The Best Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum will do most of the cleaning for you. It will take pet hair, lint, and surface dirt from carpets and furniture before they get stuck. Many robot vacuums work with smart assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to provide a hands-free clean experience.
A lot of models come with the ability to map, allowing them to create an interactive map of your home. This can help them avoid falling off ledges and navigating around the cords of devices.
What to Find
Certain robots come with advanced features, which allow you to control them using voice assistants, such as Alexa or Google Assistant. These include smart mapping cleaning zones and spots, and the ability to avoid objects. These machines could also come with larger dust bins and longer-lasting batteries.
Find a model that has a an extended brush that can sweep large particles and one that's small enough to fit under furniture. Also, check if the vacuum can be used on multiple kinds of floors without having to swap out brushes or change suction settings, which could decrease the effectiveness of cleaning and decrease its lifespan.
The best robot vacuums come with top-quality filters to trap fine particles and protect your home. They also come with an ample accessible bin for collecting so that you can empty it frequently. Some robot vacuums have an additional side brush to remove pet hair or other debris in hard-to reach places like under and behind furniture. The dustbins are usually transparent, allowing you to see the amount of dirt in the bin and when to empty it.
In addition to scheduling your robot vacuum to run at times when you're likely to be at home, you can also use the app to set the boundaries around your furniture and the rooms that you want it to avoid. Certain models also recognize the type of flooring and alter their brush and vacuum settings accordingly.
There are robotics that recharge and continue cleaning the area they left after their battery has run out. Some robot vacuums have a camera built in which allows you to view the path taken by your robot and the information it has collected.
Some robots are operated by voice commands however, not all. Make sure that the model you select is compatible with your voice assistant of choice, and test out how well it responds to various commands during the purchase process. Some robots are able to automatically empty their trash bins and clean their docking stations, making your list of chores a more. However, this feature comes at an expense, as does an extra bin for collection and a faster charging speed.
Cleaning Performance
Robots aren't the same as for a broom or vacuum. However they can be incredibly efficient and effective in keeping your floors tidy. The most effective robotic cleaners pick up small debris like dust, pet hair, and crumbs, or bigger items like metal shavings and wood shavings. They accomplish this without harming furniture or floors.
Most of the time, they'll detect the type of surface they're cleaning and adjust their suction or brush functions accordingly so that they can more thoroughly clean your floors. This is especially important when your home has various types of flooring. Many models come with the option to set up virtual boundaries. This lets you instruct your robot to stay out of certain areas of your house. This will to keep your pets and children from getting into areas they shouldn't. It also ensures that your entire house is cleaned during every scheduled session.
Consider how much autonomy your robot can enjoy. Certain models require your attention and presence while others function on their own with the capability to change cleaning modes and schedules through a mobile app or voice commands through an integrated smart assistant. Certain models map and learn your home's layout and let you 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+ was the most efficient "set it and forget it" robot. It was more adept at mapping, creating virtual borders and avoids obstacles than the other robots we evaluated. It can also empty itself so that you don't need to manually do it. And, the side brushes help sweep debris from corners and edges which a vacuum can't reach.
Its slim design and infrared sensor enable it to clean behind and under furniture and behind furniture, which allows it to perform better than most robots. Furthermore, its advanced navigation system lets it to clean the entire floor of your house on a single battery charge. For a price that is affordable you'll find it hard to beat in everyday use.
Battery Life
A robot vacuum can make cleaning your floors feel like less of a chore, and more of an enjoyable experience. Fastly removing dirt, crumbs, and shed pet hair can make a big difference in how clean your home is every day. While a simple robot is able to handle the majority of cleaning tasks, those seeking more of a hands-free experience should consider a model that doubles as mop.
Ecovacs Deebot T10 ONI provides excellent performance in both vacuuming and mopping modes. It is able to handle pet hair, dirt and even cat litter. Its object avoidance feature is awe-inspiring, allowing it to steer clear of objects and not get stuck on them.
It also has a long battery life and a large dust bin that allows it to cover a decent amount of space in a single session. It's also smart vacuum, meaning it can make maps of your home and work with applications, such as those offered by Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to allow you to control it using voice commands.
The app that comes with the robot lets you set up schedules, designate specific rooms for cleaning or pause/resume sessions. It can even alert you to the moment its battery is low and return to its docking station to recharge.
Another good thing about this robot is that it can distinguish between carpets and hard floors and adjust its settings accordingly. This helps keep the machine from being stuck on one kind of surface or damaging furniture. However, it is not yet able to detect high pile carpeting or seams in rooms, so you will still have to be careful when picking up large objects.
To keep robot vacuums in top condition they require regular maintenance. This includes cleaning brushes of hair, and emptying the dust bin (and sometimes washing it) after each cleaning session. Cameras and sensors must also be cleaned between uses. The manufacturer will give specific instructions for these actions and other procedures, which will vary depending on the model.
Cost
The best robot vacuums aren't cheap, but they are much less expensive than a professional carpet cleaner or even a stand-up vacuum. They require less maintenance than traditional vacuums as they require that you empty and sometimes clean their dust bins after every cleaning session.
Many robot vacuums come with smart features that can help them be more effective in your home, like mapping technology that allows you to instruct the vacuum on the layout of your room via an app so that it knows not to run into the stairs or under the furniture, where there could be an issue. Other robot vacuums can recognize the type of floor they are cleaning, so they can alter their suction and brush functions to achieve the best results.
Some models feature object avoidance. The system uses sensors (or a camera) which can detect toys and other objects lying on the floor. The robot is then instructed to avoid them, rather here than crashing into them. This is a great solution if your children or pets are prone to leaving toys all over the house.
Voice control is another useful feature that you could consider useful. It allows you to control your robot with your voice, rather than the on-board buttons. This is a great option when you have children who aren't quite old enough to operate the controls, or if you simply want a hands-free solution.
The frequency at which you use your robot will depend on the amount of dirt or debris is accumulating on your floor. The majority of experts suggest using your robot vacuum at least once per week to keep your floors spotless and remove pet hair, lint, and surface dirt.
If you have limited floor surfaces and don't plan to use your robot for other tasks, a low-cost model, such as our top pick the Eufy 11S, is a suitable option. It's easy to use, affordable, and does the job without creating any noise when you're working or watching television.