A quality robot vacuum does the majority of the work for you and removes pet hair, lint, and surface dirt before it adheres to furniture or sink into carpets. Many robot vacuums work with smart assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a hands-free cleaning experience.
Many models have mapping capabilities that allow them to create an interactive map of your home. This can help them avoid falling off ledges or moving around clusters of devices if cords are.
What to Look for
Some robots have advanced features, which allow you to control them using voice assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant. These include smart mapping as well as spot and zone cleaning, and object avoidance. These machines might also come with larger dust bins and longer-lasting batteries.
Choose a model that has broad brushes that can clean up large debris and is small enough to fit underneath furniture. Also, make sure that the vacuum can move over multiple floor types without having to swap out brushes or alter suction settings, which could decrease the effectiveness of cleaning and reduce its lifespan.
The top robot vacuums are equipped with high-quality filters to catch fine particles and safeguard your home from damage. They also have an enormous easy-to-access bin for collecting so that you can empty it often. Certain robot vacuums come with an additional side brush to remove pet hair and debris from difficult to reach areas like under and behind furniture. They also usually have a clear dustbin door which allows you to keep an eye on the level of dirt accumulation to can tell when it's time to empty.
In addition to scheduling your robot vacuum to operate at times when you're most likely to be at home, you can use the app to draw the boundaries around your furniture and areas you'd like it to avoid. Certain models also recognize the kind of floor and adjust their vacuum and brush settings accordingly.
You can also find robots that recharge and resume cleaning right where they left off when their battery is low. And some have a built-in camera that lets you track the route of your robot vacuum and view what it's collecting.
Some robots also allow you to control them using your voice, but not all do so as easily as others. Make sure that the model you select is compatible with the voice assistant of your choice and then test it to see how well the robot responds to commands before you purchase. Some robots will even empty their trash bins and clean their docking stations, reducing the chores you have to do a more. This feature is expensive, as are a larger collection container and faster charging speed.
Cleaning Performance
While robots can't substitute for a full-on vacuum cleaner or broom, they do offer a reliable and effective alternative to the routine of keeping floors clean. If you're looking to keep track of dust, crumbs and pet hair or nab bigger debris like metal screws and wood shavings The top robotic cleaners are adept at removing a variety of materials on the first go-around and without causing damage to your floor surfaces or furniture.
They often detect the type of surface they are cleaning and adjust their suction/brush settings accordingly to clean your floors more thoroughly. This is particularly important when you have different flooring types throughout your home. A lot of models have the option of setting virtual boundaries. This allows you to instruct your robot to stay clear of certain areas in your home. This helps prevent your children or pets from getting in areas they shouldn't. It helps ensure that your house is cleaned at the end of every scheduled session.
It is also important to consider the level of autonomy you're willing to give your robot. Some models require your attention and presence while others work on their own with the capability to change cleaning modes and schedules using a mobile application or voice commands using an integrated smart assistant. Certain models map and understand your home's layout and let you create zones, and instruct the robot to clean certain areas in your home on a daily or weekly basis.
In our testing the iRobot J7+ was the top "set it and forget it" robot. It was a master in mapping, forming virtual boundaries and eliminating obstacles better than the other robots we tried. It also has the ability to empty itself, so you aren't required to manually do it. Additionally, the side brushes help sweep debris from edges and corners that a vacuum might not reach.
Its slim profile and infrared sensors also permit it to go behind and under furniture to provide more thorough cleaning than other robots. Its advanced navigation system is more capable of cleaning the entire floor of your home in a single charge than other models we've tested. It's difficult to beat even at its affordable price.
Battery Life
A good robot vacuum can make cleaning your floors feel less like a chore and more like a treat. The difference between a clean house and one that is dirty is made by getting rid of dirt that has been tracked into the house, as well as crumbs pet hair, and other particles. A basic robot can handle most cleaning tasks. However those who prefer a less hands-on experience might want to look for a model that can be used as an mop.
Ecovacs Deebot T10 OMNI is a top performer in both vacuuming and mopping modes. It is able to handle pet hair, dirt 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.
Full Piece of writing has a big dustbin and a long-lasting battery, so it can cover a large amount of space in just one go. It's also a smart cleaner which means it can track your home and is compatible with apps like 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 create schedules, define specific rooms for cleaning, or the ability to pause and resume sessions. It will alert you when its battery is low and return to the docking station to recharge.
Another nice feature of this robot is that it can differentiate between carpets and hard floors and adjust its settings accordingly, which prevents the machine from getting stuck on one kind of surface or accidentally tearing up your furniture. It is not able to detect seams or carpeting with high pile in rooms, so it is crucial to be aware when grabbing large objects.
All robot vacuums require a amount of maintenance, such as getting rid of hair from brushes, emptying (and occasionally rinsing) the bin of dust after each cleaning session and cleaning sensors or cameras between use to keep them in good condition. The manufacturer will give specific instructions for these and other steps to maintain that may differ based on the specific model.
Cost
The top robot vacuums might not be inexpensive, but they're far cheaper than a professional carpet cleaner or even a stand-up vacuum. They require less maintenance than traditional vacuums, since they require that you empty and rinse their dust bins following every cleaning session.
Many robot vacuums are equipped with smart features that can make them more effective for your home, like mapping technology which lets you instruct the vacuum on the layout of your room by using an app, so it is aware not to go through the stairs or under the furniture, where there could be an issue. Others can tell what floor type they are working on, so they can alter their suction or brush functions to achieve the best results.
Certain models come with object avoidance, which uses sensors (or even a camera) to detect objects like toys and other things on the floor. They then instruct the robot to move around them, rather than running over them. This is a great benefit if you have kids or pets who tend to scatter toys all over the house.
Voice control is a different feature you might consider useful. It allows you to operate your robot using your voice, instead of the buttons on the board. This is a great option for children who aren't quite old enough to operate the controls or if you are looking for a hands-free option.
How often you should use your robot will depend on how much dirt or debris is on your floor. The majority of experts suggest using your robot vacuum at least once a week in order to keep your floors clean and to get rid of pet hair, lint, and dirt from the surface.
If you're limited with floor surfaces and don't plan to use your robot for other tasks, a low-cost model, such as our top pick, the Eufy 11S, is a suitable option. It's affordable, easy to install and operate, and gets the job done with minimal noise disturbance while you work or watch TV.
