How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum
If you don't need the most advanced features such as mapping and don't mind emptying your dustbin every 60 to 90 days, a basic robotic vacuum is probably suitable for you. Find a model that has a clean base and works with voice assistants.
It is the best vacuum we have tested for getting rid of dirt and pet hair from tile floors, hardwood floors and carpets with low pile. It can also map and create virtual no-go zones in rooms or areas.
- Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum can keep on top of the pet hair, dust and dander that collects on your floors on a day-to-day basis. It also can reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, which will save you both time and effort. The best robot vacuum and mop for small apartment models come with powerful suction, which can clean up most mess with ease and leave your home cleaner.
You can take care of more space by using a robot vacuum as well as a mop, which is especially beneficial if you live in an extensive home. You can find a model that has a water tank in the chassis itself or as an extra piece that you can take out after vacuuming. It will have to be filled and empty and refilled, which is an additional task.
In ideal world, you'd clean your floors prior to using your robot vac to keep it from crashing into objects. However, in the majority of homes, this isn't possible or desirable. The majority of models let you make use of an app on your smartphone to create virtual barriers that the robot will detect. Some models include no-go areas, which you can flag areas you don't wish it to access. For instance an area for children's play or a pile of cords in the corner.
If you're looking to buy a basic robot vacuum that doesn't have all the bells and whistles, this model made by the company that makes networking TP-Link is a great choice. It's quiet and is able to work on hard floors as well as low-pile carpets and can be programmed using the app to vacuum and mop at your convenience. It's got a long battery life, and can last up to 180 minutes before it needs to recharge.
- Easy to Operate
Robot vacuums typically require very little effort from you. They make use of navigation tools such as sensors lasers, cameras and sensors to move around obstacles and suck up dust, food crumbs and pet hair from hard flooring, tile, hardwood and low-pile carpets. Many have boundary strips that allow them to stay within the walls of a room, while higher-end models can be programmed to automatically wake up and begin cleaning at a predetermined time. Some models include fall detection technology to help users avoid falling down the stairs or getting caught in cords.
If you want to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of a couch, search for models that can work with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. Also, look for models with Wi-Fi connectivity that let you start a cleaning session from anywhere via an app. Depending on how big your house is, you may prefer one with a long-lasting battery and a roomy dustbin that doesn't have to be regularly emptied.
Some robot vacuums double as mops, using reservoirs of water to clean your floors. This is helpful for normal mopping, but it won't work for tough messes such as pet poop or other spills that get wet. You can select hybrids that have an able mopping pad made of microfiber or a self-emptying model that lets you go for up to 60 days without emptying the base.
- Smart Mapping
Some robots utilize advanced mapping technology to create a precise map of your floorplan as they clean, making it easier for them to avoid bumping mindlessly into furniture or falling over things such as cords or chairs. This feature is usually only available on higher-end models, but it's one of the most effective ways to ensure your robot has a complete understanding of the layout of your home and is aware of where to go when it runs out of battery.
If you don't want your robot to venture into areas of your home that you'd prefer to keep it away from (like your kids' toys or the mess of device cords in the corner), most robots offer some way to create virtual barriers, either via their app or a set of physical boundary strips. You can block off areas you don't want your robot to access, so that it can concentrate on the areas that require the most attention.
A lot of robots can also automatically change floors depending on the flooring they are cleaning. This can be achieved by switching from carpet to hard flooring, or by focusing on certain areas of your home, such as corners and baseboards. In our tests this was a helpful feature that improved their scores on picking up carpeting made of low-pile or hardwood. It is important to secure any loose cords or furniture prior to using your robot vacuum, so that it doesn't become caught.
- Remote Control
Most robot vacuums come with WiFi capabilities and can be controlled with voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many connect to smart home systems and create an outline of your space after each cleaning session so they can "learn" your layout and design more efficient routes for future runs. Some have built-in obstacle avoidance that prevents them from crashing into and damaging furniture or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables shoes, laces for shoes and pet hair.
The majority of robots come with a remote control that you can use to move them around your house. The majority of robots can be operated by mobile applications, which offers more features. It is possible to set multiple cleaning schedules, build an inventory of your favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot to specific areas using directions on the screen.
Certain models have no-go zones that are virtual barriers that you can create in the app to stop the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for kids or dog beds and bowls). Some apps allow you to draw an image of your home and provide more detailed information about the floors. The app that we recommend as our top choice, the Roborock S7+, has numerous options to help you tidy your house, but its interface isn't as polished as the ones from iRobot and Shark.
- Long Battery Life
Robot vacuums that can clean your entire house without stopping for a recharge or to empty their dustbins save time and effort. Some are compatible with smart home devices like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also build an image of your home that allows you to program them to clean certain areas or rooms, and to beware of obstacles.
The majority of robot vacuums can detect objects, however the iRobot j7 offers advanced features, such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These can make your life much easier (although one of our test robots did "eat" a couple of socks). If you're looking to take your home maintenance even further consider a robot mop that comes with a water tank that you fill and empty yourself.
While none of the models we tested can compete with the power of a stand-up model, most do an admirable job at cleaning carpets with low pile and hard floors. They are great in sweeping up dust and food crumbs, tracked-in dirt and pet hair. They can even tackle some stray cat litter and metal screws and nuts. The top robot vacuums are able to clean edges and corners and work on furniture. For an affordable model that can work by itself and is relatively inexpensive take a look at the Eufy 11S.
- Convenient Self-Charging
With the right setup and the right setup, a robotic vacuum can aid in keeping your home looking and feeling cleaner regularly, with minimal effort. You can schedule cleanings through the app, and you can designate no-go areas so that the robot won't walk on your plants or sit on your favorite chair. The majority of our top picks will empty their trash bins for you and clean their docking stations.
The best robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors on a regular basis for months or even weeks at a time, removing you from the tedious chore of manually mopping and sweeping your floors on a daily or weekly basis. This helps you have more time to do the things you like and decreases the amount of time your floors need to be cleaned manually.
During testing, the Q Revo was able to pick up small particles such as oatmeal and baking soda as well as heavier debris such nails and screws made of steel as well as fluffy things such as pet hair. It isn't equipped with the smart mapping and objects-avoiding features of our top picks, but it is still a good choice for families with children.
The best thing about the j7 is its ability to recognize and avoid obstacles such as power cords as well as socks and shoes as well as pet waste. This means that you don't need to spend time tidying up before running your robot, however messy rooms can mean that the robot may become stuck and not perform the job as well.