How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you can live without smart capabilities like mapping, and don't mind emptying the dustbin every 60 days or so, a basic robot vacuum will probably work for you. Look for one that has a clean base and works with voice assistants.

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

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum will stay on top of the dust, pet hair and dander that accumulates on your floors on a daily basis. It also can reduce the frequency at which you have to do a deeper clean and saves you time and effort. The most effective models have powerful suction that can tackle most messes and leave your home clean.

A robot vacuum that can also mop will help you cover more ground using one machine, which is especially beneficial in larger homes. Look for one that has an water reservoir integrated into the best robot vacuum cleaner chassis or as a separate piece that you put in after vacuuming is complete. It'll need to be emptied and refilled, so it's an extra task to complete.

In a perfect universe you would clean your floors first before using your robot vacuum, preventing it from crashing into anything. But in most homes, this isn't possible or best robot vacuum for thick Carpet desirable. Thankfully, most models allow you to use a smartphone app to set up virtual barriers that the robot can see and avoid. 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 an area.

If you're looking for a simple robot vacuum without all the bells and bells, this model from the networking company TP-Link is a good choice. It's quiet, works well on hard floors as well as low-pile rugs and can be scheduled using the app to vacuum or mop at your convenience. It has a long battery life that can last up to 180 minutes.

2. Simple to operate

In general, robot vacuums require very little input from you. They make use of instruments for navigation, such as sensors, lasers, and cameras to move around and collect dust, pet hair, and food crumbs from tiles, hard floors and hardwood. A lot of them have boundary strips that help them stay within the walls of a room while higher-end models can be programmed to automatically wake up and begin cleaning at a set time. Certain models come with fall detection technology that helps them avoid falling down stairs or becoming tangled in cords.

Look for models that can be controlled from your couch via voice assistants, such as Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also select Wi-Fi models that permit users to start cleaning from anywhere with an app. Depending on how large your home is, you may prefer an item with a long battery life and a roomy dustbin that doesn't require being regularly emptied.

Some robot vacuums can double as mops, utilizing water reservoirs to clean your floors. This is ideal for mopping, but not great for tough messes like pet poop and other wet spills. You can pick hybrids with an adjustable microfiber mopping pad or a self-emptying option that lets you go for up to 60 days without emptying the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Certain robots utilize advanced mapping technology to build a detailed map as they clean. This helps them avoid hitting furniture and getting caught on cords or legs of chairs. This feature is only available on the top models however it allows your robot to be aware of your home's layout and to know where it should go when the battery runs out.

The majority of robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done via an app or physical boundary strips. This lets you create zones that you don't want your robot explore, so that it can focus its attention on areas and rooms that require the most attention.

Many robots also automatically switch floors based on the kind of floor they are cleaning. This can be achieved by switching from carpet to hard flooring, or by focusing on particular areas of your home like corners and baseboards. This feature was useful during our tests and helped improve the performance of the vacuum on hardwood flooring and low-pile floor carpeting. It is important to secure any loose cords or furniture before using your robot vacuum so that it doesn't become caught.

4. Remote Control

Most robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled using voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many robot vacuums are connected to smart home systems, and generate an outline of the area they clean after each cleaning session. This lets them "learn" how your home is laid out, and then plan more efficient routes in future cleaning sessions. Some have built-in obstacle avoidance that prevents them from crashing into 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 steer them around your home. The majority of robots can be operated by mobile applications, which offers more features. You can create multiple cleaning schedules, and create an inventory of your preferred rooms. You can also guide the robot using directional the arrows.

Some models have zones that are not allowed. These are virtual barriers you can set up in the app to stop the robot from accessing certain areas (like toys for kids or dishes and dog beds). Some apps allow you to create a map of your house and provide detailed information on the floors. The Roborock S7+ app has many useful features that will help you clean the house. However its interface isn't as polished as that from iRobot or Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacuums that can clean your entire house without stopping to recharge or emptying their trash bins save time and effort. Some robot vacuums work with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to enable hands-free operation. They can also make maps of the area that allows you to program them to specific rooms or areas and to avoid obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums come with some degree of detection of objects, but higher-end models such as the iRobot J7 have advanced features like "home mapping" and advanced obstacle avoidance that will make your life easier (although our test bot did once "eat" the socks of a pair). socks). If you want to take your home cleaning to the next level consider a robot mop that comes with a tank of water that you fill and empty yourself.

While no of the models we tested could compete with the dirt-picking power of a stand-up vacuum, they did an excellent job of cleaning hard floors and low pile carpets. They excel at picking up fine dirt, food crumbs, and tracked-in dirt. They can even tackle some stray cat litter and metal screws and nuts. The best robot vacuums are able to clean edges and best robot vacuum for thick carpet corners and work on furniture. Eufy 11S is a relatively affordable and basic model.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

With the right configuration with the right setup, a robot vacuum will aid in keeping your home looking and feeling fresh on a regular basis without a lot of effort. You can schedule cleanings through the app, and you can designate no-go areas so that the robot won't get in the way of your plants or sit on your favorite chair. Many of our top picks empty their trash bins for you and clean their docking stations.

The best robot Vacuum for Thick carpet robot vacuums are programmable to keep your floors clean for weeks or months at a time, saving you the time and effort of manually mopping or sweeping your floors every single week or even every day. This lets you spend more time doing things you enjoy and reduces the amount of time required to clean your floors manually.

In our tests the Q Revo was able to capture small particles such as baking soda and oatmeal as well as heavier debris such nails and screws made of metal as well as fluffy things such as hair of pets. It isn't equipped with the advanced mapping and object-avoiding features of our top picks but is still a great option for families with children.

The most impressive feature of the j7 is its ability to detect and avoid obstacles like power cords as well as socks and shoes as well as pet waste. This means that you don't need to clean up before using your robot. However, rooms that are cluttered could cause your robot to become stuck and perform poorly.