7 Secrets About Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best That Nobody Will Tell You
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum will save you lots of time and effort when it comes to regular touch-ups. The best ones are adept at picking up dust, light debris and cords.
The pricier ones even mop your floors, though they aren't able to climb the stairs. Make sure you choose models with smart mapping, real-time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we've tested that we have tested are effective, easy to use, and are able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll also want a robot that can take on stairs and has adequate pick-up power on carpets. If you're looking for a model with additional features, think about one that comes with smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tested dozens robotic vacuums, is acknowledged for her work in testing hundreds of robot vacuums. She's a fan of the robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She also loves robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables, so they won't trip up when climbing the stairs.
The Black and Decker model has a lower navigation score and has less technology for avoiding objects than the top robot vacuum-rated models. However, it has an enormous dust bin that doesn't need regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. It also comes with the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to where it stopped last, making it easier for you to clean larger homes. This model is an excellent option for pet owners, as it can avoid tangled fur and food particles.
In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and detect obstacles, with an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It is able to avoid liquid droplets, stairs, and furniture legs easily with this combination. It is also able to save up to four automatic floor cleaner plans to be used in the future. It is able to pause and resume the cleaning process at any time, meaning you can continue to do chores while it works. The app comes with an interactive 3D model 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 picking up fine debris like sand and baking soda and heavier objects, like orzo pasta and metal screws. The only drawbacks are that it cannot mop, and its navigation system is a little less impressive.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, pick a robot vacuum that scores high for rug and carpet ability to maneuver and pick up. Many models are capable of cleaning dust from low-pile rugs, and some can be quite effective in sweeping up heavier debris such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. They can't take in fine particles like an upright canister, and could miss dirt that is close to thresholds or baseboards.
The best option for carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum/mop. It allows you to swap out the cleaning bin as well as mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and mops wet with circular pads that rotate at a speed of 200 rotations per minute. It automatically detects and lifts the pads when it comes into contact with carpet to prevent wetting the floor, and you don't have to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuums and mops in staying clear of obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds and avoiding obstacles.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It did well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to sweep your home while you are away. It can also be set to only mop and we were impressed by its excellent navigation on rug and floor surfaces as well as its ability to climb up and over furniture. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for the size of the device.
If you're looking for a top-of-the-line vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great alternative. It has a large dock that can last for weeks and not need to be emptied. It also features impressive capability to auto-empty carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep the sly kids and pets from running it amuck). The Shark is less powerful than other mop/robot combinations however it still manages to pick up pet hair and hair extremely well. It's also the best value of our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are the best choice for hardwood floors, as they can navigate through obstacles with ease without causing damage the surfaces that are not. They are fantastic for removing dust and crumbs but struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They lack the suction of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.
The best robots are two-in-one, which combine a vacuum with a mop to do a complete job in one go. If you have mixed flooring choose models with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, comes with this feature and can move seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.
If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home, you might want to think about a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, plus it can mop as well. The sensors in it allow it to stay clear of hazards like stairs.
The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, instead of simply swab them to get rid of dirt and dust. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to help save time. The mop pads can also be dried, washed, and reused.
Both the robovac and mop can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can make use of the app to create zones where the vacuum cannot enter, label different rooms, or schedule specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through a trapdoor, and stores it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means that you won't need to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.
best cheap robot vacuum for Small Spaces
These robots are designed for small spaces. They have smaller bins which hold less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to maneuvering around tight corners over larger models. They can also fit under furniture, whereas larger robots are unable to reach. They are also less expensive than more expensive models, but you'll have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot hoover vacuums went through a major change when manufacturers started adding sensors to help navigate around and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would get stuck on or run over. These advances have reduced the number of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic vacuum cleaner deals snag whether it was a power cord, toy or pet waste.
The new sensors haven't eliminated all issues with these machines, however. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same obstacles that the older ones faced, and many of them require a certain amount light to be able see where they're headed. If you reside in a dark area or have a lot of furniture that is low-profile, think about getting one that uses a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your space, like our top overall and runner-up choices do. This allows them to avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones when working in darkness.
In addition being able to work in the dark, these models can be set to use their cliff sensors only when they're near or on the floor, not above them. It is still recommended to cover any mirrors that might interfere with this function, however, because the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it is in another room.
Some of the models we recommend allow you to set up virtual no-go zones in areas where you do not want the robot move, which is useful if you have small pets or children. These features aren't available on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before deciding.