The Best Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum will do the majority of the cleaning for you. It will remove pet hair, lint, and dirt from surfaces and furniture before they get stuck. Many robot vacuums work with smart assistants such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to give you a hands-free cleaning experience.
Many models have the ability to map, allowing them to create an interactive map of your house. This can help them avoid falling off ledges and traversing cords that connect devices.
What to Look For
Some robots come with advanced features that let you control them via apps and voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. These include smart mapping, spot and zone cleaning and the ability to avoid objects. They might also have longer battery lives and bigger dust collection bins.
Look for a model with a wide brush that can sweep up large debris and one that is slim enough to be able to fit under furniture. Make sure the robot vacuum is able to clean different types of floors without altering suction settings or brushes. This could reduce the effectiveness of cleaning and reduce its lifespan.
The most effective robot vacuums feature high-quality filters that trap tiny particles to safeguard the inside of your home and an easy-to-access collection bin that you can clear it frequently. Some models come with an additional side brush for sweeping up pet hair and debris in hard-to-reach places behind and under furniture. They also typically have a clear dustbin door that helps you keep an eye on the amount of dirt accumulation so you know when it's time for you to empty the.
You can also use the app to set limits around furniture and rooms you do not want it to enter. Some models can also detect the type of flooring and adjust their brush and vacuum settings to match.
There are robotics that recharge and continue cleaning where they left off when their battery is exhausted. Some robot vacuums come with a camera built in that allows you to see the path the robot took and what it has collected.
Some robots can be controlled via voice commands but not all. Make sure that the model you select is compatible with your voice assistant of choice, and test out how it responds to different commands during the buying process. Some robots even empty their dustbins or clean their docking station, which will help you reduce your chore list. This feature is costly and comes with a bigger container for collecting waste and a faster charging speed.
Cleaning Performance
While robots cannot replace a full-on vacuum or broom, they do provide a practical and efficient alternative to the everyday chore of keeping floors clean. The most effective robotic cleaners pick up small debris like pet hair, dust and crumbs, or larger items like metal shavings and wood shavings. They do this without damaging the flooring or furniture.
They will often register the type of surface that they are cleaning and adjust their suction/brush features according to the type of floor you have. This allows them to clean it more thoroughly. This is particularly important when you have a variety of flooring in your home. A lot of models have the option of setting up virtual boundaries. This lets you instruct your robot to stay clear of certain areas of your home. This is useful in keeping your pets or children from getting into areas they shouldn't be, and also helps ensure that your home gets cleaned in every scheduled session.
You should also think about the amount of autonomy you're willing to give your robot. Certain models require your presence and attention while others function independently and can change cleaning modes and schedules via a mobile app or voice commands via an integrated smart assistant. Some models map and learn your home's layout and allow you to set up 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 top robot for "set it and forget it". It was a master at mapping, creating virtual boundaries and getting around obstacles better than the other robots we tested. Additionally, it can completely empty itself so you don't need to do that manually and has side brushes that help sweep debris into its path from corners and edges where the vacuum isn't able to reach.
Its slim profile and infrared sensors also allow it to get under and behind furniture for an even more thorough clean than most robots, while its advanced navigation system is more efficient in cleaning the entire floor of your home in one charge than other devices we've tried. For a price that is affordable, you'll find it tough to beat in everyday use.
Battery Life
A robot vacuum can make cleaning your floors feel less of a chore and more of an enjoyable experience. The distinction between a clean home and a dirty one can be made by removing dirt that has been tracked in, as well as crumbs, pet hair, and other messes. A basic robot can handle the majority of cleaning tasks. However, those who prefer a more hands-off experience might want to look for a model which also serves as a mop.
Ecovacs Deebot T10 ONI offers excellent performance both in vacuuming and mopping modes. It can handle pet hair, dirt and even cat litter. Its object avoidance feature is particularly impressive, allowing it to steer clear of objects and avoid getting stuck on them.
It also has a long battery lifespan and a huge dust bin, making it able to cover a decent amount of space in one session. It's also a smart vacuum, which means that it can make maps of your home and use apps, such as those offered by Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, to let you control it with voice commands.
The app that comes with the robot lets you set up schedules, designate rooms to be cleaned or suspend or resume sessions. It will alert you when its battery is running low and return to the 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 helps to prevent the machine from getting stuck on one type of surface and causing damage to furniture. But, it's not yet able to detect high pile carpeting or the seams of rooms, so you will still have to be careful about picking up large objects.
To ensure that robot vacuums are in good condition, 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 should also be cleaned between each more info use. The manufacturer will give specific recommendations for these and other maintenance procedures that may differ based on the model.
Cost
The best robot vacuums aren't expensive, but they're less expensive than a professional carpet cleaner, or even a full-size stand-up vac. They also require less maintenance than a traditional vacuum, with most requiring only that you empty (and sometimes wash) their dust bin after each cleaning session and occasionally cleaning their cameras or sensors.
Many robot vacuums come with intelligent features which make them more efficient within your home. For example mapping technology lets you instruct the vacuum on where to go through an app, which means it doesn't get stuck in stairs or under furniture, where there may be a mess. Others can identify what floor type they're working on, and they can adjust their suction or brush functions for the best results.
Certain models have objects avoidance. It makes use of sensors (or cameras) that can detect toys and other items lying on the floor. The robot is instructed to avoid them instead of running into them. This is a great benefit for families with children or pets who scatter toys around the home.
Voice control is another useful feature you might find useful. It allows you to operate your robot using your voice, rather than the buttons on the board. This is useful for children who aren't yet old enough to operate the robot or is it just more convenient for you.
The frequency at which you use your robot will be contingent on how much dirt or debris is on your floor. Most experts suggest using a robot vacuum at least once a week to keep your floors looking good and nabbing pet hair dust and dirt from the surface before it can get 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 good choice. It's user-friendly cost-effective, and can do the job without making any noise when you work or watching television.