How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you don't need advanced features like mapping, and aren't worried about emptying your bin every 60 to 90 days A basic robot vacuum could be the best choice for you. Select a model with an uncluttered base that can work with voice assistants.

It is the best robo-vacuum we have tested at cleaning up pet hair from hardwood floors, tile, and carpeting with low pile. It also maps and set virtual no-go zones for rooms and areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum cleaner can help you keep up with the dust, pet fur and dander that accumulates on your floors every day. It also can reduce the frequency you have to do a deeper clean which will save you time and effort. The most effective model comes with powerful suction that can tackle most messes and leave your home sparkling clean.

You can cover more area by using a robot vacuum as well as a mop, which can be beneficial if you live in an extensive home. Find models that have an water reservoir in the chassis or as a separate item that you can swap out when vacuuming is complete. You'll have to empty it and refill it, though, so this is an additional task that requires a little extra work on your part.

In a perfect universe, you would clear your floors first before you use your robot vacuum, preventing it from running into anything. But in most homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. Most models allow you to use an app on your smartphone to create virtual barriers that the mini robot vacuum will see. Certain models have no-go zones, best buy which you can flag areas that you don't want it to enter. For instance an area for children's play or a pile of cords in a corner.

If you're looking for a simple robot vacuum with no bells and whistles, this model made by networking company TP-Link is a good choice. It's quiet, and it works on both hard floors and low-pile carpets and can be scheduled using the app to mop or vacuum at any time. It has a long battery life, and can last for up to 180 minutes before it needs to recharge.

2. Simple to operate

In general robot vacuums require little input from you. They make use of navigation tools such as sensors and lasers to navigate around obstacles and remove dust, food crumbs and pet hair from hard floors, mops tiles, hardwood and low-pile carpets. Many models come with boundary strips to help them remain in a room. Higher-end models can be programmed to get up at a particular time and start cleaning. Some models have fall detection technology that helps them avoid falling down 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. Also, look for models that connect to Wi-Fi and allow you to start cleaning from any location using an app. You might want to choose an option with a long-lasting battery, as well as an enormous dust bin, based on the size of your home.

Some robot vacuums double as mops, utilizing reservoirs of water to wash your floors. This is useful for everyday mopping, but will not be effective for messes that are more difficult to clean, such as pet poop or other wet spills. You can pick hybrids with a removable microfiber mopping pad, or a self-emptying version that lets you go for up to 60 days before emptying the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots use advanced mapping technology to create a detailed map as they clean. This makes it easier to avoid hitting furniture and getting caught on cords or chairs. This feature is typically only available on more expensive models, but it's one of the best ways to make sure your robot has a full understanding of the layout of your house and can determine where to go when it's low on battery.

Most robots let you create virtual barriers. This can be done using an app or physically-based boundary strips. This lets you create zones that you don't want your robot to explore, so that it can focus its attention on the areas that require the most attention.

Many robots also automatically switch floors based on the type of floor they are cleaning. This can be done by changing from carpet to hard flooring or by paying attention to specific areas of your house, such as corners and baseboards. In our tests it was a great feature that improved their scores on picking up carpeting that is low-pile and hardwood. However, it's still important to secure 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 have WiFi connectivity and work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts, which allow you to control them using voice commands or from your smartphone. Many connect to smart home systems and build an outline of your space after each cleaning session so that they can "learn" your layout and devise more efficient routes for future trips. Some come with obstacles avoidance built-in that prevents them from causing damage to furniture and getting stuck on things like loose charging cables or pet hair.

The majority of robots come with a remote control that you can use to navigate them around your home. Most robots are controlled by a mobile app which has more options. You can set up multiple cleaning schedules and make an agenda of your most-loved rooms. You can also guide the robot with the directional the arrows.

Some models provide no-go zones These are virtual barriers that you can create within the app to prevent the robot from entering certain areas (like kids' toys or dog beds and bowls). Certain apps let you create an outline of your home and provide more detailed information about the floors. The Roborock S7+ app has a number of useful features to assist you in cleaning your home. However the interface isn't as polished as that from iRobot or Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robotic vacuums that can sweep throughout the house without stopping to recharge or empty their dust bins save you time and effort. Some of them work with smart home devices like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also make maps of the area to allow you to program them for certain areas or rooms, and to avoid obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums can detect objects, however the iRobot j7 comes with advanced features such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These features can simplify your life (although one of our test robots did "eat" two socks). If you're looking to improve your home's maintenance, think about a robot mop with a water container 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 were able to do a fantastic job cleaning hard floors as well as carpets with low pile. They are great in sweeping up dust and debris, food particles, dirt tracked in and pet hair. They can even tackle some pet litter that is stray and metal screws and nuts. The most effective robot vacuums are able to easily maneuver through furniture, and they excel at cleaning corners and edges as well. Eufy 11S is a relatively inexpensive and basic model.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

With the proper setup and the right setup, a robotic vacuum can assist you in keeping your home looking and looking and feeling cleaner on a regular basis with minimal effort. You can schedule cleanings in the app and create no-go zones so that your robot doesn't harm your plants or your favorite chair. A majority of our top picks also automatically empty their bins and clean their docking stations for you.

The top robot vacuums are programmable to clean your floors regularly for months or weeks at a time, saving you the time and effort of manually mopping or sweeping your floors every single week or every day. This allows you to enjoy more time doing things you enjoy and reduces the time needed to clean your floors manually.

In our tests the Q Revo was able to pick up small particles such as baking soda and oatmeal and heavier debris like nails and screws made of metal as well as fluffy things like pet hair. It's not equipped with the advanced mapping and object avoidance features found in our top picks, but it's adequate for the majority of families.

The best thing about the j7 is its ability to recognize and avoid obstacles such as power cords, shoes and socks, and pet waste. This means that you don't need to clean up after using your robot. However, rooms that are cluttered could cause your robot to become stuck and do an inadequate job.