The Best Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum can do most of the cleaning for you. It will take pet hair, lint, and dirt from surfaces and furniture before they can get stuck. Many robot vacuums work with smart assistants, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a hands-free clean experience.
Many models have the ability to map, allowing them to create an interactive map of your home. This can help them avoid falling off ledges or navigating around clusters if device cords.
What to Look for
Some robots come with advanced features that allow you to control them via apps and voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. Smart mapping, zone cleaning, and object avoidance are some of the features. They could also have longer battery life and larger dust collection bins.
Select a model with a wide brush to sweep up large debris, and is thin enough to be able to fit under furniture. Also, check if the vacuum can move over multiple kinds of floors without having to change brushes or alter suction settings, which can decrease the effectiveness of cleaning and shorten its life.
The best cleaning and mopping robot robot vacuums have top-quality filters that catch small particles to guard the interior of your house and an accessible collection bin that allows you to empty it frequently. Some models come with an additional side brush to clean up pet hair and other debris in difficult-to-access areas under and behind furniture. The dustbins are usually transparent, which means you can see the amount of dirt in the bin, and when to empty it.
In addition to scheduling your robot vacuum to run at times when you're likely be at home, you can use the app to create an area around your furniture and areas that you'd like it avoid. Certain models can also detect the kind of floor they're cleaning and automatically adjust their brush and suction settings to match.
There are robots that recharge and continue cleaning where they left off when their battery runs out. Some robot vacuums have a camera built in that lets you see the path that your robot has taken and the information it has collected.
A lot of robots allow you to control them with your voice, though they may not do so as well as others. Make sure the model you choose is compatible with your voice assistant of choice, and test out how it responds to different commands during the buying process. Some robots are able to automatically empty their bins of dust and clean their docking stations, which can reduce the chores you have to do a bit. But this feature comes with cost, as do the capacity of the bin and a faster charging speed.
Cleaning Performance
Robots are not a replacement for a vacuum or broom. However, they can be incredibly efficient and efficient in keeping your floors spotless. The best robotic cleaners can clean up small particles such as pet hair, dust and crumbs, or larger objects like metal shavings and wood shavings. They can do this without damaging the flooring or furniture.
Most of the time, they'll detect the type of floor they're cleaning and adjust their suction or brush features accordingly to more effectively clean your floors. This is especially important if you have various flooring types in your home. Many models also come with many options to set up virtual boundaries, which allows you to instruct the robot to stay clear from certain areas of your home. This will keep your pets or children from getting in areas they shouldn't. It also ensures that your entire house is cleaned at the end of each scheduled session.
You should also think about the amount of autonomy you're comfortable with giving your robot. Certain models require your attention and presence while others function independently with the capability to change cleaning modes and schedules through a mobile app or voice commands using an integrated smart assistant. Some will map and learn your home, allowing you to set up zones and tell the robot to clean certain areas of your home on a weekly or daily basis.
In our tests, the iRobot J7+ proved to be the best robot for "set it and leave it". It was the best at mapping, creating virtual boundaries and avoiding obstacles better than all the other robots we test. Additionally, it can completely empty itself so you don't have to do it manually. It also has side brushes that can help sweep debris into its path from corners and edges where a vacuum may not reach.
Its slim design and infrared sensor enable it to clean behind and under furniture which allows it to perform better than most robots. Its advanced navigation system allows it to sweep the entire floor of your house using just a single charge of battery. It's difficult to beat even at its price.
Battery Life
A high-quality robot vacuum can make keeping your floors clean feel less like a chore and more like a treat. The difference between a clean house and one that is dirty can be made by removing dirt that has been tracked into the house, and crumbs, pet hair, and other debris. A basic robot can handle most cleaning tasks. However those who prefer a more relaxed experience may want to look for a model which also can be used as an mops.
Ecovacs' Deebot T10 OMNI is a top performer in both vacuuming and mopping modes. It is able to handle pet hair, dirt and even cat litter. Its object avoidance function is remarkable. It lets it steer away from objects and not get tangled on them.
It also has a long battery life and a large bin for dust which allows it to cover a large amount of space in one session. It's also a smart cleaner which means it can be able to map your home, and works with apps such as those offered by Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to allow you to control the vacuum using voice commands.
The app that comes along with the robot allows you to set up schedules, designate specific rooms for cleaning or the ability to pause and resume sessions. It will alert you when its battery is low and will return to the docking station for recharging.
This robot can also distinguish between hard floors and carpets and adjust its settings according to the type of floor. This prevents the machine from squeezing on a particular type of surface and accidentally tearing your furniture. But, it's not yet able to discern high pile carpeting or seams in rooms, so you will still have to be careful when picking up large objects.
To keep robot vacuums in good working order, they require maintenance. This includes cleaning brushes of hair, and emptying the trash bin (and sometimes washing it) after each cleaning session. Cameras and sensors should also be cleaned between each use. The manufacturer will give specific guidelines for these and other steps to maintain, which may vary depending on the specific model.
Cost
The top robot vacuums aren't cheap, but they're far less expensive than a professional carpet cleaner or even an entire stand-up vacuum. They also require less maintenance than traditional vacuums, with most requiring only that you empty (and sometimes rinse) their dust bin after each cleaning session and periodically cleaning their sensors or cameras.
A lot of robot vacuums have smart features that help them be more efficient within your home. For instance, mapping technology allows you to inform the vacuum of where to go through an app, so it doesn't run into the stairs, or under furniture, where there might be an unclean mess. Others can identify what floor type they're working on, and they can alter their suction or brush functions for the most effective results.
Some models feature objects avoidance, which utilizes sensors (or even cameras) to identify toys and other items on the floor and coach the robot to walk around them rather than run into them. This is a great benefit for families with children or pets who tend to throw toys around the house.
Voice control is another useful feature you may find useful. It lets you operate your robot with your voice instead of the buttons on board. This can be beneficial when you have children who aren't quite old enough to be able to use the controls or if you simply want a hands-free solution.
How often you have to use your robot will depend on the amount of dirt and dust is usually found on your floors. The majority of experts recommend using a robot vacuuming at least once per week to keep your floors looking their best and nabbing pet hair, lint and surface dirt before it is able to get ground in or become more difficult to remove.
If you're working with limited floor surfaces and don't plan to utilize your robot for other purposes, a budget model, such as our top pick the Eufy 11S, is a suitable option. It's user-friendly cost-effective, and can do the job without creating any noise when you work or watching television.