The Best Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum can do most of the cleaning for you. It will remove pet hair, lint and surface dirt from carpets and furniture before they become stuck. They also have smart assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to provide a hands-free experience.
Many models have maps, which allows them to create maps of your home. This allows them to avoid falling off ledges or moving around clusters if device cords.
What to look for
Some robots have advanced features, allowing users to control them with voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant. Smart mapping, zone cleaning, and object avoidance are a few of the features. These machines might also have larger dust bins as well as longer-lasting batteries.
Select a model that has broad brushes that can clean up large debris and that is slim enough to fit underneath furniture. Also check whether the robot vacuum is able to move across different flooring types without having to change brushes or alter suction settings, which could reduce its cleaning effectiveness and reduce its lifespan.
The best robot vacuums are equipped with high-quality filters that trap fine particles and protect your home. They also have a large, easily accessible bin for collecting so that you can empty it frequently. Some come with an additional side brush to clean up pet hair and debris in difficult-to-access places such as under and behind furniture. The dustbins are usually transparent, allowing you to see how much dirt is in the bin and when you should empty it.
You can also make use of the app to set limits around furniture and rooms that you don't want it entering. Some models also register what kind of floor they're cleaning and automatically adjust their brush and suction settings to match.
There are robots that can recharge and continue cleaning where they left off after their battery has run out. Some robot vacuums have cameras built-in that lets you see the route the robot took and what it has collected.
Some robots can be controlled via voice commands but not all. Make sure the model you select is compatible with your voice assistant of choice, and test out how well it responds to various commands during the purchase process. Some robots can even empty their trash bins or clean their docking stations, which will help you reduce your chore list. However, this feature comes at cost, as do an extra bin for collection and faster charging speed.
Cleaning Performance
While robots can't substitute for a full-on vacuum cleaner or broom, they can provide a practical and efficient alternative to the daily chore of keeping floors clean. The best robotic cleaners can remove small particles like pet hair, dust and crumbs, or bigger objects like metal shavings and wood shavings. They can do this without damaging the floor or furniture.
In most cases, they'll be able to detect what type of surface they're cleaning and adjust their suction or brush features accordingly so that they can more thoroughly clean your floors. This is especially important when your home is made up of various types of flooring. A lot of models come with a wide range of options to set up virtual boundaries, which allows you to tell the robot to stay clear from certain areas of your home. This is helpful for protecting your pets or children from getting into areas they shouldn't be, and also helps ensure that your entire home is cleaned at the end of every scheduled session.
You should also think about the amount of autonomy you're willing to give your robot. Certain models require your attention and presence while others function on their own with the capability to change cleaning modes and schedules through a mobile app or voice commands using an integrated smart assistant. Some models map and learn your home's space, and allow you to define zones and tell the robot to clean specific areas of your home on a daily or weekly basis.
In our testing, the iRobot was the most efficient "set it and forget it" robot. It was a master in mapping, creating virtual boundaries and getting around obstacles better than the other robots we test. Plus, it can empty itself completely so you don't need to do it manually. It also has side brushes that help to sweep debris away from corners and edges that a vacuum may not reach.
Its slim design and infrared sensor allows it to clean under and behind furniture, allowing it to perform better than other robots. Furthermore, its advanced navigation system enables it to clean the entire floor of your home with just one battery charge. It's difficult to beat even at its affordable price.
Battery Life
A robot vacuum can make cleaning your floors feel less of a chore and more like an indulgence. Promptly nabbing tracked-in dirt, crumbs, and shed pet hair can make a huge difference in how clean your home is on a regular basis. A basic robot can take care of most cleaning tasks. However those who prefer a more relaxed experience might want to look for a model that doubles as a mops.
Ecovacs Deebot T10 OMNI offers excellent performance both in vacuuming and mopping modes. It is able to handle pet best self emptying robot vacuum hair, dirt, and even cat litter. Its object avoidance function is amazing. It lets it steer away from objects and not get tangled on them.
It also has a long battery life and a huge dust bin which allows it to cover a considerable amount of space in just one session. It's also smart vacuum, meaning it can make maps of your home and integrate with applications, such as those provided by Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, to let you control it with voice commands.
The application that comes with the robot allows you to create schedules, define specific rooms for cleaning, or the ability to pause and resume sessions. It can even notify you when its battery is running low and then return to its docking station to recharge.
The robot can also differentiate between hard floors and carpets, and adjust its settings in accordance with the type of flooring. This prevents the machine from squeezing on one type of surface and accidentally tearing your furniture. It is not able to detect seams or carpeting with high pile in rooms, so it is crucial to be aware when picking up large objects.
All robot vacuums require some amount of maintenance, like getting rid of hair from brushes, emptying (and sometimes, rinsing) the bin of dust after each cleaning session. Also, cleaning sensors or cameras between use to keep them in good condition. The manufacturer will give specific guidelines for these and other steps to maintain which can differ based on the particular model.
Cost
The best robot vacuums aren't cheap, but they are far cheaper than a professional carpet cleaning machine or even a stand-up one. They require less maintenance than traditional vacuums, as they require that you empty and occasionally rinse their dust bins after every cleaning session.
Many robot vacuums have intelligent features that help them be more effective in your home, for instance mapping technology which lets you guide the vacuum on the layout of your home by using an app, so it knows not to run into the stairs or under the furniture, where there might be a mess. Other models can determine the floor type they're working on, and they can alter their suction or brush functions to get the best results.
Some models feature object avoidance. The system uses sensors (or cameras) that detect toys and other items lying on the floor. The robot is then instructed to avoid them, rather than crashing into them. This can be a huge help when you have children or pets who tend to scatter toys around the house.
Another feature that might be important to you is voice control that lets you control your robot using your voice instead of using the buttons on the board. This is a great option for children who aren't yet old enough to be able to use the controls, or if you are looking for a hands-free option.
The frequency at which you use your robot will depend on how much dirt or debris is on your floor. Most experts recommend using a robot vacuum at least once a week to keep your floors looking good and to remove pet hair, dirt and lint before it gets crushed or become difficult to remove.
If you're working with limited flooring and don't intend to use your robot for other tasks, a budget model such as our top pick, the Eufy 11S, is a great option. It's inexpensive, simple to set up and use and can complete the task with minimal noise disturbance while you work or watch TV.