11 Ways To Fully Redesign Your Robot Vacuum

The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

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

Some have a small bin which they empty themselves. Others can be controlled via a smartphone app rather than an actual remote. Some come with mapping features to aid in navigation.

1. Power

Our top pick for robotic vacuums has suction power of 8000Pa, which is strong enough to remove even the most stubborn dirt patches and hairs. Its slim square shape enables it to slide beneath furniture, such as beds and sofas. Dual-Laser LIDAR technology offers precise obstacle avoidance as well as intelligent navigation. It also does a great job of cleaning pet hair, baking soda, and other debris near baseboards and in corners.

In addition to the DEEBOT X2 OMNI bot, other top-of-the-line bots on this list include the Robot Roomba J7+ and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. It comes with a sturdy docking station that is able to perform maintenance and has mopping functionality as well. Its powerful suction and effective mopping helped keep my floors clear of pet hair, muddy paw prints, and other debris during every flooring type test we conducted.

A model with 2,500Pa suction is sufficient for the majority of homes in the lower price range. These units are quieter and therefore a better option for those with sensitive ears. These units are not silent but they are only the same volume as conversations at home.

Take into consideration your budget and cleaning requirements to determine the best combination of power and efficiency. For regular light-duty cleaning you will require a longer time-to-run and less suction is needed. For heavy-duty cleaning, weekly runs require the maximum power. Then assess your flooring, home layouts and cleaning schedules to determine the best model to meet your needs. We recommend looking through our entire list of robot vacuum reviews (these details) and ratings for more details about the latest models available. Many users have reported that their carpets and bare floors appear cleaner after using a robot vacuum with mop vacuum.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum cannot do its job when it doesn't know how to navigate around your home. Because of this, the Best robot vacuum uk robots rely on advanced navigation technology that effectively scans rooms and then creates maps to ensure thorough cleaning without getting lost or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot vacuum and mop navigation that include LiDAR, camera and sensor.

LiDAR is used by the most expensive models to create a virtual room map, which provides the highest levels of precision and efficiency. Bump sensors are used in less expensive models, but they aren't always accurate and miss a lot debris when working in dark areas. Most robots come with cliff sensors to keep them from falling off stairs or other drops.

Several robots I tested used object recognition to navigate around things like cords and fake dog turds. However, the Eufy X10 was the best. It had excellent mapping capabilities, powerful oscillating mops, a user-friendly app and the ability to clean a specific area, room or the all of the house.

Other features worth considering include sensors for floors that can recognize carpets with soft and hard floors, automatically boosting suction power when necessary. Some robots, such as the Roborock mops, use mopping pad lifts to reach corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids are able to apply cleaning solutions to stubborn staining.

A smaller bin will require less frequent emptying, whereas a larger one will save money on replacements. The majority of robotic cleaners that are low-cost use an inexpensive, disposable dust bag. However, the majority of mid-range models come with larger 3L dustbins that last for a long time. Some premium robots like the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station are able to self-empty and fill up their water tanks for hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The top robot vacuums have an app that allows you to monitor the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions and can connect to smart home devices to allow hands-free control. Many robot vacuums can also be controlled via voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some have a remote control that lets you start the process, pause it and then return to dock. Find a model with larger dustbins that self-empty instead of one that requires manual emptying.

Some robots that vacuum and mop are equipped with mapping technology that helps them avoid obstacles such as furniture and stairs. Others let you designate no-go zones and targeted rooms, so they only clean the areas that require it the most. They also have cliff sensors to stop them from falling down stairs, which is particularly beneficial in multi-level homes.

If you intend to utilize your robot vacuum for cleaning rugs, choose a model which can be used for wet and dry mopping. You'll get better cleaning results when your vacuum can also take off its mop pad. Rinse it and then attach it again when you are ready to run another cleaning cycle. Find robots that have an elastomer roller. It will be less likely to get caught from pet hair or other particles. Check the robot's side brushes and brushroll for any debris that may have been stuck to them. Do this once or twice per week. If you notice that they're beginning to get blocked, it could be time to buy replacement parts.

4. Debris collection

As the name suggests robot vacuums are made to collect dust and other debris from your floors. The most effective robot vacuums are able to take tiny particles like baking soda and sand as well as larger ones such as metal screws, orzo, and pet hair. They also have better pickup results on low-pile carpets than the majority of manual vacuums.

Across all flooring types, the top robots had pickup scores of greater than 95%. The two top performers in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI, and the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated, equipped with docking stations that perform maintenance on their own, and app features which make them extremely user-friendly.

They both come with self-emptying bins which automatically collect the waste from the wastebasket and can clean the washboard while you mow. They also feature 8,000Pa suction, smart mapping technology, and advanced obstacle avoidance technology that helps them find their way around even the most difficult of spaces. The ECOVACS robot is one of the few that can vacuum carpet and remove mop pads. This makes it an ideal option for those who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming often.

If you want a cheaper option, we recommend the iRobot Roomba Combo J7+, our budget choice. It offers LIDAR navigation for reasonable prices and decent performance in the collection of debris. It can be a bit slow in mapping rooms and has a tendency of bumping into obstacles, but the cost is less than our other picks.

5. Battery life

The best robot vacuums are made to let you get moving with your day while keeping your floors in tip-top clean. Although you'll need to give your home a manual hoover every now and again robot vacuums can help you maintain a baseline level of cleanliness, and even wash while you're away from home.

Find a robovac equipped with a long-lasting battery to get the most of it. A good guideline is to expect a robovac to last for about two complete cleaning sessions when you run it at the highest power setting. This is less than a full-sized vacuum cleaner, but it will be sufficient to provide for the majority of homes. If you don't like to wait around while your robovac charges you could choose an automatic model that makes its way back to the base station to recharge.

If you're looking for a robot that does a little amount of everything, you should consider an all-in-one model that is able to mop as well. Eufy's X10 is the most effective model in this category. It provides self-emptying, auto-draining and self-refilling of the dust container and mop pad. It can be programmed to automatically refill and wash its mop pads as soon as they run out.

The clear winner in our tests is the Dyson V810, due to its outstanding carpet and hard floor pickup, superb hair pickup, tangle-free performance, and an almost perfect auto empty score. It's not cheap, however and unless you live in the smallest of homes without pets, it may be too pricey for some. The Dreametech D10+ is the runner-up and has a similar performance, but it costs 25 percent less.