How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you don't need advanced features like mapping, and don't mind emptying your dustbin every 60 to 90 days, a basic robotic vacuum could be for you. Find an option that has a clean base and can work with voice assistants.

It is the best mop vacuum robot combo vacuum we have tested for cleaning up pet hair from tile floors, hardwood floors and carpeting with low pile. It can also map and set virtual no-go zones in rooms or areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum can assist you in keeping up with the dust, pet fur and dander that settles on your floor every day. It can also reduce the frequency you have to deep clean and saves your time and effort. The best robot vacuum and mop for multiple floors models have powerful suction that can clean up most mess with ease and leave your home clean.

Selecting a vacuum that can also mop will allow you to get more space by using just one machine. This can be particularly beneficial for homes with a large area. Choose a model that has a water reservoir either integrated into the chassis or as a separate item that you swap in when the vacuuming is done. It will need to be empty and refill it, though, so this is an additional chore that requires a little extra work on your part.

In a perfect world, you would clear your floors before using your robot vacuum to stop it from hitting anything. But in most homes, this isn't possible or desirable. The majority of models let you utilize an app on your smartphone to create virtual barriers the robot can observe. Some include no-go zones, which you can use to flag areas that you don't want it enter, such as kids rooms or a pile of device cords in the corner.

This model is a great choice if you want an easy robot cleaner that doesn't have all the bells and whistles. It's quiet and can be used on hard floors as well as low-pile carpets and can be programmed via the app to vacuum and mop at your convenience. It's got a long battery life, and can last up to 180 minutes before needing to recharge.

2. Easy to Operate

Robot vacuums generally require very little effort from you. They utilize navigational tools such as sensors lasers, cameras, and sensors to move and collect pet hair, dust, and food crumbs from hard floors, tile and hardwood. Many models have boundary strips to help them stay inside a room. More expensive models can be programmed to wake up at a specific time and start cleaning. Some models include fall detection technology that helps them avoid falling down stairs or becoming tangled in cords.

If you'd like to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of a couch, search for models that integrate voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also select Wi-Fi models that permit users to start cleaning anywhere you want using an app. You may want to select one with a long-lasting battery, as well as an enormous dust bin, based on the size of your home.

Certain robot vacuums are also mops. They make use of water reservoirs to wash the floor. This is great for everyday mopping, but will not work for extra-tough messes, such as pet poop or other spills that are wet. You can select hybrids that have an able mopping pad made of microfiber, or a self-emptying version that allows you to stay for up to 60 days before emptying the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots employ advanced mapping technology to create a detailed map as they clean. This makes it easier to avoid hitting furniture or tripping over cords or chairs. This feature is typically only available on higher-end models, but it's certainly one of the most effective ways to ensure your robot has a complete understanding of the layout of your house and knows where to go next when it's running out of battery.

The majority of robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done through an app or physically-based boundary strips. You can block off areas that you don't wish your robot to access, so that it can concentrate on the rooms that require the most attention.

A lot of robots can also automatically change floors based on the type of floor they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by switching from carpet to hard flooring, or by paying attention to particular areas of your home like corners and baseboards. This feature proved to be useful in our tests and improved the performance of the vacuum on hardwood flooring and carpet flooring with low pile. It is essential to put away any furniture or cords that are loose before using your robot vacuum, so that it doesn't become caught.

4. Remote Control

Almost all robot vacuums are WiFi-enabled and work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts, which allow users to control them with voice commands or through your smartphone. Many robot vacuums are connected to smart home systems, and generate a map of the space they clean after each cleaning session. This lets them "learn" the way your home is laid out and plan more efficient routes in future cleaning sessions. Certain models have obstacle avoidance built in, which prevents them from causing damage to furniture or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables or pet hair.

Most robots come with a remote you can use to steer them around your home. Most robots are controlled via a mobile application, which offers more features. You can create multiple cleaning schedules, and create an agenda of your most-loved rooms. You can also guide the robot using directional Arrows.

Some models have no-go zones. These are virtual barriers you can create in the app to prevent the robot from entering certain areas (like kid's toys or dishes for dogs and dog beds). Some apps allow you to create an image of your home and provide more detailed information about the floors. The app we ranked as our top pick, the Roborock S7+, has many useful options to help you clean your home, however its interface isn't as polished and elegant as those from iRobot and Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacuums that can clean your entire home without stopping to recharge or to empty their bins save time and effort. Some of them work with smart home devices like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts to allow hands-free operation. They can also create maps of the area that allows you to program them to specific areas or rooms, and to stay clear of obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, however the iRobot j7 offers advanced features, such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These can simplify your life (although one of our test robots did "eat" a few socks). If you're looking to improve your home's maintenance, consider a robot mop with water containers that you can fill and empty.

While none of the models we tested could match the dirt-picking power of a stand-up vacuum the majority of them do an excellent job at cleaning carpets with low pile and hard floors. They are great at sweeping up fine dust and debris, food particles, dirt tracked in and pet hair. They are also able to handle screws and nuts made of metal and cats' litter. The most effective robot vacuums are able to effortlessly work around furniture, and they are great at cleaning edges and corners as well. For a basic model that functions on its own and is reasonably priced look into the Eufy 11S.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

With the right configuration, a robot vacuum can help you keep your home looking and feeling cleaner on a regular basis without much work from you. You can schedule cleanings through the app, and designate no-go areas to ensure that your robot does not walk on your plants or favorite chair. The majority of our top picks also automatically empty their bins and clean their docking stations for you.

The top robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for weeks or even months at a time, saving you from the tedious chore of manually mopping and sweeping your floors on a weekly or daily basis. This lets you spend more time on things you like and cuts down on the amount of time your floors need to be cleaned manually.

In our tests the Q Revo was able to grab small particles such as oatmeal and baking soda as well as heavier debris such nails and screws made of steel as well as fluffy things such as pet hair. It does not have the intelligent mapping and object-avoiding features found in our top picks, but is still a good choice for most families.

The most impressive feature of the j7 is its ability to detect and avoid obstacles such as power cords and socks, shoes, and pet waste. This means you don't have to tidy up before running your robot, although cluttered rooms will mean that your robot could get stuck and not do the job as well.