How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you're able to live without smart capabilities like mapping, and you don't mind cleaning the trash bin every 60 days or so, a basic robot vacuum could be a good choice for you. Choose a model with an uncluttered base that can work with voice assistants.

It excels at picking up 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 tested. It also has the ability to map out and create virtual no go zones for rooms or certain areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum will stay clean of the pet hair, dust and dander that build up on your floors on a day-to-day basis. It also can reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, saving you time and effort. The best model has powerful suction that will easily clean up most mess and leave your home sparkling clean.

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 tank for water either integrated into the chassis or as an extra piece that you can remove after vacuuming. It will need to be empty and refill it, though, so this is an additional task that will require a little extra work on your part.

In the ideal world, you'd clean your floors before you used your robot vacuum to prevent it from hitting things. But in most homes, this isn't possible or desirable. Fortunately, the majority of models allow you to use your smartphone app to set up virtual barriers that the robot will be aware of and avoid. Some models include no-go areas that you can mark areas that you don't want it to access. For example an area for children's play or a pile of cords in an area.

This model is a great option if you're looking for a basic robot cleaner that does not have all the bells and whistles. It is quiet, can be used on hard floors as well as low-pile carpets 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. Simple to operate

Robot vacuums typically require very little from you. They utilize instruments for navigation, such as sensors lasers, cameras, and sensors to move and collect dust, pet hair, and food crumbs from tiles, hard floors and hardwood. A lot of models come with boundaries strips that help them stay inside a room. The more expensive models can be programmed to start up at a certain time and begin cleaning. Certain models come with fall detection technology that helps users avoid falling down the stairs or getting caught in cords.

If you'd like to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of your couch, search for models that integrate voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also pick Wi-Fi models that allow you to begin cleaning anywhere you want using an app. You may prefer one with a long-lasting battery, as well as a large dust bin, depending on the size of your house.

Some robot vacuums double as mops, utilizing reservoirs of water to wash your floors. This is great for regular mopping but won't work for extra-tough messes, such as pet poop or other spills that get wet. There are hybrids that come with an ejectable microfiber pad for mopping, or opt for an auto-emptying model that lets you go 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 hitting furniture and getting caught on cords or chair legs. This feature is only available on top-of-the-line models however, it allows your robot to get a complete understanding of your home's layout and to know where it should move when the battery runs out.

Most robots let you create virtual barriers. This can be done via an app or physical boundary strips. This allows you to create zones that you don't want your robot explore, so that it can focus its attention on rooms and spaces that need the most cleaning.

Many robots will also automatically change floors based on the kind of floor they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by switching from carpet to hard flooring, or by paying attention to specific areas of your house, such as corners and baseboards. In our tests it was a great feature that improved their pick-up scores for both hardwood and low-pile carpeting. It's nevertheless important to secure furniture and cords that are loose prior to using your robot vacuum to ensure that it doesn't get caught or run into something it shouldn't.

4. Remote Control

The majority of robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled with voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many robot vacuums connect to smart home systems and can create a map of the space they clean after each cleaning session. This allows them to "learn" how your home is laid out and plan more efficient routes during future cleaning sessions. Some also have built-in obstacle avoidance, which stops them from hitting furniture and damaging it or getting stuck on things like charging cables that are loose, shoe laces and hair from pets.

Most robots come with a remote you can use to control them around your home. However, most can also be controlled using a mobile app that offers more options. You can create multiple cleaning schedules, and create a list with your favorite rooms. You can also manually guide the robot with direction Arrows.

Certain models have zones that are not allowed. These are virtual barriers you can create within the app to block the robot from entering certain areas (like kid's toys or dishes for dogs and dog beds). Certain apps let you draw a map of your house and provide detailed information about the floors. The app that we recommend as our top pick, the Roborock S7+, has numerous options to help you clean your house, but its interface isn't as polished as those from iRobot and 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 are compatible with smart home platforms such as Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts for hands-free operation. They can also build an outline of your space and allow you to program them to clean certain areas or rooms, and to beware of obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums come with some degree of detection of objects however, higher-end models like the iRobot J7 have advanced features such as "home mapping" and advanced obstacle avoidance, which can simplify your life (although our test bot did "eat" the socks of a pair). socks). If you're seeking to improve the quality of your home maintenance, consider a robot mop with water containers that you can fill and empty.

While none of the models we tested can match the dirt-picking power of a stand-up vacuum, they all do a great job of cleaning carpets and hard floors. They excel at sweeping up food crumbs, and dirt that has been tracked into. They are also able to handle metal screws and nuts as well as cats' litter. The top robot vacuums can easily maneuver around furniture, and they are great at cleaning edges and corners as well. Eufy 11S is a relatively basic and affordable model.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

A robot vacuum will help keep your home clean and tidy without doing much work. It is possible to schedule cleanings with the app, and you can designate no-go areas so that your robot doesn't walk on your plants or sit on your favorite chair. The majority of our top picks will empty their dustbins for you and clean their docking station.

The best robot cleaner robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors on a regular basis for months or even weeks at a time, removing you from the tedious chore of manually sweeping and mopping your floors on a weekly or daily basis. This lets you enjoy more time doing things you enjoy, and decreases the amount of time required to clean your floors manually.

During testing during testing, Q Revo was able to grab small particles like baking soda and oatmeal. It also grabbed heavier debris like nails and screws made of steel, as well as fluffy stuff like pet hair. It isn't equipped with the intelligent mapping and object-avoiding features found in our top picks, but is still a great option for families with children.

The greatest thing about the j7 is that it makes use of cameras and processor-powered smarts to detect and avoid obstacles such as shoes, power cords, socks and pet waste. This means that you don't need to clean up before using your robot. However, messy rooms can cause your robot to become stuck and perform poorly.