The Best Robot Vacuums
A good robot vacuum will do the majority of the work and removes pet hair, lint, and surface dirt before it adheres to furniture or sink into carpets. They also have smart assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to provide the convenience of hands-free operation.
A lot of models come with maps that allow them to create an interactive map of your house. This can help them avoid falling off ledges or moving around clusters of devices if cords are.
What to Look for
Some robots have advanced features that allow you to control them via voice assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant. These include smart mapping spot and zone cleaning, and object avoidance. They may also have longer battery lives and bigger dust collection bins.
Look for a model with broad brushes that can clean large particles and one that's small enough to fit under furniture. Also, check if the vacuum can move over multiple floor types without having to swap out brushes or change suction settings, which could reduce its cleaning effectiveness and reduce its lifespan.
The best robot vacuums have top-quality filters that catch small particles to guard the interior of your home and a large, easy-to-access collection bin that you can empty it often. Some have an extra side brush for sweeping up pet hair and other debris in difficult-to-access places such as behind and under furniture. They also typically have a clear dustbin door that helps you keep an eye on the amount of dirt accumulation to know when it's time for you to empty.
You can also use the app to set limits around furniture and rooms you don't want it to enter. Certain models also recognize the type of floor and adjust their brush and vacuum settings accordingly.
You can also find robots that recharge and resume cleaning exactly where they left off in case their battery runs low. There are some that have an inbuilt camera that lets you observe the path of your robot vacuum and view what it's collected.
A lot of robots let you control them with your voice, but not all of them do it as well as others. 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 different commands before you purchase. Some robots will even empty their dustbins or clean their docking station, which can reduce the chore list. But this feature comes at cost, as do the capacity of the bin and faster charging speed.
Cleaning Performance
While robots aren't able to replace a traditional vacuum or broom, they offer a reliable and effective alternative to the everyday chore of cleaning floors. If you're looking to keep track of tracked-in dust as well as pet hair and crumbs or nab bigger debris like metal screws and wood shavings The top robotic cleaners are capable of picking up different types of debris on the first go-around and doing so without damaging the flooring or furniture.
Most of the time, they'll detect what type of surface they're cleaning and adjust their suction or brush features accordingly to more effectively clean your floors. This is particularly important when you have a variety of flooring throughout your home. There are many models that offer a wide range of options to set up virtual boundaries that allow you to instruct the robot to stay away from certain areas of your home. This can be helpful in preventing your kids or pets from getting into areas they shouldn't be in, and also helps ensure that your entire house is cleaned up at the end of each scheduled session.
Consider how much autonomy your robot will enjoy. Certain models require you be present and attentive, while others work on their own. They can change cleaning modes and schedules via an app on mobile devices or by voice commands via an integrated smart assistant. Certain models map and learn your space and allow you to define zones and instruct the robot to clean certain areas in your home on a daily or weekly basis.
In our tests, the iRobot+ proved to be the top robot to "set it and leave it". It was better in mapping virtual boundaries, making virtual borders and avoids obstacles than the other robots we tested. It can also empty itself so that you aren't required to manually do it. The side brushes help sweep debris from corners and edges that a vacuum cannot reach.
Its slim profile and infrared sensors allow it to get under and behind furniture for more thorough cleaning than other robots, while its advanced navigation system makes it more efficient in cleaning the entire area of your home in a single charge than other models we've tried. It's a tough one to beat, especially at a reasonable price.
Battery Life
A high-quality robot vacuum can make cleaning your floors seem less like a chore and more like a treat. The difference between a clean house and one that is filthy is made by getting rid of dirt that has been tracked in, and crumbs, pet hair, and other particles. While a simple robot can keep up with most cleaning tasks, those seeking a bit more of a hands-off experience should look for models that double as a mop.
Ecovacs' Deebot T10 OMNI provides excellent performance in both vacuuming and mopping modes. It can handle dirt, pet hair, and even cat litter. Its feature for avoiding objects is particularly impressive, enabling it to avoid objects and not become stuck on them.
It has a big dustbin and a long-lasting battery, so it can cover a lot of space in one session. It's also smart vacuum, meaning it can make maps of your home and integrate with apps, like those offered by Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant that let you control it with voice commands.
The application that comes with the robot is easy and simple to use and allows you to set schedules, designate rooms for cleaning, and stop and resume sessions. It will also warn you when its battery is running low and return to its docking station to recharge.
Another nice feature of this robot is the ability to distinguish between hard floors and carpets and adjust its settings accordingly. This keeps the machine from becoming caught up in one type of surface or damaging furniture. However, it isn't yet able to detect high pile carpeting or the seams between rooms, so you'll have to be cautious about picking up large items.
To keep robot vacuums in top condition, they require maintenance. This includes cleaning brushes of hair and emptying the dust bin (and sometimes washing it) after each cleaning session. Cameras and sensors must be cleaned after each use. The manufacturer will provide specific instructions for these actions and others, which can vary depending on the model.
Cost
The top robot vacuums may not be expensive, but they are much less expensive than a professional carpet cleaning machine or even a stand-up vacuum. They require less maintenance than traditional vacuums, since most only require that you empty and rinse their dust bins after each cleaning session.
A lot of robot vacuums have intelligent features which make them more efficient in your home. For instance, mapping technology allows you to tell the vacuum where to go via an app, ensuring it doesn't go through stairs, or under furniture, where there may be an unclean mess. Other robot vacuums can detect the type of floor they are cleaning so they can alter their suction and brush capabilities to achieve the most effective results.
Some models come with objects avoidance. This uses sensors (or a camera) that can detect toys and read more other items lying on the floor. The robot is directed to stay clear of them, rather than crashing into them. This is a great solution for families with pets or children who are known to leave toys in the house.
Another feature that could be of interest to you is voice control that lets you control the robot using your voice instead of using the buttons on board. This can be helpful if you have little ones who aren't yet old enough to use the controls, or if you simply want a hands-free solution.
How often you should use your robot will depend on the amount of dirt or debris is on your floor. The majority of experts suggest using your robot vacuum at least once a week in order to keep your floors spotless and remove pet hair, lint and dirt from the surface.
If you're limited with areas of floor space and don't want to utilize your robot for other tasks, a budget model, such as our top choice the Eufy 11S, is a good choice. It's user-friendly cost-effective, and can do the job without creating any noise while you work or watch TV.