How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum
If you don't need advanced features like mapping, and don't mind emptying your dustbin every 60 to 90 days, a basic robotic vacuum is probably the best choice for you. Look for an option with a clean base and is compatible with voice assistants.
It is the best robo-vacuum we have tested at picking up dirt and pet hair on tiles, hardwood floors, and carpeting with low pile. It can also map and create virtual no-go zones in rooms or areas.
1. Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum will stay clean of the pet hair, dust and dander that accumulates on your floors on a day-to-day basis. It also can reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, saving you both time and effort. The most effective models have powerful suction that can take on the most difficult messes and leave your home clean.
You can cover more area by using a robot vacuum and mop, which can be useful if you have a large house. Look for models that have water reservoirs either in the chassis or as a separate item that you swap in when vacuuming is complete. You'll have to empty it and fill it up, however it's an additional task that requires some extra effort on your part.
In a perfect universe you would clean your floors before using your robot vacuum to prevent it from hitting anything. But in most homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. Most robots allow you to make use of an app for your smartphone to build virtual barriers that the robot can see. Some include no-go zones, which you can use to flag areas you don't want the robot to enter, such as kids' rooms or a pile of cords for your device in the corner.
If you're looking for a basic robot vacuum without all the bells and whistles, this model made by the networking company TP-Link is a good choice. It's quiet and works well on hard floors and low-pile rugs and can be scheduled via the app to vacuum or mop at your own convenience. It's got a long battery life, and can last for up to 180 minutes before needing to recharge.
2. Simple to operate
Robot vacuums generally need only minimal effort from you. They utilize navigation tools like sensors, lasers and cameras to maneuver around obstacles and suck up dust, food crumbs and pet hair from hard floors, tiles, hardwood and low-pile carpets. A lot of them have boundary strips that aid in staying within the walls of a room while pricier models can be programmed to automatically wake up and start cleaning at a scheduled time. Some models even have fall detection technology that can help them avoid tumbling down stairs or getting caught in electrical cords.
Look for models that you can control from the comfort of your sofa using voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant. Also, look for models that connect to Wi-Fi and let you start a cleaning session from anywhere using an app. You may prefer a model that has a long-lasting battery and a large dustbin, depending on the size of your home.
irobot vacuum can also be mops. They use water reservoirs to wash the floor. This is helpful for regular mopping but won't work for tough messes like pet poop, or other spills that are wet. You can choose hybrids that have a removable microfiber mopping pad or a self-emptying model that lets you go for up to 60 days without emptying the base.
3. Smart Mapping
Some robots employ advanced mapping technology to create a detailed map while they clean. This helps them avoid hitting furniture and tripping on cords or chair legs. This feature is only available on higher-end models however, it lets your robot get a complete understanding of your home's layout and know 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. You can block off areas that you don't wish your robot to access in order to concentrate on the rooms that need the most attention.
Many robots also have the ability to automatically navigate to different floors according to the type of floor they're cleaning, whether that's switching between carpet and hard flooring or focusing on particular areas of your home, like baseboards and corners. In our tests, this was a useful feature that helped improve their pick-up scores for both carpeting made of low-pile or hardwood. It is important to secure any furniture or cords that are loose prior to using your robot vacuum, so that it doesn't become caught.
4. Remote Control
The majority of 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 create a map of the space 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 also have built-in obstacle avoidance that prevents them from hitting furniture and causing damage or getting stuck on things like charging cables that are loose, shoe laces and pet hair.
The majority of robots come with a remote control that you can use to move them around your house. However, most can also be controlled via an app on your mobile that comes with additional features. You can usually create multiple cleaning schedules, create an inventory of your favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot to certain areas using directional arrows on the screen.
Some models have no-go zones. These are virtual barriers that can be created in the app to prevent the robot from accessing certain areas (like kid's toys or dishes for dogs and dog beds). Some apps let you draw a map of your house and provide detailed information about the floors. The Roborock S7+ app has several useful features to help you clean the house. However the interface isn't as sleek as iRobot or Shark.
5. Long Battery Life
Robot vacuums that can clean your entire house without stopping for a recharge or to empty their dustbins save time and effort. Some robot vacuums are compatible with smart home devices like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to enable hands-free operation. They can also draw an outline of the space that allows you to program them to specific areas or rooms, and to avoid obstacles.
The majority of robot vacuums come with some degree of object detection however, higher-end models such as the iRobot J7 have advanced features like "home mapping" and advanced obstacle avoidance that can really make your life easier (although our test bot did "eat" socks). socks). If you're trying to improve your home maintenance, think about a robot mop with an water container that you can fill and empty.
While best robot vacuum for pet hair of the models we tested could compete with the power of a stand-up vacuum they all do a great job at cleaning hard floors and low-pile carpets. They are great at sweeping up fine dust and debris, food dust, tracked-in dirt, and pet hair. They are also able to handle metal screws and nuts, as well as stray cat litter. The top robot vacuums can easily maneuver around furniture and are great at cleaning edges and corners as well. For a basic model that functions by itself and is reasonably priced, check out the Eufy 11S.
6. Convenient Self-Charging
With the proper setup and the right setup, a robotic vacuum can assist you in keeping your home looking and feeling fresh every day with minimal effort. You can schedule cleanings using the app, and designate no-go areas so that the robot won't walk on your plants or sit on your favorite chair. A majority of our top picks automatically empty their bins and clean their docking stations for you.
The top robot vacuums are programmable to keep your floors clean for weeks or months at a stretch, saving you the time and effort of manually sweeping or mopping your floors every week or every day. This lets you take more time doing the things you enjoy, and decreases the time it takes to clean your floors manually.
During tests, Q Revo was able grab fine particles like baking soda and oatmeal. It also snatched up larger particles like nails and screws made of steel, as well as fluffy stuff like pet hair. It's not equipped with the sophisticated mapping and object avoidance features of our top picks, however it works well enough for the majority of families.
The j7's best feature is its ability to recognize and avoid obstacles like power cords and socks, shoes and pet waste. This means you don't have to spend time tidying the room prior to running your robot, although messy rooms can mean that your bot may get stuck and not be able to do the job as well.