How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum
If you're willing to live without smart capabilities like mapping, and aren't worried about cleaning the trash bin every 60 days or so, a basic robotic vacuum could be a good choice for you. Choose one that has a clean base and works with voice assistants.
It is the best robo-vacuum we have tested at cleaning up pet hair from tile floors, hardwood floors and carpets with low pile. It also has the ability to map out and create virtual no-go zones for rooms or areas.
1. Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum can assist you in keeping up with the dust, pet fur and dander that accumulates on your floor each day. It can also decrease the frequency of deep cleaning, which will save you time and effort. The best models have powerful suction that can tackle most messes with ease and leave your home cleaner.
You can cover more area by using a robot vacuum as well as a mop, which is especially useful if you have a large house. You can find a model that has a water tank in the chassis itself or as an extra piece that you can remove after vacuuming. You'll need to empty and refill it, though, so this is an additional task that requires some extra effort on your part.
In a perfect world it would be ideal to clean your floors first before using your robot vacuum to stop it from running into anything. In most homes, however, this is not possible or desirable. Most robots allow you to make use of an app for your smartphone to build virtual barriers that the robot will observe. Certain models have no-go zones that you can mark areas you don't wish it to enter. For example an area for children's play or a pile of cords in the corner.
If you're looking for a simple robot vacuum with no bells and whistles, this model from the company that makes networking TP-Link is a great option. It's quiet, works well on 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, and 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 use instruments for navigation, such as sensors, lasers, and cameras to move around and collect pet hair, dust and food crumbs off hard floors, tiles and hardwood. Many models come with boundary strips that allow them to remain in a room. The more expensive models can be programmed to get up at a particular time and begin cleaning. Some even come with fall detection technology that prevents tumbling down stairs or getting caught in electrical cords.
If you'd like to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of your couch, you should look for models that work with voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also pick Wi-Fi models that allow you to begin cleaning from anywhere with an app. You might want to choose an option with a long-lasting battery, as well as an enormous dust bin, based on the size of your home.
Some robot vacuums are also mopping. They utilize water reservoirs to clean the floor. This is ideal for mopping, but not ideal for tough messes like pet poop or other wet spills. There are hybrids that have a removable microfiber pad that can be used for mopping, or you can choose a self-emptying model that lets you go for 30 to 60 days without needing to empty the base.
3. Smart Mapping
Some robots use advanced mapping technology to build a detailed map while they clean. This makes it easier to avoid crashing into furniture and tripping on cords or chair legs. This feature is only available on the top models however it allows your robot to get a complete understanding of the layout of your home and knows where to move when the battery runs out.
Most robots let you create virtual barriers. This can be done through an app or physical boundary strips. You can block off areas you don't wish your robot to go into to allow it to concentrate on the areas that require the most attention.
A lot of robots are able to automatically navigate to different floorings depending on the surface they're cleaning, whether that's changing between carpet and hard flooring or focusing on particular areas of your home, like corners and baseboards. In our tests this was a helpful feature that helped improve their scores on picking up carpeting that is low-pile and hardwood. It is essential to put away any furniture or cords that are loose before using your robot vacuum, so that it doesn't become caught.
4. Remote Control
Most robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled via 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 to plan more efficient routes for future cleaning sessions. Some come with obstacle avoidance built in to prevent them from damaging furniture and getting stuck on things such as loose charging cables or pet hair.
The majority of robots come with a remote control that you can use to move them around your house. Most robots are controlled via a mobile application which has more options. You can typically set multiple cleaning schedules, make a list of favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot to certain areas using directions on the screen.
Certain models have zones that are not allowed. These are virtual barriers that can be created within the app to block the robot from accessing certain areas (like kid's toys or dog beds and dishes). Other apps let you set up a map of your home and give the robot detailed information about your floors. The app that we recommend as our top pick Roborock S7+, the Roborock S7+, has numerous options to help you clean your home, however its interface isn't as polished as those from iRobot and Shark.
5. Long Battery Life
Robotic vacuums that can sweep all over your home without stopping to recharge or empty their trash bins save you time and effort. Certain robot vacuums can work with smart home platforms such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to enable hands-free operation. They can also create an outline of your living space, allowing you to program them to clean specific rooms or areas 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 can make your life much easier (although one of our test bots did "eat" a few socks). If you're looking to push your home cleaning to the next level opt for a robotic mop that has an water tank that can be filled and then empty.
While none of the models we tested could compete with the power of a stand-up vacuum most do an admirable job at cleaning hard floors and low-pile carpets. They are excellent at sweeping up fine dirt, food crumbs and tracked-in dirt. They can also handle metal screws and nuts, as well as stray cat litter. The best robot vacuums are able to clean edges and corners and work around furniture. For an affordable model that can work on its own and is comparatively inexpensive, check out the Eufy 11S.
6. Convenient Self-Charging
With the right setup and the right setup, a robotic vacuum can aid in keeping your home looking and feeling cleaner on a regular basis without much work from you. You can schedule cleanings using the app, and you can designate no-go areas to ensure that your robot does not walk on your favorite chair or plants. A majority of our top picks will empty their trash bins for you and clean their docking station.
The top robot vacuums can be programmed to keep your floors clean for months or weeks at a stretch, saving you the time and effort of manually sweeping or mopping your floors each week or every day. This allows you to spend more time doing things you enjoy, and decreases the time it takes to clean your floors manually.
During testing during testing, Q Revo was able to grab small particles such as baking soda and oatmeal. cleaning robot mop and vacuum picked up heavier debris like nails and screws made of metal, as well as fluffy stuff like pet hair. It lacks the smart mapping and object-avoiding features of our top picks but is still a great choice for families with children.
The best thing about the j7 is its ability to spot and avoid obstacles such as power cords as well as socks and shoes and pet waste. This means that you don't need to tidy up before using your robot. However, messy rooms could cause your robot to get stuck and do a poor job.