How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum
If you don't need advanced features like mapping and you don't mind emptying your dustbin every 60 to 90 days A basic robot vacuum could be suitable for you. Choose an option with a clean base and is compatible with voice assistants.
It excels at removing dirt, clumps of cat litter and pet hair on tile floors, hardwood floors and low-pile carpeting better than any other robo vacuum we've tried. It also maps and set virtual no-go zones for rooms and areas.
- Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum will stay up with the pet hair, dust and dander that accumulates on your floors on a day-to-day basis. It can also reduce the frequency you have to deep clean which will save you time and effort. The best robot floor vacuum and mop models have powerful suction, which can clean up most mess with ease and leave your home cleaner.
You can cover more area by using a robot vacuum as well as a mop, which is particularly beneficial if you live in an extensive home. There are models with a water tank either in the chassis itself or as an extra piece that you can take out after vacuuming. It will need to be emptied and filled in order to complete the chore.
In a perfect universe you would clean your floors before using your robot vacuum to prevent it from crashing into anything. But in most homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. Most robots allow you to utilize an app for your smartphone to build virtual barriers that the robot will observe. Some models include no-go areas, which you can flag areas you don't wish it to be allowed to enter. For example the child's room or a pile of cords in the corner.
This model is a good option if you're looking for a basic robot cleaner that does not have all the bells. It's quiet, works well on hard floors and low-pile carpets and can be scheduled via the app to vacuum or mop at your convenience. It's got a long battery life, which can last for up to 180 minutes before needing to recharge.
- Easy to Operate
In general robot vacuums require little input from you. They make use of navigation tools such as sensors lasers, cameras and sensors to navigate through obstacles and collect dust, food crumbs and pet hair from hard flooring, tile carpets, hardwood floors and low-pile carpets. A lot of models come with boundaries strips that help them stay inside a room. More expensive models can be programmed to get up at a particular time and begin cleaning. Some models have fall detection technology to help them avoid falling down stairs or getting caught in cords.
If you're looking to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of a couch, look for models that integrate voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also look for models that connect to Wi-Fi and let you start cleaning from any location via an app. Depending on the size of your house is, you might prefer an item with a long-lasting battery and a large dust bin that doesn't have to be regularly emptied.
Some robot vacuums double as mops, using water reservoirs to clean your floor. This is great for regular mopping but won't work for extra-tough messes, such as pet poop or other spills that get wet. You can find hybrids with an ejectable microfiber pad for mopping, or opt for self-emptying models that let you go for 30 to 60 days without needing to empty the base.
- Smart Mapping
Some robots employ advanced mapping technology to create a detailed map as they clean. This makes it easier to avoid bumping into furniture and getting caught on cords or chairs. This feature is usually only available on more expensive models, but it's one of the best ways to ensure your robot has a complete understanding of the layout of your house and can determine where to go when it's running out of battery.
The majority of robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done through an application or even physical boundary strips. This allows you to define areas that you don't want your robot enter, so that it can focus its attention on the areas and rooms that require the most attention.
Many robots will also automatically change floors depending on the kind of floor they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by changing from carpet to hard flooring, or by paying attention to particular areas of your home like corners and baseboards. This feature proved effective in our tests and enhanced the performance of the vacuum on hardwood flooring and low-pile floor carpeting. It is important to secure any furniture or cords that are loose before using your robot vacuum, so it doesn't get caught.
- Remote Control
The majority of robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled with voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many robot vacuums are connected to smart home systems and generate a map of the area they clean after each session. This allows them to "learn" how your home is laid out and to plan more efficient routes in future cleaning sessions. Some come with obstacles avoidance built-in that prevents them from causing damage to furniture or getting stuck on things such as loose charging cables or pet hair.
Most robots come with a remote you can use to control them around your home. Most robots are operated by mobile applications which has more options. You can typically set up multiple cleaning schedules, create the list of rooms you like and even manually guide your robot to certain areas by using directional arrows that appear on the screen.
Certain models have zones that are not allowed. These are virtual barriers that you can create in the app to prevent the robot from entering specific areas (like kid's toys or dishes for dogs and dog beds). Other apps allow you to create an outline of your home and provide the robot with detailed information about your floors. The Roborock S7+ app has several useful features to help you clean the house. However the interface isn't as polished as iRobot or Shark.
- Long Battery Life
Robot vacs that can work all over your home without stopping to recharge or empty their trash bins make it easier for you to save time and effort. Some are compatible with smart home devices like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also make an outline of the space for you to program them for specific rooms or areas and to avoid obstacles.
The majority of robot vacuums come with some degree of object detection however, higher-end models like the iRobot j7 come with advanced features such as "home mapping" and advanced obstacle avoidance that will make your life easier (although our test bot did "eat" a pair of socks). If you're looking to improve your home's maintenance, think about an automated mop that comes with an water container that you can fill and empty.
While no of the models we tested could compete with the dirt-picking power of a standup vacuum, they were able to do a fantastic job cleaning hard floors and carpets with low pile. They excel in sweeping up dust and food crumbs, tracked-in dirt and pet hair. They are also able to tackle stray cat litter and metal screws and nuts. The best robot vacs can easily work their way around furniture and excel at cleaning edges and corners as well. For an affordable model that can work by itself and is comparatively inexpensive take a look at the Eufy 11S.
- Convenient Self-Charging
A robot vacuum can keep your home tidy and clean without doing lots of work. You can schedule your cleanings using the app and create no-go zones to ensure that your robot doesn't damage your plants or your favorite chair. A majority of our top picks automatically empty their dustbins and clean their docking stations for you.
The best robot vacuums are programmable to clean your floors regularly for months or weeks at a time, making it easier to save time and effort of manually sweeping or mopping your floors every single week or even every day. This lets you have more time to do the things you enjoy and reduces the amount of time your floors have to be cleaned manually.
In our tests, the Q Revo was able to grab small particles such as baking soda and oatmeal as well as heavier debris such nails and screws made of steel, and fluffy stuff such as pet hair. It lacks the smart mapping and objects-avoiding features of our top picks but is still a great choice for most families.
The most appealing aspect of the j7 robot is that it makes use of cameras and processor-powered sensors to identify and avoid obstacles like power cords, shoes socks, and pet waste. This means that you don't need to clean up before using your robot. However, rooms that are cluttered may cause your bot to become stuck and perform an inadequate job.