The Hidden 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 regular cleaning. The best models are capable of picking up dust as well as light debris and cords.

The most expensive models can even mop your floor, but they can't climb up the stairs. Find models that feature intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots that we tested are efficient, easy to use, and able to keep up with the everyday messes. You'll also want a robot capable of handling stairs and has good pick-up power on carpets. If you're looking for additional features, you might be interested in a model that uses smart mapping technology, or an application that allows you to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tested numerous robotic vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most conveniences, such as those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She's also a fan of the robots that can recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords, so they don't trip when climbing steps.

In comparison to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker robot vacuum has less object-avoidance technology and its navigation score is lower. It does however have an ample dust bin that doesn't require regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. It also comes with an option that allows you to schedule cleaning times and return to where it stopped last, making it easier for you to take care of larger homes. This model is an excellent option for pet owners, since it is able to avoid hair tangles and food particles.

In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and detect obstacles, with a structured light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It can stay clear of the steps, liquid droplets and furniture legs easily using this combination. It can also save up to four floor plans to be used in the future. It can also pause the cleaning process at any moment and return to where it stopped and let you do chores while the robot does its work. The app comes with a 3D representation of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.

The robot isn't as good at automated cleaning as our top models, but it is great in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine particles such as sand. Its only drawbacks are that it can't mop and has a slightly less efficient navigation system.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a vacuum that has good pickup and a high score for maneuverability on carpets and rugs. A lot of models do a great job of picking up dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile and some do a good job of cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They don't pick-up fine particles like an upright or canister, and may miss dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.

For carpeted homes the 2-in-1 robot vacuum bot is the best choice. It is possible to swap out a cleaning bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads spinning at 200 revolutions per minute. It recognizes and raises its pads when they come into contact with carpet, preventing the flooring from getting wet. You don't need to remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot cleaner amazon vacuums/mops in avoiding obstacles such as rugs and thresholds, and avoiding obstacles.

Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean while you're away from home. It can also be set to only mop and we loved its impressive navigation on both rug and floor surfaces, as well as its ability to go over and up onto furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and great path planning for such a small device.

If you want a more high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty robot vacuum cleaner sale Vacuum & Mop. It has a large charging dock that can run for months without needing to be emptying, and it has amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on both bare floors and carpets. It also has a smart mapping system, and can be programmed to run only during specific times (a useful feature for keeping pets and children who are prone to mischief from running wild). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combinations however it still manages to pick up pet hair and hair very well. It's also the highest price of our top picks.

The best choice for hardwood floors

Robot vacuums are the best choice for floors with hardwood floors because they can navigate around obstacles easily without damaging floors that aren't. They are great for removing dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair or other debris. They also lack the suction power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, so they're not the ideal choice for carpeted rooms or deep cleaning upholstery.

The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate mopping and vacuum and take care of the entire chore in one go. Choose one that has an onboard sensor to detect changes in the floor texture and adjust 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 floors in your home, you might want to think about a robot Sweeper mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum that has smart vacuum navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, plus it can mop as well. Its sensors allow it to avoid dangers like stairs.

When it comes to mop pads the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually clean hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than wipe them clean to remove light dust and dirt. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at the docking stations to save time. The mop pads can also be washed and dried to avoid spreading mold.

Both the robovac as well as the mop can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can utilize the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum won't enter, label different rooms and plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through trapdoors, and then stores it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

Like the name suggests, these robots are best suited for small areas. They have smaller bins that can hold less garbage, and are more efficient than the larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also be placed under furniture that larger robots can't reach. They tend to be cheaper than the more expensive models, however, you'll need to manually empty their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.

A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums went through a major change when manufacturers started adding sensors to help navigate around and avoid household objects that traditional sensors would become stuck on or over. This has decreased the amount of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, toy or pet waste.

The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all the problems with these machines, however. The cheaper models are still not able to traverse the same obstacles as older models, and they require an adequate amount of light to see where they are moving. Look into a model that uses a spinning LIDAR unit mounted on top to map the space. Our best overall pick and runner-up models have this feature. This lets them work in darkness and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

The models can also be programmed to only use their cliff sensors when they are in or near the ground, but not when they are above it. It is essential to cover mirrors to prevent this from happening. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, making the robot believe it's in a different room.

Some of the models we recommend also allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas where you do not want the robot move, which is useful if you have pets or children. These features aren't offered on all the models we've tested, so be sure to review our full reviews of the models below before making your purchase.