Is Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best The Greatest Thing There Ever Was
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 do a great job picking up dust and other small particles and allow you to set no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.
The most expensive models can even mop your floor robot, but they can't climb up the stairs. Look for models that have smart mapping, real time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly and able to keep up with the daily debris. You'll also want a robot that can take on stairs and that has decent pick-up power on carpets. If you're looking for a model with extra features, consider a model that has smart mapping technology, or an app to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tested dozens robotic vacuums, is acknowledged for her work in testing hundreds of robot vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most features, such as those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She also likes robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so they won't trip up when climbing steps.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower score on navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the best-rated models. It has a large, non-refillable dustbin and an extended battery. Additionally, it has the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the spot the last time it was used, making it easier to tackle larger homes. This model is also a great option for pet owners as it can spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.
In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and see obstacles with an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It can avoid liquid droplets, stairs, and furniture legs with this combination. It is also able to save up to four floor plans to be used in the future. It is able to pause and resume the cleaning process at any point, so you can continue to do chores while it is working. 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 but it excels in removing small particles like baking soda and sand as well as larger items, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. The only drawback is that it's not able to mop, and has a slightly less effective navigation system.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, pick an Automatic hoover robot vacuum that scores high for carpet and rug mobility and pickup. Many models are capable of collecting dust from low-pile rugs. Some are capable of cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. They can't take in fine particles like an upright or canister, and they may miss dirt that is close to thresholds or baseboards.
For most carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum cleaner sale vacuum/mop is the best option. You can exchange a cleaning bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a wet mop with circular pads that spin at a speed of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts its pads when it comes into contact with carpets, preventing the flooring from becoming wet. You don't have to take them off or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to the absence of obstacles and in getting closer to carpets and thresholds.
Another good option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which performed very well in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean when you're away from home. It can also be set to only mop, and we liked its excellent navigation on rug and floor surfaces and its ability to get up and over furniture. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and excellent path planning for a device of this size.
If you're looking for a top-of-the-line vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great alternative. It comes with a large charging dock that can go weeks without needing to be emptying, and it has amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on carpets and floors. It's also got a smart-mapping feature and can be programmed to only operate at certain times of the day (a handy feature for keeping mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing havoc). The Shark has less suction power than other robot vacuum/mop combos however it's still efficient in removing hair and pet hair and is the best value of our top picks.
The best roborock vacuum choice for hardwood floors
Robot vacuums are best for floors made of hardwood, since they can navigate through obstacles with ease without causing damage the surfaces that are not. They are excellent at of removing crumbs and dust, but they struggle with pet hair and other larger particles. They lack the suction of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, making them a poor choice for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.
The best robots are two-in-one, combining mop and automatic vacuum cleaners to do a complete job in one move. If you have flooring that is mixed, look for one with an onboard sensor which detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, has this feature and can move effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If your home is primarily comprised of hardwood floors, consider a robotic vacuum and mop combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, plus it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors assist it in avoiding the stairs and other hazards, so you don't have to be worried about the bot plummeting down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.
When it comes to mops, the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually clean hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than just wipe them clean to get rid of light dust and dirt. The mop pads that are reusable reduce the amount of waste and reduce the spread of germs and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving you time. The mop pads can also be cleaned and dried to avoid spreading mold.
Both the robovac and the mop can be controlled from your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can make use of the app to create zones that the vacuum will not enter, label different rooms, or plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through trapdoors and then puts it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.
Best suited for small Spaces
As the name suggests that these robots are to be used in small areas. They have smaller bins, that can store less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to maneuvering around tight corners over larger models. They can also fit under furniture where larger robots can't reach. They tend to be cheaper than the higher-end models as well, but you'll have to manually empty their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a major transformation when manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate around and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would be stuck on or over. This improved the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robot incident.
However, the new sensors haven't solved all of the problems these machines have. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same challenges that the older models faced and most need a certain amount of illumination to be able see where they're headed. Look into a model that uses an LIDAR spinning unit that is that is mounted on top to map the area. Our best overall model and the runners-up use this. This lets them work in the dark and avoid obstacles such as stairs.
In addition being able to work in the dark, these models can be set to use their cliff sensors only on or near the floor, not above them. It's essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from occurring. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, making the robot think it's in a different space.
Some of the models we recommend allow you to set up virtual no-go zones for areas you don't want the robot to move, which is beneficial if you have small pets or children. These features aren't available on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before deciding.
