The Best Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum will do most of the cleaning work for you. It can remove 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.
Many models have mapping capabilities, which allow them to draw a map of your home. This helps them avoid tumbling off ledges and navigating around clusters of device cords.
What to Find
Certain robots have advanced features that allow you to control them using apps and voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. These include smart mapping spot and zone cleaning, and the ability to avoid objects. They could also have longer battery life and bigger dust collection bins.
Look for a model with broad brushes that can clean up large debris and one that's slim enough to be able to fit under furniture. Also check whether the robot vacuum can move over multiple flooring types without having to swap out brushes or alter suction settings, which could decrease the effectiveness of cleaning and reduce its lifespan.
The top robotic vacuums have high-quality filters that can trap fine particles and protect your home. They also come with a large easy-to-access bin for collecting so that you can empty it often. Some robot vacuums have an extra side brush to sweep up pet hair and debris from difficult to reach areas like under or behind furniture. The bins are typically transparent, which means you can observe the amount of dirt in the bin and when to empty it.
You can also make use of the app to establish limits around furniture and rooms you don't want it entering. Certain models also recognize the type of flooring and adjust their brush and vacuum settings accordingly.
You can also find robots that will recharge and continue cleaning exactly where they left off when their battery runs low. There are some that have an inbuilt camera that allows you to see your robot vacuum's route and even see what it's collected.
Some robots also allow you to control them with your voice, though not all do so as effortlessly as other models. Check that the model you pick is compatible with the voice assistant you prefer and then test it to see how well the robot responds to commands before you purchase. Some robots are able to automatically empty their bins of dust and clean their docking stations, making your chore list a little more. However, this feature comes at a premium, as does a larger collection bin and a faster charging speed.
Cleaning Performance
While robots cannot replace a full-on vacuum or broom, they do offer a reliable and effective alternative to the everyday chore of cleaning floors. The most effective robotic cleaners remove small particles like dust, pet hair, and crumbs, or larger objects like metal shavings and wood shavings. They can do this without harming furniture or floors.
Often, they will register the type of floor they're cleaning and adjust their suction or brush features in accordance with the type of surface to more thoroughly clean your floors. This is particularly important if your home is made up of various types of flooring. Many models also come with many options for setting virtual boundaries that allow you to tell the robot to stay away from certain areas of your home. This will prevent your children or pets from entering areas they shouldn't. It also ensures that your entire house is cleaned during every scheduled session.
You should also consider how much autonomy you're comfortable giving your robot. Some models require your attention and presence while others function on their own with the capability to alter cleaning schedules and cleaning modes through a mobile app or voice commands through an integrated smart assistant. Some models can map and understand your home, allowing you to create zones and tell the robot to clean specific areas of your home on a weekly or daily basis.
In our tests, the iRobot j7+ proved to be the best robot to "set it and leave it". It was superior in mapping the virtual boundaries and eliminating obstacles than any of the other robots that we test. It also has the ability to empty itself, so you do not have to manually do it. Additionally, the side brushes help sweep debris from edges and corners that a vacuum might not reach.
Its slim profile and infrared sensors also permit it to go behind and under furniture to provide a deeper clean than most robots, and its advanced navigation system makes it more efficient in cleaning the entire area of your home in one charge than other models we've tested. It's a tough one to beat even at its price.
Battery Life
A robot vacuum can make cleaning your floors feel like less of a chore, and more of an enjoyable experience. The difference between a clean house and a dirty one is made by getting rid of dirt that has been tracked in, and crumbs, pet hair, and other messes. A basic robot is able to handle the majority of cleaning tasks. However, those who prefer a less hands-on experience may want to look for a model which also doubles as a mop.
The Ecovacs Deebot T10 OMNI is one the best models for both as it delivers excellent performance in both its mop and vacuuming modes and is able to easily deal with dirt debris, pet hair and even cat litter. The feature to avoid objects is particularly impressive, allowing it to steer clear of objects and not become stuck on them.
It has a big dustbin as well as an extremely long-lasting battery, which means it can cover a large amount of space in just one go. It's also a smart cleaner, which means it can be able to map your home, and it can be used with apps like those provided by Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to allow you to control the vacuum using voice commands.
The app that comes with the robot allows you to set up schedules, designate specific rooms for cleaning or pause/resume sessions. It will notify you when its battery is running low and return to the docking station to recharge.
The robot can also differentiate between carpets and hard floors and adjust its settings according to the type of floor. This helps to prevent the machine from getting stuck on a particular type of surface and accidentally tearing your furniture. However, it isn't yet able to detect high pile carpeting or the seams between rooms, so you'll have to be cautious when picking up large objects.
To ensure that robot vacuums are in good working order they require regular maintenance. This includes cleaning the brushes of hair, and emptying the trash bin (and sometimes washing it) after each cleaning session. Sensors and cameras should also be cleaned between each use. The manufacturer will give specific instructions for these steps as well as other steps, which may differ depending on the model.
Cost
The top robot vacuums don't come inexpensive, but they're less expensive than a professional carpet cleaner or even an entire stand-up vacuum. They require less maintenance than traditional vacuums, since they only require you to empty and occasionally rinse their dust bins following every cleaning session.
A lot of robot vacuums have intelligent features that make them more efficient in your home. For instance, mapping technology lets you tell the vacuum where to go via an app, which means it doesn't run into the stairs, or under furniture, where there could be a mess. Other robot vacuums can recognize the kind of flooring they are cleaning so they can adjust their suction and brush functions to ensure the best affordable robot vacuum results.
Some models feature object avoidance. This uses sensors (or a camera) that can detect toys and other items lying on the floor. The robot is then instructed to stay clear of them, instead of running into them. This is a great option for families with pets or children who are prone to leaving toys in the house.
One other smart feature that may be important to you is voice control which allows you to operate your robot using your voice instead of using the buttons on board. This is useful if your children aren't old enough to operate the robot, or if it's just practical for you.
How often you should use your robot will be contingent on the amount of dirt or debris is on your floor. The majority of experts suggest using your robot vacuum at least once a week to keep your floors spotless and to remove pet hair, lint and dirt from the surface.
If you only have the space for a space on your floor and do not intend to use the robot for any other purposes and you're looking for an affordable model like our top choice Eufy 11S is a great choice. It's simple to use and affordable, and it does the job without making any noise while you work or watch TV.