How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you don't need advanced features such as mapping and don't mind emptying your dustbin every 60 to 90 days, a basic robotic vacuum could be the best choice for you. Find a model that is clean and works with voice assistants.

It excels at removing dirt, clumps of pet hair and cat litter on tile floors, hardwood floors and carpeting with less pile than any other robo vacuum we've tried. It also has the ability to map out and create virtual no go zones for rooms or certain areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum is able to stay on top of the dust, pet hair and dander that accumulates on your floors on a daily basis. It can also reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, saving you both time and effort. The best robot vacuum and mop models have powerful suction, which will clean up most mess with ease and leave your house cleaner.

A robot vacuum that can also mop will allow you to achieve more coverage with one machine, which could be especially helpful in larger homes. You can find a model that has a water tank built into the chassis or as an additional piece that you can remove after vacuuming. You'll need to empty and refill it, though, so this is an additional task that requires a little extra work on your part.

In a perfect world it would be ideal to clean your floors before using your robot vacuum, preventing it from running into anything. However, in the majority of homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. Most models allow you to utilize an app for your smartphone to build virtual barriers the robot can see. Some models include no-go areas, which you can flag areas you don't wish it to access. For instance an area for children's play or a pile cords in the corner.

This model is a good option for those looking for a basic robot cleaner that does not have all the bells. It's quiet, Robot Vacuum With Self Empty works well on both hard floors and low-pile rugs. It can be scheduled via the app to vacuum or mop at your own convenience. It has a long battery life, and can last up to 180 minutes before it requires to recharge.

2. Simple 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. Many models have boundary strips that allow them to remain in a room. Higher-end models can be programmed to get up at a particular time and begin cleaning. Some even come with fall detection technology that helps them avoid tumbling down stairs or getting tangled in electrical cords.

Look for models that you can control from your couch via voice assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also pick Wi-Fi models that allow you to begin cleaning from anywhere with an app. Depending on how big your home is, you may prefer a model that has a long battery life and a large dust bin that doesn't need to be regularly emptied.

Certain robot vacuums are also mops. They utilize water reservoirs to clean the floor. This is helpful for regular mopping but won't work for tough messes such as pet poop or other spills that are wet. There are hybrids that have a removable microfiber pad that can be used for mopping, or choose self-emptying models that let you use the device for 30 to 60 days without needing to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots use advanced mapping technology to build a detailed map as they clean. This allows them to avoid bumping into furniture or tripping over cords or chairs. This feature is typically only available on higher-end 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's running out of battery.

If you don't want your robot navigating into areas of your home you'd prefer to keep it away from (like your children's toys or the mess of device cords in the corner) Most robots provide some method of creating virtual barriers, either through their apps or a set of physical boundary strips. You can block off areas you don't want your robot to go into, so that it can concentrate on the areas that require the most attention.

Many robots can also automatically navigate to different floorings according to the type of floor they're cleaning, whether that's changing between hard flooring and carpet or focusing on particular areas of your home, like corners and baseboards. This feature proved to be useful during our tests and helped improve the performance of the vacuum on hardwood flooring and carpeting for floors with low-pile. It is important to secure any furniture or robot vacuum with self empty cords that are loose before using your robot vacuum so it doesn't get caught.

4. Remote Control

Most robot vacuums come with WiFi capabilities and can be controlled with voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many robot vacuums are connected to smart home systems and can create a map of the space they clean after each session. This allows them to "learn" how your home is laid out, and then plan more efficient routes in future cleaning sessions. Certain models have obstacle avoidance features built in, which prevents them from damaging furniture and getting stuck on things like loose charging cables or pet hair.

Most robots come with a remote that you can use to control them around your home. Most robots are operated by mobile applications which has more options. It is possible to set up multiple cleaning schedules, make a list of favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot to certain areas using directional arrows on the screen.

Some models have no-go zones. These are virtual barriers you can set up in the app to prevent the robot from entering specific areas (like toys for children or dog beds and dishes). Some apps allow you to draw an image of your home and provide detailed information on the floors. The app that we recommend as our top choice one, the Roborock S7+, has many useful options to help you clean your home, but its interface isn't as polished as those from iRobot and Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacs that can work throughout the house without stopping to recharge or empty their bins of dust can save you time and energy. Some robot vacuums are compatible with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also create maps of the area that allows you to program them to specific areas or rooms, and to stay clear of obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuum With Self empty vacuums detect objects, however the iRobot j7 comes with advanced features, such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These can make your life easier (although one of our test robots did "eat" a few socks). If you're trying to improve your home's maintenance, you should consider the use of a robot mop and an water container that can be filled and then empty.

While none of the models we tested could match the dirt-picking ability of a standup vacuum, they did an excellent job of cleaning hard floors and low pile carpets. They excel in sweeping up dust and food crumbs, tracked-in dirt and pet hair. They also can handle nuts and screws made of metal as well as stray cat litter. The top robot vacuums can easily maneuver through furniture, and they excel at cleaning corners and edges as well. For a basic model that functions on its own and is reasonably priced take a look at the Eufy 11S.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

With the right setup with the right setup, a robot vacuum will help you keep your home looking and feeling cleaner on a regular basis with minimal effort. You can schedule cleanings in the app and create zones that are not allowed to enter so that your robot doesn't damage your plants or ruin your favorite chair. The majority of our top picks also automatically empty their trash bins and clean their docking stations for you.

The best robot vacuums are programmable to keep your floors clean for weeks or even months at a stretch, making it easier to save time and effort of manually mopping or sweeping your floors each week or every day. This lets you spend more time doing things you enjoy, and decreases the amount of time required to clean your floors manually.

In the course of testing, the Q Revo was able to pick up small particles such as oatmeal and baking soda, heavier debris such as nails and screws made of metal, and fluffy stuff like hair from pets. It doesn't have the smart mapping and objects avoidance features of our top picks, however it's adequate for the majority of families.

The best thing about the j7 is its ability to detect and avoid obstacles like power cords as well as socks and shoes, and pet waste. This means that you don't need to spend time tidying the room prior to running your robot, but clutter in your home can mean your bot may get stuck and not do as well.