experts and contributors in our broadcast segments to reveal the latest in trends, remarkable sale events and all things shopping across a variety of categories. Products were independently chosen by members of the Shop TODAY team along with Chassie Post.
- Chassie Post is a Shop TODAY contributor, TV host and lifestyle editor. Whether she’s talking fashion and beauty or home and entertaining, Post is known nationwide for covering the latest trends with her keen eye.
- Shop TODAY is a team of shopping editors and writers who spend hours every day finding the best new products, tried-and-true favorites and more finds available on Amazon that are worth shopping, according to our high standards.
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How we chose
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews and even use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think TODAY.com readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not TODAY. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time. Learn more about Shop TODAY.
