The Best Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum can do most of the cleaning work for you. It will remove pet hair, lint and dirt from surfaces and furniture before they get stuck. Many also work with smart assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to provide the convenience of hands-free operation.
Many models have the ability to map, allowing them to create an interactive map of your home. This can help them avoid falling off ledges or navigating the cords of devices.
What to Find
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 spot and zone cleaning and object avoidance. They may also have longer battery lives and larger dust collection bins.
Choose robots that vacuum and mop with a a wide brush that can clean up large pieces of debris and one that is slim enough to fit under furniture. Find out if the vacuum can clean different kinds of floors without having to change suction settings or brushes. This could reduce its effectiveness in cleaning and decrease its lifespan.
The best robot vacuums have high-quality filters that trap fine particles to protect the inside of your home and an easy-to-access bin that you can empty it often. Certain robot vacuums come with an extra side brush to remove pet hair or other debris in difficult-to-access places, such as under and behind furniture. They also have a door for the dustbin that is clear that helps you keep an eye on the level of dirt buildup so you can tell when it's time to empty the.
In addition to scheduling your robot vacuum for times when you're likely be at home, you can also use the app to create the boundaries around your furniture and areas that you want it to avoid. Some models also register what kind of floor they're cleaning and automatically adjust their brush and suction settings to suit the floor.
There are also robots that can recharge and resume cleaning exactly where they left off when their batteries are running low. There are some that have an inbuilt camera that lets you track the route of your robot vacuum and see what it has collected.
Some robots can be controlled by voice commands however, not all. Make sure that the model you choose is compatible with the voice assistant of your choice, and test out how well it responds to different commands during the buying process. Some robots even empty their dustbins or clean their docking stations, which will reduce your chore list. This feature is expensive, as are a larger storage container and a faster charging speed.
Cleaning Performance
While robots aren't able to replace a traditional vacuum or broom, they do provide a practical and efficient alternative to the routine of cleaning floors. Whether you need to keep track of dust as well as pet hair and crumbs or pick up larger debris such as wood shavings and screws, most top-rated robotic cleaners are adept at removing a variety of materials on the first pass and doing so without damaging your floor surfaces or furniture.
Most of the time, they'll detect the type of floor they're cleaning and adjust their suction or brush features in accordance with the type of surface so that they can more effectively clean your floors. This is particularly important if you have different flooring types throughout your home. A lot of models have the option of setting up virtual boundaries. This allows you to instruct your robot to stay out of certain areas of your house. This can help to keep your pets and children from getting in areas they shouldn't. It will also ensure that your house is cleaned during each scheduled time.
Think about how much autonomy your robot can enjoy. Some models require your attention and presence while others operate on their own and can change cleaning modes and schedules through a mobile app or voice commands through an integrated smart assistant. Certain models map and learn your space and allow you to define zones and tell the robot to clean specific areas within your home on a daily or weekly basis.
In our tests, the iRobot was the best "set it and forget it" robot. top rated robot vacuum excelled in mapping, forming virtual boundaries and avoiding obstacles better than all the other robots we test. Plus, it can completely empty itself so that you don't need to do that manually and has side brushes that help sweep debris into its path from corners and edges where the vacuum isn't able to reach.
Its slim profile and infrared sensors enable it to reach behind and under furniture for more thorough cleaning than other robots, while its advanced navigation system makes it more capable of cleaning the entire level of your home on a single charge as compared to other devices we've tried. It's a tough one to beat even at a reasonable price.
Battery Life
A robot vacuum can make cleaning your floors feel less of a chore and more like an indulgence. The difference between a clean house and one that is filthy can be achieved by getting rid of tracked-in dirt and crumbs, pet hair, and other debris. While a robot of a basic design can keep up with most cleaning tasks, those seeking an extra hands-off experience should look for one that doubles as a mop.
The Ecovacs Deebot T10 OMNI is one of the top models for both as it delivers excellent performance in both vacuuming and mop modes and is able to easily deal with dirt debris, pet hair and even cat litter. The feature to avoid objects is particularly impressive, allowing it to avoid objects and not get stuck on them.
It has a big dustbin as well as a long-lasting battery, so it can cover a large amount of space in a single session. It is also a smart vacuum, meaning it can create maps of your home and work with apps, such as those provided by Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, to let you control it with voice commands.
The app that comes with the robot allows you to create schedules, assign specific rooms for cleaning or the ability to pause and resume sessions. It will notify you when its battery is depleted and then return to the docking station for recharging.
The robot is also able to distinguish between hard floors and carpets and adjust its settings in accordance with the type of flooring. This prevents the machine from squeezing on a particular type of surface and then accidentally tearing furniture. However, it is not yet able to discern high pile carpeting or seams in rooms, so you will still have to be careful about picking up large objects.
All robot vacuums require some degree of maintenance, like removing hair from brushes and emptying (and occasionally rinsing) the bin of dust after each cleaning session. Also, cleaning sensors or cameras between use to keep them in top shape. The manufacturer will provide specific instructions for these and other steps to maintain, which may vary depending on the model.
Cost
The best robot vacuums aren't inexpensive, but they're much less expensive than professional carpet cleaning machines or even a stand-up one. They also need less maintenance than a traditional vacuum and most require that you empty (and sometimes wash) their bins after each cleaning session, and occasionally cleaning their sensors or cameras.
Many robot vacuums come with intelligent features that make them more effective for your home, such as mapping technology that allows you to guide the vacuum on the layout of your room by using an app, so it is aware not to go over the stairs or underneath the furniture, where there might be a mess. Other robot vacuums can detect the kind of floor they are cleaning, so that they can adjust their suction and brush features to get the most effective results.
Some models have object avoidance, which makes use of sensors (or even a camera) to detect objects like toys and other things on the floor. They then instruct the robot to go around them, rather than running over them. This can be a huge help when you have children or pets that tend to scatter toys all over the home.
Voice control is another useful feature that you could find useful. It allows you to operate your robot with your voice instead of the on-board buttons. This can be beneficial for children who aren't yet old enough to use the controls or if you simply want a hands-free solution.
The frequency at which you use your robot will be contingent on how much dirt or debris is on your floor. Most experts suggest using your robot vacuum at least once per week to keep your floors clean and remove pet hair, lint and surface dirt.
If you have limited floor surfaces and don't plan to use your robot for other tasks, a low-cost model, such as our top pick, the Eufy 11S, is a great option. It's simple to use, affordable, and does the job without causing any noise when you work or watching television.