A good robot vacuum will do most of the work and removes pet hair, lint and surface dirt before it can stick to furniture or get ground into carpets. Many robot vacuums integrate with smart assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a hands-free cleaning experience.
Many models include the ability to map, which allows them to create maps of your home. This allows them to avoid falling off ledges or navigating the cords of devices.
What to Find
Certain robots have advanced features that let you control them via apps and voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. These include smart mapping as well as spot and zone cleaning and the ability to avoid objects. They might also have longer battery life and larger dust collection bins.
Choose a model that has a wide brush to remove large particles, and that is slim enough to be able to fit under furniture. Also, check if the vacuum is able to move across different flooring types without the need to swap brushes or change suction settings, which can make it less effective in cleaning and shorten its life.
The best robot vacuums come with top-quality filters that can trap fine particles and protect your home from damage. They also come with an ample accessible collection bin so you can empty it often. Some models come with an additional side brush for sweeping up pet hair and other debris in difficult-to-access areas under and behind furniture. They also typically have a door for the dustbin that is clear which allows you to keep an eye on the level of dirt accumulation so you know when it's time to empty the.
In addition to scheduling your robot vacuum to operate at times when you're likely be at home, you can use the app to draw a boundary around your furniture and areas you'd like it to avoid. Some models also recognize the type of floor they're cleaning, and automatically adjust their suction and brush settings to suit the floor.
There are Continuing that recharge and continue cleaning the area they left when their battery runs out. Some robot vacuums have cameras which allows you to view the route that your robot has taken and the information it has collected.
Certain robots can be operated by voice commands but not all. Make sure that the model you choose is compatible with the voice assistant of your preference, and then test the way it responds to various commands during the purchase process. Some robots will even empty their dustbins or clean their docking station, which will reduce your chore list. This feature is costly and comes with a bigger collection container and more rapid charging speeds.
Cleaning Performance
While robots cannot replace a full-on vacuum or broom, they can provide a practical and efficient alternative to the everyday chore of cleaning floors. If you're looking to keep track of dirt, crumbs and pet hair or pick up larger debris such as wood shavings and screws Most top-rated robotic cleaners are capable of picking up various materials in the first attempt and doing so without damaging the flooring or furniture.
They will often register the type of surface that they are cleaning and adjust their suction/brush settings in order to clean your floors more thoroughly. This is particularly important if you have a variety of flooring in your home. Many models offer the option of setting virtual boundaries. This lets you instruct your robot to stay out of certain areas in your home. This will to keep your pets and children from getting in areas they shouldn't. It also ensures that your entire house is cleaned during every scheduled session.
Think about how much autonomy your robot will have. Certain models require your attention and presence while others work independently with the capability to change the cleaning mode and schedule via a mobile app or voice commands using an integrated smart assistant. Some will map and learn your home, allowing you to set up zones and instruct the robot to only clean specific areas of your home on a daily or weekly basis.
In our tests, the iRobot+ proved to be the top robot to "set it and leave it". It excelled in mapping, creating virtual boundaries and avoiding obstacles better than all the other robots we tried. It also has the ability to empty itself, so you don't need to do it manually. Additionally, the side brushes can help clean debris from corners and edges that a vacuum might not reach.
Its slim design and infrared sensor allows it to clean behind and under furniture, allowing it to perform better than other robots. And its advanced navigation system lets it to clean the entire floor of your house using just a single charge of battery. It's hard to beat, especially at its affordable price.
Battery Life
A robot vacuum can make cleaning your floors feel like less of a chore and more of an enjoyable experience. The distinction between a clean home and one that is filthy is made by getting rid of tracked-in dirt and crumbs, pet hair, and other particles. A basic robot can handle most cleaning tasks. However, those who prefer a less hands-on experience may want to look for a model which also can be used as an mop.
The Ecovacs Deebot T10 OMNI is one of the best models for both, as it delivers excellent performance in both vacuuming and mop modes and can easily handle dirt debris, pet hair and even cat litter. Its object avoidance function is impressive. It allows it to steer away from objects and not get tangled on them.
It also comes with a long battery life and a large dust bin which allows it to cover a considerable amount of space in one session. It's also smart vacuum, which means that it can create maps of your home and use apps, like those offered by Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to allow you to control it with voice commands.
The application that comes with the robot allows you to set up schedules, designate rooms to be cleaned or suspend or resume sessions. It will alert you when its battery is depleted and will return to the docking station for recharging.
Another nice feature of this robot is the ability to distinguish between hard floors and carpets and adjust its settings accordingly, which helps keep the machine from being caught up in one type of surface or accidently tearing up furniture. However, it is not yet able to recognize high pile carpeting or the seams of rooms, so you'll have to be cautious about picking up large items.
To ensure that robot vacuums are in top condition, they require maintenance. This includes cleaning the brushes of hair and emptying the trash bin (and sometimes washing it) after each cleaning session. Sensors and cameras should also be cleaned between each use. The manufacturer will provide specific instructions for these actions and others, which can vary depending on the model.
Cost
The top robot vacuums aren't expensive, but they're cheaper than a professional carpet cleaner or a full-size stand-up vac. They also require less maintenance than a traditional vacuum and most require that you empty (and sometimes wash) their dust bin after each cleaning session and occasionally wiping down their cameras or sensors.
Many robot vacuums are equipped with clever features that make them more effective for your home, like mapping technology that allows you to instruct the vacuum on the layout of your room through an app so it is aware not to go over the stairs or underneath the furniture, where there might be the possibility of a mess. Others can identify what floor type they are working on, allowing them to adjust their suction or brush functions to achieve the most effective results.
Some models feature object avoidance. The system uses sensors (or cameras) that can detect toys and other objects lying on the floor. The robot is directed to stay clear of them, instead of running into them. This is a great benefit if you have kids or pets that tend to scatter toys around the house.
Voice control is another smart feature you may consider useful. It lets you operate your robot using your voice, instead of the on-board buttons. This is useful for children who aren't old enough yet to operate the robot or when it's practical for you.
The frequency at which you use your robot will be contingent on how much dirt or debris is accumulating on your floor. Most experts recommend using your robot vacuum at least once a week in order to keep your floors spotless and to get rid of pet hair, lint and dirt on the surface.
If you're limited with floor surfaces and don't plan to use your robot for other purposes, a budget model, such as our top choice, the Eufy 11S, is a suitable option. It's inexpensive, simple to set up and use, and gets the job done with minimal noise disturbance while you watch TV or work.
