How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum
If you can live without smart capabilities like mapping, and you don't mind cleaning the trash bin every 60 days or so, a basic robotic vacuum will probably work for you. Look for a model that is clean and is compatible with voice assistants.
It is a pro at picking up dirt, clumps of pet hair and cat litter on hardwood floors, tile and carpeting that is lower-pile better than any other robo vacuum we've tried. It can also map out and create virtual no go zones for rooms or specific areas.
- Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum cleaner can help you keep track of the pet fur, dust and dander that collects on your floors every day. It also can reduce the frequency you have to clean your floors and saves you time and effort. The best floor robot vacuum and mop models have powerful suction, which can tackle most messes with ease and leave your house cleaner.
Choosing a robot vacuum that is also able to mop will allow you to cover more ground by using just one machine. This can be particularly beneficial for homes with a large area. There are models with a water tank either in the chassis itself or as an extra piece that you can remove after vacuuming. You'll need to empty and fill it up, however it's an additional chore that requires some extra effort on your part.
In a perfect world you would clean your floors first before using your robot vacuum to prevent it from hitting anything. In the majority of homes it's not feasible or desirable. Thankfully, many models allow you to use your smartphone to create virtual barriers that the robot can see and avoid. Certain models have no-go zones that you can mark areas that you don't want it to access. For instance, a child's room or a pile of cords in the corner.
If you're looking to buy a basic robot vacuum with no bells and whistles, this model from the company that makes networking TP-Link is a great choice. It's quiet, it works on both hard floors as well as carpets with low pile and can be programmed using the app to mop and vacuum at your convenience. It has a long battery life of up to 180 minutes.
- Easy to Operate
In general, robot vacuums require very little input from you. They use navigational tools such as sensors cameras, lasers, and sensors to maneuver and collect pet hair, dust and food crumbs off hard floors, tiles and hardwood. Many models have boundary strips that allow them to remain inside the room. Higher-end models can be programmed to get up at a particular time and begin cleaning. Some models have fall detection technology to help users avoid falling down the stairs or getting caught in cords.
If you'd like to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of your couch, search for models that integrate voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also search for Wi-Fi-connected models that allow you to start a cleaning session from anywhere via an app. Depending on how large your house is, you might prefer one that has a long battery life and a spacious dust bin that doesn't have to be regularly emptied.
Some robot vacuums double as mops, utilizing reservoirs of water to wash your floor. This is ideal for mopping, but not great for difficult messes such as pet poop and other wet spills. There are hybrids that have a removable microfiber pad that can be used for mopping, or choose a self-emptying model that lets you go 30 to 60 days without having to empty the base.
- Smart Mapping
Some robots use advanced mapping technology to create an accurate map of your floorplan as they clean the floor, which makes it easier for them to avoid bumping mindlessly into furniture or tripping over things like chair legs or cords. This feature is typically only available on more expensive models, but it's certainly one of the most effective ways to ensure that your robot has an accurate understanding of the layout of your house and knows where to go next when it runs out of battery.
If you don't want your robot to venture into areas of your house that you'd prefer to keep it away from (like your children's toys or the tangled mess of device cords in the corner) Most robots provide some method of creating virtual barriers, either via their apps or a set of physical boundary strips. This allows you to create zones that you don't want your robot explore, so that it can concentrate its attention on the areas and rooms that require the most cleaning.
Many robots will also automatically change floors depending on the type of flooring they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by changing from carpet to hard flooring, or by focusing on particular areas of your home, such as corners and baseboards. In our tests it was a great feature that helped improve their pick-up scores for both carpeting made of low-pile or hardwood. It's nevertheless important to tuck away furniture and cords that are loose prior to running your robot vacuum so that it doesn't get caught or run into something it shouldn't.
- Remote Control
The majority of robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled via voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many connect to smart home systems and create an outline of your space after each cleaning session so that they can "learn" your layout and plan more efficient routes for future trips. There are also built-in obstacles avoidance, which stops them from hitting and damaging furniture or getting stuck on things like charging cables that are loose or shoe laces, as well as pet hair.
Most robots are equipped with a remote control that can be used to guide them around your home. Most robots can be controlled by a mobile app, which offers more features. It is possible to set multiple cleaning schedules, build an inventory of your favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot to specific areas by using directional arrows on the screen.
Some models provide no-go zones that are virtual barriers that you can set up in the app to stop the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for kids or dog bowls and beds). Other apps allow you to create the map of your house and provide the robot with detailed information about your floors. The app we ranked as our top pick Roborock S7+, the Roborock S7+, has numerous options to help you clean your house, but its interface isn't as polished as those from iRobot and Shark.
- Long Battery Life
Robot vacuums that can sweep your entire house without stopping for a recharge or emptying their trash bins save time and effort. Some of them work with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts for hands-free operation. They can also make a map of the space that allows you to program them to specific rooms or areas and to avoid obstacles.
The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, however the iRobot J7 has advanced features such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These features can make your life much easier (although one of our test bots did "eat" a couple of socks). If you're looking to take your home maintenance even further, look for a robotic mop that has an water tank that can be filled and then empty.
While none of the models we tested could match the dirt-picking power of a stand-up model, most do an admirable job at cleaning carpets with low pile and hard floors. They excel at picking up food crumbs, and dirt that has been tracked into. They also can handle metal screws and nuts and cats' litter. The best robot vacuums are able to remove dirt from edges and corners and work on furniture. Eufy 11S is a relatively inexpensive and basic model.
- Convenient Self-Charging
A robot vacuum can keep your home tidy and clean without having to do lots of work. It is possible to schedule cleanings with the app, and you can set up no-go areas to ensure that your robot does not step on your plants or sit on your favorite chair. The majority of our top picks also automatically empty their trash bins and clean their docking stations for you.
The top robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for weeks or even months at a stretch, freeing you from the tedious chore of manually sweeping and mopping your floors on a daily or weekly basis. This allows you to spend more time doing things you enjoy and reduces the amount of time your floors have to be cleaned manually.
During tests, Q Revo was able grab fine particles such as baking soda and oatmeal. It also picked up heavier particles such as metal screws and nails and fluffy hair. It's not equipped with the sophisticated mapping and object avoidance features of our top picks, however it works well enough for the majority of families.
The best thing about the j7 is its ability to recognize and avoid obstacles such as power cords, shoes and socks, and pet waste. This means you don't have to spend time tidying up before running your robot, however messy rooms can mean that your bot may get stuck and not do as good a job.