How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you don't need advanced features such as mapping and don't mind emptying your dustbin every 60 to 90 days A basic robot vacuum could be for you. Pick a model that has a clean base that works with voice assistants.

It excels at picking up dirt, clumps of cat litter and pet hair on tile floors, hardwood floors and low-pile carpeting better than any other vacuum we've tested. It can also map and set virtual no-go zones for rooms and areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum can assist you in keeping up with the dust, pet fur and dander that settles on your floors every day. It can also cut down on the frequency at which robot vacuums are the best you have to do a deeper clean which will save your time and effort. The best models have powerful suction, which can tackle most messes with ease and leave your home cleaner.

Choosing a robot vacuum that is also able to mop can help you get more space by using just one machine. This can be particularly beneficial for homes with a large area. Choose a model that has a water reservoir either integrated into the chassis or as a separate piece that you put in after the vacuuming is finished. It will need to be empty and fill it up, however it's an additional task that requires some extra effort on your part.

In a perfect world, you would clear your floors before you use your robot vacuum to prevent it from crashing into anything. But in most homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. Fortunately, the majority of models allow you to use your smartphone app to set up virtual barriers that the robot can see and avoid. Certain models have no-go zones, which you can flag areas you don't want the robot to be allowed to enter. For instance, a child's room or a pile of cords in a corner.

If you're looking to buy a basic robot vacuum that doesn't have all the bells and bells, this model from the company that makes networking TP-Link is a great choice. It's quiet, and it works on hard floors and low-pile rugs. It can be scheduled via the app to mop or vacuum at any time. It comes with a battery life that can last up to 180 minutes.

2. Simple to operate

Robot vacuums generally need very little from you. They make use of sensors cameras, lasers, and sensors to move around and collect dust, pet hair and food crumbs off tiles, hard floors and hardwood. Many have boundary strips to aid in staying within a room's walls, while pricier models can be programmed to automatically wake up and begin cleaning at a predetermined time. Some even come with fall detection technology that can help them avoid tumbling down stairs or getting tangled in electrical cords.

Look for models that can be controlled from the comfort of your sofa using voice assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also search for Wi-Fi-connected models that let you start cleaning sessions from anywhere using an app. You may prefer one with an extremely long-lasting battery as well as a large dust bin, depending on the size of your home.

Some robot mop vacuum vacuums can double as mops, using water reservoirs to clean your floors. This is useful for normal mopping, but it won't be effective for messes that are more difficult to clean, such as pet poop or other spills that are wet. There are hybrids that come with an ejectable microfiber pad for mopping, or choose an auto-emptying model that lets you go 30 to 60 days without needing to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots use advanced mapping technology to build a detailed map while they clean. This makes it easier to avoid crashing into furniture and tripping on cords or chairs. This feature is typically only available on higher-end models, but it's one of the best robot vacuum that mops 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 running out of battery.

If you don't want your robot navigating 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) The majority of robots offer some method of creating virtual barriers, either through their apps or physical boundary strips. This lets you create zones that you do not want your robot mop best buy to venture into, so it can concentrate its attention on the rooms and spaces that need the most cleaning.

Many robots also automatically change floors depending on the floor they are cleaning. This can be achieved by switching from carpet to hard flooring, or by focussing on particular areas of your home, such as corners and baseboards. In our tests, this was a useful feature that improved their performance in picking up carpeting that is low-pile and hardwood. It's important to tuck away any furniture or cords that are loose before using your robot vacuum, so it doesn't get caught.

4. Remote Control

Almost all robot vacuums are WiFi-enabled and can be controlled by Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts, which enable you to control them via voice commands or via your smartphone. Many robot vacuums connect to smart home systems and generate a map of the area they clean after each session. This allows them to "learn" the way your home is laid out and plan more efficient routes for future cleaning sessions. Certain models have obstacle avoidance features built in that prevents them from causing damage to furniture or getting stuck on objects like loose charging cables or pet hair.

Most robots come with a remote that you can use to pilot them around your home. However, many can be controlled using a mobile app, which gives you more features. You can usually set up multiple cleaning schedules, make a list of favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot to certain areas by using directions on the screen.

Some models offer no-go zones These are virtual barriers you can set up within the app to prevent the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for children or dog bowls and beds). Certain apps let you draw an image of your home and provide detailed information about the floors. The app we ranked as our top choice one, the Roborock S7+, has many useful options to help you tidy your home, however its interface isn't as polished as those from iRobot and Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacuums that clean your entire home without stopping for a recharge or to empty their dustbins save time and effort. Some robot vacuums are compatible with smart home devices like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to enable hands-free operation. They can also make a map of your space and allow you to program them to clean specific areas or rooms and beware of obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, however the iRobot j7 offers advanced features, such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These can make your life easier (although one of our test bots did "eat" two socks). If you're looking to improve the quality of your home maintenance, think about a robot mop with a water container that can be filled and then empty.

While none of the models we tested could match the dirt-picking power of a stand-up vacuum, the majority of them do an excellent job of cleaning hard floors and low-pile carpets. They are great at sweeping up fine dust and debris, food crumbs, tracked-in dirt and pet hair. They are also able to handle metal screws and nuts, as well as cats' litter. The best robot vacs can easily maneuver around furniture, and they are great at cleaning edges and corners as well. Eufy 11S is a relatively basic and affordable model.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

A robot vacuum can keep your home clean and tidy without you having to do lots of work. You can schedule cleanings through the app, and you can set up no-go areas so that your robot doesn't step on your plants or sit on your favorite chair. A 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 regularly for months or weeks at a time, which saves you the time and effort of manually sweeping or mopping your floors each week or every day. This lets you spend more time doing things you like and decreases the amount of time your floors have to be cleaned manually.

In our tests, Q Revo was able to grab small particles like baking soda and oatmeal. It also grabbed heavier particles such as metal screws and nails and fluffy hair. It's not equipped with the sophisticated mapping and object avoidance features of our top picks, but it's sufficient for most families.

The j7's best robot mop for wood floors feature is its ability to spot cheap and best robot vacuum cleaner and mop avoid obstacles such as power cords, shoes and socks, and pet waste. This means you don't have to tidy up before running your robot, although cluttered rooms will mean that your robot could get stuck and not do the job as well.