Robot Vacuum: The Good The Bad And The Ugly

How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you don't need advanced features such as mapping and do not mind cleaning your trash bin every 60 to 90 days A basic robot vacuum is probably the best choice for you. Find an option that has a clean base and works with voice assistants.

It is the best mapping robot vacuum robo-vacuum we have tested at getting rid of dirt and pet hair from tiles, hardwood floors, and carpets with low pile. It can also map out and create virtual no-go zones for rooms or areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum can help you keep track of the dust, pet fur and dander that collects on your floor every day. It also can reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, saving you both time and effort. The best robot vacuum that mops models come with powerful suction that can clean up most mess with ease and leave your home clean.

A robot vacuum that can also mop will allow you to get more space using one machine, which can be particularly beneficial in larger homes. You can find a model with a tank for water either integrated into the chassis or as an extra piece that you can remove after vacuuming. It'll need to be filled and empty in order to complete the chore.

In a perfect universe you would clean your floors first before you use your robot vacuum, preventing it from crashing into anything. In the majority of homes, however this isn't possible or desirable. Thankfully, most models allow you to use a smartphone app to set up virtual barriers that the robot can detect and avoid. Some models have no-go zones that you can mark areas you don't want the robot to enter. For instance the child's room or a pile cords in an area.

This model is a great choice if you want a simple robot cleaner without all the bells and whistles. It's quiet and works on both hard floors as well as carpets with low pile and can be programmed through the app to vacuum and mop at your own convenience. It's got a long battery life that can last up to 180 minutes before needing to recharge.

2. Easy to Operate

In general, robot vacuums require very little input from you. They use instruments for navigation, such as sensors, lasers, and cameras to maneuver and collect dust, Best Robot Vacuum pet hair and food crumbs off hard floors, tiles and hardwood. Many have boundary strips that allow them to stay within the walls of a room, while more expensive models can be set to automatically wake up and start cleaning at a set time. Some models even have fall detection technology that helps them avoid tumbling down stairs or getting caught in electrical cords.

Look for models that you can control from your couch via voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also look for models that connect to Wi-Fi and allow you to begin cleaning from any location using an app. You might want to choose a model that has a long-lasting battery, as well as an enormous dust bin, best robot vacuum based on the size of your house.

Some robot vacuums can double as mops and use water reservoirs to clean your floor. This is great for normal mopping, but it won't work for tough messes like pet poop or other wet spills. There are hybrids that have a removable microfiber pad that can be used for mopping, or choose an auto-emptying model that lets you use the device for 30 to 60 days without having to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots employ advanced mapping technology to build a detailed map as they clean. This allows them to avoid crashing into furniture and tripping on cords or chair legs. This feature is only available on the top models, but it lets your robot get a complete understanding of your home's layout and knows where to go when the battery runs out.

Most robots let you create virtual barriers. This can be done through an app or physically-based boundary strips. This lets you create zones that you don't want your robot enter, so that it can concentrate its attention on the areas and rooms that require the most cleaning.

A lot of robots can also automatically change floors based on the flooring they are cleaning. This can be done by switching from carpet to hard flooring or by paying attention to particular areas of your home like corners and baseboards. In our tests this was a helpful feature that improved their performance in picking up carpeting made of low-pile or hardwood. It's important to tuck away any furniture or cords that are loose before using your robot vacuum to ensure that it doesn't get caught.

4. Remote Control

Almost all robot vacuums are WiFi-enabled and work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to enable users to control them with voice commands or via your smartphone. Many robot vacuums are connected to smart home systems, and create a map of the space they clean after each cleaning session. This lets them "learn" the way your home is laid out and to plan more efficient routes in future cleaning sessions. There are also built-in obstacles avoidance that stops them from crashing into furniture and causing damage or getting stuck on things like charging cables that are loose shoes, laces for shoes and pet hair.

Most robots come with a remote you can use to control them around your home. Most robots are controlled by a mobile app which has more options. You can usually set multiple cleaning schedules, build an inventory of your favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot around specific areas by using directional arrows that appear on the screen.

Certain models have no-go zones. These are virtual barriers you can set up within the app to block the robot from entering specific areas (like toys for kids or dishes for dogs and dog beds). Other apps let you set up the map of your house and give the robot detailed information about your floors. The Roborock S7+ app has a number of useful features that will help you clean the house. However its interface isn't as sleek as iRobot or Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacs that can work all over your home without stopping to recharge or empty their dust bins can save you time and energy. Some work with smart home devices like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also make an outline of your space that allows you to program them to clean specific areas or rooms, and to avoid obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, but the iRobot j7 comes with advanced features such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These features can make your life easier (although one of our test bots did "eat" a few socks). If you're trying to improve the quality of your home maintenance, you should consider an automated mop that comes with a water container that can be filled and then empty.

While no of the models we tested could match the ability to pick up dirt of a stand-up vacuum they did an excellent job of cleaning hard floors and carpets with a low pile. They are great at sweeping up fine dust and food dust, tracked-in dirt, and pet hair. They also can handle metal screws and nuts as well as the stray cat litter. The top robot vacuums can easily maneuver through furniture, and they do a great job of cleaning corners and edges as well. For a basic model that works by itself and is relatively inexpensive, check out the Eufy 11S.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

With the proper setup with the right setup, a robot vacuum will aid in keeping your home looking and feeling fresh regularly, without much work from you. You can schedule cleanings through the app, and designate no-go areas to ensure that your robot does not step on your favorite chair or plants. Many of our top picks will empty their dustbins for you and clean their docking station.

The top robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors on a regular basis for weeks or even months at a time, removing you from the tedious chore of manually mopping and sweeping your floors on a daily or weekly basis. This allows you to spend more time doing things you like and reduces the time it takes to clean your floors manually.

In our tests, Q Revo was able to capture fine particles such as baking soda and oatmeal. It also snatched up heavier debris like nails and screws made of steel, as well as fluffy stuff like pet hair. It does not have the smart mapping and objects-avoiding features of our top picks, but is still a good choice for families with children.

The most appealing aspect of the j7 robot is that it makes use of cameras and processor-powered sensors to identify and avoid obstacles such as power cords, shoes, socks and pet waste. This means that you don't have to tidy up before using your robot. However, rooms that are cluttered may cause your bot to become stuck and do an inadequate job.