How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you don't need the most advanced features like mapping, and do not mind cleaning your trash bin every 60 to 90 days, a basic robotic vacuum is probably suitable for you. Pick a model that has clean and tidy base that is compatible with voice assistants.

It excels at picking up dirt, clumps of pet hair and cat litter on tile floors, hardwood floors and carpeting with less pile than any other vacuum we've tried. It can also map out and create virtual no-go zones in rooms or areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum is able to stay clean of the pet hair, dust and dander that collects on your floors on a day-to-day basis. It can also reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, which will save you time and effort. The most effective models feature powerful suction, which can tackle most messes with ease and leave your house cleaner.

Choosing a robot automatic vacuum and mop Robot that is also able to mop will allow you to achieve more coverage with one machine, which could be especially helpful for homes with a large area. You can find a model with a water tank either built into the chassis or as an additional piece that you can remove after vacuuming. It will need to be empty and fill it up, however, so this is an additional task that will require some extra effort on your part.

In a perfect world you would clean your floors before using your deebot robot vacuum cleaner vacuum to stop it from hitting anything. In the majority of homes, however this isn't possible or desirable. The majority of models let you use an app that you can install on your phone to create virtual barriers that the robot will see. Some models include no-go areas, which you can flag areas that you don't want it to access. For example the child's room or a pile of cords in an area.

If you're looking for a simple robot vacuum that doesn't have all the bells and bells, this model from the networking company TP-Link is a good choice. It's quiet, and it works on hard floors and low-pile rugs. It can be scheduled using the app to vacuum or mop at your convenience. It has a long battery life, and can last for up to 180 minutes before it needs to recharge.

2. Easy to operate

In general robot vacuums require little input from you. They utilize navigation tools like sensors and lasers to maneuver through obstacles and collect food particles, dust and pet hair from flooring, tile carpets, hardwood floors and low-pile carpets. Many have boundary strips to aid in staying within the walls of a room while pricier models can be set to automatically wake up and start cleaning at a predetermined time. Some models have fall detection technology that helps them avoid falling down a flight of stairs or getting caught in cords.

Find models that allow you to control from your couch using voice assistants, such as Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also pick Wi-Fi models that permit you to start cleaning anywhere you want using an app. You might want to choose one with an extremely long-lasting battery as well as a large dust bin, depending on the size of your house.

Some robot vacuums can double as mops, using water reservoirs to clean your floor. This is great for mopping, but not for tough messes like pet poop and other wet spills. There are hybrids that have a removable microfiber pad for mopping, or opt for self-emptying models that let you go for 30 to 60 days without needing to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots use advanced mapping technology to create a precise map as they clean. This helps them avoid crashing into furniture and tripping on cords or chair legs. This feature is only available on top-of-the-line models however, it allows your robot vacuum for hardwood floors to be aware of the layout of your home and know where to go when the battery runs out.

If you don't want your robot navigating into areas of your home that you'd prefer it to stay clear from (like your kids' toys or the mess of device cords in the corner) The majority of robots offer the possibility of creating virtual barriers, either via their app or physical boundary strips. You can block off areas you don't want your robot to go into in order to focus on the rooms that need the most attention.

Many robots will also automatically switch floors based on the type of floor they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by switching from carpet to hard flooring or by paying attention to certain areas of your home, such as corners and baseboards. In our tests it was a great feature that improved their performance in picking up hardwood and low-pile carpeting. It is important to secure any loose cords or furniture before using your robot automatic vacuum cleaner robot, so that it doesn't become caught.

4. Remote Control

Most robot vacuums are WiFi-enabled and work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow you to control them using voice commands or through your smartphone. Many connect to smart home systems and create maps of your home after each cleaning session so they can "learn" your layout and devise more efficient routes for future runs. There are also built-in obstacles avoidance that prevents them from bumping into and damaging furniture or getting stuck on things like charging cables that are loose, shoe laces and pet hair.

Most robots come with a remote you can use to pilot them around your home. The majority of robots can be controlled via a mobile application, which offers more features. It is possible to set multiple cleaning schedules, create a list of favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot around specific areas by using directions on the screen.

Some models have no-go zones. These are virtual barriers you can set up in the app to stop the robot from accessing certain areas (like toys for children or dishes and dog beds). Other apps let you set up a map of your home and provide the robot with precise information about your floors. The app we ranked as our top choice one, the Roborock S7+, has a lot of useful options to help you tidy your house, but its interface isn't as polished and elegant as those from iRobot and Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacuums that clean your entire house without stopping to recharge or to empty their bins save time and effort. Some are compatible with smart home devices like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also build an image of your living space and allow you to program them to clean specific areas or rooms and avoid obstacles.

Most robot vacs have some degree of detection of objects and object detection, but more expensive models such as the iRobot J7 have advanced features such as "home mapping" and advanced obstacle avoidance that will make your life easier (although our test bot did "eat" a pair of socks). If you're looking to take your home cleaning to the next level, look for a robotic mop that comes with a tank of water that can be filled and then empty.

While none of the models that we tested could compete with the dirt-picking power of a stand-up vacuum they did a great job cleaning hard floors and carpets with low pile. They are excellent at sweeping up fine dirt, food crumbs, and dirt that has been tracked in. They can also handle metal screws and nuts and stray cat litter. The most effective robot vacuums are able to remove dirt from edges and corners and can even work on furniture. For a basic model that functions on its own and is comparatively inexpensive, automatic vacuum and mop robot check out the Eufy 11S.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

A robot vacuum will help keep your home tidy and clean without having to do much work. You can schedule cleanings through the app, and set up no-go areas so that the robot won't step on your favorite chair or plants. Many of our top picks also automatically empty their bins and clean their docking stations for you.

The most effective robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for weeks or even months at a stretch, freeing you from the arduous task of manually sweeping and mopping your floors on a weekly or daily basis. This lets you spend more time doing things you love and reduces the amount of time your floors need to be cleaned manually.

In our tests the Q Revo was able to grab fine particles like oatmeal and baking soda as well as heavier debris such nails and screws made of steel as well as fluffy things like hair of pets. It's not equipped with the advanced mapping and objects avoidance features of our top picks, however it's sufficient for most families.

The most appealing aspect of the j7 robot is that it makes use of cameras and processor-powered smarts to detect and avoid obstacles such as shoes, power cords, socks, and pet waste. This means you don't have to tidy up before running your buy robot vacuum, but cluttered rooms will mean that your bot may get stuck and not perform as good a job.