The Best Robot Vacuums

A robot vacuum can do the majority of the cleaning for you. It will remove pet hair, lint and dirt from surfaces and furniture before they can become stuck. Many robot vacuums are compatible with smart assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to give you a hands-free cleaning experience.

Many models have maps that allow them to create an interactive map of your house. This can help them avoid falling off ledges and navigating around the cords of devices.

What to Look for

Some robots come with advanced features that let you control them via apps and voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. These include smart mapping as well as spot and small zone cleaning and the ability to avoid objects. These machines could also come with larger dust bins and longer-lasting batteries.

Choose a model that has an extensive brush that can remove large particles, and is small enough to be able to fit under furniture. Also, check if the vacuum can be used on multiple kinds of floors without the need to swap brushes or change suction settings. This can make it less effective in cleaning and shorten its life.

The most effective robot vacuums feature high-quality filters that trap fine particles to protect the inside of your home and a large, easy-to-access collection bin that you can empty it frequently. Some models come with an additional side brush for sweeping up pet hair and other debris in difficult-to-access areas behind and under furniture. They also usually have a door for the dustbin that is clear which allows you to keep an eye on the level of dirt accumulation so you can tell when it's time to empty the.

You can also use the app to set boundaries around furniture and rooms that you don't want it to enter. Some models can also detect the type of floor and alter their brush and vacuum settings to match.

There are robots that can recharge and continue cleaning where they left off when their battery is exhausted. Certain robot vacuums have cameras built-in that allows you to see the path the robot took and the information it has collected.

Certain robots can be controlled via voice commands however, not all. Check that the model you choose is compatible with the voice assistant of your choice and then test it to see how well the robot responds to commands before you purchase. Some robots even empty their bins and clean their docking stations, which will help you reduce your chore list. But this feature comes with an expense, as does a larger collection bin and a faster charging speed.

Cleaning Performance

While robots aren't able to replace a full-on vacuum or broom, they do provide an effective and efficient alternative to the everyday chore of cleaning floors. The best robotic cleaners can clean up small particles like dust, pet hair, and crumbs, or bigger items such as metal shavings or wood shavings. They can do this without causing damage to furniture or floors.

In most cases, they'll be able to detect the type of floor they're cleaning and adjust their suction or brush features in accordance with the type of surface so that they can more thoroughly clean your floors. This is particularly important if your home has different types of flooring. Many models also come with a wide range of options for setting virtual boundaries, allowing you to tell the robot to stay clear from certain areas of your home. This helps prevent your children or pets from getting into areas they shouldn't. It will also ensure that your house is cleaned at the end of each scheduled session.

Consider the amount of autonomy your robot can enjoy. Certain models require you be active and attentive, while others operate independently. They can alter cleaning schedules and cleaning modes using the mobile app or via voice commands with an integrated smart assistant. Some will map and learn your home, allowing you to set up zones and instruct the robot to clean certain areas of your home on a weekly or daily basis.

In our tests, the irobot vacuum and mop J7+ proved to be the best robot for "set it and leave it". It was superior at mapping, small creating virtual borders and avoiding obstacles than any of the other robots that we test. It also has the ability to empty itself, so you aren't required to manually do it. The side brushes help sweep debris from edges and corners that a vacuum might not reach.

Its slim profile and infrared sensors also allow it to get behind and under furniture to provide more thorough cleaning than other robots, while its advanced navigation system makes it more efficient in cleaning the entire area of your home in one charge as compared to other devices we've tried. It's a tough one to beat, especially at a reasonable price.

Battery Life

A quality robot vacuum will make cleaning your floors seem less like a chore and more like a luxury. Fastly removing dirt, crumbs, and shed pet hair can make a huge difference in the cleanliness of your home every day. A basic robot is able to handle most cleaning tasks. However, those who prefer a more hands-off experience may wish to search for a model which also serves as an mops.

The Ecovacs Deebot T10 OMNI is one of the top models for both as it is extremely efficient in both its mop and vacuuming modes and is able to easily deal with dirt debris, pet hair and even cat litter. Its ability to avoid objects is amazing. It allows it to avoid objects and not get caught on them.

It has a large dustbin and a long-lasting battery, so it can cover a large amount of space in just one go. It's also a smart vacuum, which means it can track your home and works with apps such as those offered by Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to let you control the vacuum with voice commands.

The app that comes with the robot is easy and straightforward to use, allowing you to set schedules, define rooms for cleaning, and pause and resume sessions. It will notify you when its battery is low and return to the docking station for recharging.

The robot can also differentiate between hard floors and carpets and adjust its settings accordingly. This prevents the machine from squeezing on one type of floor and accidentally tearing your furniture. It's not able detect high-pile carpeting or seams in rooms, therefore it's important to be careful when grabbing large objects.

To ensure that robot vacuums are in good condition they require regular maintenance. This includes cleaning brushes of hair and emptying the dust bin (and sometimes washing it) after every cleaning session. Cameras and sensors should also be cleaned between each use. The manufacturer will give specific recommendations for these and other steps to maintain that may differ based on the specific model.

Cost

The best robot vacuums might not be expensive, but they are considerably less expensive than a professional carpet cleaning machine or even a stand-up one. They also need less maintenance than a traditional vacuum as they require that you empty (and occasionally rinse) their bins of dust after each cleaning session, and periodically wiping down their sensors or cameras.

Many robot vacuums have clever features that help them be more effective in your home, like mapping technology which lets you instruct the vacuum to follow the layout of your home by using an app, so it doesn't run through the stairs or under the furniture, where there might be an issue. Other robot vacuums can detect the type of floor they are cleaning, so that they can adjust their suction and brush capabilities to ensure the best results.

Some models have object avoidance, which uses sensors (or even a camera) to spot objects like toys and other things on the floor and instruct the robot to go around them instead of running over them. This is a great option for families with pets or children who tend to leave toys all over the home.

Another feature that might be important to you is voice control, which lets you operate your robot with your voice instead of using the buttons on the board. This is a great option for children who aren't quite old enough to be able to use the controls, or if you are looking for a hands-free option.

How often you have to utilize your robot is contingent upon the amount of dirt and debris is normally found on your floors. Most experts recommend using your robot vacuum at least once a week to keep your floors spotless and to remove pet hair, lint, and surface dirt.

If you have limited floor surfaces and don't plan to use your robot for other tasks, a low-cost model like our top pick the Eufy 11S, is a suitable option. It's inexpensive, simple to install and operate and does the job with minimal noise disturbance while you work or watch TV.