Wirecutter - Our 2021 year in review

These were the most-read Wirecutter reviews in 2021:

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• The Best Air Purifier

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• The Best Office Chair

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• The Best Robot Vacuums

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• The Best Cordless Stick Vacuum

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• The Best Washing Machines (and Their Matching Dryers)

Sarah Kobos

These were the picks most purchased by readers in 2021:

The Mighty is perfect for almost any room in your living space. It's one of the best-performing, most durable, and most economical purifiers we’ve tested.

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Read more in our guide to the best air purifiers.

The Honeywell was our top pick from 2015–21, largely because of its simplicity. The base is dishwasher-safe, and there are no bright lights or beeping sounds to keep you up at night.

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Read more in our guide to the best humidifiers.

This odd-looking, oddly comfortable N95 is a NIOSH-approved respirator meant for nonmedical use. Its headbands are soft, yet they help form a tight seal, and its long nose-bridge wire reduces fogging of glasses.

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Read more in Where to Buy N95s, KN95s, and Surgical-Style Masks in 2021.

The Oral-B Pro 1000 has the most important features for the lowest price: a two-minute timer, an easy brushing process, and compatibility with the largest range of brush heads.

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Read more in our guide to the best electric toothbrush.

This easy-on, easy-off KN95 respirator mask has ear loops that stretch well for a wider fit and knot easily for a snugger one.

Read more in Where to Buy N95s, KN95s, and Surgical-Style Masks in 2021.

We remain deeply committed to improving the role representation and race play in our coverage, and to ensuring that our work is as accessible and helpful to as many people as possible.

Alongside The New York Times, we’re committed to hiring and retaining a diverse staff and remaining transparent with our readers about our efforts. We are now publicly sharing demographic information about our staff on a yearly basis, and we strive to be honest about where we have room for improvement.

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At work, we’ve hosted speakers and discussions related to our coverage and work culture, including on topics like exclusive product design and work styles. And we’ve bolstered our recruitment efforts through various journalism associations and career fairs.

Spurred by readers and staff, we’ve been scrutinizing how we deal with gender in our coverage—and specifically related to products that are explicitly marketed as being “for” men or women. These are complicated issues, but we remain committed to the truth that anything can potentially be “for” anyone.

We’ve also expanded our reporting on accessibility, from senior staff writer Rachel Cericola’s extensive review of smart-home devices that can enhance independence for people with disabilities and mobility needs to these pieces by guest writers about experiences that are often overlooked:

• How I Use My Apple Watch as an Autism Aid by Megan Rhiannon

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• These First Toys for Kids With Disabilities Have Universal Appeal by Julie Kim

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• How This Phone Mount Finally Allowed Me to Use a Smartphone From My Wheelchair by Claire Perlman

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• A One-Handed Writer’s Search for the Perfect Mechanical Keyboard by Britt H. Young

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We’re always looking for new contributors. Learn more about how to work with us by reading How to Pitch Stories to Wirecutter.

We’re also expanding our groups of test panelists and models for photography. We revamped several core segments of our editorial process, including staff focus groups and the scout reports we use to start a new assignment. And we’re always open to feedback on how we can improve.

Yann Bastard

One of the topics that many readers request we cover is how to shop online more sustainably. We aim to help you invest in long-lasting, well-made items that won’t require a trade-off between quality and sustainability.

So whether we’re exploring how a small startup is tackling Apple’s AirPods replacement problem or explaining what you can do about your laundry shedding harmful microfibers, we’re eager to dig in further.

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This year, we’ve ramped up these considerations in our reviews across Wirecutter. We asked the manufacturers of all our smart thermostat picks to answer questions about the materials they use, the life cycle of their products, and related issues that affect their overall sustainability. We dug into the most sustainable wallpaper, what you can do with old running shoes, sustainability and photo cards, watering can materials, kids water-bottle replacement parts, and the environmental impact of video-conferencing, among dozens more. And we’re just getting started.

Here are just a few of the tallies from our rigorous testing process:

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• 17 variations of ocean wave sounds evaluated for white noise machines

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• 20 times we copied the lyrics to Les Miserables’s “One Day More” to test pens

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• 31 styles of Santa hats tested

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• 32 scented candles tested (and zero house fires started)

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• 550 stairs climbed at home while testing baby monitors

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• 2,400 individual Christmas light bulbs tested