Sand is spread into a right-angled corner and vacuumed to see how close to the corner each vacuum is able to pick up dirt using the standard cleaning head. We assess how easy each vacuum is to manoeuvre, how difficult it is to empty and clean the dirt receptacle, and how easy it is to operate the controls. We also test if the supplied accessories are simple to use and store.

To test pet hair removal, we embed cat hair in the carpet and, as with the dirt pick-up test, vacuum it to a set pattern and speed. We rate the results based on how much cat hair is left behind after the test. Where supplied, the turbo brush or power head is used for this test. Otherwise, we use the standard cleaning head. Pet hair for testing is supplied by Woof Cat & Dog Grooming in Bondi, NSW.

We embed sand evenly into a section of carpet and vacuum it. The sand is weighed and recorded. This is done twice for each model and the results are averaged. With normal vacuums, we pre-load the dust collector with dust, but as stick vacs have a very small dirt receptacle capacity, we don't pre-load for this test.

We measure dirt pick-up from carpet after four passes of the cleaning head. Our test of full-size vacuums involves 10 passes up and down the carpet, but for stick vacs we're looking for cleaning performance in less time.

Our priority is testing the models you'll see in stores and major online retailers. To do this, we check current market data to see what's most popular. We'll also test models that a lot of members have requested.

We have our own on-site labs, equipped with precisely calibrated measurement tools and reference machines to test and compare products. Every model is tested with standardised samples of dirt and pet hair. These align with Australian and International Standards.

Our expert tester – Matthew Tung – has many years of experience reviewing products. He sits on industry standards committees, both national and international.

Unlike other product review sites, we don't accept free test models from manufacturers. This allows us to be independent and review without interference. Instead, we buy products anonymously from a variety of retailers, then bring them into our labs. This means we get what you'd get, and can be sure the model has not been potentially 'tweaked' for better performance.

We test a new batch of models every 12 months, in line with updates and new releases into the vacuums market.