How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum
If you're able to live without the benefits of smart features like mapping, and you don't mind emptying the dustbin every 60 days or so, a basic robotic vacuum will probably work for you. Pick a model that has a clean base that works with voice assistants.
It is a pro at picking up dirt, cat litter and pet hair on hardwood floors, tile and carpeting with less pile than any other robo vacuum we've tried. It can also map and create virtual no-go zones for rooms and areas.
1. Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum will stay on top of the pet hair, dust and dander that build up on your floors on a day-to-day basis. It also can reduce how often you need to deep clean which will save you time and effort. The best model has powerful suction that is able to clean up most mess and leave your home cleaner.
You can take care of more space by using a robot vacuum and mop, which can be beneficial if you live in a large house. Choose one that has water reservoirs either built into its chassis or as a separate piece that you put in after the vacuuming is done. It will need to be emptied and filled, so it's an extra task to complete.
In ideal world, you'd clear your floors before you used your robot vac to keep it from running into things. But in most homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. Thankfully, most models let you use your smartphone to create virtual barriers that the robot can see and avoid. Some models have no-go zones that you can mark areas you don't want the robot to access. For instance the child's room or a pile cords in a corner.
If deebot robot vacuum looking to buy a basic robot vacuum that doesn't have all the bells and bells, this model from networking company TP-Link is a great option. It's quiet, works well on hard floors and low-pile carpets and can be scheduled through the app to mop or vacuum at any time. It comes with a battery life of up to 180 minutes.
2. Simple to operate
In general robot vacuums require little input from you. They make use of navigational tools such as sensors cameras, lasers, and sensors to move and collect pet hair, dust, and food crumbs from hard floors, tile and hardwood. Many have boundary strips that aid in staying within a room's walls, while more expensive models can be set to automatically wake up and start cleaning at a set 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're looking to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of your couch, you should look for models that work with voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also look for models with Wi-Fi connectivity that allow you to start cleaning sessions from anywhere via an app. You may want to select an option with an extremely long-lasting battery as well as a large dust bin, depending on the size of your house.
Certain robot vacuums are also mops. They utilize water reservoirs to clean the floor. This is helpful for everyday mopping, but will not be effective for messes that are more difficult to clean, like pet poop, or other spills that get wet. You can find hybrids with a removable microfiber pad for mopping, or opt for self-emptying models that let you go for 30 to 60 days without having to empty the base.
3. Smart Mapping
Some robots utilize advanced mapping technologies to build an accurate map of your floorplan while they clean and tidy, allowing them to avoid crashing into furniture or falling over things such as cords or chairs. This feature is usually only available on more expensive models, but it's certainly one of the best ways to ensure your robot has a complete understanding of the layout of your home and is aware of where to go when it's low on battery.
If you do not want your robot to go into areas of your home you'd prefer it to stay clear from (like your kids' toys or the tangled mess of gadget cords in the corner) Most robots provide the possibility of creating virtual barriers, either with their apps or a set of physical boundary strips. This allows you to block off zones that you don't want your robot explore, so that it can focus its attention on areas and rooms that require the most cleaning.
Many robots will also automatically change floors based on the kind of flooring they are cleaning. This can be achieved by changing from carpet to hard flooring or by focussing on specific areas of your house like corners and baseboards. In our tests it was a great feature that improved their performance in picking up hardwood and low-pile carpeting. It is essential to put away any furniture or cords that are loose before using your robot vacuum, so that it doesn't become caught.
4. Remote Control
The majority of robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled with voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many robot vacuums are connected to smart home systems, and can create a map of the space they clean after each cleaning session. This lets them "learn" how your home is laid out, and then plan more efficient routes in future cleaning sessions. Certain models have obstacles avoidance built-in, which prevents them from damaging furniture and getting stuck on objects like loose charging cables or pet hair.
Most robots are equipped with an remote control that you can use to navigate them around your home. Most robots can be operated by mobile applications, which offers more features. It is possible to set multiple cleaning schedules, make an inventory of your favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot to certain areas using directions on the screen.
Certain models have zones that are not allowed. These are virtual barriers you can create in the app to stop the robot from entering certain areas (like kid's toys or dishes for dogs and dog beds). Some apps allow you to create an outline of your home and provide more detailed information about the floors. The app that we recommend as our top pick Roborock S7+, the Roborock S7+, has a lot of useful options to help you tidy your house, 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 to recharge or to empty their bins save time and effort. Some work with smart home platforms such as Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also make an outline of your living space that allows you to program them to clean specific areas or rooms and avoid obstacles.
The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, however the iRobot J7 has advanced features such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These features can make your life easier (although one of our test robots did "eat" two socks). If you're looking to take your home maintenance to the next level opt for a robotic mop with a tank of water that can be filled and then empty.
While none of the models that we tested could compete with the dirt-picking power of a standup vacuum, they did a great job cleaning hard floors and carpets with a low pile. They are great in sweeping up dust and food crumbs, tracked-in dirt and pet hair. They also can handle screws and nuts made of metal as well as stray cat litter. The most effective robot vacuums are able to effortlessly work through furniture, and they do a great job of cleaning corners and edges as well. Eufy 11S is a relatively inexpensive and basic model.
6. Convenient Self-Charging
With the proper setup with the right setup, a robot vacuum will assist you in keeping your home looking and looking and feeling cleaner on a regular basis with minimal effort. You can schedule cleanings using the app, and you can set up no-go areas to ensure that your robot does not walk on your favorite chair or plants. Many of our top picks will empty their trash bins for you and clean their docking stations.
The top robot vacuums are programmable to clean your floors regularly for months or weeks at a stretch, which saves you the time and effort of manually sweeping or mopping your floors every single week or day. This allows you to have more time to do the things you like and reduces the amount of time your floors have to be cleaned manually.
During testing during testing, Q Revo was able grab fine particles such as baking soda and oatmeal. It also picked up heavier debris like metal screws and nails and fluffy things like pet hair. It's not equipped with the advanced mapping and object avoidance features of our top picks, but it's sufficient for the majority of families.
The most impressive feature of the j7 is its ability to detect and avoid obstacles such as power cords, shoes and socks, and pet waste. This means that you don't need to clean up before you can run your robot, however messy rooms can mean that your bot may get stuck and not perform the job as well.