How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum
If you don't need the most advanced features like mapping, and do not mind cleaning your trash bin every 60 to 90 days, a basic robotic vacuum is likely to be the best choice for you. Pick a model that has a clean base that works with voice assistants.
It excels at removing dirt, clumps of cat litter and pet hair on tile floors, hardwood floors and carpeting that is lower-pile better than any other robo vacuum we've tried. It can also map and create virtual no-go zones for rooms and areas.
1. Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum will assist you in keeping up with the pet fur, dust and dander that settles on your floor every day. It also can reduce the frequency you have to deep clean and saves your time and effort. The best models come with powerful suction, which can take on the majority of messes and leave your home clean.
You can cover a larger area by using a robot vacuum and mop, which is particularly useful if you have an extensive home. You can find a model that has a water tank in the chassis itself or as an extra piece that you can swap out after vacuuming. It will need to be empty and fill it up, however, so this is an additional task that requires a little extra work on your part.
In a perfect universe, you would clear your floors before using your robot vacuum, preventing it from crashing into anything. In most homes, however this isn't possible or desirable. Most robots allow you to utilize an app for your smartphone to build virtual barriers the robot can see. Some have no-go zones which you can use to flag areas you don't want it enter, such as kids' rooms or a pile of device cords in the corner.
This model is a great option if you're looking for an easy robot cleaner that doesn't have all the bells. It's quiet and works on both hard floors and carpets with low pile and can be programmed through the app to vacuum and mop at your leisure. It has a good battery life that can last up to 180 minutes before needing to recharge.
2. Easy to operate
In general, robot vacuums require very little input from you. They make use of sensors cameras, lasers, and sensors to move around and collect dust, pet hair and food crumbs from hard floors, tiles and hardwood. Many models have boundary strips to help them remain inside the room. Higher-end models can be programmed to wake up at a specific time and begin cleaning. Some even come with fall detection technology that helps them avoid tumbling down stairs or getting tangled in electrical cords.
Find models that you can control from your couch via voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also search for Wi-Fi-connected models that let you start a cleaning session from anywhere via an app. You might want to choose one with a long-lasting battery, as well as a large dustbin, depending on the size of your house.
Some robot vacuums can also be mopping machines. They utilize water reservoirs to clean the floor. This is useful for regular mopping but won't work for extra-tough messes, like pet poop, or other spills that get wet. There are hybrids that have a removable microfiber pad for mopping, or you can choose a self-emptying model that lets you go for 30 to 60 days without having to empty the base.
3. Smart Mapping
Some robots use advanced mapping technology to create a detailed map while they clean. This allows them to avoid crashing into furniture and getting caught on cords or chair legs. This feature is only available on top-of-the-line models however it lets your robot be aware of your home's layout and know where to go when the battery is out.
If you don't want your robot navigating into areas of your home that you'd prefer to keep it away from (like your kids' toys or the tangled mess of gadget cords in the corner) The majority of robots offer the possibility of creating virtual barriers, either via their app or physical boundary strips. You can block off areas you don't wish your robot to enter, so that it can focus on the rooms that require the most attention.
Many robots also automatically change floors based on the flooring they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by switching from carpet to hard flooring, or by paying attention to particular areas of your home like corners and baseboards. In our tests it was a great feature that improved their performance in picking up hardwood and low-pile carpeting. But, it's still essential to put away loose cords and furniture before running your robot vacuum so that it doesn't become stuck or run into something it shouldn't.
4. Remote Control
Most robot vacuums are WiFi-enabled and work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts, which allow users to control them with voice commands or via your smartphone. Many robot vacuums are connected to smart home systems and generate an outline of the area they clean after each session. This allows them to "learn" how your home is laid out and plan more efficient routes in future cleaning sessions. There are also built-in obstacles avoidance, which stops them from crashing into and damaging furniture or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables shoes, laces for shoes and hair from pets.
Most robots come with a remote you can use to steer them around your home. However, many can be controlled using an app for mobile devices, which gives you more options. You can set up multiple cleaning schedules and make a list with your favorite rooms. You can also manually guide the robot using direction the arrows.
Some models offer no-go zones, which are virtual barriers you can set up in the app to block the robot from entering certain areas (like kids' toys or dog bowls and beds). Other apps allow you to create the map of your house and give the robot detailed information about your floors. The app that we recommend as our top pick one, the Roborock S7+, has a lot of useful options to help you tidy your home, however its interface isn't as polished as those from iRobot and Shark.
5. robotvacuummops that clean your entire home without stopping for a recharge or emptying their trash bins save time and effort. Some robot vacuums are compatible with smart home platforms such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to enable hands-free operation. They can also create a map of your living space that allows you to program them to clean certain areas or rooms, and to beware of obstacles.
The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, however the iRobot j7 offers advanced features such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These can make your life much easier (although one of our test robots did "eat" a couple of socks). If you're looking to improve the quality of your home maintenance, think about a robot mop with an water container that you can fill and empty.
While none of the models we tested can compete with the power of a stand-up model, the majority of them do an excellent job of cleaning carpets with low pile and hard floors. They are excellent at sweeping up food crumbs and dirt that has been tracked in. They also can handle nuts and screws made of metal as well as stray cat litter. The most effective robot vacuums are able to remove dirt from edges and corners and can even work around furniture. Eufy 11S is a relatively basic and affordable model.
6. Convenient Self-Charging
A robot vacuum can keep your home clean and tidy without having to do lots of work. You can schedule your cleanings using the app and set up no-go zones to ensure that your robot doesn't harm your plants or ruin your favorite chair. A majority of our top picks will also empty their dustbins and clean their docking station.
The top robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for months or even weeks at a stretch, freeing you from the time-consuming task of manually mopping and sweeping your floors on a daily or weekly basis. This lets you enjoy more time doing things you enjoy and reduces the amount of time required to clean your floors manually.
In our tests during testing, Q Revo was able to grab small particles such as baking soda and oatmeal. It also grabbed larger particles like nails and screws made of steel, as well as fluffy hair. It isn't equipped with the advanced mapping and object-avoiding features found in our top picks, but is still a great choice for most families.
The most impressive feature of the j7 is its ability to recognize and avoid obstacles such as power cords and socks, shoes as well as pet waste. This means you don't have to tidy up before you can run your robot, although clutter in your home can mean your bot may get stuck and not perform as good a job.