Bagless Robotic Sweepers

For certain, robot vacuums such as Scuttle Bug or RoRo are now family pets. They even play hide-and-seek with their owners!

Robot vacuums and mops have self-cleaning capabilities that you can set up. They'll last for a long time with minimal maintenance, like emptying the bins and cleaning the brushes.

1. Powerful suction

bagless self-emptying vacuums robotic sweepers have suction capabilities comparable to that of traditional vacuum cleaners. They have different features that allow them to handle different types of floors and sizes homes. The most effective robots allow you to schedule cleaning in specific rooms and set boundaries around areas that you do or don't want it to clean. You can also use an app to adjust the intensity of your robot's cleaning and see its path while it's working.

Another feature that many users appreciate is the ability to change the direction that your robot sweeps and where it starts. Based on your home's layout it can be beneficial in areas with lots of corners and doors. Many robots come with docking systems that allow you to switch out reusable bins or disposable ones, and then recharge the robot in between uses. Some even feature self-emptying bases that eliminate the need to purchase disposal bags.

The primary drawback of bagless robotic sweepers is that they tend to be quite expensive. This is especially true for models with a base that can be self-emptied and can add significant amounts to the cost of the device. However, these devices are becoming increasingly common and can be an excellent option for homeowners who are exhausted of manually cleaning their floors or dealing with pet hair.

While the Eufy 11s does a good job of general vacuuming and gets into most of my home's nooks and crannies however, it has some flaws when it comes to collecting pet hair. Although it comes with an anti-tangle tool that claims to shreds and chops hair but I still found myself constantly taking up and arranging dog and cat hair. The robot could also become stuck on carpets and become bogged down by plush high pile fibers.

Some of the more expensive models I tested (such as the Shark RV912SCA EZ Robot Vacuum with Self-Empty Base Matrix Auto-Emptying Vacuum) were superior in pet hair collection and navigation. Their dual dustbins can be adjusted to accommodate different amounts of debris. They are also easier to empty. They can also get into corners much more easily than most circular robots because of their square-ish shape. They have excellent recognition of objects and can eat Cheerios, piles of oatmeal and even fake dog turds while navigating lamp cords and fake dog turds.

2. Cleaning with Adaptive

The ability to adapt to the changing conditions is among the most important characteristics you'll find on any robot vacuum. This is especially true for bagless model. For example, your robo vac will learn what type of flooring you have in each room, whether it's soft or hard, and how to maneuver around furniture and other obstacles such as stairs. The more information your robo-vac has, the better able it will be to clean your entire home.

A smart robot cleaner can also get into corners where a traditional broom and dustpan can't, as well as under beds and other places which require your hands and knees. Some robots, depending on the model that you select, can be programmed to clean certain areas or rooms during specific times of the day.

The most effective robot vacuums can pick up fine particles like baking soda and sand heavier debris such as piles of oatmeal or orzo pasta and nuts and screws made of steel and fluffy stuff such as pet hair easily. They can also maneuver into tight spaces where you might need to use a stick broom to reach. They're also quieter than standard upright or canister vacs and can be set to run in the background while you read or watch TV.

In addition to vacuuming, certain models also sweep and mop the floors in your home. These robots require extra attention. You'll have to remove the mopping pad, clean it (and let it dry) before reinstalling. If your manufacturer suggests that you do so, you'll want to clean and rinse the filter periodically (and allow it to dry).

The majority of mops can be reused multiple times, but make sure you purchase one with a large tank of water and plenty of mopping pads (the Dreametech W10 for example that won a Good Housekeeping Best Cleaning and Organizing Award in the past, can hold up 12 mopping pads and 5 gallons). Some of the most advanced models include charger docks that can refill the tank and empty the bin.

3. Efficient

There's no home appliance that has developed as rapidly as the robot vacuum. At first they were a collection of overpriced devices that sat on the steps and sucked up with cat and pet hair litter, but today there's an amazing selection of models in every price range offering self-emptying bins that can be emptied, mapping capabilities, mopping functions and more.

The robotic vacuum has been enhanced by adding better obstacles-avoiding capabilities. This is the capability of the robot vacuum to identify and avoid obstacles like cords that are tangled and furniture legs, or piles of dog waste. (Click on the CNET lead from the hall-of fame to find out more). Even the most efficient robot vacuums won't completely avoid them all the time, which means they can still get flustered by them and end up getting caught or sprinkling poop all over your floors, causing a mess, expensive and time-consuming oops.

Advanced robots utilize gyroscopes cameras, radar, and laser (laser distance sensors or LDS) guided system to draw out your floor plan to ensure that they're cleaning thoroughly and aren't missing any area. They can also keep and update multiple floorplans. This helps them be more efficient and reduces the chance that they'll need to spend a lot of time going back and forth to clean the same areas over and over again.

If you're looking for a robotic vacuum that you can set and forget, the iRobot j7+ is the best we've ever tested. It was the top robot vacuum we tested for mapping the virtual borders and eliminating obstacles.

If you want to save money and do not require sophisticated features like mapping or a bin that automatically empties, then the Eufy 11S is our pick for the cheapest of the year. It is a great performer on hardwood floors and low-pile carpeting and is able to remove dust, pet hair and cat litter efficiently. The dust bin onboard can hold up to 45 days of dirt and when it gets full, it will automatically return to its dock to empty it.

4. Easy to maintain

Like any household appliance, robotic vacuums and mops require periodic cleaning. How often you clean it depends on your household's needs and the model. You'll need to empty your trash regularly and clean the wheels or brushes, depending on the robot model. Most robots come with instructions for recommended maintenance.

For instance, you could rinse the bin and clean it with a moist (not wet but not dripping) sponge made of melamine to get rid of any dirt that's accumulated. You can also clean the wheels and filters to ensure that it runs smoothly. Nasrallah recommends that you check the wheels at least once a week to ensure they're free of threads, hairs, or any other debris that could get inside and cause the machine to malfunction. Also, you should clean the brushes beneath your robot both the right and left drive wheel and the sidebrush once a month. This will help keep them free of dirt.

Some models are also robot mops that can be used to add mopping to your cleaning routine. If you intend to utilize this feature, make sure you thoroughly vacuum-proof the room before turning on your robot to mop. This will prevent the robot from being sucked into the vacuum by socks or pet toys that aren't properly secured.

Smart mapping technology helps the robot learn the layout of rooms and allows it to clean them in a neat manner. Certain models let you define areas which the robot cannot clean. This is ideal if your children tend to strew their shoes in the hallway.

To determine the best bagless robot vacuum and mop for your home, Real Simple consulted experts like Forrest McCall, co-owner of the blog Mama Needs a Project; Alvin Pullins, CEO and founder of Nerd in the House; and Michele Jones, associate brand marketing director for ECOVACS Americas. The experts evaluated the items based on their the setup, efficiency, the level of noise, features, maneuverability, and ease of maintenance.