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Hardware and Household Products Awards

2026 saw household products taking center stage at the Pro Tool Innovation Awards, with innovations that greatly improved usability, convenience, portability, and capability. From toilets to thermostats to vacuums, everyone seemed to have new ways of improving the user experience when it came to maintaining the home or using products in it.

presented by

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WINNER – Household – Bath

Niagara Conservation Power Flush 2-Piece 1.28 GPF Single Flush Extra Tall Elongated Toilet

What they said:

The Glacier Bay Extra-Tall Power Flush Toilet incorporates Niagara’s patented Stealth® vacuum-assisted hydraulic flush technology and an extra-large 2-3/8″ trapway to deliver high-performance waste evacuation while consuming just 1.28 gallons per flush. Unlike conventional gravity-fed toilets, the system uses a sealed vacuum chamber that converts hydraulic energy into a powerful siphonic flush without relying on compressed air or increased water volume. These features combine to ensure superior flushing performance, reduced clogging, and significantly quieter operation than traditional pressure-assisted systems.

A 19-inch bowl height, 2.5 inches taller than standard, improves user accessibility and ergonomic positioning. A fully glazed trapway, oversized water spot, and QuickConnect™ installation system further improve hydraulic performance, bowl cleanliness, and installation efficiency.

What we say:

While we don’t recommend it, Niagara Conservation’s vacuum-assisted Power Flush feature’s claim to fame is being able to flush 7 billiard balls at once without clogging the toilet. It does all this while staying within 1.28 GPF. If that isn’t the perfect pairing of high-efficiency water use and strong waste-clearing performance, we don’t know what is. We also like the extra-tall 19-inch bowl height, the included slow-close seat, and the packaged installation kit. This is a value toilet that includes many features you won’t find on standard models.

Price: $199

Buy at The Home Depot

For more information, click here.


WINNER – Household – Cleaning

HAUSHOF 24V Cordless Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner

What they said:

The HAUSHOF CX011 cordless spot cleaner is ideal for a wide range of applications, including sofas, mattresses, carpets, curtains, upholstered chairs, pet-related wet and dry messes, as well as vehicle seats and floor mats. Compared with a traditional vacuum cleaner, the CX011 is specifically engineered for deeper and more effective stain removal.

The machine integrates three functions in one: spray, vacuum dry debris, and extract liquids. Its large-capacity clean and dirty water tanks provide sufficient capacity for everyday household cleaning tasks. Powered by the HAUSHOF 24V lithium-ion battery pack, the CX011 delivers up to 30 minutes of continuous runtime on a full charge. It is equipped with a high-performance brushless motor that generates up to 13 kPa of suction power, ensuring effective extraction of dirt, stains, and moisture from fabric surfaces.

What we say:

Our judges loved the way the Haushof CX011 carpet cleaner lets you remove stains from fabrics, upholstery, or car interiors without having to reach for an outlet or extension cord. The three-in-one spray, vacuum, and liquid extraction system delivers up to 13 kPa of suction and gives you up to 30 minutes of runtime. The separate clean and dirty water tanks make it easy to customize the cleaning experience, and the compact unit operates quietly thanks to built-in noise reduction.

Price: $75.99

For more information, click here.


WINNER – Household – Kitchen Products

American Standard Highgrove Kitchen Faucet (117634GN00)

What they said:

A sleek profile defined by traditional details, the Highgrove 3-Function Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet from American Standard will exceed your expectations with innovations designed to make your kitchen more beautiful and tasks less time-consuming. The single-handle Highgrove faucet features our BlastSpray, a wide, vigorous blast of water that scrubs food from dishes and pans with no splashing outside the sink.

What we say:

We like the advanced BlastSpray feature of the American Standard Highgrove Kitchen Faucet that lets you quickly clean off dishes without making a mess. The 3-function pull-down design lets you use various spray modes and access a wider area than traditional faucets. The faucet also uses a straightforward single-handle design for easy operation, and it’s available in polished chrome, stainless steel, brushed gold, or matte black.

Price: $155–204

Buy at The Home Depot

For more information, click here.


WINNER – Household – Lifestyle

Wolfbox MegaFlow 200 Air Duster

What they said:

The Wolfbox MegaFlow 200 is driven by a powerful motor capable of reaching up to 110,000 RPM and comes with three speed settings that allow users to select the proper airflow for the task at hand. It can easily handle delicate tasks such as cleaning dust out of keyboards and camera equipment, while also being suitable for bigger cleanup jobs such as blowing sawdust, grass, crumbs, hair, and other loose debris from tools, workbenches, outdoor furniture, vehicle interiors, and other hard-to-reach places.

One of the MegaFlow 200’s most defining innovations is its removable and hot-swappable 6,000mAh battery. A single battery charge can run continuously on the lowest setting for up to 100 minutes, and can be recharged via USB-C in approximately two and a half hours. The MegaFlow 200 also only weighs around 0.84 pounds, making the device light enough for extended handheld use and compact enough to store in a vehicle, garage, RV or camping kit.

