The Best Robot Vacuums
A good robot vacuum does most 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 such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to give you the convenience of hands-free operation.
Many models come with the ability to map, which allows them to create a map of your home. This helps them avoid tumbling off ledges and navigating around cords that connect devices.
What to Find
Some robots have advanced features, which allow you to control them using voice assistants, such as Alexa or Google Assistant. Smart mapping, zone cleaning and object avoidance are a few of the features. They could also have longer battery life and bigger dust collection bins.
Find a model that has a a wide brush that can clean large particles 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 alter suction settings, which can make it less effective in cleaning and decrease its lifespan.
The most effective robot vacuums feature top-quality filters that catch tiny particles to safeguard the interior of your house and a large, easy-to-access collection bin that you can clear it frequently. Some robot vacuums come with an additional side brush that can sweep up pet hair or other debris in difficult to reach areas like under and behind furniture. The bins are typically transparent, which means you can see how much dirt is in the bin and when to empty it.
In addition to scheduling your robot vacuum for times when you're likely be at home, you can use the app to set an area around your furniture and the rooms that you'd like it avoid. Certain models also recognize the kind of floor and adjust their vacuum and brush settings accordingly.
There are also robots that recharge and resume cleaning right where they left off when their battery is low. Certain robot vacuums have a camera built in that lets you see the route taken by your robot and the information it has collected.
Many robots also allow you to control them with your voice, however not all do so as easily as others. Make sure that the model you select is compatible with the voice assistant of your preference, and then test the way it responds to different commands during the purchasing process. Some robots can even empty their trash bins or clean their docking station, which will reduce your chore list. However, this feature comes at cost, as do an extra bin for collection and a faster charging speed.
Cleaning Performance
Robots aren't the same as for a broom or vacuum. However, they can be incredibly efficient and effective in keeping your floors spotless. The most effective robotic cleaners remove small particles like dust, pet hair and crumbs, as well as larger items like metal shavings and wood shavings. They accomplish this without harming furniture or floors.
They usually detect the type of floor they are cleaning and adjust their suction/brush settings according to the type of floor you have. This allows them to clean it more thoroughly. This is particularly important if your home is made up of different types of flooring. Many models also come with a wide range of options for setting virtual boundaries, allowing you to instruct the robot to stay clear from certain areas of your home. This will 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 will enjoy. Certain models require you to be present and attentive, whereas others can work independently. They can change cleaning schedules and cleaning modes using an app on mobile devices or by voice commands with an integrated smart assistant. Some will map and learn your home and allow you to set up zones and tell the robot to clean specific areas of your home on a daily or weekly basis.
In our tests, the iRobot J7+ proved to be the best robot for "set it and forget it". It was more adept in mapping, creating virtual borders and eliminating obstacles than any of the other robots we tested. top rated robot vacuum can also empty itself so that you don't need to manually do it. The side brushes are used to sweep debris off edges and corners that a vacuum cannot reach.
Its slim design and infrared sensor allow it to clean behind and under furniture, allowing it to perform better than most robots. And its advanced navigation system enables it to clean the entire floor of your house with just one battery charge. It's a tough one to beat even at its price.
Battery Life
A quality robot vacuum will make cleaning your floors feel less like a chore, and more like a luxury. The difference between a clean house and one that is dirty can be achieved by getting rid of dirt that has been tracked into the house, as well as crumbs, pet hair, and other messes. While a basic robot can handle most cleaning tasks, those looking for an extra hands-free experience should choose one that doubles as mop.
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 object avoidance feature is awe-inspiring, allowing it to avoid objects and avoid getting stuck on them.
It has a big dust bin and a battery that lasts for a long time, so it can cover a significant amount of space in a single session. It's also a smart cleaner, which means it can track your home and is compatible with apps like the ones offered by Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to let you control the vacuum using voice commands.
The app that comes with the robot lets you create schedules, define specific rooms for cleaning or the ability to pause and resume sessions. It will alert you when its battery is low and return to the docking station for recharging.
Another great feature of this robot is the ability to distinguish between hard floors and carpets and adjust its settings accordingly, which prevents the machine from getting caught up in one type of surface or damaging furniture. But, it's not yet able to recognize high pile carpeting or the seams of rooms, so you will still have to be careful when picking up large objects.
All robot vacuums require some amount of maintenance, such as brush hair removal and emptying (and sometimes, rinsing) the dust bin after each cleaning session. Also, cleaning sensors or cameras between uses to ensure they are in good shape. The manufacturer will give specific instructions for these steps and other procedures, which will vary depending on the model.
Cost
The best robot vacuums might not be inexpensive, but they're far cheaper than professional carpet cleaning machines or even a stand-up vacuum. They require less maintenance than traditional vacuums, as they require that you empty and rinse their dust bins after each cleaning session.
Many robot vacuums come with smart features that can help them be more effective in your home, like mapping technology which lets you guide the vacuum on the layout of your space through an app so it knows not to run through the stairs or under the furniture, where there could be the possibility of a mess. Other robot vacuums are able to detect the kind of floor they are cleaning so they can adjust their suction and brush capabilities to get the best results.
Some models feature object avoidance. It makes use of sensors (or cameras) which can detect toys and other objects lying on the floor. The robot is then instructed to avoid them instead of running into them. This is a great solution if your children or pets tend to leave toys in the home.
Another smart feature that might be important to you is voice control, which lets you operate your robot using your voice instead of using the on-board buttons. This can be beneficial 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 be contingent on how much dirt or debris has accumulated on your floor. The majority of experts suggest using your robot vacuum at least every week in order to keep your floors spotless and to get rid of pet hair, lint and surface dirt.
If you have limited floor surfaces and don't plan to use your robot for other tasks, a budget model such as our top choice, the Eufy 11S, is a great option. It's easy to use and affordable, and it does the job without causing any noise when you're working or watching TV.