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 likely to be the best choice suitable for you. Find one that is clean and works with voice assistants.

It excels at removing dirt, clumps of cat litter and pet hair on tile floors, hardwood floors and carpeting with less pile than any other robo vacuum we've tested. It can also plan out and create virtual no-go zones for rooms or certain areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum can keep on top of the pet hair, dust and dander that build up on your floors on a day-to-day basis. It can also reduce the frequency at which you have to do a deeper clean which will save you time and effort. The best automatic vacuum models come with powerful suction, which can take on the majority of messes and leave your home cleaner.

Selecting a vacuum that is also able to mop can help you achieve more coverage with one machine, which is especially beneficial for homes with a large area. Choose one that has an water reservoir integrated into the chassis or as a separate piece that you can swap out when the vacuuming is done. It will have to be emptied and refilled in order to complete the task.

In a perfect universe it would be ideal to clean your floors first before using your robot vacuum, preventing it from hitting anything. But in most homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. Most robots allow you to use an app that you can install on your phone to create virtual barriers that the robot will detect. Some have no-go zones which you can use to mark areas that you don't want it to be in, like kids rooms or a pile of cords for your device in the corner.

If you're looking to buy a basic robot vacuum that doesn't have all the bells and bells, this model from the networking company TP-Link is a great choice. It's quiet, koreafurniture.com works well on hard floors as well as low-pile rugs. It can be scheduled using 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 effort from you. They utilize navigation tools like sensors and lasers to maneuver around obstacles and remove dust, food crumbs and pet hair from hard flooring, tile carpets, and hardwood. Many models have boundaries strips that help them remain inside the room. The more expensive models can be programmed to wake up at a specific time and start cleaning. Some models even have fall detection technology that prevents falling down the stairs or getting caught in electrical cords.

If you're looking to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of your couch, look for models that work with voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also choose Wi-Fi models that permit users to start a cleaning session anywhere using an app. Depending on how big your home is, you may prefer a model with a long battery life and a large dust bin that doesn't have to be emptying frequently.

Some robot vacuums can also be mopping. They make use of water reservoirs to clean the floor. This is useful for regular mopping but won't work for extra-tough messes, like pet poop, or other spills that get wet. You can choose hybrids that have an able mopping pad made of microfiber or a self-emptying option that lets you go up to 60 days before emptying the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots employ advanced mapping technology to build a detailed map while they clean. This helps them avoid bumping into furniture and tripping on cords or chair legs. This feature is only available on higher-end models, but it allows your robot to be aware of the layout of your home and knows where to move when the battery runs out.

The majority of robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done using an app or physical boundary strips. This allows you to define areas that you do not want your robot to venture into, so it can concentrate its attention on the areas that require the most cleaning.

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

4. Remote Control

Most robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled via voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many connect to smart home systems and create maps of your home after each cleaning session, to "learn" your layout and design more efficient routes for future trips. There are also built-in obstacles avoidance, which stops them from bumping into furniture and damaging it or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables shoes, laces for shoes and hair from pets.

Most robots have a remote control that can be used to guide them around your home. The majority of robots can be controlled by a mobile app, which offers more features. It is possible to set multiple cleaning schedules, create an inventory of your favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot to specific areas using directions on the screen.

Some models offer no-go zones These are virtual barriers that you can configure in the app to block the robot mop vacuum from entering certain areas (like toys for kids or dog bowls and beds). Other apps let you create an outline of your home and provide the robot with precise information about your floors. The Roborock S7+ app has a number of useful features that can aid in cleaning the house. However the interface isn't as polished as iRobot or Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robotic vacuums that can sweep a whole house without stopping to recharge or empty their bins of dust make it easier for you to save time and effort. Some are compatible with smart home devices like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts for hands-free operation. They can also make an image of your space, allowing you to program them to clean certain rooms or areas and avoid obstacles.

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

While none of the models that we tested could match the dirt-picking ability of a stand-up vacuum they did an excellent job cleaning hard floors as well as carpets with low pile. They are great at sweeping up fine dust and food particles, dirt tracked in and pet hair. They also can handle nuts and screws made of metal and stray cat litter. The most effective robot vacuums can clean edges and corners and work around furniture. Eufy 11S is a relatively inexpensive and basic model.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

With the right configuration and the right setup, a robotic vacuum can aid in keeping your home looking and feeling fresh regularly, with minimal effort. You can schedule cleanings through the app, and you can designate no-go areas so that your robot doesn't get in the way of your plants or favorite chair. Many of our top picks will also empty their dustbins and clean their docking stations.

The most effective robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for months or even weeks at a time, saving you from the time-consuming task of manually mopping and sweeping your floors on a daily or weekly basis. This helps you spend more time on things you like and cuts down on the amount of time your floors have to be cleaned manually.

During tests the Q Revo was able to capture fine particles such as baking soda and oatmeal. It also picked up heavier particles such as nails and screws made of steel, as well as fluffy stuff like pet hair. It lacks the advanced mapping and object-avoiding features found in our top picks, but it is still a good choice for families with children.

The best thing about the j7 is that it utilizes camera and processor-powered sensors to identify and avoid obstacles like shoes, power cords, socks, and pet waste. This means that you don't need to tidy up before using your robot. However, messy rooms may cause your bot to become stuck and perform a poor job.