The Best Robot Vacuums
A good robot vacuum does the majority of the work and nabs pet hair, lint, and surface dirt before it adheres to furniture or sink into carpets. Some also integrate with smart assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to offer the convenience of hands-free operation.
Many models come with mapping capabilities that allow them to create an interactive map of your home. This allows them to avoid falling off ledges or navigating the cords of devices.
What to look for
Certain robots come with advanced features, which allow you to control them using voice assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant. These include smart mapping, spot and zone cleaning and object avoidance. They may also have longer battery life and bigger dust collection bins.
Find a model that has a broad brushes that can clean up large pieces of debris and one that's small enough to fit under furniture. Also, check if the vacuum can move over multiple floor types without having to change brushes or change suction settings, which could make it less effective in cleaning and decrease its lifespan.
The top robot vacuums are equipped with high-quality filters that can trap fine particles and protect your home from damage. They also come with an ample, easily accessible collection bin that allows you to empty it frequently. Some robot vacuums come with an additional side brush that can sweep up pet hair or other debris in hard-to reach places like under or behind furniture. The dustbins are usually transparent, so you can see the amount of dirt in the bin and when you should empty it.
You can also make use of the app to set boundaries around furniture and rooms you do not want it to enter. Some models can also detect the type of floor and adjust their brush and vacuum settings accordingly.
There are robots that recharge and continue cleaning the area they left after their battery has run out. Certain robot vacuums have a camera built in which allows you to view the route the robot took and the data it has gathered.
A lot of robots allow you to control them with your voice, but not all of them do it as easily as others. Be sure that the robot you select is compatible with the voice assistant of your preference, and then test how it responds to different commands during the purchasing process. Some robots are able to automatically empty their dustbins and clean their docking stations, making your chore list a little more. This is a costly feature, as are a larger collection container and faster charging speed.
Cleaning Performance
Robots aren't a substitute for a broom or vacuum. However, they can be incredibly efficient and efficient in keeping your floors tidy. Whether you need to keep track of tracked-in dust as well as pet hair and crumbs or get rid of larger debris like metal screws and wood shavings, most top-rated robotic cleaners are capable of picking up various materials in the first attempt and without causing any damage to your floor surfaces 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 when your home is made up of different types of flooring. A lot of models come with many options to set up virtual boundaries, which allows you to tell the robot to stay away from certain areas of your home. This helps to keep your pets and children from entering areas they shouldn't. It also ensures that your entire house is cleaned during each scheduled time.
It is also important to consider the level of autonomy you're willing to give your robot. Some models require you to be active and attentive, while others can work independently. They can alter cleaning methods and schedules using a mobile application or voice commands using an integrated smart assistant. Some models will map and learn your space, allowing you to define zones and instruct the robot to clean certain areas of your home on a weekly or daily basis.
In our testing, the iRobot j7+ was the top "set it and forget it" robot. It excelled at mapping, creating virtual boundaries and eliminating obstacles better than the other robots we tested. It can also empty itself, so you don't need to do it manually. The side brushes are used to sweep debris off edges and corners which a vacuum can't reach.
Its slim profile and infrared sensors allow it to get behind and under furniture for a deeper clean than most robots, while its advanced navigation system makes it more capable of cleaning the entire area of your home in one charge as compared to other devices we've tested. It's a tough one to beat even at a reasonable price.
Battery Life
A robot vacuum can make cleaning your floors feel less of a chore and more like an indulgence. Promptly nabbing tracked-in dirt, crumbs and shedding pet hair can make all the difference in the cleanliness of your home every day. A basic robot can take care of the majority of cleaning tasks. However those who prefer a more relaxed experience may want to look for a model that doubles as a mops.
The Ecovacs Deebot T10 OMNI is one of the top models for both, since it offers great performance in both its mop and vacuuming modes and is able to easily deal with dirt debris, pet hair and even cat litter. Its ability to avoid objects is impressive. It allows it to keep away from objects and avoid getting caught on them.
It also comes with a long battery life and a large dust bin which allows it to cover a decent amount of space in a single session. It's also a smart cleaner which means that it can map your home and works with apps such as those provided by Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to let you control the vacuum using voice commands.
The application that comes with the robot allows you to set up schedules, designate specific rooms for cleaning, or the ability to pause and resume sessions. It will notify you when its battery is low and will return to the docking station for recharging.
The robot is also able to distinguish between carpets and hard floors, and adjust its settings accordingly. This prevents the machine from becoming stuck on a particular type of surface and then accidentally tearing furniture. It is not able to detect high-pile carpeting or seams in rooms, so it's important to be careful when grabbing large objects.
To keep robot vacuums in top condition, they require maintenance. This includes cleaning brushes of hair and emptying the dust bin (and sometimes washing it) after every cleaning session. Cameras and sensors should be cleaned after each use. The manufacturer will give specific instructions for these steps and other procedures, which will vary according to the model.
Cost
The top robot vacuums may not be inexpensive, but they're far cheaper than professional carpet cleaning machines or even a stand-up vacuum. They require less maintenance than traditional vacuums, as they require that you empty and occasionally rinse their dust bins following every cleaning session.
Many robot vacuums have clever features that help them be more efficient in your home. For instance, mapping technology lets you instruct the vacuum on where to go through an app, so it doesn't get stuck in stairs or under furniture, where there may be the possibility of a mess. Other robot vacuums are able to detect the type of flooring they are cleaning so they can adjust their suction and brush features to achieve the best results.
Certain models come with object avoidance, which makes use of sensors (or even a camera) to detect objects like toys and other things on the floor. They then instruct the robot to walk around them, rather than running through them. This is a great option for families with pets or children who are known to leave toys around the home.
Another smart feature that could be of interest to you is voice control which allows you to operate your robot with your voice instead of using the on-board buttons. This can be beneficial for children who aren't yet old enough to be able to use the controls or if you just want a hands-free option.
How often you have to utilize your robot is contingent upon how much dirt and debris is usually found on your floors. The majority of experts suggest using your robot vacuum at least every week in order to keep your floors spotless and remove pet hair, lint, and dirt from the surface.
If you're only working with only a small amount of floor space and do not plan to utilize the robot for any other purposes such as cleaning, then a budget model, like our top pick Eufy 11S is a great choice. It's simple to use, affordable, and does the job without making any noise when you're working or watching television.