How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

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

It excels at picking up dirt, clumps of pet hair and cat litter on hardwood floors, tile and low-pile carpeting better than any other robo vacuum we've tried. It also maps and set virtual no-go zones for rooms or areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum will help you keep up with the dust, pet fur and dander that accumulates on your floor each day. It can also reduce how often you need to deep clean and saves your time and effort. The most effective models feature powerful suction, which will clean up most mess with ease and leave your house cleaner.

You can cover more area by using a robot vacuum as well as a mop, which is particularly beneficial if you live in a large house. Look for a model that has an water reservoir integrated into the chassis or as a separate piece that you put in after vacuuming is complete. It'll need to be emptied and refilled, so it's an extra task to complete.

In the ideal world, you'd be able to clean your floors before you used your robot vacuum to keep it from hitting things. However, in the majority of homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. Most robots allow you to make use of an app on your smartphone to create virtual barriers that the robot can observe. Some include no-go zones, which can be used to mark areas that you don't want it to access, such as children rooms or a stack of cords for your device in the corner.

If you're looking for a simple robot vacuum that doesn't have all the bells and bells, this model from the company that makes networking TP-Link is a great choice. It's quiet and works on both hard floors as well as low-pile carpets and can be programmed using the app to vacuum and mop at your leisure. It has a long battery life of up to 180 minutes.

2. Simple to operate

Robot vacuums generally need very little from you. They utilize navigation tools like sensors lasers, cameras and sensors to navigate through obstacles and collect dust, food crumbs and pet hair from floors, tiles carpets, hardwood floors and low-pile carpets. Many models come with boundary strips that allow them to remain in a room. More expensive models can be programmed to start up at a certain time and begin cleaning. Some models even have fall detection technology that helps them avoid falling down the stairs or getting caught in electrical cords.

Find models that you can control from the comfort of your sofa using voice assistants, such as Alexa or Google Assistant. Also, look for models with Wi-Fi connectivity that allow you to begin cleaning from any location via an app. You might want to choose a model that has a long-lasting battery and a large dust bin, depending on the size of your home.

Some robot vacuums can double as mops, using reservoirs of water to clean your floor. This is useful for normal mopping, but it won't work for tough messes such as pet poop or other wet spills. You can pick hybrids that have an able mopping pad made of microfiber, or a self-emptying version that allows you to stay up to 60 days before emptying the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Certain robots employ advanced mapping technology to create an accurate map of your floorplan as they clean and tidy, allowing them to avoid falling into furniture or tripping over things like chair legs or cords. This feature is only available on higher-end models however it allows your robot to get a complete understanding of your home's layout and to know where it should go when the battery runs out.

The majority of robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done via an app or physical boundary strips. You can block off areas you don't want your robot to enter to allow it to concentrate on rooms that require the most attention.

Many robots will also automatically switch floors based on the floor they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by changing from carpet to hard flooring, or by focusing on certain areas of your home, such as corners and baseboards. This feature was effective in our tests and enhanced the performance of the vacuum on both hardwood flooring and carpet flooring with low pile. It is essential to put away any furniture or cords that are loose before using your robot vacuum to ensure that it doesn't get caught.

4. Remote Control

The majority of robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled using voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many connect to smart home systems and build maps of your home after each cleaning session so they can "learn" your layout and plan more efficient routes for future trips. Certain models have obstacles avoidance built-in, which prevents 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 steer them around your home. Most robots can be controlled via a mobile application which has more options. You can create multiple cleaning schedules, and create an agenda of your most-loved rooms. You can also manually direct the robot by using directional arrows.

Certain models have zones that are not allowed. 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 and dog beds). Other apps let you make an outline of your home and provide the robot with detailed information about your floors. The app on our top choice Roborock S7+, the Roborock S7+, has numerous options to help you tidy your home, but its interface isn't as polished as the ones from iRobot and Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacuums that can sweep your entire house without stopping for a recharge or to empty their bins save time and effort. Some are compatible with smart home devices like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts for hands-free operation. They can also make an image of your home, allowing you to program them to clean specific rooms or areas and avoid obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums can detect objects, but 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 want to take your home maintenance even further, look for a robotic mop with a water tank that can be filled and then empty.

While none of the models we tested could compete with the dirt-picking power of a stand-up vacuum, they were able to do a fantastic job cleaning hard floors and carpets with a low pile. They are great at sweeping up fine dust and debris, food dust, tracked-in dirt, and pet hair. They can even tackle some pet litter that is stray and metal screws and nuts. The most effective robot vacuums are able to remove dirt from edges and corners and work around furniture. Eufy 11S is a relatively basic and affordable model.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

A robot vacuum can keep your home tidy and clean without you having to do much work. You can schedule cleanings using the app, and designate no-go areas so that the robot won't get in the way of your plants or sit on your favorite chair. Many of our top picks will empty their trash bins for you and clean their docking stations.

The best mop and sweep robot robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for weeks or even months at a stretch, making it easier to save time and effort of manually mopping or sweeping your floors every week or day. This lets you spend more time doing things you enjoy and reduces the time it takes to clean your floors manually.

In our tests, Q Revo was able grab fine particles like baking soda and oatmeal. It also picked up larger particles like nails and screws made of steel, as well as fluffy hair. It's not equipped with the advanced mapping and object avoidance features found in our top picks, however it works well enough for most families.

The greatest aspect of the j7 robot is that it uses camera and processor-powered smarts to detect and avoid obstacles such as power cords, shoes socks and pet waste. This means that you don't need to tidy up before using your robot. However, cluttered rooms could cause your robot to become stuck and do a poor job.