How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you can live without advanced features such as mapping, and aren't worried about cleaning the trash bin every 60 days or so, a basic robotic vacuum could be a good choice for you. Choose one that has a clean base and works with voice assistants.

It is a pro at picking up dirt, clumps of pet hair and cat litter on hardwood floors, tile and carpeting that is lower-pile better than any other vacuum we've tested. It can also map out and create virtual no go zones for rooms or certain areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum cleaner can help you keep track of the dust, pet fur and dander that settles on your floor each day. It can also cut down on the frequency at which you have to deep clean and saves your time and effort. The most effective models feature powerful suction that can clean up most mess with ease and leave your home clean.

Selecting a vacuum that also mop will allow you to achieve more coverage with one machine, which could be especially helpful for homes with a large area. You can find a model that has a water tank in the chassis itself or as an additional piece that you can take out after vacuuming. It will need to be emptied and filled in order to complete the task.

In a perfect world you would clean your floors first before you use your robot vacuum to stop it from running into anything. In the majority of homes this isn't possible or desirable. The majority of models let you make use of an app for your smartphone to build virtual barriers that the robot will see. Some models include no-go areas, which you can flag areas you don't wish it to be allowed to enter. For instance an area for children's play or a pile cords in the corner.

This model is a great option for robot mop vacuum Combo those looking for a simple robot cleaner without all the bells and whistles. It's quiet, it works on both hard floors and carpets with low pile and can be programmed using the app to mop robot vacuum and vacuum at your own convenience. It has a long battery life of up to 180 minutes.

2. Easy to operate

In general, robot vacuums require very little input from you. They use navigational tools such as sensors cameras, lasers, and sensors to maneuver and collect pet hair, dust, and food crumbs from tiles, hard floors and hardwood. A lot of models come with boundary strips to help them remain in a room. The more expensive models can be programmed to get up at a particular 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 a couch, search for models that can work with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also pick Wi-Fi models that permit users to start cleaning anywhere you want using an app. Depending on the size of your house is, you may want a model with a long-lasting battery and a spacious dust bin that doesn't need to be emptying frequently.

Some robot vacuums can also be mopping. They use water reservoirs to wash the floor. This is useful for normal mopping, but it won't work for extra-tough messes, like pet poop or other spills that are wet. There are hybrids that have an ejectable microfiber pad for mopping, or choose a self-emptying model that lets you use the device for 30 to 60 days without needing to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots utilize advanced mapping technologies to build an accurate map of your floorplan as they clean, making it easier for them to avoid crashing into furniture or tripping over things such as cords or chairs. This feature is usually only available on higher-end models, but it's certainly one of the best ways to make sure that your robot has an accurate understanding of the layout of your home and knows where to go next when it's running out of battery.

Most robots let you 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 access, so that it can focus on the rooms that need the most attention.

Many robots also automatically change floors based on the type of flooring they are cleaning. This can be done by switching from carpet to hard flooring, or by focusing on particular areas of your home like 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. It is essential to put away any furniture or cords that are loose prior to using your robot vacuum, so it doesn't get caught.

4. Remote Control

Almost all robot vacuums have WiFi connectivity and can be controlled by Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts that allow users to control them with voice commands or via your smartphone. Many robot vacuums are connected to smart home systems and generate a map of the area they clean after each cleaning session. This allows them to "learn" how your home is laid out and to plan more efficient routes for future cleaning sessions. There are also built-in obstacles avoidance that prevents them from hitting furniture and damaging it or getting stuck on things like charging cables that are loose shoes, laces for shoes and pet hair.

Most robots come with a remote that you can use to pilot them around your home. However, most can also be controlled using an app for mobile devices, which gives you more options. You can typically create multiple cleaning schedules, make a list of favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot around specific areas by using directions on the screen.

Some models have zones that are not allowed. These are virtual barriers you can create in the app to prevent the robot from entering certain areas (like kid's toys or dog beds and dishes). Certain apps let you create an outline of your home and provide detailed information on the floors. The Roborock S7+ app has a number of useful features to assist you in cleaning your home. However, its interface isn't quite as sleek as iRobot or Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacuums that can sweep your entire home without stopping for a recharge or emptying their trash bins save time and effort. Certain robot vacuums can work with smart home platforms such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to enable hands-free operation. They can also draw an outline of the space that allows you to program them for certain areas or rooms and to avoid obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums can detect objects, but the iRobot J7 has advanced features, such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These features can make your life easier (although one of our test robots did "eat" a few socks). If you're looking to take your home maintenance to the next level opt for a robotic mop with a water tank that can be filled and then empty.

While no of the models we tested could match the ability to pick up dirt of a standup 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 dust, tracked-in dirt, and pet hair. They can also handle screws and nuts made of metal as well as cats' litter. The best robot vacuums are able to remove dirt from edges and corners and can even work around furniture. Eufy 11S is a relatively affordable and basic model.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

A robot vacuum will help keep your home clean and tidy without you having to do much work. You can schedule your cleanings using the app and set up no-go zones so that your robot mop vacuum combo won't trample your plants or your favourite chair. The majority of our top picks automatically empty their trash bins and clean their docking stations for you.

The top robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors on a regular basis for months or even weeks at a stretch, freeing you from the arduous task of manually sweeping and mopping your floors on a weekly or daily basis. This helps you spend more time on things you love and reduces the amount of time your floors need to be cleaned manually.

During testing the Q Revo was able to pick up small particles such as baking soda and oatmeal and heavier debris like metal screws and nails as well as fluffy things like pet hair. It isn't equipped with the intelligent mapping and object-avoiding features of our top picks, but it is still a good choice for families with children.

The most appealing aspect of the j7 robot is that it makes use of cameras and processor-powered smarts to recognize and avoid obstacles such as shoes, power cords, socks and pet waste. This means that you don't need to clean up before using your robot. However, cluttered rooms may cause your bot to become stuck and do poorly.