How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you don't require advanced features like mapping, and do not mind cleaning your trash bin every 60 to 90 days A basic robot vacuum is probably the best choice for you. Select a model with clean and tidy base that is compatible with voice assistants.

It excels at picking up dirt, clumps of pet hair and cat litter on tile floors, hardwood floors and carpeting with less pile than any other vacuum we've tested. It can also map out and create virtual no-go zones in rooms or areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum will stay on top of the dust, pet hair and dander that build up on your floors on a daily basis. It can also reduce the frequency at which you have to deep clean and saves you time and effort. The most effective models have powerful suction that is able to clean up most mess and leave your home sparkling clean.

Choosing a robot vacuum that can also mop can help you get more space by using just one machine. This can be particularly beneficial in a larger home. Choose models that have a water reservoir either in the chassis or as a separate item that you put in after the vacuuming is done. It will need to be empty and fill it up, robot vacuum black friday however it's an additional task that will require some extra effort on your part.

In a perfect universe you would clean your floors before you use your robot vacuum to prevent it from crashing into anything. However, in the majority of homes, this isn't feasible or desirable. The majority of models let you utilize an app for your smartphone to build virtual barriers that the robot can see. Some models have no-go zones, which you can flag areas you don't want the robot to access. For example an area for children's play or a pile cords in the corner.

If you're looking for a simple robot vacuum that doesn't have all the bells and bells, this model from networking company TP-Link is a good choice. It's quiet, it works on both hard floors and carpets with low pile and can be programmed using the app to vacuum and mop at your convenience. It has a long battery life that can last up to 180 minutes.

2. Easy to operate

Robot vacuums generally need very little effort from you. They utilize sensors, lasers, and cameras to move and collect dust, pet hair and food crumbs from hard floors, tile and hardwood. A lot of them have boundary strips that aid in staying within the walls of a room, while more expensive models can be set to automatically wake up and start cleaning at a predetermined time. Some even have fall-detection technology that can help them avoid falling down stairs or becoming caught in electrical cords.

Look for models that can be controlled from the comfort of your sofa using voice assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also search for models with Wi-Fi connectivity that let you start cleaning from any location through an app. You may prefer one with a long-lasting battery, as well as an enormous dust bin, based on the size of your home.

Some robot vacuums can also be mops. They use water reservoirs to clean the floor. This is great for mopping, but not ideal for tough messes like pet poop and other wet spills. You can pick hybrids that have a removable microfiber mopping pad or a self-emptying model that allows you to stay up to 60 days before emptying the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Certain robots utilize advanced mapping technology to create a precise map while they clean. This makes it easier to avoid crashing into furniture and tripping on cords or chairs. This feature is only available on top-of-the-line models however it lets your robot vacuum black friday be aware of your home's layout and knows where to go when the battery runs out.

Most robots let you create virtual barriers. This can be done using an application or even physical boundary strips. This allows you to define areas that you don't want your robot to venture into, so it can focus its attention on the rooms and spaces that need the most attention.

Many robots also have the ability to automatically navigate to different floorings depending on the flooring they're cleaning, be it that's changing between hard flooring and carpet or focusing on specific areas of your home, such as baseboards and corners. In our tests this was a helpful feature that helped improve their scores on picking up hardwood and low-pile carpeting. It is important to secure any loose cords or furniture before using your robot vacuum, so it doesn't get caught.

4. Remote Control

The majority of robot vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled via voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many connect to smart home systems and build an outline of your space after each cleaning session so they can "learn" your layout and devise more efficient routes for future runs. Some have built-in obstacle avoidance that stops them from crashing into furniture and damaging it or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables or shoe laces, as well as pet hair.

Most robots have the ability to control them with a remote that you can use to move them around your house. Most robots can be controlled by a mobile app which has more options. You can typically create multiple cleaning schedules, create a list of favorite rooms and even manually guide your robot to specific areas using directions on the screen.

Some models have no-go zones. These are virtual barriers you can create in the app to prevent the robot from accessing certain areas (like toys for children or dishes and dog beds). Other apps allow you to make an outline of your home and provide the robot with detailed information about your floors. The Roborock S7+ app has a number of useful features to aid in cleaning the house. However, its interface isn't quite as sleek as iRobot or Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

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

Most robot vacs have some level of object detection, but higher-end models like the iRobot J7 have advanced features such as "home mapping" and advanced obstacle avoidance that will simplify your life (although our test bot did once "eat" a pair of socks). If you're seeking to improve your home maintenance, consider an automated mop that comes with a water container that can be filled and then empty.

While none of the models we tested could compete with the dirt-picking power of a stand-up vacuum they did an excellent job cleaning hard floors and carpets with a low pile. They excel at sweeping up fine dirt, food crumbs and tracked-in dirt. They are also able to tackle stray cat litter and metal screws and nuts. The best budget robot vacuum for pet hair robot vacuums are able to clean corners and edges and can work on furniture. Eufy 11S is a relatively inexpensive and basic model.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

With the right setup, a robot vacuum can assist you in keeping your home looking and feeling fresh on a regular basis with minimal effort. You can schedule your cleanings using the app and set up no-go zones so that your robot doesn't damage your plants or your favorite chair. A majority of our top picks also automatically empty their trash bins and clean their docking stations for you.

The best robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors on a regular basis for weeks or even months at a time, removing you from the time-consuming task of manually mopping and sweeping your floors on a daily or weekly basis. This helps you spend more time doing things you love and decreases the amount of time that your floors require to be cleaned manually.

During testing the Q Revo was able to pick up small particles such as baking soda and oatmeal as well as heavier debris such metal screws and nails, and fluffy stuff such as hair of pets. It isn't equipped with the smart mapping and object-avoiding features of our top picks, but is still a great option for families with children.

The j7's best robot vacuum for pet hair feature is its ability to spot and avoid obstacles such as power cords as well as socks and shoes, and pet waste. This means that you don't have to tidy up before using your robot. However, cluttered rooms can cause your robot to become stuck and perform poorly.