The Best Robot Vacuums

A good robot vacuum does the majority of the work and removes pet hair, lint and dirt before it can stick to furniture or get ground into carpets. They also have smart assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to give you a hands-free experience.

Many models include mapping capabilities, which allow them to create a map of your home. This helps them to avoid falling off ledges or navigating around clusters if device cords.

What to look for

Certain robots have advanced features that let you control them through the app and voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. Smart mapping, zone cleaning, and object avoidance are a few of the features. They may also have longer battery lives and larger dust collection bins.

Look for a model with a wide brush that can clean up large debris and one that is slim enough to be able to fit under furniture. Also, check if the vacuum can move over multiple floor types without having to change brushes or alter suction settings, which could reduce its cleaning effectiveness and shorten its life.

The top robotic vacuums have high-quality filters to catch fine particles and safeguard your home. They also come with an enormous accessible bin for collecting so that you can empty it frequently. Some robot vacuums have an additional side brush that can sweep up pet hair and debris from hard-to reach places, such as under and behind furniture. The dustbins are usually transparent, which means you can see the amount of dirt in the bin and when to empty it.

You can also make use of the app to establish the boundaries of furniture and rooms that you do not want it to enter. Some models also recognize the type of floor they're cleaning and automatically adjust their brush and suction settings to suit the floor.

There are robots that recharge and continue cleaning where they left off when their battery runs out. Certain robot vacuums have a camera built in that allows you to see the path that your robot has taken and the data it has gathered.

Some robots are operated by voice commands however, not all. Make sure the model you pick is compatible with the voice assistant you prefer and then test it to see how the robot responds to commands prior to purchasing. Some robots are able to automatically empty their dustbins and clean their docking stations, reducing the chores you have to do a bit more. But this feature comes with cost, as do the capacity of the bin and a faster charging speed.

Cleaning Performance

Robots aren't the same as for a broom or vacuum. However they can be extremely efficient and effective in keeping your floors clean. The best robotic cleaners can clean up small particles like dust, pet hair, and crumbs, or larger items such as metal shavings or wood shavings. They can do this without damaging the floor commercial robot vacuum or furniture.

They usually detect the type of floor they are cleaning and adjust their suction/brush functions accordingly to clean your floors more thoroughly. This is especially important if you have various flooring types throughout your home. There are many models that offer many options for setting up virtual boundaries, which allows you to instruct the robot to stay away from certain areas of your home. This is useful in preventing your kids or pets from stepping into areas where they shouldn't, and it helps to ensure that your entire home is cleaned at the end of every scheduled session.

Consider the amount of autonomy your robot will have. Certain models require you be present and attentive, whereas others operate independently. They can change cleaning methods and schedules using a mobile application or voice commands via an integrated smart assistant. Certain models map and understand your space and let you define zones and instruct the robot only to clean certain areas in your home on a daily or weekly basis.

In our testing the iRobot J7+ was the top "set it and forget it" robot. It was a master in mapping, forming virtual boundaries and avoiding obstacles better than all the other robots we test. Additionally, it can empty itself completely so you don't need to do it manually. It also has side brushes that can help sweep debris into its path from corners and edges where it is difficult to reach.

Its slim design and infrared sensor allow it to clean under and behind furniture, allowing it to do a better job than most robots. Furthermore, its advanced navigation system lets it to sweep the entire floor of your home with just one battery charge. For a price that is affordable you'll be able to find it difficult to beat in everyday use.

Battery Life

A robot vacuum can make cleaning your floors feel like less of a chore and more of an enjoyable experience. The difference between a clean home and one that is dirty can be made by removing dirt that has been tracked into the house, and crumbs, pet hair, and other particles. While a robot of a basic design can keep up with most cleaning tasks, those seeking more of a hands-off experience should look for models that double as a mop.

Ecovacs Deebot T10 ONI provides excellent performance in both vacuuming and mopping modes. It can handle pet hair, dirt, and even cat litter. The feature to avoid objects is particularly impressive, allowing it to steer clear of objects and not become stuck on them.

It also comes with a long battery life and a large dust bin which allows it to cover a decent amount of space in one session. It's also a smart vacuum, which means it can map your home, and works with apps such as those offered by Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to allow you to control the vacuum with voice commands.

The application that comes with the robot lets you create schedules, define specific rooms for cleaning, or the ability to pause and resume sessions. It will alert you when its battery is low and return to the docking station for recharging.

Another great feature of this robot is the ability to distinguish between carpets and hard floors and adjust its settings accordingly. This helps keep the machine from getting stuck on one kind of surface or accidentally tearing up your furniture. It's not able to detect seams or carpeting with high pile in rooms, which is why it is important to be cautious when picking up large objects.

To ensure that robot vacuums are in good condition, they require maintenance. This includes cleaning the brushes of hair and emptying the trash bin (and sometimes washing it) after each cleaning session. Cameras and sensors must also be cleaned between uses. The manufacturer will give specific instructions for these steps and others, which can vary depending on the model.

Cost

The best robot vacuum cleaner robot vacuums don't come cheap, but they're far less expensive than a professional carpet cleaner or an entire stand-up vacuum. They also need less maintenance than traditional vacuums as they require that you empty (and occasionally rinse) their bins of dust after each cleaning session, and occasionally cleaning their cameras or sensors.

Many robot vacuums come with clever features that help them be more effective in your home, such as mapping technology that allows you to instruct the vacuum on the layout of your room by using an app, so it knows not to run through the stairs or under the furniture, where there could be a mess. Others can tell what flooring type they are working on, so they can alter their suction or brush functions to get the most effective results.

Some models have object avoidance, which uses sensors (or even cameras) to detect objects and toys on the floor. They then instruct the robot vacuum for stairs to go around them instead of running into them. This can be a huge help when you have children or pets that tend to throw toys around the home.

Voice control is another smart feature you might find useful. It allows you to operate your robot with your voice, instead of the on-board buttons. This can be helpful for children who aren't quite old enough to operate the controls or are looking for a hands-free option.

How often you should use your robot will be contingent on how much dirt or debris is on your floor. Most experts suggest using your robot vacuum at least every week in order to keep your floors clean and remove pet hair, lint, and dirt on the surface.

If you only have only a small amount of floor space and do not intend to use the robot for any other purpose such as cleaning, then you should consider a budget model like our top pick Eufy 11S is a great option. It's user-friendly cost-effective, and can do the job without making any noise while you work or watch TV.