How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum
If you don’t need the most advanced features like mapping, and don’t mind emptying your dustbin every 60 to 90 days A basic robot vacuum mop robot is likely to be the best choice the best robot vacuum 2022 choice for you. Select a model with an uncluttered base that can work with voice assistants.
It is the most effective robo-vacuum we have tested in cleaning up pet hair on tiles, hardwood floors, and carpeting with low pile. It also maps and set virtual no-go zones for rooms or areas.
1. Powerful Suction
A robot vacuum will help you keep track of the pet fur, dust and dander that collects on your floor each day. It also can reduce the frequency at which you have to do a deeper clean which will save you time and effort. The best models have powerful suction, which will tackle most messes with ease and leave your house cleaner.
You can cover a larger area with a robot vacuum and mop, which is especially beneficial if you live in a large house. There are models that has a water tank in the chassis itself or as an extra piece that you can swap out after vacuuming. It will need to be emptied and filled in order to complete the task to complete.
In a perfect world, you’d be able to clean your floors prior to using your robot vac to keep it from running into things. But in most homes, this isn’t possible or desirable. Most models allow you to utilize an app for your smartphone to build virtual barriers that the robot can see. Certain models have no-go zones that you can mark areas that you don’t want it to enter. For example an area for children’s play or a pile of cords in the corner.
If you’re looking for a simple i robot vacuum (webpage) vacuum with no bells and whistles, this model made by the networking company TP-Link is a good choice. It’s quiet and can be used on hard floors as well as carpets with low pile and can be programmed using the app to vacuum and mop at your leisure. It has a long battery life, which can last up to 180 minutes before it needs to recharge.
2. Easy to Operate
Robot vacuums typically require very little effort from you. They make use of navigational tools such as sensors lasers, cameras, and sensors to move around and collect dust, pet hair and food crumbs off tiles, hard floors and hardwood. Many have boundary strips that aid in staying within the walls of a room while more expensive models can be set to automatically wake up and begin cleaning at a set time. Some even come with fall detection technology that can help them avoid falling down stairs or becoming caught in electrical cords.
Find models that can be controlled from your couch via voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also choose Wi-Fi models that allow users to start cleaning anywhere you want using an app. You might want to choose a model that has a long-lasting battery, as well as a large dust bin, depending on the size of your home.
Some robot vacuums can double as mops, utilizing reservoirs of water to wash your floor. This is great for mopping, but not for difficult messes such as pet poop and other wet spills. 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 before emptying the base.
3. Smart Mapping
Some robots employ advanced mapping technology to build a detailed map while they clean. This helps them avoid hitting furniture or tripping over cords or chair legs. This feature is only available on top-of-the-line models however, it lets your robot be aware of the layout of your home and know where to go when the battery runs out.
The majority of robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done through an application or even physical boundary strips. You can block off areas that you don’t want your robot to enter to allow it to focus on the areas that require the most attention.
Many robots also have the ability to automatically navigate to different flooring types according to the type of surface they’re cleaning, whether they’re switching between carpet and hard flooring or focusing on particular areas of your home, such as corners and baseboards. In our tests this was a helpful feature that improved their performance in picking up carpeting that is low-pile and hardwood. It’s important to tuck away any loose cords or furniture before using your robot vacuum, so that it doesn’t become caught.
4. Remote Control
Most robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled via voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many robot vacuums are connected to smart home systems, and generate a map of the area they clean after each session. This lets them “learn” the way your home is laid out and plan more efficient routes during future cleaning sessions. Some come with obstacle avoidance features built in to prevent them from causing damage to furniture and getting stuck on things such as loose charging cables or pet hair.
Most robots come with a remote that you can use to steer them around your home. Most robots can be controlled via a mobile application that comes with more features. It is possible to set multiple cleaning schedules, make a list of favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot to certain areas by using directional arrows on the screen.
Certain models have zones that are not allowed. These are virtual barriers that can be created within the app to block the robot from entering specific areas (like kid’s toys or dog beds and dishes). Some apps allow you to create an outline of your home and provide more detailed information about the floors. The app we ranked as our top choice one, the Roborock S7+, has many useful options to help you clean your house, but its interface isn’t as polished and elegant as those from iRobot and Shark.
5. Long Battery Life
Robot vacuums that clean your entire home without stopping for a recharge or to empty their bins save time and effort. Certain robot vacuums can work with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to enable hands-free operation. They can also build a map of your home and allow you to program them to clean certain rooms or areas 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 can simplify your life (although one of our test robots did “eat” two socks). If you’re looking to take your home maintenance even further consider a robot mop that comes with a tank of water that can be filled and then empty.
While none of the models we tested could match the dirt-picking ability of a stand-up vacuum they did a great job cleaning hard floors as well as low pile carpets. They excel at sweeping up fine dust and food dust, tracked-in dirt, and pet hair. They are also able to tackle pet litter that is stray and metal screws and nuts. The most effective robot vacuums are able to clean corners and edges and work around furniture. Eufy 11S is a relatively basic and affordable model.
6. Convenient Self-Charging
A robot vacuum will help keep your home tidy and clean without doing lots of work. You can schedule cleanings through the app, and you can designate no-go areas to ensure that your robot does not step on your plants or sit on your favorite chair. A majority of our top picks also automatically empty their trash bins and clean their docking stations for you.
The most effective robot vacuums can be programmed to keep your floors clean for weeks or months at a time, saving you the time and effort of manually mopping or sweeping your floors every week or day. This lets you have more time to do the things you love and decreases the amount of time your floors have to be cleaned manually.
In the course of testing the Q Revo was able to grab tiny particles such as baking soda and oatmeal and heavier debris like nails and screws made of metal, and fluffy stuff like hair of pets. It does not have the intelligent mapping and object-avoiding features of our top picks, but it is still a great option for families with children.
The best thing about the j7 is that it utilizes camera and processor-powered smarts to recognize and avoid obstacles like shoes, power cords, socks, and pet waste. This means that you don’t have to tidy up before using your robot. However, rooms that are cluttered could cause your robot to become stuck and perform a poor job.