What we say:

Two key things impressed us about the Wolfbox MegaFlow (MF) 200. First, it uses a removable 6,000mAh battery, which means you can replace it if it ever fails to hold a charge. Second, this tiny blower operates at over 190 MPH with its 110,000 RPM motor. A recharge via the included USB cable takes about 2.5 hours. At its lowest speed setting, you can get over 100 minutes of runtime. It also weighs less than a pound.

Price: $157.99

For more information, click here.


WINNER – Household – Smart Home

Trane® Priority Smart Thermostat

What they said:

The Trane® Priority Smart Thermostat offers intelligent automation, advanced diagnostics, and remote connectivity through a solution that is compatible with a wide range of 24V HVAC systems. Homeowners can upgrade to advanced smart home functionality without requiring a complete system replacement. Through the Trane Home mobile app and voice assistant integrations with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, users can monitor and adjust settings from virtually anywhere.

The Trane® Priority Smart Thermostat also elevates the homeowner experience through a sleek, low-profile design featuring an edge-to-edge glass LED touchscreen and intuitive, color-coded system status indicators. The Trane® Priority Smart Thermostat introduces meaningful innovation for HVAC technicians and dealers. Its Smart Diagnostic Alerts leverage Trane’s Original Equipment Manufacturer expertise to identify potential system issues more accurately than many generic smart thermostats. Technicians gain access to real-time system data, historical runtime information, and advanced diagnostics tools to enable more efficient troubleshooting.

What we say:

The Trane Priority Smart Thermostat is all about what it offers dealers, which in turn greatly benefits homeowners when it comes to remote system monitoring and troubleshooting. We love the familiar, but polished design and the fact that it works across a wide range of 24V HVAC systems. You get remote operation via the Trane Home app as well as voice assistants, temperature and humidity control, and Smart Diagnostic Alerts that deliver real-time system data and historical runtime information to help track down issues.

Price: Contact a dealer

For more information, click here.


WINNER – Household – Handheld Vacuums

Shop-Vac Wet/Dry Handheld Vacuum Cordless

What they said:

The Shop-Vac Wet/Dry Cordless Handheld Vacuum brings trusted wet/dry cleanup into a compact, rechargeable, wall-mounted format designed for everyday quick cleaning. Traditional wet/dry vacuums are powerful but often bulky, corded, and inconvenient for small messes, while many handheld vacuums are limited to dry debris only. This product bridges that gap by giving users a lightweight handheld vacuum that can pick up both common dry debris and light liquid spills.

The key innovation is its combination of wet/dry versatility, cordless convenience, and space-saving storage. With its compact 1.43 lb body, users can quickly clean crumbs, dust, pet hair, dirt, upholstery, countertops, car interiors, and small liquid spills without pulling out a full-size shop vacuum or dealing with a cord. The wall-mounted design also improves readiness and productivity. The Type-C rechargeable 7.2V lithium battery provides up to 14 minutes of cordless runtime, while the 2.5-hour charging time helps keep the tool ready for repeated everyday use.

What we say:

We took notice when Shop-Vac brought wet/dry capabilities to their Wet/Dry Handheld Vacuum. Weighing less than 1.5 pounds, the vacuum takes just 2.5 hours to recharge the onboard 7.2V battery via USB-C. This gives it up to 14 minutes of runtime, making it perfect for cleanup in the kitchen, car, workshops, or dorm.

Price: $31.99

For more information, click here.


WINNER – Household – Upright & Stick Vacuums

Dreame Technology Aero Ultra Steam

What they said:

The Dreame Aero Ultra Steam reimagines floor care by establishing a new industry benchmark as the first in its class to integrate vacuuming, sanitizing with 200°C (392°F) steam, washing with 90°C (194°F) hot water, and applying foam detergent in one pass. The result is a deeper, more hygienic clean with superior stain removal and odor neutralization while reducing reliance on harsh chemicals.

The product also advances the category through intelligent automation and user-focused engineering. Its powerful 30kPa suction tackles both wet and dry debris, while TangleCut 2.0 technology minimizes hair wrap, reducing maintenance for pet owners and households with long hair. Smart dirt detection automatically adjusts cleaning power based on the mess, optimizing performance and battery life without requiring manual adjustments. An ultra-slim lie-flat design allows users to clean under furniture with ease, while automatic detergent mixing and Dual-Heat self-cleaning significantly reduce ongoing maintenance. A high-capacity battery delivers up to 100 minutes of cordless cleaning in Eco mode, covering up to 7,534 square feet on a single charge, enabling users to clean larger homes without interruption.

What we say:

The Dreame Aero Ultra Steam comes across as a well-designed, mature cleaning solution that almost miraculously merges vacuuming and steam cleaning/sanitizing into a single cordless machine. It’s the first wet/dry upright vacuum we’ve seen in this class to provide 392°F steam, 194°F hot water, and foaming detergent, while also managing a hefty 30,000Pa suction vacuum. You also get up to 100 minutes of cleaning time (Eco mode) before having to recharge. Additional features like smart dirt detection, hair-tangle reduction, and a 180-degree lie-flat profile mean this steam vacuum has everything you need to maintain and clean your home or apartment.

Price: $799.99

For more information, click here.

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