The Best Robot Vacuums
A quality robot vacuum does most of the work for you and removes pet hair, lint and surface dirt before it can stick to furniture or get ground into carpets. Many robot vacuums integrate with smart assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to give you a hands-free cleaning experience.
Many models have the ability to map, which allows them to create maps of your home. This helps them avoid tumbling off ledges or navigating cords that connect devices.
What to Find
Certain robots have advanced features that allow you to control them through the app and voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. These include smart mapping as well as cleaning zones and spots, and the ability to avoid objects. They could also have longer battery lives and bigger dust collection bins.
Look for a model with an extended brush that can sweep large particles and one that's small enough to be able to fit under furniture. Find out if the vacuum is able to clean various kinds of floors without changing the suction settings or brushes. This could reduce its effectiveness in cleaning and decrease its lifespan.
The top robot vacuums come with top-quality filters that catch fine particles to protect the inside of your home and an ample, easy-to-access bin that allows you to clear it frequently. Some models come with an additional side brush to clean up pet hair and other debris in hard-to-reach places under and behind furniture. They also usually have a clear dustbin door which allows you to keep an eye on the level of dirt buildup so you know when it's time for you to empty the.
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 draw a boundary around your furniture and areas that you'd like it avoid. Some models also register what type of floor they're cleaning, and automatically adjust their suction and brush settings to match.
There are also robots that recharge and resume cleaning exactly where they left off when their battery is low. And some have a built-in camera that lets you observe the path of your robot vacuum and see what it has taken in.
Many robots also allow you to control them using your voice, but not all do so as easily as others. Be sure that the robot you choose is compatible with your voice assistant of choice, and test out how well it responds to different commands during the purchasing process. Some robots will even empty their trash bins or clean their docking stations which will help you reduce your chore list. However, this feature comes at an expense, as does a larger collection bin and faster charging speed.
Cleaning Performance
Robots are not a replacement for a broom or vacuum. However, robot vacuum for pet hair can be incredibly efficient and effective in keeping your floors clean. Whether you need to keep track of tracked-in dust, crumbs and pet hair or get rid of larger debris like metal screws and wood shavings Most top-rated robotic cleaners are capable of picking up a variety of materials on the first attempt and without causing damage to the flooring or furniture.
They will often register the type of surface that they are cleaning and adjust their suction/brush settings according to the type of floor you have. This allows them to clean it more thoroughly. This is especially important if your home is surrounded by different kinds of flooring. Many models come with the option to set up virtual boundaries. This lets you tell your robot to stay clear of certain areas in your home. This is useful in protecting your pets or children from getting into areas they shouldn't be in, and it helps to ensure that your entire home gets cleaned in every scheduled time.
It is also important to consider the amount of autonomy you're willing to give your robot. Certain models require your presence and attention while others function independently and can alter cleaning schedules and cleaning modes through a mobile app or voice commands using an integrated smart assistant. Some models map and learn your space and allow you to define zones and instruct the robot only to clean specific areas of your home on a daily or weekly basis.
In our tests, the iRobot was the most efficient "set it and forget it" robot. It excelled in mapping, creating virtual boundaries and getting around obstacles better than the other robots we test. Additionally, it can completely empty itself so you don't have to do that manually and has side brushes that can help sweep debris away from corners and edges that the vacuum isn't able to reach.
Its slim profile and infrared sensors enable it to reach behind and under furniture for a deeper clean than most robots, while its advanced navigation system makes it more efficient in cleaning the entire area of your home on a single charge as compared to other devices we've tested. With its low cost, you'll find it tough to beat for everyday use.
Battery Life
A robot vacuum can make cleaning your floors feel less of a chore and more like an indulgence. The difference between a clean house and one that is filthy is made by getting rid of tracked-in dirt as well as crumbs, pet hair, and other particles. While a robot of a basic design can handle most cleaning tasks, those seeking an extra hands-off experience should look for one that doubles as a mop.
Ecovacs Deebot T10 OMNI is a top performer in both vacuuming and mopping modes. It can handle pet hair, dirt and even cat litter. Its function to avoid objects is amazing. It lets it keep away from objects and not get tangled on them.
It also has a long battery lifespan and a large dust bin which allows it to cover a decent amount of space in a single session. It's also smart vacuum, meaning it can create maps of your home and work with apps, such as the ones offered by Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, to let you use voice commands to control it.
The application that comes with the robot is simple and straightforward to use and allows you to set schedules, designate rooms for cleaning, and stop and resume sessions. It will notify you when its battery is low and then return to the docking station for recharging.
This robot can also distinguish between carpets and hard floors, and adjust its settings according to the type of floor. This helps to prevent the machine from squeezing on one type of surface and causing damage to furniture. It's not able detect seams or carpeting with high pile in rooms, therefore it is important to be cautious when picking up large objects.
To keep robot vacuums in good condition, they require maintenance. This includes cleaning brushes of hair, and emptying the trash bin (and sometimes washing it) after every cleaning session. Sensors and cameras should also be cleaned between uses. The manufacturer will provide specific instructions for these steps as well as others, which can vary according to the model.
Cost
The most effective robot vacuums might not be expensive, but they are far cheaper than a professional carpet cleaning machine or even a stand-up one. They require less maintenance than traditional vacuums as they only require you to empty and sometimes rinse their dust bins following every cleaning session.
Many robot vacuums are equipped with smart features that can make them more effective for your home, like mapping technology which lets you guide the vacuum on the layout of your room by using an app, so it is aware not to go through the stairs or under the furniture where there could be a mess. Others can identify what flooring type they are working on, and they can adjust their suction and brush features to achieve the best results.
Some models have object avoidance, which makes use of sensors (or even a camera) to spot objects like toys and other things on the floor. They then instruct the robot to walk around them, rather than running over them. This is a great option when your pets or children tend to leave toys all over the home.
One other smart feature that might be important to you is voice control which allows you to operate your robot using your voice instead of using the on-board buttons. This is helpful when your children aren't old enough yet to operate the robot, or is it just more convenient for you.
How often you should use your robot will be contingent on how much dirt or debris is accumulating on your floor. The majority of experts recommend using a robotic vacuum at least once a week to keep your floors looking great and to remove pet hair, lint and surface dirt before it is able to get ground in or become more difficult to remove.
If you're only working with the space for a floor space and don't intend to utilize the robot for any other purposes such as cleaning, then a budget model, like our top pick Eufy 11S is a great option. It's simple to use and affordable, and it does the job without causing any noise when you're working or watching TV.