What Freud Can Teach Us About Robot Vacuum

The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums can make the task of vacuuming a little less painful. Modern models can also mop and even climb (small) steps.

They have a tiny dustbin which they empty themselves and some of them can be controlled from a smartphone app instead of a physical remote. Some models have mapping capabilities to aid in navigating your home more effectively.

1. Power

Our top pick for robotic vacuums has suction power of 8,000Pa, which is powerful enough to remove even the most stubborn dirt patches and hairs. Its ultra-thin square design allows it to slide underneath furniture like sofas and beds and its Dual-Laser LIDAR technology supports precise navigation and obstacle avoidance. It's also great for cleaning baking powder, pet hair, and other debris near corners and baseboards.

Other high-powered robots that are listed in addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, are the IRobot Roomba J7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes bundled with a robust docking station that is able to perform maintenance and mopping functions as well. Its powerful suction and effective mopping helped keep my floors clear of pet hair and muddy footprints and other debris during every flooring type test we conducted.

In the lower price range, a model that has 2,500Pa of suction is more than adequate for most homes. These models are quieter, and therefore a better option for those with sensitive ears. These units are not silent but they're not the same volume as conversations at home.

For the best mix of performance and convenience, consider your cleaning needs and budget. Frequent light-duty tidying requires a longer runtime and lower suction, while weekly heavy-duty cleaning requires the most power. Take a look at your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules to choose the right model to meet your needs. We suggest looking through our entire list of robot vacuum reviews (more tips here) and ratings to get more details on the most recent models available. Many users have reported that their carpets and bare floors look cleaner after using a robot vacuum.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum cannot do its job without knowing how to navigate around your home. This is why the best robots use sophisticated navigation technology that reliably scans rooms and builds a map to ensure thorough cleaning without getting lost or hitting obstacles. There are three types of robot navigation that include LiDAR, camera and sensor.

The most expensive models use LiDAR to create a digital map of the room, offering the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. Cheaper models rely on bump sensors, which are more prone to error and are more likely to miss many debris in dark areas. Many robots also have cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down stairs or other falls.

Many of the robots I tried used object recognition to navigate things such as cords and fake dog turds. But the Eufy X10 was the best. It had powerful oscillating mop heads and a user-friendly app, and superb mapping capabilities.

Other features worth considering include floor type sensors that recognize carpets that are hard and soft and automatically boost suction power when required. Some robots, such as the Roborock mop utilize mopping pad lift that allows you to get into corners and clean dried spills. Some hybrids even apply cleaning solutions to tough staining.

A smaller bin will require less frequent emptying, whereas larger ones will cost less to replace. The majority of robotic cleaner and mop cleaners that are low-cost use the smallest, disposable dust bag. However, most mid-range models come with larger dustbins of 3L that last for a long time. Certain premium robots such as the ECOVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station will self-empty and refill their water tanks, allowing hands-free convenience.

3. App control

Most robot vacuums come with an app that can monitor the progress of cleaning and schedule cleaning sessions. They also connect to smart home devices. Many robot vacuums can be controlled via voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some have a dedicated remote control that lets you start, pause and return to dock. Choose a model that has a larger trash bin and can self-empty instead of one that needs manual emptying.

Some robovacs come with mapping technology that can help them recognize obstacles, such as stairs, and avoid getting into furniture. Some allow you to set no-go zones or targeted rooms, so they only clean the areas that require the most. They also have cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down the staircase, which is particularly beneficial in multi-level homes.

If you want to make use of your robot vacuum for cleaning rugs, choose one that can be used both for wet and dry mopping. You'll be able to get better results from the robot vacuum that can remove its own mop pad and then rinse and reconnect when it's time to do another cleaning cycle. Also, look for a model that has a rubber roller, which is less prone to knots caused by pet hair and other debris than a bristle roll, as found on some cheaper models. It's a good robot vacuum idea to check the robot's brushroll and side brushes for debris that has gotten stuck every week or once as well. If you notice that they're starting to clog up it might be time to replace parts.

4. Debris collection

Robot vacuums are created to, as the name suggests, to collect dust and debris on your floors. The best ones pick small particles such as baking soda and sand as well in larger pieces of metal screws, orzo pasta and pet hair. They also deliver better results on low pile carpets than many manual vacuums.

The top-performing robots across all flooring types had pickup scores higher than 95 percent. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo were our two best-performing bots in this category. Both are highly automated with docking stations that can perform maintenance by themselves and features in the app that make them extremely user-friendly.

Both have self-emptying bins which automatically remove the contents of the wastebasket. They also have the ability to clean the washboard while they mow. They also feature 8,000Pa suction and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them find their way around even the most difficult areas. The ECOVACS robot is among the few that can clean carpet and remove mop pads. This makes it a great option for those who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming often.

If you're looking for a more affordable alternative, we suggest the iRobot Roomba Combo J7+, our budget-friendly pick. It offers LIDAR navigation at a reasonable price and a decent debris collection performance. It's slow to map rooms and may be susceptible to bumping into obstacles, however it's much less expensive than our other top-rated selections.

5. Battery life

The best robot vacuum and mop robot vacuums let you move about your day while they keep your floors in top in good condition. You'll still have to manually clean your home every so often however, robovacs can aid in maintaining a certain level of cleanliness and even clean when you are away.

To maximize the amount of time you can get out of your robovac, look for a model with excellent battery life. If you choose to use the most powerful power setting, a model should last two cleaning sessions. This is less than a large vacuum but it should be sufficient to keep most homes clean. If you don't want to wait while your robovac recharges you can opt for one that automatically returns to the base station to charge.

If you're looking for a robot that does a little bit of everything, consider an all-in-one model that can mop too. Eufy's X10, the best model of this category comes with self-emptying and self refilling for the dust bin and the water tank and mop pad. It can be programmed to automatically refill and wash its mops when they run out.

Its high-quality carpet and hard floor pickup, great hair pickup and tangle prevention, and its near-perfect auto vacuum and mop empty score makes it the clear winner of our test scores. It's not cheap and unless you have an apartment that is small and has no pets, it may be too costly for certain. The Dreametech D10+ is the second choice and has the same performance, but it costs 25% less.