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 could be suitable for you. Find an option with a clean base and works with voice assistants.

It is the best robo-vacuum we have tested in getting rid of dirt and pet hair on tiles, hardwood floors, and low-pile carpeting. It can also plan out and create virtual no-go zones for rooms or certain areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum can keep clean of the dust, pet hair and dander that build up on your floors on a day-to-day basis. It can also decrease the frequency of deep cleaning, which will save you time and effort. The best models have powerful suction, which can tackle most messes with ease and leave your home clean.

You can take care of more space with a robot vacuum and mop, which is especially useful if you have a large home. There are models with a water tank either in the chassis itself or as an additional piece that you can take out after vacuuming. You'll have to empty it and refill it, though it's an additional chore that requires some extra effort on your part.

In a perfect universe, you would clear your floors before using your robot vacuum to stop it from hitting anything. In the majority of homes this isn't possible or desirable. Most models allow you to use an app on your smartphone to create virtual barriers that the robot can detect. Some models have no-go zones that you can mark areas you don't wish it to access. For example, a child's room or a pile cords in a corner.

This model is a great option for those looking for a basic robot cleaner that does not have all the bells. It's quiet, it can be used on hard floors as well as low-pile carpets and can be programmed using the app to vacuum and mop at your own convenience. It has a long battery life of up to 180 minutes.

2. Easy to operate

In general, robot vacuums require very little input from you. They use navigation tools like sensors, lasers and cameras to move around obstacles and remove food particles, dust and pet hair from hard floors, tiles carpets, hardwood floors and low-pile carpets. Many have boundary strips that help them stay within the walls of a room, while more expensive models can be programmed to automatically wake up and begin cleaning at a predetermined time. Some models have fall detection technology to help them avoid falling down a flight of stairs or becoming tangled in cords.

If you're looking to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of your couch, search for models that work with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also look for Wi-Fi-connected models that allow you to start 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, based on the size of your house.

Some 360 robot vacuum vacuums double as mops, utilizing reservoirs of water to clean your floor. This is great for mopping, but not ideal for difficult messes such as pet poop and other spills. You can choose hybrids with an adjustable microfiber mopping pad or a self cleaning robot vacuum-emptying model that lets you go for up to 60 days without emptying the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots use advanced mapping technology to create a detailed map of your floorplan as they clean and tidy, allowing them to avoid crashing into furniture or tripping over things such as cords or chairs. This feature is usually only available on higher-end models, but it's one of the best robot vacuum mop combo ways to make sure your robot has a complete understanding of the layout of your house and knows where to go next when it's running out of battery.

The majority of robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done through an app or physically-based boundary strips. You can block off areas you don't wish your robot to enter in order to concentrate on the rooms that need the most attention.

Many robots also have the ability to automatically navigate to different floorings depending on the surface they're cleaning, whether that's changing between hard and carpet or focusing on specific areas of your home, like corners and baseboards. In our tests, this was a useful feature that improved their performance in picking up hardwood and low-pile carpeting. It is important to secure any loose cords or furniture prior to using your robot vacuum, so it doesn't get caught.

4. Remote Control

Almost all robot vacuums are WiFi-enabled and can be controlled by Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts that enable you to control them using voice commands or from your smartphone. Many robot vacuums connect to smart home systems and can create an outline of the area they clean after each cleaning session. This allows them to "learn" the way your home is laid out, and then plan more efficient routes during future cleaning sessions. Some come with obstacles avoidance built-in to prevent them from causing damage to furniture or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables or pet hair.

Most robots come with a remote you can use to pilot them around your home. However, many can be controlled via an app on your mobile that offers more features. You can create multiple cleaning schedules, and create an agenda of your most-loved rooms. You can also guide the robot using direction the arrows.

Certain models have zones that are not allowed. These are virtual barriers that can be created in the app to prevent the robot from accessing certain areas (like toys for children or dishes for dogs and dog beds). Certain apps let you create an image of your home and provide detailed information about the floors. The Roborock S7+ app has a number of useful features that will aid in cleaning the house. However its interface isn't as polished as that from iRobot or best Robot Vacuum mop combo Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacuums that clean your entire house without stopping to recharge or emptying their trash bins save time and effort. Some robot vacuums work with smart home platforms such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to enable hands-free operation. They can also draw an outline of the space to allow you to program them to specific rooms or areas and to stay clear of obstacles.

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

While none of the models we tested compete with the power of a stand-up model, most do an admirable job at cleaning carpets with low pile and hard floors. They are excellent at sweeping up food crumbs, and dirt that has been tracked into. They can also handle metal screws and nuts as well as stray cat litter. The most effective robot vacuums can clean corners and edges and can work around furniture. For a basic model that works by itself and is relatively inexpensive take a look at the Eufy 11S.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

With the right setup and the right setup, a robotic vacuum can aid in keeping your home looking and feeling cleaner every day with minimal effort. You can schedule cleanings through the app, and you can set up no-go areas so that your robot doesn't step on your plants or favorite chair. Many of our top picks automatically empty their bins and clean their docking stations for you.

The most effective robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors on a regular basis for weeks or even months at a stretch, freeing you from the time-consuming task of manually sweeping and mopping your floors on a daily or weekly basis. This lets you spend more time on things you like and cuts down on the amount of time your floors have to be cleaned manually.

During testing, Q Revo was able grab fine particles such as baking soda and oatmeal. It also picked up larger particles like nails and screws made of steel, as well as fluffy hair. It lacks the intelligent mapping and object-avoiding features of our top picks but is still a great option for families with children.

The greatest feature of the j7 is that it utilizes camera and processor-powered smarts to detect and avoid obstacles such as shoes, power cords, socks and pet waste. This means that you don't have to clean up after using your robot. However, rooms that are cluttered could cause your robot to become stuck and perform an inadequate job.