The Best Robot Vacuums
A good robot vacuum does the bulk of the work and removes pet hair, lint, and surface dirt before it can cling to furniture or be sucked into carpets. Many also work with smart assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to offer a hands-free experience.
Many models have mapping capabilities that allow them to create an interactive map of your home. This helps them to avoid falling off ledges or moving through clusters if the cords for your device are.
What to Look for
Some robots come with advanced features that allow you to control them through the app and voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. These include smart mapping as well as spot and zone cleaning and the ability to avoid objects. They could also have longer battery life and larger dust collection bins.
Look for a model with a wide brush that is able to sweep large particles and one that's slim enough to be able to fit under furniture. Also, make sure that the vacuum can move over multiple floor types without having to swap out brushes or change suction settings, which can make it less effective in cleaning and shorten its life.
The most effective robot vacuums feature high-quality filters that sift out small particles to guard the interior of your house and an ample, accessible collection bin that you can empty it frequently. Some robot vacuums have an additional side brush to clean pet hair or debris in hard-to reach places like under and behind furniture. The bins are typically transparent, which means you can observe the amount of dirt in the bin and when you should empty it.
You can also make use of the app to establish limits around furniture and rooms you don't want it to enter. Some models are also able to detect the type of flooring and alter their brush and vacuum settings accordingly.
You can also find robots that will recharge and resume cleaning exactly where they left off if their batteries are running low. There are some that have an inbuilt camera that allows you to track the route of your robot vacuum and see what it has taken in.
Many robots also allow you to control them with your voice, however they may not do so as well 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 the robot responds to commands prior to purchasing. Some robots even empty their dustbins or clean their docking station, which can reduce the chore list. This feature is expensive, as are a larger collection container and faster charging speed.
Cleaning Performance
Robots are not a replacement for a broom or vacuum. However they can be extremely efficient and effective in keeping your floors tidy. Whether you need to keep track of dirt as well as pet hair and crumbs or nab bigger debris like metal screws and wood shavings, most top-rated robotic cleaners are adept at removing a variety of materials on the first attempt and without causing any damage to the flooring or furniture.
They usually detect the type of floor they are cleaning and adjust their suction/brush features in order to clean your floors more thoroughly. This is particularly important if you have a variety of flooring in your home. A lot of models come with an array of options for setting virtual boundaries that allow you to tell the robot to stay away from certain areas of your home. This helps prevent your children or pets from getting in areas they shouldn't. It will also ensure that your house is cleaned during each scheduled session.
You should also consider the amount of autonomy you're willing to give your robot. Some models require your attention and presence while others function independently, with the ability to change cleaning modes and schedules using a mobile application or voice commands through an integrated smart assistant. Some models will map and learn your space and allow you to define zones and instruct the robot to only clean specific areas of your home on a daily or weekly basis.
In our tests the iRobot J7+ was the best "set it and forget it" robot. It was more adept in mapping virtual boundaries, making virtual borders and avoids obstacles than the other robots we test. Additionally, it can empty itself completely so you don't have to do that manually and has side brushes that help sweep debris into its path from corners and edges that a vacuum may not reach.
Its slim profile and infrared sensors permit it to go behind and under furniture for an even more thorough clean than most robots, while its advanced navigation system allows it to be more capable of cleaning the entire level of your home in one charge than other devices we've tested. It's a tough one to beat, especially at a reasonable price.
Battery Life
A robot vacuum can make cleaning your floors feel like less of a chore, and more like a treat. The distinction between a clean home and one that is filthy is made by getting rid of dirt that has been tracked in, as well as crumbs, pet hair, and other messes. While a basic robot can handle most cleaning tasks, those looking for more of a hands-free experience should choose models that double as a mop.
The Ecovacs Deebot T10 OMNI is one the top models for both, as it delivers excellent performance in both its mop and vacuuming modes, and is able to handle dirt debris, pet hair and even cat litter. Its object avoidance function is remarkable. 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 smart vacuum, which means it can make maps of your home and use applications, such as those provided by Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to allow you to control it using voice commands.
The application that comes with the robot lets you create schedules, assign specific rooms for cleaning, or pause/resume sessions. It can even warn you the moment its battery is low and return to its docking station to recharge.
Another nice feature of this robot is that it can distinguish between carpets and hard floors and adjust its settings accordingly. This keeps the machine from becoming stuck on one kind of surface or accidentally tearing up your furniture. But, it's not yet able to detect high pile carpeting or the seams of rooms, so you will have to be cautious about picking up large items.
All robot vacuums require some degree of maintenance, such as brush hair removal and emptying (and sometimes rinsing) the dust bin after each cleaning session and wiping down sensors or cameras between uses to ensure they are in good condition. The manufacturer will give specific instructions for these actions and other procedures, which will vary depending on the model.
Cost
The best robot vacuums aren't expensive, 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 they require that you empty and sometimes clean their dust bins after every cleaning session.
Many robot vacuums have clever features that make them more efficient within your home. For example, mapping technology allows you to instruct the vacuum on where to go via an app, which means it doesn't go through stairs, or under furniture, where there may be an unclean mess. Others can identify what flooring type they are working on, and they can alter their suction or brush features to get the most effective results.
Some models feature object avoidance. This uses sensors (or cameras) which can detect toys and other objects lying on the floor. The robot is instructed to avoid them, rather than crashing into them. This is a great option when your pets or children are known to leave toys in the house.
Voice control is another useful feature that you could find useful. It lets you operate your robot with your voice, instead of here the buttons on the board. This is a great option for children who aren't quite old enough to use the controls or simply want a hands-free solution.
How often you need to use your robot will depend on the amount of dirt and dust is normally found on your floors. The majority of experts suggest using a robot vacuuming at least once per week to keep your floors looking good and nabbing pet hair, dust and dirt from the surface before it gets crushed or become difficult to get rid of.
If you're limited with flooring and don't intend to make use of your robot for other tasks, a low-cost model such as our top choice, the Eufy 11S, is a suitable option. It's user-friendly and affordable, and it does the job without creating any noise while you work or watch television.