The Unspoken Secrets Of Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best

How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can help you save time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The best models do a great job at removing dust and lightweight debris and many allow you to designate no-go zones in pet areas or power cords.

The more expensive ones can even mop your floor, but they can't climb up the stairs. Choose models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly and able to keep up with the daily messes. You'll want a robot with decent carpet-picking capability and the capability to climb stairs. If you're looking for a model with extra features, consider an option that incorporates smart robot vacuums mapping technology, or an app to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tried many robotic vacuums. She's a big fan of robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She also enjoys robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they don't fall when climbing the stairs.

When compared to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology, and its navigation score is lower. It comes with a large dust bin that is non-refillable and an extended battery. It also has the ability to schedule cleaning sessions, and return to where it was last. This makes it easier for you to clean larger spaces. This model is also a good option for pet owners as it can spot and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.

In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and identify obstacles using a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid, and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for references. It is also able to stop the cleaning process at any time and return to where it stopped so that you can complete chores while the robot does its work. The included app offers a 3D representation of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options.

While this robot can't clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in removing fine debris like sand and baking soda and heavier objects, like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only drawback is that it isn't able to mop and has a slightly less efficient navigation system.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting, choose a robot vacuum that has a high score for carpet and rug mobility and pickup. Many models do a decent job of removing dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile and a few do a decent job at picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They don't pick-up small particles like an upright or canister, and could miss dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.

The best choice for most carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum near me vacuum/mop, which lets you swap in an empty bin for cleaning robots for home and mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and mops with circular pads that spin at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It is able to detect and lift its pads when it comes in contact with carpet, preventing the flooring from getting wet. You don't need remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also better than other robot vacuums/mops in avoiding obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds and staying clear of obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It did well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to tidy your home even when you're away. It can also be set to only mop, and we liked its excellent navigation on rug and floor surfaces, as well as its ability to get over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path-planning for the size of the device.

If you want a more high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks and not need to be empty. It also has amazing capability to auto-empty carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a clever mapping system, and can be set to run only during specific hours (a beneficial feature to keep pets and children who are prone to mischief from running wild). The Shark has less suction power than some other robot vacuum/mop combos however it's still efficient in removing hair and pet hair. It is the best value among our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best pick for hardwood floors because they are able to maneuver around obstacles without damaging bare surfaces. They do an excellent job of removing crumbs and dust, but they aren't able to handle pet hair and other larger particles. They lack the suction power of the top canister or upright vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.

The most effective robots are two-in-one, which combine mop and vacuum to complete the task in one move. If you have mixed flooring choose one equipped with an onboard sensor that detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for example, has this feature and can transition seamlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home you may want to consider a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robotic remote vacuum cleaner that has intelligent navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, plus it can mop too. Its sensors let it avoid hazards such as stairs.

The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, instead of simply swab them to remove dirt and dust. The mop pads that are reusable reduce the amount of waste, and reduce the spread of germs, and can be cleaned in the docking station to save you time. The mop pads can also be washed, dried and used again.

The robovac is operated by your smartphone, making it simpler to use. You can, for example make use of the app to designate areas that the vacuum will not be allowed to enter, label different rooms and schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via a trapdoor, and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you won't need to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

As the name implies, these robots are best suited for small spaces. They have smaller bins that hold less waste, and they're more efficient than the larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also fit underneath furniture where larger robots can't reach. They are also less expensive than higher-end models, however you will have to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end each cleaning session.

A few years ago robotic vacuums experienced significant changes. Manufacturers began to add sensors that helped them avoid household items that their conventional sensors might become stuck on or run across. This improved the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robot accident.

However, the latest sensors haven't resolved all of the issues these machines face. The cheapest models still struggle with the same obstacles that the older models faced, and many of them need a certain amount of illumination to see where they're going. If you live in a dark house or have a lot of furniture with low-profiles, consider getting one that uses top-mounted spinning laser units to map your area, like our best overall and runner-up choices do. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles like stairs.

In addition being capable of working in the dark, these models can be set to use their cliff sensors only when they're on or near the floor, not above them. It is still recommended to shield any mirrors that could interfere with this function however, because the laser used by a laser-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to believe it's in a different room.

Some of the models that we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go areas for areas that you don't want the robot to visit. This is helpful when you have pets or children who are small. Those features aren't available on all the models we test, so be sure to go through our complete reviews of the models below prior to making a purchase.