Here's A Little-Known Fact About Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum will save you a lot of time and effort in the case of regular cleaning. automatic vacuum do a great job picking up dust and lightweight debris and many allow you to create no-go zones for pets or power cords.
The more expensive ones will even sweep your floor however they're not able to climb up stairs. Choose models that have smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tried were reliable, user-friendly and able to cope with the daily messes. You'll want a robot with decent carpet-picking capability and the capability to climb stairs. And, if you're looking for extra features, you might be interested in a robot that uses smart mapping technology, or an application that allows you to control the robot remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tried numerous robotic vacuums. She's a big fan of robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She's also a fan of the robots that can recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords, so they don't trip when climbing the stairs.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower navigation score and has less technology for avoiding objects than the best-rated models. It comes with a large non-refillable dustbin as well as a long battery. It also comes with an option that allows you to schedule cleaning times and then return to the place it was last. This makes it easier for you to take care of larger areas. This model is an excellent choice for pet owners, as it can avoid tangled fur and food particles.
In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and detect obstacles, with an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination allows it to avoid steps, drops of liquid and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for use. It can pause and resume cleaning at any point, so that you can continue with your chores while it does. The included app offers a 3D representation of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.
While this robot can't clean as well as our top-rated models but it excels in removing small particles like sand and baking soda, as well as heavier items like orzo pasta and metal screws. The only drawback is that it can't mop and has a slightly less effective navigation system.
The best option for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, search for a vacuum that has good pickup and a high score for maneuverability on carpets and rugs. Many models are good at collecting dust from low-pile rugs. Some do a decently job of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. They don't pick-up small particles like an upright or canister, and may miss dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.
The best option for carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop. It lets you swap in an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a wet mop with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations per minute. It is able to detect and lift its pads when they come into contact with carpet, preventing the flooring from becoming wet. You don't need to take them off or replace them every time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuum/mops in keeping away from obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It was a great performer in our tests and you can program it to tidy your home when you are away. It can be set up to mop only. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors with no flooring as well as rug. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for a device of this size.
If you're looking to buy a high-tech vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic option. It has a large charging dock that can last for weeks without needing to be emptied and has impressive navigation skills and auto-emptying on bare floors and carpets. It also comes with a smart mapping system and can be set to only run for certain times (a useful feature for keeping mischievous children and dextrous animals from running amok). The Shark isn't as powerful than other robot vacuums and mops but it's efficient in removing hair and pet hair. It is the most affordable of our top picks.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are best for floors made of hardwood, since they can maneuver through obstacles with ease without causing damage the surfaces that are not. They are capable of removing crumbs and dust, but they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.
The best robots are two-in-one, combining a vacuum with a mop to complete the task in one go. Look for models that have an onboard sensor that can detect changes in the floor's texture and adjust suction in line with the changes. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for example, has this feature and can go seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.
If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home you might want to consider a robot mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robotic vacuum that has smart navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, plus it can mop too. Its sensors let it avoid dangers like stairs.
When it comes to mops the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than wipe them over to remove light dust and dirt. Its reusable pads reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at the docking stations to save time. The mops can also be washed and dried to prevent the spread of mold.
Both the robovac as well as the mop can be controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can use the app to create a no-go zone that the vacuum cannot enter or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning sessions for certain areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through trapdoors and then puts it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
These robots are specifically designed for small spaces. They have smaller bins that contain less waste, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, where larger robots struggle to get in. They are generally less expensive than the pricier picks, too, although you'll need to empty them manually from their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years back, robot vacuums went through an important change. Manufacturers started adding sensors that helped them navigate and avoid household items that traditional sensors could get stuck on or run across. These advancements have reduced the number of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was a power cord, toy or pet waste.
The new sensors don't solve all the problems that these devices have, however. The most affordable models struggle with the same issues that the older ones faced, and many of them require a certain amount light to see where they're going. If you are living in a dark space or have lots of furniture with low-profiles, consider purchasing top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your space, like our best overall and runner-up choices do. This allows them to avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones while working in the dark.
In addition to being capable of working in the dark they can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors only on or near the floor, not when they're above them. It's essential to cover mirrors to prevent this from occurring. The laser used by the LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in a different space.
Some of the models we recommend also allow you to create virtual no-go zones in areas where you do not want the robot go, which is beneficial if you have small children or pets. Those features aren't available on all of the models we test so make sure to review our full reviews of each model below before you make a purchase.