The Best Robot Vacuums
A good robot vacuum does the bulk of the work for you and nabs pet hair, lint, and surface dirt before it can stick to furniture or get ground into carpets. They also have smart assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to give you the convenience of hands-free operation.
Many models include mapping capabilities, which allow them to create a map of your home. This can help them avoid falling off ledges and navigating around the cords of devices.
What to look for
Some robots come with advanced features that let you control them via apps and voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. Smart mapping, zone cleaning and object avoidance are a few of the features. They might also have longer battery life and bigger dust collection bins.
Choose a model that has an extensive brush that can remove large particles, and is thin enough to fit under furniture. Make sure the robot vacuum is able to clean different kinds of floors without changing brushes or suction settings. This could reduce its effectiveness in cleaning and decrease its lifespan.
The most effective robot vacuums feature high-quality filters that trap small particles to guard the interior of your home and a large, easy-to-access bin that lets you clear it frequently. Some models come with an additional side brush for sweeping up pet hair and other debris in difficult-to-access places such as under and behind furniture. They also usually have a door for the dustbin that is clear that helps you keep an eye on the amount of dirt accumulation so you can tell when it's time to empty the.
You can also use the app to set limits around furniture and rooms that you don't want it to enter. Some models also register what kind of floor they're cleaning, and automatically adjust their brush and suction settings to suit the floor.
You can also find robots that can recharge and continue cleaning exactly where they left off when their battery is low. Some robot vacuums have a camera built in which allows you to view the route the robot took and the data it has gathered.
Certain robots can be operated by voice commands, but not all. Make sure the model you pick is compatible with the voice assistant you prefer and then test it to see how the robot responds to various commands before buying. Some robots are able to automatically empty their dustbins and clean their docking stations, which can reduce the chores you have to do a bit. This feature is costly, as are a larger storage container and a more rapid charging speeds.
Cleaning Performance
While robots can't substitute for a full-on vacuum cleaner or broom, they can provide a practical and efficient alternative to the everyday chore of keeping floors clean. If you're looking to keep track of dirt as well as pet hair and crumbs or get rid of larger debris like wood shavings and metal screws Most top-rated robotic cleaners are adept at removing various materials in the first attempt and doing so without damaging your floor surfaces or furniture.
They usually detect the type of floor they are cleaning and adjust their suction/brush functions accordingly to clean your floors more thoroughly. This is especially important if you have a variety of flooring in your home. A lot of models have the option of setting virtual boundaries. This allows you to tell your robot to stay clear of certain areas of your home. This can help keep your pets or children from getting into areas they shouldn't. It will also ensure that your house is cleaned at the end of each scheduled session.
You should also consider the level of autonomy you're comfortable with giving your robot. Some models require your attention and presence while others operate independently, with the ability to change the cleaning mode and schedule through a mobile app or voice commands through an integrated smart assistant. Some models can map and understand your space and allow you to create zones and tell the robot to clean specific areas of your home on a weekly or daily basis.
In our tests, the iRobot j7+ proved to be the most effective robot for "set it and leave it". It excelled in mapping, creating virtual boundaries and avoiding obstacles better than all the other robots we tried. It also has the ability to empty itself, so you do not have to do it manually. Additionally, the side brushes can help clean debris off edges and corners that a vacuum cannot reach.
Its slim profile and infrared sensors also allow it to get behind and under furniture for an even more thorough clean than most robots, and its advanced navigation system makes it more capable of cleaning the entire floor of your home in a single charge than other models we've tested. It's a tough one to beat, even at its price.
Battery Life
A good robot vacuum can make cleaning your floors feel less like a chore, and more like a treat. The distinction between a clean home and a dirty one can be achieved by getting rid of dirt that has been tracked in, as well as crumbs pet hair, and other debris. While a robot of a basic design can handle most cleaning tasks, those who want more of a hands-free experience should choose one that doubles as a mop.
The Ecovacs Deebot T10 OMNI is one of the best models for both, since it offers great performance in both vacuuming and mop modes and is able to easily deal with dirt, debris, pet hair and even cat litter. Its object avoidance function is remarkable. It allows it to avoid objects and avoid getting caught on them.
It has a big dustbin as well as a long-lasting battery, so it can cover a significant amount of space in one session. It's also a smart cleaner which means that it can map your home and can be used with apps like those offered by Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to allow you to control the vacuum with voice commands.
The software that comes with the robot is simple and straightforward to use, allowing you to set schedules, define rooms for cleaning, and pause and resume sessions. It can even alert you to the moment that its battery is low and then return to its docking station to recharge.
The robot is also able to distinguish between hard floors and carpets, and adjust its settings according to the type of floor. This helps to prevent the machine from becoming stuck on one type of floor and causing damage to furniture. It is not able to detect high-pile carpeting or seams in rooms, therefore it is crucial to be aware when picking up large objects.
To ensure that robot vacuums are in good working order they require regular maintenance. This includes cleaning the brushes of hair and emptying the trash bin (and sometimes washing it) after each cleaning session. Sensors and cameras should also be cleaned between each use. The manufacturer will give specific instructions for these steps as well as others, which can vary depending on the model.
Cost
The best robot vacuums aren't inexpensive, but they're far cheaper than professional carpet cleaning machines or even a stand-up one. They also need less maintenance than traditional vacuums as they require that you empty (and sometimes rinse) their bins of dust after each cleaning session, and occasionally cleaning their sensors or cameras.
A lot of robot vacuums have intelligent features which make them more efficient in your home. For instance, mapping technology allows you to instruct the vacuum on where to go via an app, ensuring it doesn't get stuck in stairs, or under furniture, where there may be an unclean mess. Other models can determine the flooring type they are working here on, and they can alter their suction or brush functions to get the most effective results.
Certain models have objects avoidance. This uses sensors (or a camera) that detect toys and other objects lying on the floor. The robot is then instructed to stay clear of them instead of running into them. This is a great benefit for families with children or pets that tend to scatter toys around the house.
Another feature that may be important to you is voice control which allows you to operate your robot with your voice instead of using the buttons on board. This is a great option when your children aren't old enough yet to operate the robot, or when it's practical for you.
How often you should use your robot will be contingent on the amount of dirt or debris has accumulated on your floor. Most experts suggest using your robot vacuum at least every week in order to keep your floors clean and to get rid of pet hair, lint and dirt on the surface.
If you're only working with the space for a floor space and don't plan to make use of the robot for other purposes such as cleaning, then an affordable model like our top pick Eufy 11S is a great choice. It's affordable, easy to install and operate, and gets the job done with little noise interference while you watch TV or work.