How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum
If you don't need the most advanced features like mapping and you aren't worried about emptying your bin every 60 to 90 days, a basic robotic vacuum could be the best choice for you. Look for a model that has a clean base and can work with voice assistants.
eufy robot vacuum is the best robo-vacuum we have tested at getting rid of dirt and pet hair from tiles, hardwood floors, and carpeting with low pile. It also maps and set virtual no-go zones in rooms or areas.
1. Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum can keep clean of the dust, pet hair and dander that collects on your floors on a daily basis. It can also decrease the frequency of deep cleaning, saving your time and effort. The most effective models feature powerful suction that can clean up most mess with ease and leave your home cleaner.
Selecting a vacuum that can also mop can help you cover more ground with one machine, which could be especially helpful in a larger home. Find models that have a water reservoir either integrated into the chassis or as a separate item that you can swap out when the vacuuming is done. It will need to be empty and fill it up, however it's an additional task that will require some extra effort on your part.
In a perfect universe it would be ideal to clean your floors before using your robot vacuum to prevent it from hitting anything. However, in the majority of homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. Fortunately, the majority of models allow you to use a smartphone app to set up virtual barriers that the robot will be aware of and avoid. Some models have no-go zones which can be used to mark areas that you don't want the robot to enter, such as kids rooms or a stack of cords for your device in the corner.
This model is a good option if you're looking for an easy robot cleaner that doesn't have all the bells. It's quiet and is able to work on 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. Easy to Operate
Robot vacuums generally need very little from you. They make use of sensors, lasers, and cameras to move and collect dust, pet hair, and food crumbs from hard floors, tile and hardwood. A lot of them 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 start cleaning at a scheduled time. Certain models come with fall detection technology that helps them avoid falling down a flight of stairs or becoming tangled in cords.
If you'd like to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of a couch, look for models that integrate voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also choose Wi-Fi models that permit you to begin cleaning anywhere you want using an app. Depending on how big your home is, you may prefer an item with a long battery life and a large dust bin that doesn't need to be emptied frequently.
Some robot vacuums double as mops and use reservoirs of water to clean your floors. This is useful for normal mopping, but it won't work for tough messes like pet poop or other spills that get wet. You can select hybrids that have an able mopping pad made of microfiber or a self-emptying model that allows you to stay for up to 60 days without emptying the base.
3. Smart Mapping
Some robots use advanced mapping technology to build a detailed map as they clean. This helps them avoid crashing into furniture and tripping on cords or chair legs. This feature is only available on the top models however it lets your robot be aware of your home's layout and knows where to go when the battery is out.
If you don't want your robot navigating into areas of your home you'd prefer it to stay clear from (like your children's toys or the tangled mess of device cords in the corner) The majority of robots offer the possibility of creating virtual barriers, either with their app or physical boundary strips. This allows you to create zones that you don't want your robot enter, so that it can concentrate its attention on rooms and spaces that need the most cleaning.
Many robots also have the ability to automatically navigate to different floorings depending on the flooring they're cleaning, be it that's changing between hard and carpet or focusing on specific areas of your home, such as corners and baseboards. This feature proved to be helpful in our tests and enhanced the vacuum's performance on both hardwood flooring and low-pile floor carpeting. However, it's still important to tuck away furniture and cords that are loose prior to running your robot vacuum so that it doesn't get stuck or get into something it shouldn't.
4. Remote Control
The majority of robot vacuums have WiFi connectivity and work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts, which allow users to control them with voice commands or via your smartphone. Many robot vacuums connect to smart home systems and can create a map of the area they clean after each session. This allows them to "learn" the way your home is laid out and to plan more efficient routes during future cleaning sessions. Some have built-in obstacle avoidance that stops them from hitting furniture and causing damage or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables, shoe laces and pet hair.
Most robots come with a remote you can use to control them around your home. However, most can also be controlled with an app on your mobile that comes with additional features. You can create multiple cleaning schedules and make a list with your favorite rooms. You can also manually guide the robot with the directional the arrows.
Some models provide no-go zones that are virtual barriers you can create in the app to stop the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for children or dog bowls and 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 many useful features to assist you in cleaning your home. However the interface isn't as polished as iRobot or Shark.
5. Long Battery Life
Robot vacuums that can sweep your entire home without stopping to recharge or to empty their dustbins save time and effort. Some of them work with smart home devices like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also make a map of the space that allows you to program them for certain rooms or areas and to avoid obstacles.
Most robot vacs have some degree of detection of objects however, higher-end models like the iRobot j7 come with advanced features such as "home mapping" and advanced obstacle avoidance that will make your life easier (although our test bot did once "eat" the socks of a pair). socks). If you want to take your home maintenance to the next level consider a robot mop that comes with an water tank that can be filled and then empty.
While none of the models we tested beat the dirt-picking power of a stand-up vacuum they all do a great job at cleaning carpets and hard floors. They are excellent at sweeping up food crumbs, and dirt that has been tracked into. They are also able to handle metal screws and nuts, as well as cats' litter. The best robot vacuums are able to remove dirt from edges and corners and can work on furniture. For a basic model that functions by itself and is comparatively inexpensive take a look at the Eufy 11S.
6. Convenient Self-Charging
With the right setup and the right setup, a robotic vacuum can assist you in keeping your home looking and feeling fresh regularly, without much work from you. You can schedule cleanings using the app, and you can designate no-go areas so that your robot doesn't walk on your plants or favorite chair. Many of our top picks empty their dustbins and clean their docking station.
The top robot vacuums can be programmed to keep your floors clean for months or weeks at a time, thereby making it easier to save time and effort of manually mopping or sweeping your floors every single week or even every day. This lets you spend more time doing things you like and reduces the time it takes to clean your floors manually.
In the course of testing, the Q Revo was able to pick up small particles such as baking soda and oatmeal and heavier debris like nails and screws made of metal, and fluffy stuff such as pet hair. It's not equipped with the advanced mapping and object avoidance features of our top picks, however it works well enough for most families.
The best thing about the j7 is its ability to spot and avoid obstacles like power cords and socks, shoes as well as pet waste. This means that you don't need to tidy up before you can run your robot, however clutter in your home can mean your robot could get stuck and not be able to do the job as well.