The Best Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum will take care of the majority of the cleaning for you. It will take pet hair, lint and dirt from surfaces and furniture before they become stuck. Some also integrate with smart assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to give you the convenience of hands-free operation.
Many models come with mapping capabilities, which allow them to draw a map of your home. This allows them to avoid falling off ledges and navigating around cords that connect devices.
What to Look for
Some robots come with advanced features that allow you to control them using apps and voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. Smart mapping, zone cleaning and object avoidance are some of the features. These machines could also have larger dust bins and longer-lasting batteries.
Choose a model with a an extended brush that is able to sweep up large debris and one that's small enough to fit under furniture. Check if the robot vacuum is able to clean various types of floors without having to change suction settings or brushes. This can reduce its cleaning efficiency and shorten its lifespan.
The top robot vacuums have high-quality filters to catch fine particles and safeguard your home. They also come with an ample accessible collection bin so you can empty it often. Some robot vacuums come with an additional side brush to remove pet hair or debris in difficult to reach areas, such as under and behind furniture. They also typically have a clear dustbin door which allows you to keep an eye on the amount of dirt accumulation so you know when it's time to empty.
In addition to scheduling your robot vacuum to operate at times when you're likely be at home, you can also use the app to draw the boundaries around your furniture and rooms that you'd like it avoid. Some models also register what type of floor they're cleaning and automatically adjust their brush and suction settings to match.
You can also find robots that can recharge and resume cleaning exactly where they left off when their battery runs low. Some robot vacuums come with cameras which allows you to view the path taken by your robot and the information it has collected.
Many robots also allow you to control them with your voice, however not all of them do it as effortlessly as other models. Make sure the model you select is compatible with the voice assistant of your choice and test it out to see how the robot responds to various commands before you purchase. Some robots can even empty their dustbins or clean their docking stations, which will reduce your chore list. This feature is costly as is a larger collection container and more rapid charging speeds.
Cleaning Performance
Robots are not a replacement for a vacuum or broom. However, they can be incredibly efficient and efficient in keeping your floors tidy. The most effective robotic cleaners pick up small debris like pet hair, dust and crumbs, or larger objects like metal shavings and wood shavings. They accomplish this without causing damage to the floor or furniture.
They often detect the type of surface that they are cleaning and adjust their suction/brush features in order to clean your floors more thoroughly. This is particularly important when you have different flooring types across your home. A lot of models have the option of setting virtual boundaries. This lets you instruct your robot to stay out of certain areas of your home. This can be helpful in keeping your pets or children from getting into areas they shouldn't be, and also helps ensure that your home is cleaned up at the end of each scheduled session.
Consider how much autonomy your robot will enjoy. Certain models require your attention and presence while others function independently, with the ability to change the cleaning mode and schedule using a mobile application or voice commands via an integrated smart assistant. Certain models map and learn your space and let you define zones and instruct the robot only to clean certain areas in your home on a daily or weekly basis.
In our tests, the iRobot j7+ proved to be the most effective robot to "set it and leave it". It was superior at mapping, creating virtual borders and avoids obstacles than the other robots we test. It can also empty itself so that you don't need to manually do it. Additionally, the side brushes can help clean debris from corners and edges that a vacuum cannot reach.
Its slim design and infrared sensor allows it to clean behind and under furniture, allowing it to perform better than most robots. Its advanced navigation system enables it to sweep 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 a treat. The difference between a clean house and one that is filthy can be made by removing dirt that has been tracked in, as well as crumbs, pet hair, and other debris. While a simple robot can handle most cleaning tasks, those who want a bit more of a hands-free experience should consider one that doubles as mop.
Ecovacs' Deebot T10 OMNI is a top performer in both mopping and vacuuming modes. It is able to vacuum mop robot handle pet hair, dirt, and even cat litter. Its object avoidance function is amazing. It lets it steer away from objects and not get caught on them.
It also has a long battery life and a large dust bin which allows it to cover a decent amount of space in just one session. It's also smart vacuum, which means it can create maps of your home and work with applications, such as the ones offered by Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to allow you to control it using voice commands.
The app that comes along with the robot allows you to create schedules, define specific rooms for cleaning, or pause/resume sessions. It will alert you when its battery is low and then return to the docking station to recharge.
This robot can also distinguish between hard floors and carpets and adjust its settings accordingly. This will prevent the machine from squeezing on one type of surface and causing damage to furniture. It's not able to detect high-pile carpeting or seams in rooms, so it is crucial to be aware when picking up large objects.
To ensure that robot vacuums are in good working order, they require maintenance. This includes cleaning the brushes of hair and emptying the trash bin (and sometimes washing it) after each cleaning session. Cameras and sensors must also be cleaned between uses. The manufacturer will give specific guidelines for these and other steps to maintain which can differ based on the particular model.
Cost
The top robot vacuums aren't cheap, 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 sometimes wash) their dust bin after each cleaning session and periodically wiping down their cameras or sensors.
Many robot vacuums have smart features that make them more efficient within your home. For instance, mapping technology lets you tell the vacuum where to go via an app, ensuring it doesn't run into the stairs or under furniture, where there could be the possibility of a mess. Other models can determine the flooring type they are working on, and they can alter their suction or brush features to get the best results.
Some models feature objects avoidance. This uses sensors (or a camera) that can detect toys and other objects lying on the floor. The robot is instructed to avoid them, rather than crashing into them. This is a great benefit if you have kids or pets who throw toys around the home.
Voice control is a different feature you might consider useful. It allows you to control your robot with your voice instead of the buttons on the board. This can be helpful if you have little ones 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 has accumulated on your floor. The majority of experts suggest using your robot vacuum at least every week to keep your floors spotless and to remove pet hair, lint, and surface dirt.
If you only have a limited amount of floor space and do not intend to use the robot for any other tasks, then you should consider a budget model like our top pick Eufy 11S is a great option. It's reasonably priced, easy to install and operate, and does the job without causing any noise disruption while you watch TV or work.