"So we specifically asked them what they wanted in a variety of cleaning products and tools, and then we surveyed the market and set out to find them," says Carolyn Forte, Cleaning Director, Good Housekeeping Institute.

Once Good Housekeeping found the products, its experts tested them. The vacuum wish: one that's easy to carry and store. "Traditional vacuums are difficult to store and heavy to carry up and down the stairs," says Forte. "What intrigued us when we first saw the Electrolux Intensity is the fact that the handle collapses down. It telescopes out if you need the extra help. It's also lightweight compared to traditional vacuums. So with a great handle, it's easy to carry. Another feature that makes it easy to store is the cord rewind. Just step on the peddle and in it goes."

The iron wish: an iron that steams on its own. "The Rowenta Advance is the most unique iron we've ever seen. It will continually produce soft puffs of steam while you're ironing without the need to pump," says Forte.

And the washer wish? One that is great at removing stains. Good Housekeeping says that would be the Kenmore Elite HE5t. In Good Housekeeping's tests, the Kenmore Stain Treat option combined the stain-removing benefits of warm and hot cycles into one convenient cycle. So you can cut the washing machine time by about a third.

A final note: Good Housekeeping says the Kenmore washer was especially good at removing stains like mud, grass, wine, grape juice, tea and mascara. To learn more, check out the July issue of Good Housekeeping or visit www.goodhousekeeping.com.