How to Find the best robot vacuum for hard floors Robot Vacuum

If you don't need advanced features like mapping, and aren't worried about emptying your bin every 60 to 90 days A basic robot vacuum is probably the best choice for you. Select a model with an uncluttered base that can work with voice assistants.

It is the best robo-vacuum we have tested in getting rid of dirt and pet hair from tiles, hardwood floors, and low-pile carpeting. It can also plan out and set virtual no-go zones for rooms or certain areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum will help you keep track of the dust, pet fur and dander that settles on your floors every day. It also can reduce the frequency at which you have to deep clean and saves you time and effort. The most effective models feature powerful suction, which will take on the majority of messes and leave your house cleaner.

Choosing a robot vacuum that also mop will help you get more space using one machine, which is especially beneficial in larger homes. Choose one that has a water reservoir either built into its chassis or as a separate piece that you can swap out when vacuuming is complete. You'll have to empty it and fill it up, however it's an additional task that will require a little extra work on your part.

In the ideal world, you'd clean your floors before you used your robot vacuum to keep it from crashing into objects. In the majority of homes it's not feasible or desirable. Thankfully, many models allow you to use your smartphone to create virtual barriers that the robot can be aware of and avoid. Some models include no-go areas that you can mark areas you don't wish it to access. For instance, a child's room or a pile cords in an area.

This model is a good option if you're looking for a basic robot cleaner that does not have all the bells. It is quiet, can be used on hard floors and carpets with low pile and can be programmed via the app to mop and vacuum at your convenience. It's got a long battery life of up to 180 minutes.

2. Easy to operate

In general, robot vacuums require very little input from you. They utilize navigation tools like sensors and lasers to navigate around obstacles and suck up dust, food crumbs and pet hair from floors, tiles carpets, and hardwood. A lot of models come with boundary strips that allow them to stay inside a room. The more expensive models can be programmed to wake up at a specific time and begin cleaning. Some even have fall-detection technology that can help them avoid tumbling down stairs or getting tangled in electrical cords.

If you'd like to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of a couch, search for models that work with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also pick Wi-Fi models that allow users to start a cleaning session anywhere using an app. You may prefer one with an extremely long-lasting battery as well as a large dust bin, depending on the size of your home.

Some robot vacuums are also mopping machines. They use water reservoirs to wash the floor. This is great for mopping, but not great for difficult messes such as pet poop and other wet dry robot vacuum spills. There are hybrids that have a removable microfiber pad for mopping, or opt for self-emptying models that let you go 30 to 60 days without needing to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots use advanced mapping technology to build a detailed map while they clean. This allows them to avoid bumping into furniture or tripping over cords or legs of chairs. This feature is only available on higher-end models, but it lets your robot have a thorough understanding of your home's layout and know where to go when the battery runs out.

If you don't want your robot navigating into areas of your home that you'd rather it stay away from (like your children's toys or the tangled mess of gadget cords in the corner) The majority of robots offer some way to create virtual barriers, either with their app or a set of physical boundary strips. This allows you to define areas that you do not want your robot to venture into, so it can focus its attention on the areas and rooms that require the most cleaning.

Many robots also automatically change floors based on the flooring they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by changing from carpet to hard flooring, or by focusing on certain areas of your home, such as corners and baseboards. This feature was effective during our tests and helped improve the vacuum's performance on both hardwood flooring and low-pile floor carpeting. It is essential to put away any loose cords or furniture prior to using your robot vacuum to ensure that it doesn't get caught.

4. Remote Control

The majority of robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled via voice commands, wet dry Robot vacuum Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many robot vacuums connect to smart home systems, and create a map of the space they clean after each cleaning session. This lets them "learn" the way your home is laid out, and then plan more efficient routes during future cleaning sessions. Some also have built-in obstacle avoidance that stops them from hitting furniture and causing damage or getting stuck on things like charging cables that are loose, shoe laces and pet hair.

Most robots come with a remote you can use to control them around your home. However, the majority of them can be controlled via an app on your mobile, which gives you more options. You can usually set multiple cleaning schedules, create an inventory of your favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot to specific areas using directional arrows on the screen.

Some models offer no-go zones, which are virtual barriers that you can configure in the app to block the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for children or dog beds and bowls). Other apps allow you to set up a map of your home and provide the robot with precise information about your floors. The Roborock S7+ app has several useful features that will help you clean the house. However, its interface isn't quite as polished as that from iRobot or Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robotic vacs that can clean throughout the house without stopping to recharge or empty their bins of dust can save you time and energy. Some work with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts for hands-free operation. They can also create an outline of your living space, allowing you to program them to clean certain areas or rooms, and to beware of obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, however the iRobot J7 has advanced features such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These can make your life easier (although one of our test bots did "eat" a couple of socks). If you're trying to improve your home maintenance, you should consider an automated mop that comes with water containers that can be filled and then empty.

While no of the models we tested could compete with the dirt-picking power of a standup vacuum, they were able to do a fantastic job cleaning hard floors and carpets with a low pile. They excel at sweeping up food crumbs and dirt that has been tracked in. They can also handle screws and nuts made of metal and the stray cat litter. The top robot vacuums are able to clean edges and corners and can even work on furniture. For a basic model that functions by itself and is comparatively inexpensive, check out the Eufy 11S.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

A robot vacuum will help keep your home clean and tidy without doing much work. It is possible to schedule cleanings with the app, and you can set up no-go areas to ensure that your robot does not walk on your favorite chair or plants. A majority of our top picks automatically empty their trash bins and clean their docking stations for you.

The top robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for months or weeks at a stretch, making it easier to save time and effort of manually sweeping or mopping your floors each week or every day. This allows you to spend more time doing things you enjoy, and decreases the time it takes to clean your floors manually.

During testing, the Q Revo was able to grab fine particles like oatmeal and baking soda and heavier debris like nails and screws made of metal, and fluffy stuff like pet hair. It doesn't have the smart mapping and objects avoidance features of our top picks, however it's sufficient for the majority of families.

The most appealing feature of the j7 is that it utilizes camera and processor-powered smarts to detect and avoid obstacles like power cords, shoes, socks and pet waste. This means you don't have to tidy up before running your robot, however cluttered rooms will mean that your bot may get stuck and not perform as good a job.