How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you can live without the benefits of smart features like mapping, and aren't worried about cleaning the trash bin every 60 days or then, a basic robot vacuum could be a good choice for you. Look for an option that has a clean base and can work with voice assistants.

It is the best robo-vacuum we have tested in cleaning up pet hair from tile floors, hardwood floors and best robot Vacuum 2022 carpeting with low pile. It can also plan out and create virtual no-go zones in rooms or specific areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum will help you keep up with the dust, pet fur and dander that collects on your floors every day. It can also reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, which will save you both time and effort. The Best Robot Vacuum 2022 model has powerful suction that will easily clean up most mess and leave your home clean.

Selecting a vacuum that also mop will allow you to achieve more coverage by using just one machine. This is especially beneficial for homes with a large area. Choose one that has water reservoirs either built into its chassis or as a separate item that you swap in when the vacuuming is done. You'll have to empty it and refill it, though, so this is an additional chore that requires some extra effort on your part.

In a perfect universe, you would clear your floors first before using your robot vacuum, preventing it from crashing into anything. In the majority of homes, however this isn't possible or desirable. The majority of models let you use an app for your smartphone to build virtual barriers that the robot will detect. Certain models have no-go zones, which you can flag areas you don't want the robot to enter. For example, a child's room or a pile of cords in an area.

If you're looking for a basic robot vacuum with no bells and whistles, this model made by the networking company TP-Link is a great option. It is quiet, is able to work on hard floors and carpets with low pile and can be programmed using the app to vacuum and mop at your own convenience. It's got a long battery life of around 180 minutes.

2. Easy to Operate

Robot vacuums generally need only minimal effort from you. They utilize navigation tools like sensors and lasers to navigate around obstacles and remove dust, food crumbs and pet hair from hard flooring, tile carpets, hardwood floors and low-pile carpets. Many models have boundary strips that allow them to stay inside a room. Higher-end models can be programmed to get up at a particular time and start cleaning. Certain models come with fall detection technology that helps them avoid falling down a flight of stairs or getting caught in cords.

Look for models that allow you to control from the comfort of your sofa using voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also search for Wi-Fi-connected models that let you start cleaning from any location using an app. Depending on how large your home is, you may want an item with a long battery life and a spacious dust bin that doesn't require being emptied frequently.

Some robot mop vacuum combo vacuums can also be mopping. They utilize water reservoirs to wash the floor. This is great for Best robot vacuum 2022 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 that can be used for mopping, or choose self-emptying models that let you use the device for 30 to 60 days without having to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots utilize advanced mapping technology to create a detailed map of your floorplan while they clean, making it easier for them to avoid crashing into furniture or falling over things like cords or chair legs. This feature is typically only available on higher-end models, but it's certainly one of the most effective ways to ensure your robot has a complete understanding of the layout of your house and is aware of where to go when it's running out of battery.

If you do not want your robot to go into areas of your home that you'd prefer to keep it away from (like your kids' toys or the tangled mess of device cords in the corner) Most robots provide some method of creating virtual barriers, either with their app or physical boundary strips. You can block off areas that you don't want your robot to access, so that it can concentrate on the areas that require the most attention.

Many robots can also automatically navigate to different flooring types based on the type of floor they're cleaning, whether that's switching between hard flooring and carpet or focusing on specific areas of your home, like corners and baseboards. This feature proved to be useful in our tests and enhanced the performance of the vacuum on both hardwood flooring and carpet flooring with low pile. It is important to secure any loose cords or furniture prior to using your robot vacuum, so that it doesn't become caught.

4. Remote Control

The majority of robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled using voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many connect to smart home systems that create an outline of your space after each cleaning session so that they can "learn" your layout and design more efficient routes for future runs. Some have built-in obstacle avoidance that stops them from hitting furniture and causing damage or getting stuck on things like charging cables that are loose or shoe laces, as well as pet hair.

Most robots are equipped with an remote control that you can use to move them around your home. However, many can be controlled with an app on your mobile that offers more options. It is possible to set up multiple cleaning schedules, build the list of rooms you like and even manually guide your robot around specific areas using directional arrows on the screen.

Certain models have zones that are not allowed. These are virtual barriers can be created in the app to stop the bobsweep robot vacuum from accessing certain areas (like toys for kids or dishes and dog beds). Other apps allow you to make an outline of your home and provide the robot with detailed information about your floors. The Roborock S7+ app has many useful features to assist you in cleaning your home. However its interface isn't as polished as iRobot or Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacuums that clean your entire home without stopping to recharge or to empty their dustbins save time and effort. Some of them work with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also build an outline of your home, allowing you to program them to clean certain areas or rooms and avoid obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums can detect objects, however the iRobot j7 offers advanced features like "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These features can make your life much easier (although one of our test bots did "eat" a couple of socks). If you're looking to take your home maintenance to the next level consider a robot mop that has a water tank that you fill and empty yourself.

While none of the models we tested could beat the dirt-picking power of a stand-up model, they all do a great job at cleaning carpets and hard floors. They are great at sweeping up fine dust and debris, food particles, dirt tracked in and pet hair. They can even tackle some stray cat litter and metal screws and nuts. The most effective robot vacuums are able to easily maneuver through furniture, and they do a great job of cleaning corners and edges as well. For a basic model that works on its own and is comparatively inexpensive look into the Eufy 11S.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

With the right setup, a robot vacuum can aid in keeping your home looking and feeling fresh every day with minimal effort. It is possible to schedule cleanings with the app, and designate no-go areas to ensure that your robot does not get in the way of your plants or favorite chair. A majority of our top picks will empty their dustbins for you and clean their docking stations.

The most effective robot vacuums are programmable to keep your floors clean for weeks or even months at a time, thereby making it easier to save time and effort of manually mopping or sweeping your floors each week or every day. This helps you have more time to do the things you like and reduces the amount of time your floors have to be cleaned manually.

In our tests, the Q Revo was able to pick up small particles such as baking soda and oatmeal and heavier debris like nails and screws made of metal, and fluffy stuff such as hair from pets. It lacks the smart mapping and object-avoiding features of our top picks but is still a great option for most families.

The best thing about the j7 is its ability to spot and avoid obstacles like power cords and socks, shoes, and pet waste. This means that you don't need to tidy up before you can run your robot, although clutter in your home can mean your bot may get stuck and not be able to do as good a job.