The Best Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum can do most of the cleaning work for you. It will remove pet hair, lint, and dirt from surfaces and furniture before they can get stuck. Many robot vacuums are compatible with smart assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a hands-free cleaning experience.
A lot of models come with maps that allow them to create an interactive map of your home. This helps them avoid tumbling off ledges and navigating around clusters of device cords.
What to Look For
Certain robots come with advanced features that allow you to control them via voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant. Smart mapping, zone cleaning, and object avoidance are some of the features. These machines might also have larger dust bins as well as longer-lasting batteries.
Find a model that has a broad brushes that can sweep up large pieces of debris and one that's slim enough to be able to fit under furniture. Also check whether the robot vacuum is able to move across different kinds of floors without having to change brushes or alter suction settings, which can make it less effective in cleaning and decrease its lifespan.
The top robotic vacuums come with top-quality filters that catch fine particles and safeguard your home from damage. They also come with an ample, easily accessible collection bin that allows you to empty it frequently. Certain robot vacuums come with an extra side brush to remove pet hair or debris in difficult-to-access places like under and behind furniture. The dustbins are usually transparent, which means you can see the amount of dirt in the bin and when you should empty it.
In addition to scheduling your robot vacuum for times when you're likely be at home, you can use the app to draw an area around your furniture and rooms you'd like it to avoid. Certain models can also detect the kind of floor they're cleaning, and automatically adjust their brush and suction settings to suit the floor.
You can also find robots that recharge and continue cleaning exactly where they left off when their battery runs low. And some have a built-in camera that lets you see your robot vacuum's route and even see what it's collecting.
A lot of robots let you control them with your voice, though not all of them do it as effortlessly as other models. Make sure the model you choose is compatible with the voice assistant you prefer and test it out to see how the robot responds to commands prior to purchasing. Some robots will even empty their trash bins or clean their docking station, which will reduce your chore list. But this feature comes with an expense, as does an extra bin for collection and faster charging speed.
Cleaning Performance
While robots can't replace a traditional vacuum or broom, they can provide a practical and efficient alternative to the routine of keeping floors clean. The best mop vacuum combo robot robotic cleaners can clean up small particles like pet hair, dust and crumbs, or larger items such as metal shavings or wood shavings. They accomplish this without damaging the flooring or furniture.
Most of the time, they'll detect the type of surface they're cleaning and adjust their suction or brush functions accordingly so that they can more effectively clean your floors. This is particularly important if your home is surrounded by different kinds of flooring. Many models offer the option of setting up virtual boundaries. This lets you tell your robot to stay out of certain areas of your home. This can be helpful in keeping your pets or children from stepping into areas where they shouldn't, and it can help ensure that your home gets cleaned in every scheduled session.
Consider the amount of autonomy your robot will enjoy. Certain models require you be present and attentive, whereas others can work independently. They can change cleaning schedules and cleaning modes using a mobile application or voice commands via an integrated smart assistant. Some models map and learn your home's layout and allow you to create zones, and instruct the robot to clean specific areas within your home on a weekly or daily basis.
In our testing, the iRobot j7+ was the most efficient "set it and forget it" robot. It was superior at mapping, creating virtual borders and eliminating obstacles than any of the other robots we tested. Additionally, it can completely empty itself so you don't have to do that manually and has side brushes that can help sweep debris into its path from corners and edges where it is difficult to reach.
Its slim design and infrared sensor enable it to clean under and behind furniture which allows it to perform better than other robots. Furthermore, its advanced navigation system enables it to sweep the entire floor of your home with just one battery charge. It's difficult to beat, especially at its price.
Battery Life
A robot vacuum can make cleaning your floors feel like less of a chore, and more like an indulgence. The difference between a clean home and a dirty one is made by getting rid of dirt that has been tracked in, as well as crumbs, pet hair, and other debris. A basic robot is able to handle the majority of cleaning tasks. However those who prefer a less hands-on experience might want to look for a model that doubles as a mop.
The Ecovacs Deebot T10 OMNI is one of the best models for both as it offers great performance in both vacuuming and mop modes and can easily handle dirt, debris, pet hair and even cat litter. Its ability to avoid objects is amazing. It allows it to keep away from objects and not get caught on them.
It also has a long battery life and a large dust bin which allows it to cover a large amount of space in a single session. It also functions as smart vacuum, which means that it can create maps of your home and use apps, such as the ones offered by Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to allow you to control it using voice commands.
The software that comes with the robot is simple and straightforward to use, allowing you to set schedules, designate rooms for cleaning, and pause and resume sessions. It will alert you when its battery is depleted and then return to the docking station for recharging.
The robot is also able to distinguish between hard floors and carpets and adjust its settings according to the type of floor. This helps to prevent the machine from squeezing on a particular type of surface and accidentally tearing your furniture. However, it isn't yet able to recognize high pile carpeting or the seams between rooms, so you'll have to be cautious when picking up large objects.
All robot vacuums require some level of maintenance, such as getting rid of hair from brushes, emptying (and sometimes rinsing) the trash bin after each cleaning session. Also, wiping down cameras or sensors between uses to keep them in top shape. The manufacturer will provide specific recommendations for these and other steps to maintain, which may vary depending on the model.
Cost
The top robot vacuums aren't expensive, but they're less expensive than a professional carpet cleaner or even an all-in-one stand-up vac. They require less maintenance than traditional vacuums as they only require you to empty and occasionally rinse their dust bins following each cleaning session.
Many robot vacuums come with smart features that make them more efficient in your home. For instance mapping technology lets you tell the vacuum where to go via an app, so it doesn't get stuck in stairs, or under furniture, where there may be a mess. Other models can determine the floor type they are working on, and they can alter their suction or brush functions to achieve the most effective results.
Some models feature objects avoidance, which utilizes sensors (or even a camera) to spot objects and toys on the floor. They then instruct the robot to go around them instead of running into them. This can be a huge help if you have kids or pets who throw toys around the home.
Another feature that might be important to you is voice control, which lets you operate your robot using your voice instead of using the buttons on board. This can be beneficial if you have little ones who aren't yet old enough to operate the controls or are looking for a hands-free option.
How often you have to use your robot depends on how much dirt and debris is usually found on your floors. Most experts suggest using your robot vacuum at least once a week to keep your floors spotless and to get rid of pet hair, lint, and dirt on the surface.
If you're limited with areas of floor space and don't want to utilize your robot for other tasks, a low-cost model such as our top pick the Eufy 11S, is a good choice. It's affordable, easy to install and operate, and can complete the task without causing any noise disruption while you work or watch TV.