The One Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best Mistake Every Beginner Makes
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum can save you a lot of time and hassle when it comes to regular touch-ups. The best ones are adept at getting rid of dust as well as light debris and cords.
The pricier ones even mop your floors--though they still can't climb stairs. Find models with smart mapping, real-time hazard avoidance and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots in our testing are efficient, easy to use, and are able to cope with everyday debris. You'll need a model with decent carpet-picking power and the capability to climb stairs. If you're looking to add more features, you may be interested in a robot equipped with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you remote control vacuum cleaner it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tried numerous robotic vacuums. She's a huge fan of robotic vacuums that offer the greatest 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 the robots that are able to recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't get tripped up when climbing steps.
When compared to the top-rated models this Black and Decker vacuum has less object-avoidance technology and its navigation score is lower. It has a large dust bin that is non-refillable and an extended battery. It also has a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and then return to the place it was last. This makes it easier to cover larger areas. 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 map rooms and detect obstacles by using a structured-light sensor to detect objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps for future reference. It is able to pause and resume the cleaning process at any time, meaning that you can continue doing chores while it is working. The app provides a 3D view of your home with room labels and advanced cleaning options.
Although this robot isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models but it excels in removing fine debris such as baking soda and sand, as well as heavier items, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. Its only downsides are that it's not able to mop, and its navigation system is less impressive.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, choose an automatic hoover robot (visit the following post) vacuum that has a high score for carpet and rug ability to maneuver and pick up. A lot of models are adept at picking up dust in low-pile carpets, and some do a decently job of picking up heavier debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of steel. But they don't pick up fine particles like canister or upright vacuums and can miss ground-in dirt close to thresholds and baseboards.
For carpeted homes the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best choice. You can swap out a cleaning bin for a moist mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a mops wet with circular pads that spin at a speed of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts its pads when they come into contact with carpet, which prevents the floor from becoming wet. It is not necessary remove them or replace them every time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums and mops in keeping away from obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.
Another good option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled using the app to clean when you're away from home. It can be set up to only mop. We loved its navigation on floors with no flooring as well as rug. The Combo i5 also has a very long runtime and a great path-planning feature for such a small device.
If you want a more advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a large charging dock that can run for several weeks without having to be empty and boasts amazing navigation capabilities and automatic floor cleaner emptying on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It's also got an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing chaos). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combination models however, it still picks up pet hair and hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the most affordable robot vacuum value of our top choices.
Best for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are the best option for hardwood floors since they are able to easily maneuver around obstacles and not damage the floor's surface. They are excellent at of picking up crumbs and dust, but they struggle with pet hair and other larger particles. They also lack the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, so they're not the best choice for carpeted areas or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.
The best robots are two-in-one, which combine a vacuum with a mop to complete the job in one move. Look for one that has an onboard sensor that can detect any changes in the flooring and adjust suction in line with the changes. 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 like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It can also mop. The sensors in it allow it to stay clear of hazards like stairs.
When it comes to mops, the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than wipe them over to remove dust and dirt. Its reusable pads reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to help save time. The mop pads are also able to be washed, dried and used again.
Both the robovac and mop can be controlled from your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. You can, for example, use the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum won't enter, label different rooms, or schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto vacuum cleaner-emptying dock that collects debris through a trapdoor and puts it in a bagless or disposable bin, so you don't have to empty the bin manually like you do with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
These robots are specifically designed for small spaces. They have smaller bins, that can store less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to moving around corners more efficiently as opposed to larger models. They can also fit underneath furniture where larger robots aren't able to reach. These robots are also cheaper than the more expensive models, however you will need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a major transformation when manufacturers started adding sensors to help navigate and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would get stuck on or run over. This improved the number of times our testers were required to clean up after a robotic incident.
The new sensors don't solve all issues with these devices however. The less expensive models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as older models, and they require an adequate amount of light to know where they are going. If you are living in a dark space or have a lot of furniture with low-profiles, consider getting one that uses top-mounted spinning laser units to map your space, as our top overall and runner-up choices do. This lets them work in darkness and avoid obstacles like stairs.
They can also be programmed to only use their cliff sensors only when they are in or near the ground, and not when they are above it. It's essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from occurring. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models could bounce off reflective surfaces, making the robot think it's in another room.
A few of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't want the robot to go, which is beneficial if you have small pets or children. These features aren't on all models we test. Check out our complete reviews before making your choice.
