The Best Robot Vacuums
A good robot vacuum does the majority of the work for you and nabs pet hair, lint and surface dirt before it adheres to furniture or get ground into carpets. Many also work with smart assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to provide a hands-free experience.
Many models come with mapping capabilities, which allow them to create a map of your home. This helps them avoid tumbling off ledges and traversing clusters of device cords.
What to Look for
Some robots have advanced features, allowing users to control them with voice assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant. Smart mapping, zone cleaning, and object avoidance are some of the features. These machines may also have larger dust bins and longer-lasting batteries.
Choose a model with a a wide brush that is able to sweep up large debris and one that's slim enough to be able to fit under furniture. Also check whether the robot vacuum can move over multiple floor types without the need to swap brushes or alter suction settings, which could decrease the effectiveness of cleaning and reduce its lifespan.
The best robot vacuums come with top-quality filters that can trap fine particles and protect your home. They also have a large easy-to-access collection bin so you can empty it frequently. Some have an extra side brush for sweeping up pet hair and debris in difficult-to-access areas behind and under furniture. The dustbins are usually transparent, allowing you to see how much dirt is in the bin and when you should empty it.
You can also make use of the app to set limits around furniture and rooms that you do not want it to enter. Some models also register what type of floor they're cleaning and automatically adjust their brush and suction settings accordingly.
There are robotics that recharge and continue cleaning the area they left after their battery has run out. There are some that have an inbuilt camera that lets you see your robot vacuum's route and see what it has collected.
Some robots also allow you to control them with your voice, but not all of them do it as well as others. Make sure the model you choose is compatible with your voice assistant of choice, and test how well it responds to different commands during the buying process. Some robots can even self-empty their bins of dust and clean their docking stations, reducing the chores you have to do a more. However, this feature comes at an expense, as does an extra bin for collection and a faster charging speed.
Cleaning Performance
While robots aren't able to replace a full-on vacuum or broom, they offer a reliable and effective alternative to the everyday chore of cleaning floors. The most effective robotic cleaners clean up small particles such as dust, pet hair and crumbs, as well as larger items such as metal shavings or wood shavings. They accomplish this without harming furniture or floors.
Most of the time, they'll detect the type of surface they're cleaning and adjust their suction or brush features accordingly so that they can more thoroughly clean your floors. This is particularly important when you have different flooring types throughout your home. Many models also come with an array of options for setting up virtual boundaries that allow you to tell the robot to stay clear from certain areas of your home. This is helpful for preventing your kids or pets from stepping into areas where they shouldn't be, and it can help ensure that your home gets cleaned in each scheduled session.
You should also think about the level of autonomy you're willing to give your robot. Some models require your attention and presence while others function on their own with the capability to alter cleaning schedules and cleaning modes through a mobile app or voice commands via an integrated smart assistant. Some models map and learn your home's layout and let you create zones, and instruct the robot only to clean specific areas of 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 superior in mapping virtual boundaries, making virtual borders and avoiding obstacles than any of the other robots that we test. Additionally, it can empty itself completely so you don't need to do robot vacuum it manually. It also has side brushes that help sweep debris out of corners and edges where the vacuum isn't able to reach.
Its slim design and infrared sensor enable it to clean under and behind furniture and behind furniture, which allows it to do a better job than most robots. Its advanced navigation system allows it to sweep the entire floor of your home using just a single charge of battery. It's difficult to beat even at a reasonable price.
Battery Life
A robot vacuum can make cleaning your floors feel 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 dirt that has been tracked in, and crumbs, pet hair, and other particles. A basic robot is able to handle the majority of cleaning tasks. However, those who prefer a more hands-off experience may want to look for a model which also doubles as an mops.
Ecovacs' Deebot T10 OMNI is a top performer in both vacuuming and mopping modes. It can take care of pet hair, dirt and even cat litter. Its ability to avoid objects is impressive. It lets it keep away from objects and avoid getting caught on them.
It has a big dust bin and a battery that lasts for a long time, so it can cover a lot of space in a single session. It's also a smart vacuum, which means it can track your home and is compatible with apps like those offered by Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to let you control the vacuum with voice commands.
The app that comes along with the robot lets you set up schedules, designate rooms to be cleaned or the ability to pause and resume sessions. It can even warn you the moment that its battery is low and then return to its docking station to recharge.
Another good thing about this robot is the ability to distinguish between carpets and hard floors and adjust its settings accordingly, which keeps the machine from getting caught up in one type of surface or accidently tearing up furniture. It's not able detect seams or carpeting with high pile in rooms, which is why it is crucial to be aware when picking up large objects.
All robot vacuums require a degree of maintenance, for example getting rid of hair from brushes, emptying (and sometimes rinsing) the dust bin after each cleaning session and wiping down cameras or sensors between uses to ensure they are in good shape. The manufacturer will provide specific instructions for these steps as well as others, which can vary according to the model.
Cost
The top robot vacuums are not cheap, but they're far cheaper than a professional carpet cleaner or even an all-in-one stand-up vac. They also need less maintenance than a traditional vacuum as they require that you empty (and sometimes wash) their bins of dust after each cleaning session, and occasionally wiping down their cameras or sensors.
Many robot vacuums come with intelligent features that make them more efficient for your home, such as mapping technology, which allows you to guide the vacuum on the layout of your home via an app so that it doesn't run over the stairs or underneath the furniture where there could be a mess. Other robot vacuums can detect the type of flooring they are cleaning so they can adjust their suction and brush features to achieve the best results.
Certain models have objects avoidance. It makes use of sensors (or a camera) that can detect toys and other objects lying on the floor. The robot is instructed to avoid them instead of running into them. This is a great solution for families with pets or children who are prone to leaving toys around the home.
Another feature that may be important to you is voice control that lets you control your robot with your voice instead of using the on-board buttons. This can be helpful if you have little ones who aren't quite old enough to use the controls or are looking for a hands-free option.
The frequency at which you use your robot will be contingent on the amount of dirt or debris has accumulated on your floor. Most experts recommend using a robotic vacuum at least once a week to keep your floors looking great and nabbing pet hair lint and surface dirt before it is able to get trapped or become difficult to remove.
If you're limited with floor surfaces and don't plan to use your robot for other tasks, a low-cost model like our top choice, the Eufy 11S, is a great option. It's reasonably priced, easy to install and operate, and can complete the task without causing any noise disruption while you watch TV or work.