How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum
If you don't need the most advanced features like mapping and you don't mind emptying your dustbin every 60 to 90 days A basic robot vacuum is likely to be the best choice suitable for you. Choose a model with a clean base that works with voice assistants.
It is the best vacuum we have tested in cleaning up pet hair on tiles, hardwood floors, and carpeting with low pile. It can also map out and set virtual no-go zones for rooms or areas.
1. Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum is able to stay clean of the pet hair, dust and dander that accumulates on your floors on a day-to-day basis. It can also decrease the frequency of deep cleaning, which will save your time and effort. The most effective models feature powerful suction, which will clean up most mess with ease and leave your home cleaner.
Choosing a robot vacuum that also mop can help you achieve more coverage using one machine, which can be particularly beneficial in larger homes. Find one that has water reservoirs either built into its chassis or as a separate item that you can swap out when the vacuuming is done. It'll need to be emptied and filled in order to complete the task.
In a perfect universe it would be ideal to clean your floors first before using your robot vacuum to stop it from hitting anything. In most homes, however, this is not possible or desirable. Thankfully, most models let you use your smartphone app to set up virtual barriers that the robot will be aware of and avoid. Some models include no-go areas that you can mark areas that you don't want it to be allowed to enter. For example the child's room or a pile of cords in an area.
If you're looking to buy a basic robot vacuum that doesn't have all the bells and whistles, this model from the networking company TP-Link is a great option. It is quiet, works on both hard floors as well as low-pile carpets and can be programmed through the app to vacuum and mop at your leisure. It's got a long battery life of up to 180 minutes.
2. Easy to Operate
Robot vacuums generally require only minimal effort from you. They use navigation tools like sensors, lasers and cameras to navigate around obstacles and suck up dust, food crumbs and pet hair from hard floors, tiles carpets, and hardwood. A lot of models come with boundaries strips that help them remain in a room. More expensive models can be programmed to start up at a certain time and begin cleaning. Some models even have fall detection technology that can help them avoid falling down the stairs or getting caught in electrical cords.
If you're looking to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of your couch, search for models that work with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. Also, look for models with Wi-Fi connectivity that let you start a cleaning session from anywhere through an app. Depending on how big your house is, you might prefer an item with a long-lasting battery and a roomy dustbin that doesn't require being emptying frequently.
Certain robot vacuums are also mops. They use water reservoirs to clean the floor. This is helpful for normal mopping, but it won't work for 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 use the device for 30 to 60 days without needing to empty the base.
3. Smart Mapping
Some robots use advanced mapping technology to create a precise map as they clean. This allows them to avoid hitting furniture and tripping on cords or legs of chairs. This feature is usually only available on more expensive models, but it's certainly one of the best ways to make sure your robot has a full understanding of the layout of your house and is aware of where to go when it's low on battery.
If you don't want your robot navigating into areas of your home you'd prefer to keep it away from (like your kids' toys or the mess of device cords in the corner) The majority of robots offer the possibility of creating virtual barriers, either via their apps or a set of physical boundary strips. This allows you to block off zones that you don't want your robot to enter, so that it can focus its attention on the rooms and spaces that need the most attention.
Many robots can also automatically navigate to different flooring types depending on the flooring they're cleaning, be it that's switching between hard flooring and carpet or focusing on specific areas of your home, such as baseboards and corners. In our tests this was a helpful feature that helped improve their performance in picking up carpeting that is low-pile and hardwood. It's nevertheless important to tuck away loose cords and furniture before running your robot vacuum so that it doesn't get caught or run into something it shouldn't.
4. Remote Control
Almost all robot vacuums are WiFi-connected and can be controlled by Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to enable you to control them using voice commands or via your smartphone. Many connect to smart home systems and build a map of your space after each cleaning session so that they can "learn" your layout and design more efficient routes for future runs. There are also built-in obstacles avoidance, which stops them from bumping into and damaging furniture or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables, shoe laces and pet hair.
The majority of robots come with a remote control that you can use to move them around your house. However, many can be controlled with an app for mobile devices that comes with additional features. You can create multiple cleaning schedules and make a list with your favorite rooms. You can also guide the robot by using the directional the arrows.
Some models provide no-go zones that are virtual barriers you can configure within the app to prevent the robot from entering certain areas (like kids' toys or dog bowls and beds). onson robot vacuum let you make an outline of your home and give the robot detailed information about your floors. The Roborock S7+ app has many useful features that will assist you in cleaning your home. However, its interface isn't quite as sleek as iRobot or Shark.
5. Long Battery Life
Robot vacuums that clean your entire house without stopping to recharge or to empty their bins save time and effort. Some robot vacuums work with smart home devices like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to enable hands-free operation. They can also draw a map of the space for you to program them to specific rooms or areas and to stay clear of obstacles.
Most robot vacuums offer some degree of object detection however, higher-end models like the iRobot J7 have advanced features such as "home mapping" and advanced obstacle avoidance that will simplify your life (although our test bot did once "eat" a pair of socks). If you're trying to improve your home's maintenance, you should consider an automated mop that comes with an water container that can be filled and then empty.
While none of the models we tested match the dirt-picking power of a stand-up vacuum they all do a great job of cleaning hard floors and low-pile carpets. They are great in sweeping up dust and food crumbs, tracked-in dirt and pet hair. They can also handle screws and nuts made of metal and stray cat litter. The top robot vacuums can clean corners and edges and work around furniture. Eufy 11S is a relatively inexpensive and basic model.
6. Convenient Self-Charging
With the proper setup with the right setup, a robot vacuum will aid in keeping your home looking and feeling cleaner regularly, with minimal effort. You can schedule cleanings through the app and set up no-go zones so that your robot doesn't harm your plants or your favorite chair. The majority of our top picks will empty their trash bins for you and clean their docking stations.
The top robot vacuums are programmable to keep your floors clean for weeks or months at a time, thereby saving you the time and effort of manually sweeping or mopping your floors each week or every day. This lets you spend more time doing things you like and reduces the time needed to clean your floors manually.
During testing, the Q Revo was able to grab small particles such as baking soda and oatmeal, heavier debris such as nails and screws made of metal and even fluffy matter like hair from pets. It lacks the advanced mapping and objects-avoiding features of our top picks but is still a great option for most families.
The j7's best feature is its ability to spot and avoid obstacles such as power cords, shoes and socks and pet waste. This means that you don't need to spend time tidying up before you can run your robot, although messy rooms can mean that the robot may become stuck and not perform as good a job.