How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you're willing to live without smart capabilities like mapping, and don't mind emptying the dustbin every 60 days or so, a basic robot vacuum is likely to work for you. Find a model that has a clean base and can work with voice assistants.

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

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum can help you keep track of the dust, pet fur and dander that collects on your floor each day. It can also reduce the frequency you have to deep clean, saving your time and effort. The most effective models have powerful suction that is able to take on the most difficult messes and leave your home cleaner.

You can take care of more space by using a robot vacuum as well as a mop, which is especially beneficial if you live in an extensive home. Look for models that have an water reservoir integrated into the chassis or as a separate piece that you can swap out when the vacuuming is done. You'll need to empty and refill it, however it's an additional chore that requires a little extra work on your part.

In a perfect universe, you would clear your floors before you use your robot vacuum to stop it from crashing into anything. But in most homes, this isn't possible or desirable. Most robots allow you to use an app that you can install on your phone to create virtual barriers that the robot can see. Some 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 cords in a corner.

If you're looking to buy a basic robot vacuum that doesn't have all the bells and whistles, this model made by the networking company TP-Link is a good choice. It's quiet and works well on hard floors as well as low-pile carpets and can be scheduled using the app to vacuum or mop at your own convenience. It's got a long battery life, which can last up to 180 minutes before it needs to recharge.

2. Simple to operate

In general, robot vacuums require very little input from you. They make use of instruments for navigation, such as sensors, lasers, and cameras to move around and collect dust, pet hair and food crumbs off hard floors, tile and hardwood. Many models have boundary strips that allow them to remain in a room. Higher-end models can be programmed to get up at a particular time and begin cleaning. Some even have fall-detection technology that prevents falling down stairs or becoming caught in electrical cords.

If you want to control your robot automatic vacuum robot from the comfort of a couch, search for models that can work with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. Also, look for models with Wi-Fi connectivity that allow you to begin cleaning sessions from anywhere through an app. Depending on how large your house is, you may prefer one with a long-lasting battery and a roomy dustbin that doesn't need to be regularly emptied.

Certain robot vacuums are also mopping. They use water reservoirs to clean the floor. This is ideal for mopping, but not ideal for difficult messes 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 opt for a self-emptying model that lets you go 30 to 60 days without needing to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots employ advanced mapping technology to build a detailed map while they clean. This helps them avoid hitting furniture and getting caught on cords or chairs. 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 full understanding of the layout of your home and is aware of where to go when it's low on battery.

Most robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done through an application or even physical boundary strips. You can block off areas that you don't want your robot to enter in order to focus on the areas that require the most attention.

A lot of robots can also automatically change floors depending on the flooring they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by changing from carpet to hard flooring, Nearest or by focusing on certain areas of your home like corners and baseboards. In our tests it was a great feature that improved their scores on picking up hardwood and low-pile carpeting. But, it's still essential to tuck away loose cords and furniture before using your robot vacuum to ensure that it doesn't get stuck or come into contact with something it shouldn't.

4. Remote Control

The majority of robot vacuums have WiFi connectivity and can be controlled by Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts that enable users to control them with voice commands or from your smartphone. Many robot vacuums connect to smart home systems, and can create a map of the space they clean after each cleaning session. This allows them to "learn" how your home is laid out and to plan more efficient routes during future cleaning sessions. Certain models have obstacle avoidance features built in to prevent them from causing damage to furniture and getting stuck on objects like loose charging cables or pet hair.

The majority of robots come with an remote control that you can use to move them around your house. The majority of robots can be controlled via a mobile application, which offers more features. You can set up multiple cleaning schedules and create an agenda of your most-loved rooms. You can also manually guide the robot with directional Arrows.

Certain models have no-go zones that are virtual barriers that you can create in the app to stop the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for children or dog beds and bowls). Some apps allow you to draw an outline of your home and provide detailed information about the floors. The Roborock S7+ app has several useful features that will help you clean the house. However its interface isn't as polished as that from iRobot or shark ion robot vacuum.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacuums that clean your entire home without stopping to recharge or to empty their bins save time and effort. Some are compatible with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts for hands-free operation. They can also create maps of the area that allows you to program them to specific areas or rooms and to stay clear of obstacles.

Most robot vacuums offer some level of object detection and object detection, but more expensive models such as the iRobot j7 come with advanced features like "home mapping" and advanced obstacle avoidance, which can simplify your life (although our test bot did once "eat" a pair of socks). If you're looking to push your home maintenance even further consider a robot mop that comes with an water tank that can be filled and then empty.

While none of the models we tested could match the dirt-picking power of a stand-up model, the majority of them do an excellent job at cleaning hard floors and low-pile carpets. They excel at picking up fine dirt, food crumbs and tracked-in dirt. They are also able to handle screws and nuts made of metal and the stray cat litter. The best robot vacs can effortlessly work through furniture, and they are great at cleaning corners and edges as well. For an affordable model that can work by itself and is relatively inexpensive look into the Eufy 11S.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

A robot vacuum will help keep your home clean and Nearest tidy without doing many tasks. You can schedule cleanings through the app and create no-go zones to ensure that your robot won't trample your plants or your favourite chair. A majority of our top picks will empty their dustbins for you and clean their docking station.

The top robot vacuums can be programmed to keep your floors clean for weeks or even months at a time, thereby saving you the time and effort of manually mopping or sweeping your floors every single week or even every day. This allows you to have more time to do the things you enjoy and cuts down on the amount of time your floors need to be cleaned manually.

In our tests the Q Revo was able to capture fine particles like oatmeal and baking soda, heavier debris such as metal screws and nails and even fluffy matter such as pet hair. It's not equipped with the advanced mapping and object avoidance features of our top picks, however it's sufficient for most families.

The best robot vacuum mop feature of the j7 is that it makes use of cameras and processor-powered smarts to detect and avoid obstacles like power cords, shoes, socks and pet waste. This means that you don't need to clean the room prior to running your robot, although cluttered rooms will mean that the robot may become stuck and not perform as good a job.