How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum
If you don't require advanced features such as mapping and don't mind emptying your dustbin every 60 to 90 days, a basic robotic vacuum could be suitable for you. Look for a model that has a clean base and is compatible with voice assistants.
It excels at removing dirt, clumps of cat litter and pet hair on tile floors, hardwood floors and carpeting that is lower-pile better than any other vacuum we've tried. It can also plan out and set virtual no-go zones for rooms or specific areas.
1. Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum cleaner can help you keep track of the dust, pet fur and dander that settles on your floor each day. It can also decrease the frequency of deep cleaning, which will save you both time and effort. The most effective models feature powerful suction that can clean up most mess with ease and leave your house cleaner.
Selecting a vacuum that can also mop will allow you to cover more ground by using just one machine. This is especially beneficial in a larger home. There are models that has a water tank in the chassis itself or as an extra piece that you can swap out after vacuuming. It'll need to be filled and empty in order to complete the task to complete.
In a perfect world, you'd be able to clean your floors prior to using your robot vac to keep it from crashing into objects. But in most homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. Most robots allow you to use an app that you can install on your phone to create virtual barriers that the robot can observe. Some models have no-go zones which you can use to flag areas you don't want it access, such as children rooms or a pile of device cords in the corner.
If you're looking to buy a basic robot vacuum that doesn't have all the bells and whistles, this model made by networking company TP-Link is a great option. It's quiet and is able to work on hard floors as well as carpets with low pile and can be programmed through the app to vacuum and mop at your own convenience. It has a long battery life of around 180 minutes.
2. Easy to Operate
In general, robot vacuums require very little input from you. They utilize navigation tools like sensors and lasers to move around obstacles and remove dust, food crumbs and pet hair from hard floors, tile carpets, and hardwood. A lot of them have boundary strips that allow them to stay within the walls of a room while pricier models can be set to automatically wake up and begin cleaning at a predetermined time. Some even have fall-detection technology that can help them avoid falling down the stairs or getting tangled in electrical cords.
If you want to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of a couch, look for models that work with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also pick Wi-Fi models that permit you to start cleaning from anywhere with an app. You may want to select a model that has a long-lasting battery and an enormous dust bin, based on the size of your house.
Some robot vacuums can double as mops, utilizing reservoirs of water to wash your floor. This is great for mopping, but not for difficult messes such as pet poop or other wet spills. There are hybrids that have a removable microfiber pad for mopping, or choose a self-emptying model that lets you use the device for 30 to 60 days without needing to empty the base.
3. Smart Mapping
Some robots employ advanced mapping technology to build a detailed map as they clean. This helps them avoid bumping into furniture or tripping over cords or legs of chairs. This feature is usually only available on more expensive models, but it's one of the best ways to make sure your robot has a full understanding of the layout of your house and knows where to go next when it's running out of battery.
Most robots let you create virtual barriers. This can be done using an application or even physical boundary strips. You can block off areas that you don't wish your robot to enter in order to focus on the rooms that need the most attention.
Many robots also have the ability 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 certain areas of your home, like baseboards and corners. This feature was effective during our tests and helped improve the performance of the vacuum on hardwood flooring and carpeting for floors with low-pile. 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
The majority of robot vacuums are WiFi-connected and can be controlled by Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow you to control them via voice commands or via your smartphone. Many connect to smart home systems that create an outline of your space after each cleaning session so they can "learn" your layout and design more efficient routes for future runs. There are also built-in obstacles avoidance, which stops them from hitting and damaging furniture or getting stuck on things like charging cables that are loose shoes, laces for shoes and pet hair.
Most robots come with a remote you can use to pilot them around your home. Most robots can be controlled via a mobile application which has more options. You can usually set multiple cleaning schedules, build an inventory of your favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot to certain areas using directions on the screen.
Some models have no-go zones. These are virtual barriers you can create in the app to prevent the robot from entering specific areas (like kid's toys or dog beds and dishes). Some apps let you create an outline of your home and provide detailed information on the floors. The Roborock S7+ app has several useful features that can assist you in cleaning your home. However, its interface isn't quite as sleek as iRobot or Shark.
5. Long Battery Life
Robot vacs that can work a whole house without stopping to recharge or empty their trash bins can save you time and energy. Some robot vacuums work with smart home platforms such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to enable hands-free operation. They can also make an image of your living space that allows you to program them to clean specific areas or rooms and beware of obstacles.
The majority of robot vacuums come with some degree of detection of objects, but higher-end models like the iRobot J7 have advanced features like "home mapping" and advanced obstacle avoidance, which can simplify your life (although our test bot did once "eat" a pair of socks). If you're looking to push your home maintenance even further, look for a robotic mop that comes with a tank of water that you fill and empty yourself.
While none of the models we tested could compete with the power of a stand-up vacuum the majority of them do an excellent job at cleaning hard floors and low-pile carpets. They excel at picking up fine dirt, food crumbs and dirt that has been tracked in. They are also able to tackle scattered cat litter, as well as metal screws and nuts. The top robot vacuums can easily work their way around furniture, and they excel at cleaning edges and corners as well. For an affordable model that can work by itself and is reasonably priced, check out the Eufy 11S.
6. Convenient Self-Charging
A robot vacuum can help keep your home tidy and clean without having to do much work. You can schedule cleanings through the app, and create no-go zones so that your robot doesn't walk on your favorite chair or plants. Many of our top picks also automatically empty their bins and clean their docking stations for you.
The top robot vacuums can be programmed to keep your floors clean for months or weeks at a time, making it easier to save time and effort of manually sweeping or mopping your floors every week or even every day. This lets you take more time doing the things you like and reduces the time it takes to clean your floors manually.
In our tests, Q Revo was able to grab small particles such as baking soda and oatmeal. It also picked up larger particles like metal screws and nails and fluffy things like pet hair. floor vacuum robot does not have the intelligent mapping and object-avoiding features found in our top picks, but is still a great choice for most families.
The best thing about the j7 is its ability to spot and avoid obstacles like power cords and socks, shoes, and pet waste. This means that you don't need to clean up after using your robot. However, cluttered rooms can cause your robot to become stuck and perform poorly.