A Step-By Step Guide To Robot Vacuum

The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Vacuuming is a major cause of many people's existence however, robot vacuums make it more enjoyable. Modern models can also mop and climb (small) steps.

Some have a small bin that they empty by themselves. Others can be controlled by apps for smartphones instead of the physical remote. Some of them have mapping capabilities that aid in navigating your home more effectively.

1. Power

With the suction power of 8,000Pa, our top pick for robot vacuums is strong enough to take care of the most difficult hairs and dirt. Its super-thin square design allows it to slide underneath furniture like sofas and beds and its Dual-Laser LIDAR technology allows for intelligent navigation and accurate obstacle avoidance. It is also great at cleaning pet hair, baking powder and other messes around corners and baseboards.

Aside from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, the other high-powered bots on this list include the robot vacuum with mop Roomba j7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. It comes with a powerful docking station that automates maintenance and mopping functions as well. Its powerful suction system, along with its efficient mopping, kept my floors clean of pet hair, muddy prints, and other debris on every type of floor we tested.

In the lower price range, a model with a suction capacity of around 2,500Pa is more than adequate for most homes. They are also quieter and therefore a better option for those who have sensitive ears. They're still not quiet, but they're not about the same as normal conversations at home.

For the best mix of usability and power take into consideration your cleaning needs and budget. Regular light-duty cleaning requires a longer runtime and a lower suction, while weekly high-volume cleaning requires a lot of power. Check your flooring, home layout and cleaning schedule prior to selecting the right model. We recommend checking out our complete list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more details on the most recent models available. Many users report that their carpets and bare floors look cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum won't be able to do its job properly if it doesn't know how to navigate around your home. The best robots use sophisticated navigation technology to scan rooms and make maps, ensuring thorough cleaning without getting stuck or hitting obstacles. There are three major kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR-based sensor-based, and camera-based.

LiDAR is employed by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, which provides the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. The less expensive models rely on bump sensors, which are more prone to error and can miss many debris in dark areas. Most robots are equipped with cliff sensors, which keep them from falling off stairs or other drops.

A variety of robots I tested utilized object recognition to efficiently navigate things like fake dog turds and cords, but the most effective was the Eufy X10. It had excellent mapping capabilities with powerful oscillating mops, an intuitive app and the ability to clean a specific area, room or the whole house.

Take into consideration features such as sensors for floors that automatically increase suction power when needed. Certain robots, like the Roborock mop, utilize mopping pad lifts to reach corners and eliminate dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solution to stubborn stains.

A smaller size of the bin will require less frequent emptying, while a larger one will cost less to replace. The cheapest robotic cleaners typically employ a tiny disposable dust bag, whereas the majority of mid-range models come with larger 3L dustbins that last for ages. Some premium robots, like the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI station, can self-empty their dustbin and refill their water tanks, allowing convenience without hands.

3. App control

The best robot vacuums that mop vacs have an app that lets you monitor the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions and can connect to smart home devices to allow hands-free control. Many also connect to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-based control. Some models have a separate remote control that lets you start, pause and return to dock. Pick a model that comes with a larger trash bin and can self-empty rather than one that requires manual emptying.

Some robovacs come with mapping technology that can help them remember obstacles, such as stairs, and avoid getting into furniture. Others let you designate no-go zones and targeted rooms, so that they only clean areas that need it most. They also come with cliff sensors to keep them from falling down the stairs, which is especially beneficial in multi-level homes.

If you intend to make use of your robot vacuum to clean your rugs choose a model that can do dry and wet mopping. You'll be able to get better cleaning results when your vacuum can also remove its mop pad. Rinse it, and then reconnect it when you want to run another cleaning cycle. Also look for a robot with a rubber roller that is less susceptible to knots caused by pet hair and other debris than bristle rollers, as found on some cheaper models. It's recommended to inspect the robot's brushroll as well as side brushes for debris stuck on every week or once, too. If you notice that they are beginning to get clogged up it might be time to buy replacement parts.

4. Debris collection

Robot vacuums are made according to the name to collect dust and debris on your floors. The best robot vacuums can collect small particles such as baking soda and sand in addition to larger ones like screws made of metal, orzo, and pet hair. They also have better results on carpets with a low pile than manual vacuums.

All flooring types are covered, and the top-performing robots had pickup scores of greater than 95%. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were two of our best-performing bots in this category. Both are highly automated and feature robust docking stations that do maintenance on their own and features in the app that make them extremely user-friendly.

Both have self-emptying bins which automatically remove the contents of the wastebasket. They can also clean the washboards as they mow. They also come with an 8,000Pa vacuum cleaner, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance to help them navigate through even the most difficult of spaces. The ECOVACS model is also the only robots that vacuum and mop we tested that can remove its mop pads and vacuum carpet, making it the ideal choice for those who have to switch between vacuuming and mopping regularly.

If you're looking for a more affordable alternative, we suggest the iRobot Roomba Combo J7+, our budget-friendly pick. It offers LIDAR navigation for an affordable price and decent performance in the collection of debris. It can be a bit slow in mapping rooms and has a tendency of hitting obstacles, but the price is lower than our other picks.

5. Battery life

The most effective robot vacuums are designed to let you move moving with your day while they keep your floors looking spick and clean. While you'll still need to give your home a manual sweeping every now and again Robotic vacuums can help maintain a baseline level of cleanliness, and even wash even when you're away.

Choose a robovac that has a long-lasting battery to get the most of it. A good robot vacuum guideline is to expect a robovac to last for about two complete cleaning sessions if you run it at the highest power setting. This is less than a large vacuum cleaner, but it is enough to provide for the majority of homes. If you don't want to wait around while your robovac charges, you can also choose an automatic model that makes its way back to its base station to recharge.

If you're looking for a robot that can do a bit of everything, consider an all-in-one model that is able to mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the top model in this class and offers self-emptying, self-draining and self-refilling of the dust bin and mop pad. It can even be programmed to automatically re-fill and wash mops when they're low.

Its dependable carpet and hard floor pick-up, great hair pickup and tangle prevention, and its an almost perfect auto empty score makes it the clear winner of our test scores. However, it's not cheap and unless you live in a a small home with no pets, it could be too expensive for some. The second choice, the Dreametech D10+, has the same performance, but is priced 25% less.