The No. #1 Question Everybody Working In Robot Vacuum Needs To Know How To Answer
How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum
If you don't need advanced features like mapping, and aren't worried about emptying your bin every 60 to 90 days, a basic robotic vacuum is likely to be the best choice for you. Select a model with a clean base that works with voice assistants.
It is the best robo-vacuum we have tested in cleaning up pet hair on tile floors, hardwood floors and carpeting with low pile. It also has the ability to map out and create virtual no-go zones in rooms or certain areas.
1. Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum can keep up with the pet hair, dust and dander that build up on your floors on a daily basis. It can also decrease the frequency of deep cleaning, which will save you time and effort. The best model has powerful suction that will easily take on the most difficult messes and leave your home clean.
A robot vacuum that is also able to mop can help you achieve more coverage using one machine, which can be particularly beneficial in a larger home. You can find a model that has a water tank built into the chassis or as an extra piece that you can remove after vacuuming. You'll have to empty it and refill it, however, so this is an additional task that requires a little extra work on your part.
In a perfect universe it would be ideal to clean your floors before you use your robot vacuum to stop it from crashing into anything. However, in the majority of homes, this isn't possible or desirable. The majority of models let you use an app for your smartphone to build virtual barriers that the robot will detect. Some models include no-go areas that you can mark areas you don't wish it to enter. For instance an area for children's play or a pile cords in the corner.
This model is a good choice if you want an easy robot cleaner that doesn't have all the bells and whistles. It is quiet, can be used on hard floors and carpets with low pile and can be programmed through the app to vacuum and mop at your own convenience. It's got a long battery life, which can last up to 180 minutes before needing to recharge.
2. Easy to operate
In general, robot vacuums require very little input from you. They use navigation tools like sensors and lasers to move around obstacles and remove food particles, dust and pet hair from flooring, tile carpets, hardwood floors and low-pile carpets. A lot of models come with boundaries strips that help them remain in a room. The more expensive models can be programmed to start up at a certain time and start cleaning. Some even come with fall detection technology that helps them avoid tumbling down stairs or getting tangled in electrical cords.
Find models that allow you to control from your couch using voice assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also pick Wi-Fi models that allow you to start cleaning anywhere you want using an app. You may want to select an option with an extremely long-lasting battery as well as an enormous dust bin, based on the size of your house.
Some robot vacuums can also be mopping machines. They utilize water reservoirs to wash the floor. This is great for regular mopping but won't work for extra-tough messes, like pet poop, or other spills that get wet. You can choose hybrids with an able mopping pad made of microfiber, or a self-emptying version that lets you go for up to 60 days without emptying the base.
3. Smart Mapping
Some robots use advanced mapping technology to create a precise map as they clean. This makes it easier to avoid crashing into furniture or tripping over cords or chairs. This feature is typically only available on more expensive models, but it's certainly one of the best ways to ensure that your robot has an accurate understanding of the layout of your house and is aware of where to go when it runs out of battery.
The majority of robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done through an app or physical boundary strips. This allows you to block off zones that you don't want your robot to enter, so that it can concentrate its attention on areas that require the most attention.
Many robots also have the ability to automatically navigate to different floorings according to the type of floor they're cleaning, whether that's changing between hard and carpet or focusing on certain areas of your home, such as baseboards and corners. This feature proved useful in our tests and enhanced the performance of the vacuum on hardwood flooring and low-pile floor carpeting. However, it's still important to secure furniture and cords before running your robot vacuum so that it doesn't get stuck or come into contact with something it shouldn't.
4. Remote Control
Most robot vacuums are WiFi-connected and can be controlled by Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts, which allow you to control them using voice commands or from your smartphone. Many robot vacuums connect to smart home systems, and generate an outline of the area they clean after each cleaning session. This lets them "learn" how your home is laid out and plan more efficient routes in future cleaning sessions. There are also built-in obstacles avoidance that prevents them from hitting and damaging furniture or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables, shoe laces and hair from pets.
The majority of robots come with a remote control that you can use to navigate them around your home. Most robots are controlled by a mobile app, which offers more features. You can usually create multiple cleaning schedules, build a list of favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot to specific areas by using directions on the screen.
Certain models have zones that are not allowed. These are virtual barriers you can set up within the app to block the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for kids or dishes and dog beds). Some apps let you draw an image of your home and provide detailed information about the floors. The app on our top pick one, the Roborock S7+, has many useful options to help you clean your home, but its interface isn't as polished and elegant as those from iRobot and Shark.
5. Long Battery Life
Robotic vacs that can clean throughout the house without stopping to recharge or empty their dust bins make it easier for you to save time and effort. Certain robot vacuums can work with smart home devices like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also draw an outline of the space for you to program them for certain areas or rooms and to stay clear of obstacles.
Most robot vacuums offer some degree of object detection however, higher-end models such as the iRobot j7 offer sophisticated features like "home mapping" and advanced obstacle avoidance, which can make your life easier (although our test bot did once "eat" the socks of a pair). socks). If you're looking to take your home cleaning to the next level consider a robot mop that has an water tank that can be filled and then empty.
While none of the models we tested could compete with the power of a stand-up vacuum, most do an admirable job of cleaning carpets with low pile and hard floors. They are excellent at sweeping up food crumbs, and tracked-in dirt. They can even tackle some stray cat litter and metal screws and nuts. The most effective robot vacuums are able to easily maneuver around furniture and are great at cleaning edges and corners as well. Eufy 11S is a relatively basic and affordable model.
6. Convenient Self-Charging
With the right setup, a robot vacuum can assist you in keeping your home looking and feeling fresh on a regular basis with minimal effort. You can schedule cleanings through the app, and you can set up no-go areas to ensure that your robot does not step on your plants or favorite chair. Many of our top picks automatically empty their bins and clean their docking stations for you.
The best robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for months or even weeks at a time, removing you from the time-consuming task of manually mopping and sweeping your floors on a daily or weekly basis. irobot vacuum allows you to take more time doing the things you enjoy and reduces the amount of time required to clean your floors manually.
In the course of testing, the Q Revo was able to grab small particles such as oatmeal and baking soda and heavier debris like nails and screws made of metal, and fluffy stuff like hair from pets. It isn't equipped with the advanced mapping and object-avoiding features found in our top picks, but is still a great option for families with children.
The most appealing thing about the j7 is that it uses camera and processor-powered smarts to recognize and avoid obstacles such as power cords, shoes socks and pet waste. This means you don't have to spend time tidying the room prior to running your robot, although messy rooms can mean that the robot may become stuck and not be able to do the job as well.