How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum
If you're able to live without smart capabilities like mapping, and don't mind emptying the garbage bin every 60 days or so, a basic robotic vacuum will probably work for you. Select a model with clean and tidy base that is compatible with voice assistants.
It is a pro at picking up dirt, pet hair and cat litter on hardwood floors, tile and carpeting that is lower-pile better than any other vacuum we've tested. It also maps and set virtual no-go zones for rooms or areas.
- Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum cleaner can assist you in keeping up with the dust, pet fur and dander that settles on your floor every day. It also can reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, saving you time and effort. The best model has powerful suction that will easily take on the most difficult messes and leave your home cleaner.
Choosing a robot vacuum that is also able to mop can help you achieve more coverage with one machine, which can be particularly beneficial in larger homes. You can find a model with a water tank either in the chassis itself or as an extra piece that you can remove after vacuuming. It will need to be filled and empty, so it's an extra chore.
In the ideal world, you'd clear your floors before you used your robot vacuum to prevent it from running into things. In the majority of homes, however it's not feasible or desirable. Most robots allow you to use an app on your smartphone to create virtual barriers the robot can see. Some models have no-go zones which can be used to mark areas that you don't want it be in, like kids' rooms or a pile of device cords in the corner.
This model is a good choice if you want a basic robot cleaner that does not have all the bells and whistles. It's quiet, works well on both hard floors and low-pile rugs. It can be scheduled via the app to vacuum or mop at any time. It's got a long battery life of around 180 minutes.
- Easy to operate
Robot vacuums generally require very little effort from you. They make use of sensors, lasers, and cameras to move around and collect pet hair, dust, and food crumbs from hard floors, tile and hardwood. Many have boundary strips to allow them to stay within the walls of a room, while higher-end models can be programmed to automatically wake up and start cleaning at a set time. Some even come with fall detection technology that can help them avoid 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 can work with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. Also, look for models that connect to Wi-Fi and allow you to 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 spacious dust bin that doesn't need to be emptied frequently.
Some robot vacuums double as mops and use water reservoirs to clean your floors. This is great for mopping, but not great for difficult messes such as pet poop or other wet spills. You can select hybrids that have an able mopping pad made of microfiber, or a self-emptying version that allows you to go up to 60 days before emptying the base.
- Smart Mapping
Certain robots employ advanced mapping technologies to build a detailed map of your floorplan while they clean the floor, which makes it easier for them to avoid bumping mindlessly into furniture or falling over things such as cords or chairs. This feature is only available on the top models however it allows your robot to have a thorough understanding of your home's layout and knows where to move when the battery runs out.
Most robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done through an app or physical boundary strips. This allows you to create zones that you don't want your robot to explore, so that it can concentrate its attention on areas that require the most attention.
Many robots also automatically change floors based on the floor they are cleaning. This can be achieved by changing from carpet to hard flooring, or by focusing on certain areas of your home like corners and baseboards. This feature was effective during our tests and helped improve the vacuum's performance on both hardwood flooring and carpeting for floors with low-pile. It's important to tuck away any loose cords or furniture before using your robot vacuum, to ensure that it doesn't get caught.
- Remote Control
Most robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled using voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many robot vacuums connect to smart home systems, and can create an outline of the area they clean after each cleaning session. This lets them "learn" the way your home is laid out and to plan more efficient routes during future cleaning sessions. Some have obstacle avoidance built in that prevents them from damaging furniture and getting stuck on objects like loose charging cables or pet hair.
Most robots come with a remote that you can use to steer them around your home. However, many can be controlled via an app on your mobile that comes with additional features. You can create multiple cleaning schedules, and create an agenda of your most-loved rooms. You can also guide the robot with direction the arrows.
Certain models have no-go zones. These are virtual barriers that can be created within the app to block the robot from entering specific areas (like kid's toys or dishes for dogs and dog beds). Other apps let you create an outline of your home and provide the robot with detailed information about your floors. The Roborock S7+ app has many useful features that can aid in cleaning the house. However the interface isn't as sleek as iRobot or Shark.
- Long Battery Life
Robot vacuums that can sweep your entire house 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 create an outline of the space for you to program them for specific rooms or areas and to stay clear of obstacles.
The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, but the iRobot J7 has advanced features like "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These can make your life easier (although one of our test bots did "eat" a few socks). If you're looking to improve the quality of your home maintenance, consider the use of a robot mop and an water container that can be filled and then empty.
While none of the models we tested could match the dirt-picking ability of a stand-up vacuum they did an excellent job of cleaning hard floors and carpets with low pile. They are excellent at sweeping up food crumbs, and tracked-in dirt. They can also handle metal screws and nuts as well as the stray cat litter. The most effective robot vacuums are able to effortlessly work around furniture, and they are great at cleaning edges and corners as well. For an affordable model that can work by itself and is comparatively inexpensive, check out the Eufy 11S.
- Convenient Self-Charging
A robot vacuum will help keep your home tidy and clean without you having to do much work. You can schedule cleanings through the app, and you can designate no-go areas to ensure that your robot does not step on your plants or sit on your favorite chair. The majority of our top picks empty their dustbins and clean their docking stations.
The top robot vacuums are programmable to keep your floors clean for months or weeks at a time, making it easier to save time and effort of manually mopping or sweeping your floors each week or day. This lets you have more time to do the things you enjoy and cuts down on the amount of time that your floors require to be cleaned manually.
In our tests, Q Revo was able grab fine particles such as baking soda and oatmeal. It also snatched up heavier particles such as nails and screws made of metal, as well as fluffy stuff like pet hair. It's not equipped with the advanced mapping and object avoidance features of our top picks, but it works well enough for the majority of families.
The best selling robot vacuum and mop feature of the j7 is that it utilizes camera and processor-powered sensors to identify and avoid obstacles such as shoes, power cords, socks and pet waste. This means that you don't have to clean up before using your robot. However, messy rooms may cause your bot to get stuck and do an inadequate job.