How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you don't require advanced features such as mapping and don't mind emptying your dustbin every 60 to 90 days, a basic robotic vacuum is probably suitable for you. Select a model with clean and tidy base that is compatible with voice assistants.

It excels at removing dirt, pet hair and cat litter on tile floors, hardwood floors and low-pile carpeting better than any other vacuum we've tried. It can also map and create virtual no-go zones in rooms or areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum is able to stay clean of the dust, pet hair 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, saving your time and effort. The most effective models have powerful suction that will easily take on the most difficult messes and leave your home clean.

You can cover a larger area by using a robot vacuum as well as a mop, which is particularly useful if you have a large home. There are models with a tank for water either in the chassis itself or as an additional piece that you can swap out after vacuuming. You'll need to empty and refill it, though, so this is an additional task that will require a little extra work on your part.

In the ideal world, you'd be able to clean your floors before you used your robot vacuum to prevent it from hitting things. In the majority of homes it's not feasible or desirable. Thankfully, many models allow you to use your smartphone to create virtual barriers that the robot can be aware of and avoid. Some include no-go zones, which you can use to flag areas that you don't want the robot to access, such as children' rooms or a pile of device cords in the corner.

This model is a good option if you're looking for an easy robot cleaner that doesn't have all the bells. It's quiet and works well on hard floors and low-pile rugs and can be scheduled through the app to vacuum or mop at your convenience. It comes with a battery life that can last up to 180 minutes.

2. Easy to Operate

Robot vacuums typically require very little effort from you. They use navigational tools such as sensors, lasers, and cameras to maneuver and collect dust, pet hair and food crumbs off hard floors, tile and hardwood. Many models have boundary strips to help them remain in a room. The more expensive models can be programmed to start up at a certain time and start cleaning. Some models have fall detection technology to help them avoid falling down stairs or becoming tangled in cords.

Look for models that you can control from your couch via voice assistants, such as Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also search for models with Wi-Fi connectivity that allow you to start a cleaning session from anywhere via an app. Depending on the size of your home is, you may want one with a long battery life and a large dust bin that doesn't require being emptied frequently.

Some robot vacuums double as mops and use water reservoirs to clean your floors. This is great for regular mopping but won't work for extra-tough messes, like pet poop or other spills that are wet. You can find hybrids with an ejectable microfiber pad for mopping, or choose a self-emptying model that lets you go for 30 to 60 days without needing to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Certain robots employ advanced mapping technology to create an accurate map of your floorplan as they clean, making it easier for them to avoid bumping mindlessly into furniture or tripping over things like chair legs or cords. This feature is only available on the top models, but it lets your robot get a complete understanding of your home's layout and knows where to go when the battery runs out.

The majority of robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done using an application or even physical boundary strips. You can block off areas you don't wish your robot to enter in order to concentrate on the rooms that require the most attention.

Many robots can also automatically navigate to different floors according to the type of floor they're cleaning, whether that's changing between carpet and hard flooring or focusing on certain areas of your home, such as corners and baseboards. In our tests it was a great feature that improved their pick-up scores for both hardwood and low-pile carpeting. However, it's still important to tuck away furniture and cords before using your robot vacuum to ensure that it doesn't get stuck or run into something it shouldn't.

4. Remote Control

Almost all robot vacuums are WiFi-enabled and can be controlled by Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts that allow you to control them via voice commands or via your smartphone. Many connect to smart home systems that create maps of your home after each cleaning session, so that they can "learn" your layout and plan more efficient routes for future trips. Some have built-in obstacle avoidance that stops them from hitting furniture and causing damage or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables or shoe laces, as well as hair from pets.

Most robots come with a remote you can use to steer them around your home. However, many can be controlled using a mobile app, which gives you more options. It is possible to set up multiple cleaning schedules, create a list of favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot around specific areas by using directional arrows that appear on the screen.

Some models have zones that are not allowed. These are virtual barriers you can set up in the app to prevent the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for children or dishes for dogs and dog beds). Certain apps let you draw an image of your home and provide detailed information on the floors. The app that we recommend as our top choice one, the Roborock S7+, has numerous options to help you clean your home, but its interface isn't as polished and elegant as those from Irobot mopping and vacuum (perthinside.com) and shark robot vacuum.

5. Long Battery Life

Robotic vacuums that can sweep all over your home without stopping to recharge or empty their dust bins make it easier for you to save time and effort. Some work with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts for hands-free operation. They can also build a map of your space that allows you to program them to clean specific areas or rooms, and to avoid obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums come with some degree of object detection and object detection, but more expensive models such as the iRobot J7 have advanced features such as "home mapping" and advanced obstacle avoidance that can really make your life easier (although our test bot did "eat" socks). socks). If you're seeking to improve your home maintenance, you should consider the use of a robot mop and a water container that you can fill and empty.

While none of the models we tested beat the dirt-picking power of a stand-up vacuum, they all do a great job at cleaning carpets with low pile and hard floors. They are great in sweeping up dust and food particles, dirt tracked in and pet hair. They also can handle screws and nuts made of metal as well as cats' litter. The most effective robot vacuums can clean edges and corners and work on furniture. For a basic model that works by itself and is reasonably priced take a look at the Eufy 11S.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

A robot vacuum can keep your home tidy and clean without doing lots of work. You can schedule cleanings in the app and create zones that are not allowed to enter so that your robot won't trample your plants or your favourite chair. The majority of our top picks will also empty their trash bins for you and clean their docking stations.

The best robot vacuums can be programmed to keep your floors clean for weeks or even months at a stretch, making it easier to save time and effort of manually sweeping or mopping your floors every week or even every day. This allows you to take more time doing the things you enjoy and reduces the time needed to clean your floors manually.

In our tests the Q Revo was able grab fine particles such as baking soda and oatmeal. It also picked up 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 adequate for the majority of families.

The most impressive feature of the j7 is its ability to spot and avoid obstacles like power cords and socks, shoes, and pet waste. This means that you don't need to tidy the room prior to running your robot, although messy rooms can mean that your robot could get stuck and not do the job as well.