How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum
If you don't need advanced features like mapping, and don't mind emptying your dustbin every 60 to 90 days, a basic robotic vacuum is likely to be the best choice the best choice for you. Find one that has a clean base and can work with voice assistants.
It excels at removing dirt, pet hair and cat litter on tile floors, hardwood floors and carpeting with less pile than any other robo vacuum we've tested. It also maps and set virtual no-go zones for rooms or areas.
1. Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum can keep up with the pet hair, dust and dander that collects on your floors on a daily basis. It can also decrease the frequency of deep cleaning, which will save your time and effort. The best models come with powerful suction that can take on the majority of messes and leave your house cleaner.
Choosing a robot vacuum that also mop will allow you to cover more ground using one machine, which could be especially helpful in larger homes. You can find a model with a tank for water either integrated into the chassis or as an additional piece that you can take out after vacuuming. You'll need to empty and refill it, though, so this is an additional task that requires a little extra work on your part.
In the ideal world, you'd clean your floors prior to using your robot vacuum to keep it from running into things. However, in the majority of homes, this isn't possible or desirable. Thankfully, most models let you use your smartphone to create virtual barriers that the robot will detect and avoid. Certain models have no-go zones, which you can flag areas that you don't want it to be allowed to enter. For instance, a child's room or a pile cords in the corner.
This model is a great option for those looking for a basic robot cleaner that does not have all the bells and whistles. It is quiet, is able to work on hard floors as well as carpets with low pile and can be programmed using the app to mop and vacuum at your own convenience. It has a good battery life, and can last up to 180 minutes before it needs to recharge.
2. Easy to Operate
Robot vacuums generally require very little effort from you. They use navigational tools such as sensors, lasers, and cameras to maneuver and collect pet hair, dust and food crumbs from tiles, hard floors and hardwood. A lot of them have boundary strips that help them stay within a room's walls, while higher-end models can be set to automatically wake up and begin cleaning at a scheduled time. Some even have fall-detection technology that can help them avoid falling down the stairs or getting tangled in electrical cords.
Look for models that you can control from your couch using voice assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also search for Wi-Fi-connected models that allow you to start cleaning sessions from anywhere using an app. Depending on how large your home is, you might prefer one that has a long battery life and a roomy dustbin that doesn't need to be emptying frequently.
Some robot vacuums are also mopping machines. They make use of water reservoirs to clean the floor. This is ideal for mopping, but not for tough messes like pet poop and other spills. There are hybrids that come with a removable microfiber pad for mopping, or you can choose an auto-emptying model that lets you go for 30 to 60 days without having to empty the base.
3. Smart Mapping
Certain robots utilize advanced mapping technology to create a precise map as they clean. This helps them avoid hitting furniture and tripping on cords or chairs. This feature is typically only available on more expensive models, but it's one of the most effective ways to ensure your robot has a complete understanding of the layout of your home and knows where to go next when it's low on battery.
If you don't want your robot to venture into areas of your home that you'd prefer to keep it away from (like your kids' toys or the tangled mess of device cords in the corner) Most robots provide some way to create virtual barriers, either via their apps or physical boundary strips. You can block off areas that you don't wish your robot to access to allow it to focus on the areas that require the most attention.
Many robots also have the ability to automatically navigate to different floorings according to the type of flooring they're cleaning, be it that's switching between hard and carpet or focusing on certain areas of your home, like corners and baseboards. In our tests, this was a useful feature that improved their performance in picking up hardwood and low-pile carpeting. It's nevertheless important to put away loose cords and furniture before using your robot vacuum to ensure that it doesn't get caught or get into something it shouldn't.
4. Remote Control
Most robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled using voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many robot vacuums are connected to smart home systems and create a map of the space they clean after each cleaning session. This lets them "learn" how your home is laid out, and then plan more efficient routes for future cleaning sessions. Certain models have obstacle avoidance features built in that prevents them from causing damage to furniture or getting stuck on objects like loose charging cables or pet hair.
Most robots have the ability to control them with a remote that you can use to move them around your home. However, most can also be controlled using a mobile app, which gives you more options. You can typically create multiple cleaning schedules, make a list of favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot around specific areas using directional arrows on the screen.
Some models provide no-go zones that are virtual barriers you can set up in the app to block the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for kids or dog beds and bowls). Certain apps let you draw an outline of your home and provide detailed information on the floors. The app we ranked as our top pick one, the Roborock S7+, has many useful options to help you tidy your home, but its interface isn't as polished and elegant as those from iRobot and Shark.
5. Long Battery Life
Robotic vacs that can clean all over your home without stopping to recharge or empty their bins of dust save you time and effort. Some of them work with smart home platforms such as Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts for hands-free operation. They can also create a map of the space for you to program them for certain rooms or areas and to stay clear of obstacles.
The majority of robot vacuums come with some level of object detection, but higher-end models like the iRobot j7 come with advanced features such as "home mapping" and advanced obstacle avoidance, which can simplify your life (although our test bot did once "eat" socks). socks). If you're looking to take your home maintenance to the next level consider a robot mop with an water tank that you fill and empty yourself.
While none of the models we tested can beat the dirt-picking power of a stand-up vacuum they all do a great job of cleaning hard floors and low-pile carpets. They excel at sweeping up food crumbs, and dirt that has been tracked in. They are also able to tackle stray cat litter and metal screws and nuts. The most effective robot vacuums are able to clean corners and edges and can work around furniture. For an affordable model that can work by itself and is comparatively inexpensive, check out the Eufy 11S.
6. Convenient Self-Charging
With the right configuration with the right setup, a robot vacuum will aid in keeping your home looking and feeling fresh on a regular basis without much work from you. It is possible to schedule cleanings with the app, and designate no-go areas to ensure that your robot does not walk on your favorite chair or plants. Many of our top picks automatically empty their bins and clean their docking stations for you.
The top robot vacuums can be programmed to keep your floors clean for weeks or months at a time, thereby which saves you the time and effort of manually sweeping or mopping your floors every week or day. robot vacuum and mop lets you spend more time doing things you like and reduces the time needed to clean your floors manually.
In our tests the Q Revo was able to capture tiny particles such as baking soda and oatmeal, heavier debris such as nails and screws made of steel as well as fluffy things like hair from pets. It doesn't have the smart mapping and object avoidance features of our top picks, but it's adequate for the majority of families.
The most impressive feature of the j7 is its ability to detect and avoid obstacles such as power cords, shoes and socks, and pet waste. This means that you don't have to clean up before using your robot. However, messy rooms can cause your robot to become stuck and perform poorly.