The Secret Life Of Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum can help you save time and hassle when it comes to regular cleaning. Top performers are good at getting rid of dust light debris, cords and dust.
The ones that are more expensive will even sweep your floor, but they can't climb stairs. Find models that feature intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and roomy self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots in our testing are efficient and easy to use and able to cope with everyday debris. You'll also need a robot that can handle stairs and has adequate pick-up power on carpets. If you're looking for additional features, you might be interested in a model equipped with smart mapping technology or an application that allows you to control the robot remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tried many robotic vacuums. She's a fan of the robovacs that offer the most convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She's also a big fan of robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't trip when climbing the stairs.
The Black and Decker model has a lower score for navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the top-rated models. However, it does have a large dustbin that doesn't require regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. Additionally, it has a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the spot where it last stopped which makes it easier to tackle larger homes. This model is also a great option for pet owners as it is able to spot and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.
In our tests, we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor that can identify rooms and obstacles by using a structured-light sensor to identify objects as well as detect edges. It is able to avoid liquid droplets, stairs, and furniture legs with this combination. It can also save up to four floor plans for future use. It is able to stop and restart the cleaning process at any time, meaning that you can continue with your chores while it does. The included app offers an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.
Although this model isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it is superior in removing small particles like baking soda and sand and heavier items like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only downside is that it isn't able to mop and has a less efficient navigation system.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, look for a robot vacuum with strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpet and rugs. Many models are capable of cleaning dust from low-pile rugs, and some are capable of picking up heavier debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. They don't pick-up fine particles like an upright or canister, and could miss dirt that is close to baseboards or thresholds.
The best choice for most carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop, which allows you to swap between a cleaning bin and mopping pad that is damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and mops wet with circular pads that rotate at 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts its pads when they come into contact with carpets, preventing the flooring from becoming wet. It is not necessary remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum/mops in keeping away from obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.
Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled using the app to clean your home when you're away from home. It can be set up to only mop. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors that are not bare as well as rug. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and a great path-planning feature for a device of this size.
If you're looking for a modern model, you can look at the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It has a huge charging dock that can last for weeks without needing to be emptied and has amazing navigation capabilities and automatic emptying on carpets and floors. It also comes with a smart robot mapping system, and can be programmed to only run for certain times (a useful feature for keeping the sly children and animals from running wild). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combinations however, it does pick up pet hair and hair very well. It's also the best value of our top choices.
Ideal for Hard Floors
robot vacuum cleaners vacuums are the best choice for hardwood floors, as they can maneuver around obstacles easily without damaging floors that aren't. They are great in removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair or larger debris. They lack the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, which is why they're not the best option for rooms with carpets or deep cleaning upholstery.
The most effective robots come with two-in-one features, combining the power of a mop with a vacuum to do a complete job in one step. If you have floors that are mixed you should look for one with an onboard sensor that detects any changes in floor texture and adjusts suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If your home is mostly composed of hardwood floors, consider a robotic mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model has an impressive robotic vacuum that has smart navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. Its sensors help it avoid staircases and other hazards, so you don't have to worry about the bot plummeting down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.
When you need mops the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than wipe them clean to get rid of light dirt and dust. The mop pads that are reusable reduce waste, spread germs less and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving you time. They can also be washed, dried and reused.
Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. You can, for instance make use of the app to create zones where the vacuum cannot enter, or to label rooms or schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through trapdoors and then puts it into a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you won't have to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
As the name suggests the robots are best robot vacuum for large house designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins which can hold less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to getting around corners better as opposed to larger models. They can also fit under furniture, where the larger robots are unable to reach. They are also less expensive than more expensive models, however you will need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.
A few years ago robotic vacuums experienced significant changes. Manufacturers began to add sensors that helped them navigate around and avoid household items that their traditional sensors could be stuck on or across. These improvements reduced the number times our testers had to clean up after a robotic accident.
The new sensors don't solve all the issues with these machines, however. The cheaper models are still unable to navigate the same obstacles as older models, and require an adequate amount of light to see where they are going. If you live in a dark house or have lots of low-profile furniture, consider getting one that uses a top-mounted spinning LIDAR unit to map your space as our top overall and runner-up choices do. This lets them stay clear of stairs and other obstacles while working in the dark.
In addition being capable of working in the dark they can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors only near or on the floor, not when they're above them. It's essential to cover mirrors to prevent this from happening. The lasers 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 let you set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas where you don't want the robot to move, which is useful if you have children or pets. These features aren't available on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before making your choice.
