10 Quick Tips For Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best

How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum will save you a lot of time and hassle when it comes to regular cleaning. Top performers do a good job of removing dust and other small particles, and most allow you to create no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.

The more expensive ones will even sweep your floor but they aren't able to climb stairs. Look for models that have smart mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tested were efficient, easy-to-use, and able keep up with the daily messes. You'll need a robot that has decent carpet-picking power and the ability to handle stairs. If you're looking for a robot with extra features, consider one that comes with smart mapping technology or an app to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested dozens robotic vacuums, is acknowledged for her work in testing dozens of robot vacuums. She prefers robovacs that have the most features like those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She also likes the robots that are able to recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords, so they don't get caught when climbing stairs.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower score for navigation and has less technology for avoiding objects than the top robot vacuum-rated models. It does however have a large dustbin that doesn't need regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. It also comes with a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and return to where it stopped last, making it easier to cover larger areas. This model is also a good option for pet owners since it is able to identify and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.

In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and see obstacles with a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps for future use. It can also stop the cleaning process at any moment and return to where it stopped, so you can do chores while the robot does its work. The app includes an interactive 3D model of your home, with room labels and advanced cleaning options.

While this robot can't clean as well as our top-rated models but it excels in picking up fine debris like sand and baking soda as well as larger objects, like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. Its only drawbacks are that it can't mop and has a slightly less efficient navigation system.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, search for a vacuum that has good pickup and a high score for maneuverability on carpets and rugs. Many models do a good job of removing dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile, and several are capable of picking up heavier debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. They aren't able to pick up fine particles like an upright or canister, and they may miss dirt that is close to baseboards or thresholds.

For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best option. It is possible to swap out an empty bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a wet mop with circular pads that spin at 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts the pads when it encounters carpet to prevent wetting the floor, and you do not need to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuum/mops in keeping away from obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It did well in our tests, and you can 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 bare floors and rugs as well as its ability to go over and up onto 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 high-tech vacuum that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great option. It comes with a large charging dock that can run for several weeks without having to be empty and boasts amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It's also got a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature that can keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from running it amuck). The Shark isn't as powerful than other robot vacuum reviews vacuum/mop combos however it's still efficient in removing hair and pet hair. It is the most affordable of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are ideal for floors made of hardwood, since they can maneuver around obstacles easily without damaging the surfaces that are not. They are excellent at picking up dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair or other debris. They lack the suction of a high-end canister or upright vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.

The most effective robots are those that are two-in-one, which combine a vacuum with a mop to complete the task in one move. Find models that have an onboard sensor that can detect changes in the floor's texture and adjust suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to effortlessly transition 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 combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model uses an efficient robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors assist it in avoiding stairs and other hazards so you don't have to be worried about the bot plummeting down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.

When you need mops, the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure rather than just wipe them over to remove dirt and dust. Its pads that can be reused reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to reduce time. The mops can also be cleaned and dried to avoid spreading mold.

Both the robovac and mop are both controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can use the app to set up a zone where the vacuum can't go or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning sessions for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor and puts it in a disposable or bagless bin, meaning you don't need to empty the bin manually like you do with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

These robots are designed to work in small spaces. They have smaller bins that can hold less waste, and they're more efficient than larger models when it comes to navigating tight corners. They can also be placed under furniture that larger robots can't reach. They are also less expensive than more expensive models, however you will need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning robots session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a significant change when manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate around and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would get stuck on or run over. These advances decreased the amount of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was a power cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.

The new sensors haven't eliminated all issues that these devices have however. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same obstacles that the older models faced and, in addition, they require a certain amount illumination to be able see where they're headed. If you reside in a dark area or have a lot of furniture with low-profiles, consider buying a model that utilizes top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your space like our top overall and runner-up picks do. This allows them to work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.

The models can also be programmed to only use their cliff sensors when they are near or on the ground, but 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, which makes the robot vacuum deals believe it's in a different room.

A few of the models we recommend will allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't want the robot to visit. This can be helpful when you have pets or small children. Those features aren't available on all the models we test and recommend that you review our full reviews of the models below before making your purchase.