How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you don't need 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. Choose a model with an uncluttered base that can work with voice assistants.

It is the best robo-vacuum we have tested for picking up dirt and pet hair from tiles, hardwood floors, and low-pile carpeting. It can also plan out and set virtual no-go zones in rooms or specific areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum can assist you in keeping up with the pet fur, dust and dander that settles on your floor each day. It also can reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, which will save you both time and effort. The best models come with powerful suction that can take on the majority of messes and leave your home cleaner.

You can cover a larger area with a robot vacuum and mop, which can be beneficial if you live in a large home. Look for a model that has a water reservoir either built into its chassis or as a separate item that you put in after the vacuuming is done. You'll have to empty it and robot vacuum mops refill it, though, so this is an additional chore that requires a little extra work on your part.

In ideal world, you'd clean your floors prior to using your robot vacuum to prevent it from crashing into objects. In the majority of homes it's not feasible or desirable. The majority of models let you utilize an app on your smartphone to create virtual barriers that the robot can see. Some models include no-go areas that you can mark areas you don't want the robot to be allowed to enter. For instance the child's room or a pile of cords in a corner.

This model is a great option if you're looking for a simple robot cleaner without all the bells and whistles. It's quiet and can be used on hard floors as well as low-pile carpets and can be programmed through the app to vacuum and mop at your convenience. It's got a long battery life, and can last up to 180 minutes before needing to recharge.

2. Easy to operate

Robot vacuums generally require very little effort from you. They make use of navigation tools such as sensors and lasers to move around obstacles and remove food particles, dust and pet hair from floors, tile carpets, hardwood floors and low-pile carpets. Many have boundary strips that allow them to stay within the walls of a room, while pricier models can be programmed to automatically wake up and begin cleaning at a set time. Certain models come with fall detection technology to help users avoid falling down the stairs or becoming tangled in cords.

Look for models that can be controlled from the comfort of your sofa using voice assistants, such as Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also select Wi-Fi models that allow you to begin cleaning anywhere you want using an app. Depending on how big your home is, you may prefer an item with a long battery life and a large dust bin that doesn't require being emptying frequently.

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

3. Smart Mapping

Certain robots utilize advanced mapping technology to build a detailed map while they clean. This makes it easier to avoid hitting furniture or tripping over cords or legs of chairs. This feature is typically only available on more expensive 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 is aware of where to go when it's low on battery.

If you don't want your robot to venture into areas of your house that you'd prefer to keep it away from (like your children's toys or the mess of device cords in the corner) Most robots provide some way to create virtual barriers, either through their app or a set of physical boundary strips. You can block off areas you don't want your robot to enter, so that it can concentrate on areas that require the most attention.

Many robots will also automatically change floors depending on the flooring they are cleaning. This can be done by changing from carpet to hard flooring, or by paying attention to certain areas of your home like corners and baseboards. This feature was effective during our tests and helped improve the performance of the vacuum on hardwood flooring and carpeting for floors with low-pile. But, it's still essential to secure furniture and cords that are loose prior to using your robot vacuum to ensure that it doesn't get stuck or run into something it shouldn't.

4. Remote Control

The majority of robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled with voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many connect to smart home systems that create an outline of your space after each cleaning session, so they can "learn" your layout and plan more efficient routes for Robot vacuum mops future runs. There are also built-in obstacles avoidance, which stops them from bumping into and damaging furniture or getting stuck on things like charging cables that are loose, shoe laces and pet hair.

The majority of robots come with an remote control that you can use to move them around your home. The majority of robots can be controlled by a mobile app which has more options. You can set up a variety of cleaning schedules and create an inventory of your preferred rooms. You can also manually direct the robot by using direction the arrows.

Certain models have no-go zones. These are virtual barriers that you can create in the app to stop the Robot vacuum mops from entering certain areas (like toys for children or dog beds and dishes). Some apps let you draw an outline of your home and provide detailed information about the floors. The app we ranked as our top pick one, the Roborock S7+, has a lot of useful options to help you clean your house, but its interface isn't as polished and elegant as those from iRobot and Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacuums that clean your entire house without stopping to recharge or emptying their trash bins 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 home that allows you to program them to clean specific areas or rooms, and to beware of 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 can make your life much easier (although one of our test robots did "eat" two socks). If you want to take your home maintenance even further opt for a robotic mop that has a tank of water that can be filled and then empty.

While none of the models we tested could beat the dirt-picking power of a stand-up vacuum, the majority of them do an excellent job at cleaning hard floors and low-pile carpets. They excel at picking up food crumbs and dirt that has been tracked into. They can also handle metal screws and nuts, as well as stray cat litter. The top robot vacuums can clean corners and edges and can even work on furniture. For a basic model that works on its own and is relatively inexpensive, check out the Eufy 11S.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

With the right configuration and the right setup, a robotic vacuum can assist you in keeping your home looking and feeling cleaner on a regular basis with minimal effort. You can schedule cleanings through the app and set up no-go zones to ensure that your robot doesn't damage your plants or your favourite chair. The majority of our top robot vacuum cleaner picks automatically empty their trash bins and clean their docking stations for you.

The most effective robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for weeks or months at a stretch, making it easier to save time and effort of manually mopping or sweeping your floors each week or every day. This allows you to spend more time on things you enjoy and reduces the amount of time your floors need to be cleaned manually.

During tests the Q Revo was able to capture fine particles such as baking soda and oatmeal. It also snatched up larger particles like nails and screws made of metal, as well as fluffy things like pet hair. It does not have the advanced mapping and objects-avoiding features of our top picks, but is still a great option for families with children.

The most appealing feature of the j7 is that it makes use of cameras and processor-powered smarts to recognize and avoid obstacles such as power cords, shoes, socks, and pet waste. This means that you don't need to spend time tidying up before you can run your robot vacuum black friday, although messy rooms can mean that your bot may get stuck and not be able to do as well.