Are Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best The Greatest Thing There Ever Was
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum will save you lots of time and effort in the case of regular cleaning. The best ones are adept at picking up dust as well as light debris and cords.
The higher-end models even sweep your floors, but they can't climb stairs. Make sure you choose models with smart mapping, real time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots that we have tested are effective, easy to use, and able to cope with everyday debris. You'll also need a robot that can handle stairs and has adequate cleaning power for carpets. And, if you're looking for extra features, you might be interested in a robot that uses smart mapping technology, or an app that lets you control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tried dozens of robotic vacuums. She prefers the robovacs with the most features, such as those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robotic floor scrubber vacuums. She also likes robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables so they won't get tripped up when climbing stairs.
In comparison to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology and its score for navigation is lower. However, it does have an enormous dust bin that doesn't require frequent emptying and a long battery life. It also has an option that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and then return to where it was last. This makes it easier for you to cover larger homes. This model is also a great option for pet owners as it is able to identify and avoid tangled hair and fallen food particles.
In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify obstacles and map rooms by using a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It can avoid the steps, liquid droplets and furniture legs easily with this combination. It also has the ability to save up to four floor plans to be used in the future. It is able to stop and restart cleaning at any point, so that you can continue doing chores while it does. The app offers the 3D image of your home, complete with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.
Although this robot isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it is superior in removing fine debris such as baking soda and sand, as well as heavier objects, like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only drawbacks are that it's not able to mop and its navigation system is less impressive.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, choose an automatic vacuum that has a high score for rug and carpet ability to maneuver and pick up. Many models are good at cleaning dust from low-pile carpets, and some can be quite effective in cleaning up larger debris like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. They can't take in fine particles like an upright canister, and they may miss dirt that is close to thresholds or baseboards.
The best choice for most carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum and mop that lets you swap in a cleaning bin and a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a mops wet with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it is in contact with carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor. Additionally, you don't need to remove or replace them after every use. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums and mops in keeping away from obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It performed well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to clean your home while you are away. It can also be set to mop only, and we liked its impressive navigation on both rug and floor surfaces as well as its ability to get up and over furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path-planning for a device of this size.
If you're looking to buy a high-tech vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 robot cleaner Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic option. It has a large charging dock that can run for months without needing to be empty, and it has amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on bare floors and carpets. It also comes with a smart mapping system, and can be programmed to run only during specific times (a beneficial feature to keep the sly children and animals from running wild). The Shark is less powerful than other robot vacuum/mop combinations however it still manages to pick hair and pet hair very well. It's also the most affordable robot vacuum price of our top picks.
Best for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are the Best Value Robot Vacuum choice for floors made of hardwood, since they can navigate around obstacles without causing damage to floors that aren't. They are excellent at of picking up dust and crumbs, however they are unable to deal with pet hair and other large debris. They don't have the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.
The best robots are two-in-one, combining the power of a mop with a vacuum to complete the job in one go. If you have floors that are mixed choose one with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft 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 uses a powerful robotic vacuum that has smart navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it can mop as well. Its sensors assist it in avoiding the stairs and other hazards, so you don't have to be worried about the bot plummeting down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.
When it comes to mops, the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than just wipe them over to get rid of light dust and dirt. Its reusable pads reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to reduce time. The mops can also be washed and dried to stop the spread of mold.
Both the robovac as well as the mop can be controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. You can, for example make use of the app to designate areas where the vacuum cannot enter, or to label rooms or plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through trapdoors and then puts it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means that you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as other models.
Best for Small Spaces
As the name implies that these robots are to be used in small spaces. They have smaller bins which hold less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to maneuvering around tight corners as opposed to larger models. They can also fit underneath furniture that larger robots aren't able to reach. They are usually less expensive than the higher-end models as well, but you'll have to empty them manually from their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot vacuum cleaner industrial vacuums underwent a significant change when manufacturers began adding sensors to help them navigate around and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would get stuck on or run over. This improved the number of times our testers were required to clean up after a robotic snag.
However, the new sensors aren't solving all of these machines' problems. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same issues that the older ones faced, and many of them require a certain amount light to be able see where they're headed. If you are living in a dark space or have a lot of furniture that is low-profile, think about buying a model that utilizes top-mounted spinning laser units to map your area, like our top overall and runner-up choices do. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles like stairs.
The models can also be programmed to only use their cliff sensors only when they are near or on the ground, and not when they are above it. It's important to cover mirrors to prevent this from occurring. The laser used by the LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, making the robot believe it's in a different room.
A few of the models we recommend also let you set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas where you don't want the robot to go, which is beneficial if you have small children or pets. These features aren't on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before making your choice.