If you're willing to live without the benefits of smart features like mapping, and aren't worried about cleaning the trash bin every 60 days or then, a basic robot vacuum could be a good choice for you. Pick a model that has a clean base that works with voice assistants.
It is the best robo-vacuum we have tested for picking up dirt and pet hair on tiles, hardwood floors, and carpeting with low pile. It can also map out and create virtual no-go zones in rooms or specific areas.
1. Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum can keep up with the pet hair, dust and dander that build up on your floors on a daily basis. It can also reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, saving you both time and effort. The best models have powerful suction, which will tackle most messes with ease and leave your home clean.
Selecting a vacuum that also mop will allow you to cover more ground with one machine, which is especially beneficial in larger homes. You can find a model that has a water tank integrated into the chassis or as an extra piece that you can swap out after vacuuming. You'll have to empty it and refill it, though, so this is an additional task that will require some extra effort on your part.
In a perfect world it would be ideal to clean your floors before you use your robot vacuum to stop it from running into anything. However, in the majority of homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. The majority of models let you use an app that you can install on your phone to create virtual barriers that the robot will observe. Some include no-go zones, which can be used to mark areas you don't want it to access, such as children rooms or a pile of cords for your device in the corner.
If you're looking for a simple 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 is able to work on hard floors as well as low-pile carpets and can be programmed via the app to mop and vacuum at your convenience. It has a long battery life of up to 180 minutes.
2. Easy to Operate
In general robot vacuums require little input from you. They make use of navigation tools such as sensors lasers, cameras and sensors to maneuver around obstacles and remove food particles, dust and pet hair from hard floors, tile, hardwood and low-pile carpets. robotvacuummops of them have boundary strips that help them stay within the walls of a room, while pricier models can be programmed to automatically wake up and start cleaning at a predetermined time. Some even have fall-detection technology that prevents tumbling down stairs or getting caught in electrical cords.
If you want to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of your couch, you should look for models that integrate voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also search for models with Wi-Fi connectivity that allow you to begin cleaning sessions from anywhere via an app. You may prefer an option with a long-lasting battery and a large dust bin, depending on the size of your home.
Some robot vacuums are also mopping. They utilize water reservoirs to wash the floor. This is useful for everyday mopping, but will not be effective for messes that are more difficult to clean, such as pet poop or other spills that get wet. You can choose hybrids that have an able mopping pad made of microfiber, or a self-emptying version that allows you to go for up to 60 days before emptying the base.
3. Smart Mapping
Certain robots utilize advanced mapping technology to create a detailed map while they clean. This allows them to avoid crashing into furniture and getting caught on cords or legs of chairs. This feature is only available on higher-end models however, it lets your robot have a thorough understanding of the layout of your home and know where to go when the battery runs out.
The majority of robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done via an application or even physical boundary strips. This lets you create zones that you do not want your robot to venture into, so it can concentrate its attention on the areas that require the most cleaning.
Many robots will also automatically change floors depending on the type of floor they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by changing from carpet to hard flooring or by paying attention to certain areas of your home like corners and baseboards. In our tests it was a great feature that helped improve their pick-up scores for both carpeting made of low-pile or hardwood. It is essential to put away any loose cords or furniture before using your robot vacuum so it doesn't get caught.
4. Remote Control
Most 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 an outline of the area they clean after each session. This allows them to "learn" how your home is laid out and plan more efficient routes for future cleaning sessions. Some have built-in obstacle avoidance, which stops them from crashing into furniture and damaging it or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables, shoe laces and pet hair.
Most robots are equipped with a remote control that you can use to navigate them around your house. However, most can also be controlled via an app for mobile devices, which gives you more options. You can typically set up multiple cleaning schedules, make an inventory of your favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot to specific areas using directions on the screen.
Certain models have no-go zones These are virtual barriers you can set up within the app to prevent the robot from entering certain areas (like kids' toys or dog beds and bowls). Other apps allow you to create a map of your home and give the robot detailed information about your floors. The Roborock S7+ app has many useful features that will aid in cleaning the house. However its interface isn't as polished as iRobot or Shark.
5. Long Battery Life
Robot vacuums that can sweep your entire home without stopping for a recharge or to empty their bins save time and effort. Some robot vacuums are compatible with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to enable hands-free operation. They can also create an image of your home that allows you to program them to clean certain rooms or areas and avoid obstacles.
The majority of robot vacuums come with some degree of detection of objects, but higher-end models such as the iRobot j7 come with advanced features such as "home mapping" and advanced obstacle avoidance, which can simplify your life (although our test bot did once "eat" a pair of socks). If you're looking to take your home maintenance even further consider a robot mop with a tank of water that can be filled and then empty.
While none of the models we tested could beat the dirt-picking power of a stand-up vacuum, they all do a great job of cleaning carpets and hard floors. They are great at sweeping up fine dust and debris, food particles, dirt tracked in and pet hair. They also can handle metal screws and nuts as well as stray cat litter. The most effective robot vacuums can clean edges and corners and can work around furniture. Eufy 11S is a relatively basic and affordable model.
6. Convenient Self-Charging
With the proper setup and the right setup, a robotic vacuum can aid in keeping your home looking and feeling cleaner on a regular basis without a lot of effort. You can schedule your cleanings using the app and create no-go zones to ensure that your robot doesn't harm your plants or ruin your favorite chair. Many of our top picks empty their trash bins for you and clean their docking stations.
The top robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for months or even weeks at a stretch, freeing you from the time-consuming task of manually mopping and sweeping your floors on a daily or weekly basis. This allows you to enjoy more time doing things you like and reduces the time needed to clean your floors manually.
During tests, Q Revo was able grab fine particles such as baking soda and oatmeal. It also grabbed larger particles like nails and screws made of metal, as well as fluffy hair. It lacks the intelligent mapping and object-avoiding features found in our top picks, but it is still a great option for most families.
The best thing about the j7 is that it utilizes camera and processor-powered smarts to detect and avoid obstacles such as shoes, power cords, socks and pet waste. This means you don't have to clean the room prior to running your robot, however cluttered rooms will mean that your bot may get stuck and not do as well.
