What to Look For in a Robot Carpet Cleaner

Many robots are very effective in removing hairs and other particles from carpeted floors. Look for ones that have zones and spot cleaning modes, which allow you to set an area to clean.

The best automatic vacuum for carpet robots make use of sensors to navigate your space and then return to their charging station to charge themselves. They can be much more efficient than pushing a vacuum cleaner around your home.

Self-charging

Robot carpet cleaners require less maintenance than traditional vacuum cleaners. So long as you keep up with the basics like checking the rotating brushes for tangled hair, emptying (and occasionally rinsing, if the manufacturer says it's fine) the dust bin of your robot after each cleaning session and wiping down the sensors or cameras to ensure that they are able to observe your home in a clear manner to be ready for the next cleaning session and you'll be in a position to use your robot for a long time.

Certain robots come with automatic carpet recognition which boosts suction to pick-up embedded dirt. This is particularly crucial if your house has carpets. Some models will also raise the mop pads in order to avoid wetting your carpets and rugs.

You can also find affordable robots with this feature, like our budget recommendation, the iLife V3S Pro. This model is less expensive than most of the other smart robots we tested however, it was capable of sucking up Cheerios and a plethora of oatmeal effortlessly. It was also able to navigate through a fake dog turd and several cords without getting stuck.

However, you should keep in mind that robots typically have a the warranty for a short period of only one or two years. When CHOICE conducted a survey of owners of robots in 2020 regarding their machines' reliability, many reported problems with their machines, and some complained about expensive replacement costs for parts. If you plan to buy robotic vacuums, think about the frequency you'll have to replace the battery and other parts before you decide on a specific model.

Self-emptying

Look for a robot that can mop and vacuum floors. This will let you have a clean and hands-free experience. These bots can do the dirty work while you're away, and some models come with scheduling capabilities so you can set the frequency and time you'd like your home to be cleaned.

Find a robot that has a strong battery to deliver a thorough clean without needing regular recharges. It should be able to continue cleaning exactly where it stopped. This will cut down on time. It's also useful in the event that the robot is equipped with intelligent features that boost performance in challenging areas. The Roborock X5S, for example comes with a mapping feature that lets it create maps that are more accurate than any other smart bot. It also lets users to view their map in three-dimensional and make changes like zones that are not allowed to be in. It also comes with a spot-cleaning mode that helps remove small spills more quickly and an acceleration booster for carpets with fur.

Robot makers are working on improving their ability to identify carpets, so that they can alter their cleaning modes to suit carpet flooring of this kind. Some, such as our top overall pick model, the iRobot Roomba S9+, can detect when it encounters carpet and then automatically increase suction to better absorb embedded dirt. Other models, like the iLife V3s Pro, can raise their mops above carpet and use a brush made of rubber that's less prone to tangling than Eufy's.

It is also recommended to look for an automatic vacuum cleaner or mop with dust bins that can be removed and cleaned (if the manufacturer suggests this) and a nozzle which can be replaced when it gets blocked. Look for a vacuum or mop that is able to wash and dry its filter after each cleaning session.

Self-cleaning

If your home is mostly carpeted, you'll need to find a robot vacuum that can work on the carpet. There are several brands that have developed models that excel at cleaning carpeted surfaces, including iRobot and Eufy X10 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum: Ultimate Cleaning Solution.

Certain robots, such as the iRobot Roomba S9+, detect carpeted areas, and increase their suction to remove dirt that is embedded more effectively. It's not a do or break feature, but it helps when you have the combination of soft and hard flooring in your home.

Other robots, like the Roborock Q Revo, can vacuum and mop your floors simultaneously. They employ circular pads that rotate at a rate of 200 revolutions per minute. They can handle carpets up to 7 millimeters thick. The model also recognizes when it is in carpeted areas and lifts the pads to avoid getting your floors wet. Its large water tank is big enough for multiple cleaning sessions, which means you won't need to empty it often.

Many robots, in addition to the features mentioned above can be programmed with an app or integrated into a virtual assistant for scheduled tasks. For instance, the iRobot Roomba S9+ can be programmed to return to its dock and then resume cleaning when the predetermined time has expired. You can also manually move the robot to its base by pressing the dock button on the device.

Shark ION Robot AV753 series is a good robot vacuum for carpeted floors. It's inexpensive and performs well. It isn't equipped with Roomba's LIDAR mapping sensor and is unable to divide rooms into zones, however it does an excellent job of removing dirt from carpeting and hardwood floors with a low pile. It comes with a self-emptying dust bin that is controlled by the iRobot App or Amazon Alexa.

Sensors

Sensors are needed to allow robots to navigate your home and clean it with no supervision. They utilize these to avoid running into objects, form maps of the area they're cleaning, and even detect areas that are filthy. They're typically built into the body of the robot or are incorporated into an individual module. They can include things like ultrasonic sensors, gyroscopes, and cliff sensors.

Certain models have bump sensors that work like human bumper cars to stop the robot from hitting objects. However, these sensors can be inaccurate and can result in paint scratches and scratches on furniture. You're better off using a robot that has advanced laser navigation which is more precise and accurate. This can be costly however it's worth the investment if you're worried about having your walls and chairs scratched.

Most robot vacuums are adept at removing dirt from hard floors and carpets with low pile. However they have a difficult to remove fine particles that are embedded in the fibers of carpets. They don't gather dust as easily near baseboards or doorways as upright vacuums or canisters. For these reasons, many people prefer to use a regular vacuum alongside their robot.

Certain robots, such as the iRoborock j7+ come with a unique feature called Dirt Detect. It helps them detect dirt-related events and focus on the areas. If the robot spots a large cat litter sludge it will then return to the point of the mess until all litter is gone. You can also purchase a specialized mopping robot that can be used to vacuum and wet mop simultaneously. These machines feature a circular pad that spins at 200 rotations per minute and can handle both hard and soft floors, including some carpets with low pile.

Navigation

If you're shopping for a carpet cleaner robot navigation is a key factor to take into account. This determines the degree of cleaning required and whether or not your robot will bump into furniture or cling onto walls. Certain robots utilize lasers or gyroscopes to navigate and others use camera mapping. This is a costly technology but is worthwhile if you want to keep your home as tidy as possible.

A robot with a great navigation system will clear your entire home quickly and efficiently. It won't be trapped or get caught in obstacles. It will also stay clear of areas have been cleaned. This is especially crucial if you have multiple rooms or a vast floor plan. Many top-quality robotic vacuums include maps that let you to view the cleaning route in an app or to set no-go areas.

Robots with no mapping capabilities are more likely to have difficulties navigating around corners and edges. They might miss areas or even entire rooms. A robot that utilizes SLAM navigation will not have these issues because it makes a detailed map. The best robot vacuums that have SLAM can save this map and recall where they've been, which makes them faster and more efficient than machines that don't have this feature.

The cheapest robot we tried the Eufy RoboVac 11S Max, was more efficient than any other model we reviewed in our tests, with the exception for the more expensive Roborock Q5. Its long run time, generous dust bin and flexibility make it ideal for large homes. It also comes with a variety of smart features, such as flooring type detection as well as an automatic recharge and resume function, and a powerful brush bar.