How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum
If you don't need advanced features like mapping, and aren't worried about emptying your bin every 60 to 90 days A basic robot vacuum is likely to be the best choice the best robot vacuum and mop with mapping choice for you. Pick a model that has clean and tidy base that is compatible with voice assistants.
It is the most effective robo-vacuum we have tested at getting rid of dirt and pet hair on hardwood floors, tile, and carpets with low pile. It can also map and set virtual no-go zones for rooms or areas.
- Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum cleaner can help you keep track of the dust, pet fur and dander that accumulates on your floor each day. It also can reduce the frequency you have to clean your floors and saves your time and effort. The best model has powerful suction that is able to take on the most difficult messes and leave your home sparkling clean.
A robot vacuum that also mop will help you achieve more coverage by using just one machine. This can be particularly beneficial for homes with a large area. Look for a model that has a water reservoir either in the chassis or as a separate item that you put in after vacuuming is complete. It will need to be filled and empty, so it's an extra chore.
In a perfect world you would clean your floors first before you use your robot vacuum to prevent it from hitting anything. However, in the majority of homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. Most robots allow you to use an app on your smartphone to create virtual barriers that the robot can detect. Some have no-go zones which you can use to mark areas you don't want the robot to be in, like kids' rooms or a pile of device cords in the corner.
If you're looking for a basic robot vacuum that doesn't have all the bells and whistles, this model from networking company TP-Link is a good choice. It's quiet, works well on both hard floors and low-pile rugs. It can be scheduled through the app to mop or vacuum at your own convenience. It's got a long battery life of around 180 minutes.
- Simple to operate
Robot vacuums typically require very little from you. They utilize sensors, lasers, and cameras to move and collect pet hair, dust and food crumbs off hard floors, tile and hardwood. Many have boundary strips that allow them to stay within the walls of a room, while more expensive models can be set to automatically wake up and start cleaning at a scheduled time. Some models even have fall detection technology that prevents falling down the stairs or getting tangled in electrical cords.
If you're looking to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of a couch, search for models that work with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also pick Wi-Fi models that allow users to start a cleaning session anywhere using an app. Depending on how large your house is, you may prefer an item that has a long battery life and a spacious dust bin that doesn't have to be regularly emptied.
Some robot vacuums can double as mops, utilizing water reservoirs to clean your floor. This is helpful for everyday mopping, but will not work for tough messes such as pet poop or other spills that get wet. There are hybrids that have a removable microfiber pad for mopping, or you can choose an auto-emptying model that lets you go for 30 to 60 days without needing to empty the base.
- Smart Mapping
Some robots use advanced mapping technology to create a precise map while they clean. This allows them to avoid hitting 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 have a thorough understanding of your home's layout and know where to move when the battery runs out.
Most robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done using an app or physical boundary strips. This allows you to define areas that you don't want your robot explore, so that it can concentrate its attention on areas and rooms that require the most attention.
Many robots also automatically change floors depending on the flooring they are cleaning. This can be achieved by switching from carpet to hard flooring or by paying attention to specific areas of your house, such as corners and baseboards. In our tests this was a helpful feature that helped improve their scores on picking up carpeting made of low-pile or hardwood. It's nevertheless important to put away furniture and cords that are loose prior to running your robot vacuum so that it doesn't become stuck or run into something it shouldn't.
- Remote Control
Most robot vacuums come with 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 space they clean after each cleaning session. This allows them to "learn" the way your home is laid out and plan more efficient routes for future cleaning sessions. Some come with obstacle avoidance built in, which prevents them from damaging furniture and getting stuck on things like loose charging cables or pet hair.
Most robots are equipped with the ability to control them with a remote that you can use to move them around your house. However, most can also be controlled with an app for mobile devices that offers more features. It is possible to set multiple cleaning schedules, build a list of favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot to certain areas by using directions on the screen.
Certain models have no-go zones. These are virtual barriers can be created in the app to stop the robot from entering specific areas (like kid's toys or dishes for dogs and dog beds). Certain apps let you draw an image of your home and provide more detailed information about the floors. The Roborock S7+ app has several useful features that can assist you in cleaning your home. However the interface isn't as polished as iRobot or Shark.
- Long Battery Life
Robot vacuums that can clean your entire home without stopping to recharge or to empty their bins save time and effort. Some robot vacuums work with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to enable hands-free operation. They can also draw maps of the area to allow you to program them to specific rooms or areas and to avoid obstacles.
The majority of robot vacuums can detect objects, however the iRobot J7 has advanced features such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These can simplify your life (although one of our test robots did "eat" a few socks). If you're looking to push your home maintenance to the next level opt for a robotic mop with an water tank that can be filled and then empty.
While none of the models we tested beat the dirt-picking power of a stand-up vacuum the majority of them do an excellent job of cleaning carpets with low pile and hard floors. They excel in sweeping up dust and debris, food particles, dirt tracked in and pet hair. They can even tackle some stray cat litter and metal screws and nuts. The best robot vacuums can remove dirt from edges and corners and can work around furniture. For an affordable model that can work by itself and is relatively inexpensive look into the Eufy 11S.
- Convenient Self-Charging
A robot vacuum can help keep your home clean and tidy without doing many tasks. You can schedule cleanings using the app, and create no-go zones so that the robot won't step on your favorite chair or plants. A majority of our top picks will empty their dustbins and clean their docking stations.
The best robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors on a regular basis for months or even weeks at a time, saving you from the tedious chore of manually cleaning your floors on a daily or weekly basis. This allows you to spend more time on things you enjoy and cuts down on the amount of time that your floors require to be cleaned manually.
In the course of testing, the Q Revo was able to grab tiny particles such as baking soda and oatmeal, heavier debris such as nails and screws made of metal as well as fluffy things such as hair from pets. It's not equipped with the advanced mapping and objects avoidance features of our top picks, but it works well enough for the majority of families.
The most appealing aspect of the j7 robot 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 up before running your robot, although messy rooms can mean that the robot may become stuck and not do the job as well.