How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum
If you're willing to live without advanced features such as mapping, and don't mind cleaning the trash bin every 60 days or then, a basic robot vacuum will probably work for you. Choose an option that is clean and works with voice assistants.
It is a pro at picking up dirt, clumps of pet hair and cat litter on hardwood floors, tile and low-pile carpeting better than any other robo vacuum we've tried. It can also plan out and create virtual no-go zones in rooms or specific areas.
1. Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum cleaner can assist you in keeping up with the dust, pet fur and dander that collects on your floor each day. It also can reduce the frequency you have to do a deeper clean, saving you time and effort. The best model has powerful suction that can take on the most difficult messes and leave your home clean.
You can take care of more space by using a robot vacuum as well as a mop, which is particularly beneficial if you live in a large home. You can find a model with a tank for water either in the chassis itself or as an extra piece that you can take out after vacuuming. It'll need to be emptied and filled in order to complete the task.
In a perfect world it would be ideal to clean your floors before using your robot vacuum, preventing it from hitting anything. In the majority of homes this isn't possible or desirable. Fortunately, the majority of models allow you to use your smartphone app to set up virtual barriers that the robot can detect and avoid. Some models include no-go areas that you can mark areas you don't wish it to access. For example the child's room or a pile cords in the corner.
This model is a good option if you're looking for a simple robot cleaner without 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 mop and vacuum at your leisure. It has a long battery life that can last up to 180 minutes.
2. Easy to Operate
Robot vacuums generally need very little from you. They utilize navigational tools such as sensors lasers, cameras, and sensors to maneuver and collect pet hair, dust and food crumbs off hard floors, tiles and hardwood. Many have boundary strips that allow them to stay within a room's walls, while more expensive models can be set to automatically wake up and begin cleaning at a predetermined time. Certain models come with fall detection technology that helps users avoid falling down the stairs or becoming tangled in cords.
Look for best rated robot vacuum that allow you to control from your couch using voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also look for models with Wi-Fi connectivity that allow you to begin cleaning from any location via an app. Depending on how large your house is, you may prefer one with a long battery life and a spacious dust bin that doesn't need to be emptied frequently.
Some robot vacuums can double as mops and use reservoirs of water to clean your floors. This is useful for normal mopping, but it won't be effective for messes that are more difficult to clean, such as pet poop or other wet spills. You can select hybrids that have a removable microfiber mopping pad or a self-emptying model that lets you go up to 60 days before emptying the base.
3. Smart Mapping
Some robots utilize advanced mapping technologies to build a precise map of your floorplan as they clean the floor, which makes it easier for them to avoid crashing into furniture or falling over things like chair legs or cords. This feature is typically only available on higher-end models, but it's one of the most effective ways to ensure that your robot has an accurate understanding of the layout of your house and is aware of where to go when it's low on battery.
Most robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done via an application or even physical boundary strips. This allows you to define areas that you don't want your robot to venture into, so it can concentrate its attention on the rooms and spaces that need the most attention.
Many robots will also automatically change floors depending on the kind of flooring they are cleaning. This can be achieved by changing from carpet to hard flooring or by paying attention to particular areas of your home, such as corners and baseboards. In our tests this was a helpful feature that improved their scores on picking up carpeting made of low-pile or hardwood. However, it's still important to put away loose cords and furniture before running your robot vacuum so 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 via voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many connect to smart home systems and build maps of your home after each cleaning session so that they can "learn" your layout and devise more efficient routes for future trips. Some also have built-in obstacle avoidance, which stops them from hitting and damaging furniture or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables shoes, laces for shoes and pet hair.
Most robots come with a remote you can use to steer them around your home. Most robots can be operated by mobile applications, which offers more features. You can create multiple cleaning schedules and make an inventory of your preferred rooms. You can also manually guide the robot using the directional the arrows.
Certain models have no-go zones. These are virtual barriers that can be created in the app to prevent the robot from accessing certain areas (like toys for children or dog beds and dishes). Other apps allow you to make the map of your house and provide the robot with detailed information about your floors. The app on our top pick, the Roborock S7+, has numerous options to help you clean your house, but its interface isn't as polished as those from iRobot and Shark.
5. Long Battery Life
Robot vacuums that can sweep your entire home without stopping for a recharge or emptying their trash bins save time and effort. Certain robot vacuums can work with smart home devices like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also make an outline of your living space that allows you to program them to clean specific areas or rooms and stay clear of obstacles.
The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, but the iRobot j7 offers advanced features such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These features can simplify your life (although one of our test bots did "eat" a few socks). If you want to take your home cleaning to the next level consider a robot mop with a tank of water that you fill and empty yourself.
While none of the models we tested compete with the power of a stand-up vacuum, the majority of them do an excellent job of cleaning carpets with low pile and hard floors. They are great at sweeping up fine dust and food particles, dirt tracked in and pet hair. They are also able to tackle stray cat litter and metal screws and nuts. The most effective robot vacuums can clean edges and corners and can even work around furniture. For an affordable model that can work on its own and is reasonably priced look into the Eufy 11S.
6. Convenient Self-Charging
A robot vacuum will help keep your home tidy and clean without doing much work. You can schedule cleanings in the app and set up no-go zones so that your robot doesn't harm your plants or your favourite chair. A majority of our top picks also automatically empty their dustbins and clean their docking stations for you.
The best robot vacuums are programmable to keep your floors clean for weeks or months at a stretch, saving you the time and effort of manually mopping or sweeping your floors every single week or day. This lets you spend more time doing things you like and reduces the time it takes to clean your floors manually.
In the course of testing the Q Revo was able to capture small particles such as baking soda and oatmeal as well as heavier debris such nails and screws made of metal, and fluffy stuff such as hair from pets. It does not have the advanced mapping and object-avoiding features found in our top picks, but it is still a great option for most families.
The most appealing feature of the j7 is that it utilizes camera and processor-powered smarts to detect and avoid obstacles like power cords, shoes socks and pet waste. This means you don't have to clean the room prior to running your robot, although cluttered rooms will mean that your bot may get stuck and not do as well.