11 Ways To Completely Revamp Your Robot Vacuum

The best robot vacuum cleaner and mop Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can make the task of vacuuming a bit less painful. Modern models mop and climb (small) stairs.

Some have a small bin that they empty by themselves. Others can be controlled via a smartphone app rather than the physical remote. Some of them have mapping capabilities that help them navigate your home more effectively.

1. Power

Our top pick for robot vacuums has a suction power of 8,000Pa, which is powerful enough to get rid of even the most difficult hairs and dirt. Its ultra-thin square shape allows it to slide beneath furniture, such as couches and beds. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology provides accurate obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation. It also does an excellent job at cleaning pet hair baking soda, sand, and other debris close to the baseboards as well as in corners.

Other high-powered robots on this list, apart from the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, are the IRobot Roomba j7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. It comes with a robust docking station that automatically performs maintenance and includes mopping capabilities as well. Its powerful suction system, along with its efficient mopping, ensured my floors were free of pet hair, muddy prints, and other debris on every type of floor we tested.

In the lower cost range, a model with around 2,500Pa of suction is more than enough for most homes. These units are quieter and are therefore a better choice for those with sensitive ears. These units are not silent however they are not about the same as normal conversations at home.

To get the most effective mix of power and usability, consider your cleaning needs and budget. For light-duty cleaning that is frequent it is recommended to have a longer runtime and less suction is recommended. Cleaning that is heavy-duty every week requires the most power. Assess your flooring, layout of your home, and cleaning schedules before selecting the right model. We recommend looking through our full list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings for more details on the most recent models available. Many users have reported seeing their carpets and bare floors looking significantly cleaner after introducing a robotic vacuum to their home.

2. Navigation

A robot autonomous vacuum isn't able to do its job if it does not know how to navigate your home. This is why the most effective robots depend on advanced navigation technology that effectively scans rooms and builds a map to ensure thorough cleaning without getting lost or hitting obstacles. There are three main kinds of robot navigation: LiDAR-based sensor-based, and camera-based.

The most expensive models utilize LiDAR to create a digital map of the room, delivering the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are utilized in less expensive models, but they aren't always accurate and miss a lot debris when working in dark environments. The majority of robots have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs or other drops.

Several robots in my tests utilized object recognition to efficiently navigate things like fake cords and dog turds, but the most effective was the Eufy X10. It was equipped with powerful mop heads that oscillate as well as a user-friendly application and a superb mapping capability.

Think about features like sensors that detect floors that automatically boost suction power when required. Some robots like the Roborock mop make use of mopping pad that lifts to reach into corners and clean dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solutions to the most difficult stains.

A smaller bin will require less frequent emptying, and a larger one will save you money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners usually use a small disposable dust bag, while the mid-range models typically have larger 3L dustbins that can last for many years. Certain high-end robots, such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station can self-empty and fill up their water tanks, allowing hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The top robot vacuums have an app that lets you monitor the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions, and most can connect to smart home devices for hands-free control. Many robot vacuums can also be controlled using voice commands, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some have a remote control that lets you start, pause and return to dock. Select a model with an extra large dustbin and is able to self-empty rather than one that needs manual emptying.

Certain robovacs come with mapping technology to help them avoid obstacles like stairs and furniture. Certain robovacs permit you to designate no-go zones and specific rooms to clean areas that require the most. They also have cliff sensor to stop them from falling, which is especially helpful in multi-leveled homes.

If you plan to use your robot vacuum to clean rug carpets, you should choose one that can be used for dry and wet mopping. You'll have better results cleaning when your vacuum can remove its mop pad. Rinse it, and then reconnect it when you want to run another cleaning cycle. Also, look for a machine that has a rubber roller that is less susceptible to tangles due to pet hair and other debris than a bristle roller, as found on some less expensive models. Examine the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that has gotten stuck on. Make sure to do this at least twice per week. If you notice they are starting to clog up it could be time to purchase replacement parts.

4. Collection of debris

As the name suggests robot vacuums are made to collect dust and debris from your floors. The best automatic vacuum cleaner robot vacuums will take small particles such as baking soda and sand, as well as larger ones like screws made of metal orzo, as well as pet hair. They also deliver better results on low pile carpets than manual vacuums.

In all flooring types, the top-performing robots had pickup scores of more than 95 percent. The two top performers in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI, and the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated with docking stations that perform maintenance on their own, and app features which make them extremely user-friendly.

Both have self-emptying bins which eliminate the contents of the wastebasket. They can also clean the washboard as they mow. They also have an 8,000Pa vacuum, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance technology to help them navigate through the most difficult of spaces. The ECOVACS robot is among the few that can clean carpet and remove mop pads. This makes it a great option for people who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming often.

If you're seeking a lower-cost alternative, take a look at the Roomba Combo J7 by iRobot Plus, our budget choice. It comes with LIDAR navigation at reasonable prices and decent debris collection performance. It can be a bit slow at mapping out rooms and has a tendency of hitting obstacles, but it is less than the other choices.

5. Battery life

The most effective robot vacuums let you get on with your day while they keep your floors in top state. While you'll still have to give your home a manual hoover every now and then Robotic vacuums can help maintain a standard of cleanliness and even keep your home clean even when you're away.

To maximize the time you can get out of your robovac, choose a model with excellent battery life. A good guideline is to expect a robovac to last for about two cleaning sessions if you use it on the highest power setting. This is less than a full-sized vacuum, but should be sufficient to keep most homes clean. If you don't want to wait around while your robovac is charging you, you can opt for an automatic model that makes its return to the base station to recharge.

If you want a robovac that does a amount of everything, you should consider an all-in-one machine that is able to mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this category comes with self-emptying and self refilling for the dust bin as well as the water tank and mop pad. It can be programmed to refill and wash its mop pads when they run out.

Its high-quality carpet and hard floor pickup as well as its excellent hair pickup and tangle-free, and a close to perfect auto empty scores 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 Dreametech D10+ is the runner-up and has a similar performance, but is priced around 25% less.