The Best Robot Vacuums
A good robot vacuum will do most of the work for you and removes pet hair, lint and surface dirt before it can cling to furniture or sink into carpets. Many robot vacuums are compatible with smart assistants such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a hands-free clean experience.
A lot of models come with mapping capabilities that allow them to create an interactive map of your home. This can help them avoid falling off ledges and navigating around the cords of devices.
What to Find
Certain robots have advanced features that allow you to control them using apps and voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. These include smart mapping cleaning zones and spots, and the ability to avoid objects. These machines may also have larger dust bins as well as longer-lasting batteries.
Look for a model with a wide brush that can clean up large pieces of debris and one that is slim enough to be able to fit under furniture. Also, make sure that the vacuum can move over multiple kinds of floors without the need to swap brushes or change suction settings, which can make it less effective in cleaning and reduce its lifespan.
The top robot vacuums are equipped with high-quality filters to 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 robot vacuums have an extra side brush to remove pet hair or other debris in hard-to reach places, such as under and behind furniture. They also usually have a clear dustbin door which allows you to keep an eye on the level of dirt buildup so you know when it's time for you to empty.
In addition to scheduling your robot vacuum to operate at times when you're most likely to be at home, you can also use the app to draw the boundaries around your furniture and areas you'd like it to avoid. Some models are also able to detect the kind of flooring and adjust their brush and vacuum settings to match.
There are robotics that recharge and continue cleaning the area they left when their battery is exhausted. Some also have a built-in camera that lets you observe the path of your robot vacuum and even see what it's collected.
A lot of robots allow you to control them with your voice, however they may not do so as effortlessly as other models. Make sure the model you pick is compatible with the voice assistant of your choice and test it out to see how well the robot responds to commands before you purchase. Some robots even empty their trash bins or clean their docking stations, which will help you reduce your chore list. This feature is costly and comes with a bigger container for collecting waste and a more rapid charging speeds.
Cleaning Performance
Robots aren't the same as for a vacuum or broom. However they can be incredibly efficient and efficient in keeping your floors spotless. It doesn't matter if you have to keep track of dust as well as pet hair and crumbs or get rid of larger debris like metal screws and wood shavings The top robotic cleaners are adept at picking up various materials in the first attempt and without causing any damage to your furniture or floors.
In most cases, they'll be able to detect the type of surface they're cleaning and adjust their suction or brush functions accordingly so that they can more thoroughly clean your floors. This is particularly important if your home has different kinds of flooring. Many models also come with a wide range of options for setting up virtual boundaries, allowing you to instruct the robot to stay away from certain areas of your home. This is useful in keeping your pets or children from getting into areas they shouldn't be, and also helps ensure that your entire house is cleaned at the end of each scheduled session.
Consider how much autonomy your robot will have. Certain models require you to be present and attentive, whereas others operate independently. They can change cleaning schedules and cleaning modes using an app on mobile devices or by voice commands using an integrated smart assistant. Certain models map and learn your space and allow you to set up zones, and instruct the robot to clean specific areas of your home on a daily or weekly basis.
In our tests, the iRobot+ proved to be the top robot for "set it and forget it". It was the best in mapping, creating virtual boundaries and avoiding obstacles better than all the other robots we tried. It can also empty itself so you aren't required to manually do it. Additionally, the side brushes can help clean debris off edges and corners that a vacuum might not reach.
Its slim profile and infrared sensors allow it to get behind and under furniture to provide more thorough cleaning than other robots. Its advanced navigation system makes it more efficient in cleaning the entire floor of your home on a single charge than other models we've tested. It's hard to beat, even at its price.
Battery Life
A robot vacuum can make cleaning your floors feel less of a chore, and more like an indulgence. Fastly removing dirt, crumbs and shed pet hair can make a huge difference in how clean your home is on a regular basis. While a basic robot can handle most cleaning tasks, those who want a bit more of a hands-free experience should consider models that double as a mop.
Ecovacs Deebot T10 OMNI is a top performer both in vacuuming and mopping modes. It can take care of pet hair, dirt and even cat litter. Its ability to avoid objects is impressive. It allows it to keep away from objects and not get tangled on them.
It also has a long battery lifespan and a large bin for dust, making it able to cover a decent amount of space in a single session. It's also a smart vacuum, which means that it can create maps of your home and use apps, like the ones offered by Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to allow you to use voice commands to control it.
The software that comes with the robot is simple and straightforward to use, allowing you to set schedules, designate rooms to be cleaned, or to pause and resume your sessions. It can even warn you the moment that its battery is low and return to its docking station to recharge.
This robot can also distinguish between carpets and hard floors, and adjust its settings accordingly. This prevents the machine from squeezing on a particular type of surface and then accidentally tearing furniture. However, it isn't yet able to recognize high pile here carpeting or the seams of rooms, so you'll have to be cautious about picking up large objects.
All robot vacuums require a certain degree of maintenance, such as brush hair removal and emptying (and sometimes rinsing) the dust bin after each cleaning session and wiping down cameras or sensors between use to keep them in top shape. The manufacturer will provide specific recommendations for these and other maintenance steps, which may vary depending on the model.
Cost
The best robot vacuums don't come inexpensive, 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 most only require that you empty and rinse their dust bins following every cleaning session.
Many robot vacuums are equipped with smart features that can help them be more effective in your home, for instance mapping technology, which allows you to instruct the vacuum to follow the layout of your room via an app so that it knows not to run into the stairs or under the furniture where there could be an issue. Other robot vacuums can detect the type of floor they are cleaning so they can alter their suction and brush capabilities to achieve the best results.
Some models feature objects avoidance. It makes use of sensors (or cameras) which can detect toys and other items lying on the floor. The robot is then instructed to avoid them instead of running into them. This is a great solution when your pets or children are prone to leaving toys all over the home.
Another smart feature that might be important to you is voice control that lets you control your robot using your voice instead of using the on-board buttons. This can be helpful for children who aren't yet 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 has accumulated on your floor. Most experts suggest using a robot vacuum at least once a week to keep your floors looking their best and nabbing pet hair dirt and lint before it gets ground in or become more difficult to remove.
If you're only working with a limited amount of space on your floor and do not intend to use the robot for any other purpose such as cleaning, then you should consider a budget model like our top choice Eufy 11S is a great choice. It's easy to use and affordable, and it does the job without creating any noise when you work or watching television.