How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you can live without advanced features such as mapping, and don't mind emptying the dustbin every 60 days or so, a basic robot vacuum is likely to work for you. Find one that has a clean base and can work with voice assistants.

It is the most effective robo-vacuum we have tested in getting rid of dirt and pet hair on tiles, hardwood floors, and carpets with low pile. It also maps and set virtual no-go zones for rooms and areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum can keep on top of the pet hair, dust and dander that accumulates on your floors on a daily basis. It can also decrease the frequency of deep cleaning, saving your time and effort. The best models come with powerful suction, which will clean up most mess with ease and leave your house cleaner.

Selecting a vacuum that can also mop can help you get more space with one machine, which could be especially helpful in a larger home. Choose one that has water reservoirs either in the chassis or as a separate item that you can swap out when the vacuuming is done. It will need to be empty and fill it up, however, so this is an additional task that will require a little extra work on your part.

In a perfect world, you'd clear your floors prior to using your robot vacuum to prevent it from crashing into objects. In the majority of homes, however it's not feasible or desirable. Most models allow you to make use of an app for your smartphone to build virtual barriers that the robot will detect. Some include no-go zones, which you can use to flag areas you don't want it to enter, such as kids rooms or a stack of cords for your device in the corner.

This model is a good option for those looking for an easy robot cleaner that doesn't have all the bells and whistles. It's quiet, and it works on hard floors as well as low-pile carpets and can be scheduled through the app to vacuum or mop at your convenience. It comes with a battery life of up to 180 minutes.

2. Easy to operate

Robot vacuums generally need very little effort from you. They utilize navigation tools like sensors and lasers to move through obstacles and collect dust, food crumbs and pet hair from hard floors, tiles, hardwood and low-pile carpets. A lot of them have boundary strips that aid in staying within the walls of a room while pricier models can be set to automatically wake up and begin cleaning at a set time. Some models include fall detection technology that helps them avoid falling down a flight of stairs or becoming tangled in cords.

If you want to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of your couch, search for models that can work with voice assistants like Alexa and What Is The Best Self Emptying Robot Vacuum Google Assistant. You can also choose Wi-Fi models that allow you to start cleaning anywhere you want using an app. Depending on how large your home What Is The Best Self Emptying Robot Vacuum, you may want an item with a long-lasting battery and a spacious dust bin that doesn't need to be emptying frequently.

Some robot vacuums are also mops. They use water reservoirs to clean the floor. This is helpful for everyday mopping, but will not work for extra-tough messes, such as pet poop or other spills that are wet. There are hybrids that have a removable microfiber pad for mopping, or you can choose an auto-emptying model that lets you use the device for 30 to 60 days without having to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots employ advanced mapping technology to create a detailed map as they clean. This helps them avoid crashing into furniture and getting caught on cords or chairs. This feature is usually only available on more expensive models, but it's one of the most effective ways to ensure that your robot has an accurate understanding of the layout of your house and is aware of where to go when it's running out of battery.

The majority of robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done via an application or even physical boundary strips. You can block off areas you don't wish your robot to enter to allow it to concentrate on the areas that require the most attention.

Many robots also automatically change floors depending on the kind of flooring they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by switching from carpet to hard flooring, or by paying attention to particular areas of your home, such as corners and baseboards. In our tests it was a great feature that improved their pick-up scores for both hardwood and low-pile carpeting. It's nevertheless important to put away loose cords and furniture before using your robot vacuum to ensure that it doesn't get stuck or run into something it shouldn't.

4. Remote Control

The majority of robot vacuums have WiFi connectivity and can be controlled by Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts that enable you to control them using voice commands or via your smartphone. Many connect to smart home systems and create a map of your space after each cleaning session so they can "learn" your layout and plan more efficient routes for future trips. Some also have built-in obstacle avoidance, which stops them from crashing into furniture and damaging it or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables or shoe laces, as well as hair from pets.

Most robots come with a remote that you can use to control them around your home. However, many can be controlled via an app for mobile devices that offers more features. You can set up a variety of cleaning schedules, and create an agenda of your most-loved rooms. You can also manually direct the robot by using directional the arrows.

Certain models have no-go zones that are virtual barriers that you can create within the app to prevent the robot from entering certain areas (like kids' toys or dog beds and bowls). Other apps let you create the map of your house and provide the robot with detailed information about your floors. The app we ranked as our top pick, the Roborock S7+, has numerous options to help you clean your home, but its interface isn't as polished as those from iRobot and Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacs that can work all over your home without stopping to recharge or empty their bins of dust save you time and effort. Some 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 for you to program them for certain areas or rooms and to stay clear of obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums can detect objects, however the iRobot J7 has advanced features like "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These can make your life easier (although one of our test robots did "eat" two socks). If you're trying to improve the quality of your home maintenance, consider a robot mop with a water container that can be filled and then empty.

While no of the models we tested could match the ability to pick up dirt of a standup vacuum, they did a great job cleaning hard floors as well as low pile carpets. They excel at sweeping up fine dirt, food crumbs, and tracked-in dirt. They are also able to handle metal screws and nuts, as well as cats' litter. The most effective robot vacuums are able to easily work their way around furniture and are great at cleaning edges and corners as well. For a basic model that functions by itself and is relatively inexpensive, check out the Eufy 11S.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

With the proper setup, a robot vacuum can help you keep your home looking and feeling fresh on a regular basis without much work from you. You can schedule cleanings using the app, and you can designate no-go areas so that your robot doesn't step on your plants or favorite chair. The majority of our top picks also automatically empty their bins and clean their docking stations for you.

The top robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors on a regular basis for weeks or even months at a stretch, freeing you from the tedious chore of manually sweeping and mopping your floors on a weekly or daily basis. This helps you spend more time doing things you enjoy and decreases the amount of time that your floors require to be cleaned manually.

During testing, the Q Revo was able to grab fine particles like baking soda and oatmeal as well as heavier debris such metal screws and nails as well as fluffy things such as hair from pets. It does not have the advanced mapping and object-avoiding features found in our top picks, but is still a great option for most families.

The j7's best amazon vacuum feature is its ability to spot and avoid obstacles such as power cords, shoes and socks and pet waste. This means that you don't have to tidy up before using your robot. However, what is the best self emptying robot vacuum cluttered rooms can cause your robot to get stuck and do a poor job.