How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you're willing to live without advanced features such as mapping, and you don't mind cleaning the trash bin every 60 days or so, a basic robot vacuum could be a good robot vacuum choice for you. Pick a model that has a clean base that works with voice assistants.

It is the best vacuum we have tested at getting rid of dirt and pet hair from tiles, hardwood floors, and carpets with low pile. It can also map out and set virtual no-go zones for rooms or areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum cleaner can assist you in keeping up with the dust, pet fur and dander that settles on your floor every day. It also can reduce the frequency you have to clean your floors and saves you time and effort. The best model has powerful suction that is able to tackle most messes and leave your home sparkling clean.

Selecting a vacuum that can also mop will help you achieve more coverage by using just one machine. This is especially beneficial in larger homes. You can find a model that has a water tank built into the chassis or as an additional piece that you can remove after vacuuming. It will need to be empty and fill it up, however, so this is an additional task that will require some extra effort on your part.

In a perfect world you would clean your floors first before using your robot vacuum to prevent it from hitting anything. However, in the majority of homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. The majority of models let you make use of an app for your smartphone to build virtual barriers that the robot can detect. Some include no-go zones, which can be used to mark areas you don't want it to be in, like kids' rooms or a pile of device cords in the corner.

This model is a great option if you're looking for an easy robot cleaner that doesn't have all the bells. It's quiet, works well on both hard floors and low-pile carpets and can be scheduled through the app to mop or vacuum at any time. It has a long battery life, which can last up to 180 minutes before needing to recharge.

2. Easy to operate

In general robot vacuums require little input from you. They make use of sensors, lasers, and cameras to maneuver and collect dust, pet hair, and food crumbs from tiles, hard floors and hardwood. Many models come with boundary strips that allow them to remain in a room. The more expensive models can be programmed to get up at a particular time and begin cleaning. Some models have fall detection technology to help them avoid falling down stairs or getting caught in cords.

Look for models that you can control from your couch using voice assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also select Wi-Fi models that permit users to start a cleaning session anywhere using an app. Depending on the size of your home is, you might prefer an item with a long-lasting battery and a roomy dustbin that doesn't need to be emptying frequently.

Some robot vacuums can also be mops. They use water reservoirs to clean the floor. This is useful for everyday mopping, but will not be effective for messes that are more difficult to clean, such as pet poop or other wet spills. There are hybrids that come with a removable microfiber pad for mopping, Bissell Robot vacuum and Mop or you can choose self-emptying models that let you go 30 to 60 days without having to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots use advanced mapping technology to create a precise map while they clean. This makes it easier to avoid bumping into furniture and getting caught on cords or chairs. This feature is usually only available on higher-end models, but it's certainly one of the best ways to ensure your robot has a full understanding of the layout of your home and is aware of where to go when it's low on battery.

The majority of robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done through an app or physically-based boundary strips. This allows you to create zones that you don't want your robot venture into, so it can focus its attention on the rooms and spaces that need the most cleaning.

A lot of robots can also automatically change floors depending on the type of floor they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by switching from carpet to hard flooring, or by focusing on specific areas of your house, such as corners and baseboards. In our tests, this was a useful feature that helped improve their scores on picking up hardwood and low-pile carpeting. However, it's still important to put away furniture and cords that are loose prior to running your robot vacuum so that it doesn't get stuck or come into contact with something it shouldn't.

4. Remote Control

Almost all robot vacuums have WiFi connectivity and can be controlled by Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to enable users to control them with voice commands or via your smartphone. Many connect to smart home systems and create an outline of your space after each cleaning session, so that they can "learn" your layout and devise more efficient routes for future trips. There are also built-in obstacles avoidance, which stops them from hitting and damaging furniture or getting stuck on things like charging cables that are loose or shoe laces, as well as pet hair.

Most robots have the ability to control them with a remote that can be used to guide them around your home. Most robots can be operated by mobile applications, which offers more features. It is possible to set multiple cleaning schedules, create an inventory of your favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot around specific areas using directions on the screen.

Certain models have no-go zones. These are virtual barriers that you can create within the app to block the robot from entering specific areas (like toys for kids or dishes for dogs and dog beds). Other apps allow you to set up an outline of your home and provide the robot with precise information about your floors. The Roborock S7+ app has a number of useful features that will assist you in cleaning your home. However its interface isn't as polished as that from iRobot or Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacuums that can sweep your entire home without stopping to recharge or to empty their bins save time and effort. Certain robot vacuums can work with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also make an outline of the space to allow you to program them to specific areas or rooms and to avoid obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums can detect objects, but the iRobot J7 has advanced features like "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These can make your life much easier (although one of our test bots did "eat" two socks). If you want to take your home maintenance even further consider a robot mop with a water tank that can be filled and then empty.

While no of the models we tested could match the ability to pick up dirt of a stand-up vacuum they did a great job of cleaning hard floors and low pile carpets. They excel at picking up food crumbs and dirt that has been tracked into. They are also able to tackle scattered cat litter, as well as metal screws and nuts. The most effective robot vacuums are able to clean edges and corners and work around furniture. For a basic model that works by itself and is reasonably priced look into the Eufy 11S.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

With the right setup with the right setup, a robot vacuum will aid in keeping your home looking and looking and feeling cleaner on a regular basis without a lot of effort. You can schedule cleanings in the app and create zones that are not allowed to enter so that your robot doesn't harm your plants or your favorite chair. Many of our top picks will empty their dustbins for you and clean their docking stations.

The most effective 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 time-consuming task of manually mopping and sweeping your floors on a daily or weekly basis. This lets you enjoy more time doing things you like and reduces the time it takes to clean your floors manually.

In our tests the Q Revo was able to grab fine particles like baking soda and oatmeal and heavier debris like nails and bissell robot Vacuum and mop screws made of metal, and fluffy stuff such as hair of pets. It's not equipped with the sophisticated mapping and object avoidance features found in our top picks, however it's adequate for the majority of families.

The j7's best robot vacuum with mapping feature is its ability to detect and avoid obstacles like power cords, shoes and socks and pet waste. This means you don't have to clean up before running your Bissell Robot Vacuum And Mop, however clutter in your home can mean your robot could get stuck and not perform the job as well.