How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you can live without smart capabilities like mapping, and don't mind cleaning the trash bin every 60 days or so, a basic robot vacuum is likely to work for you. Select a model with an uncluttered base that can work with voice assistants.

It is the best robo-vacuum we have tested for cleaning up pet hair from tile floors, hardwood floors and carpets with low pile. It also has the ability to map out and create virtual no-go zones for rooms or certain areas.

1. Powerful Suction

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

Choosing a robot vacuum that is also able to mop will allow you to achieve more coverage with one machine, which can be particularly beneficial for homes with a large area. Choose a model that has a water reservoir either built into its chassis or as a separate piece that you swap in when vacuuming is complete. It'll need to be emptied and filled in order to complete the task.

In a perfect world, you'd clear your floors prior to using your robot vacuum to prevent it from crashing into objects. In the majority of homes, however, this is not possible or desirable. Thankfully, many models allow you to use a smartphone to create virtual barriers that the robot can see and avoid. Some models have no-go zones that you can mark areas that you don't want it to be allowed to enter. For example an area for children's play or a pile of cords in the corner.

This model is a good option if you're looking for an easy robot cleaner that doesn't have all the bells and whistles. It's quiet, works well on both hard floors and low-pile rugs and can be scheduled through the app to vacuum or mop at your convenience. It's got a long battery life that can last up to 180 minutes.

2. Easy to operate

In general, robot vacuums require very little input from you. They use navigational tools such as sensors cameras, lasers, and sensors to move around and collect dust, pet hair and food crumbs from hard floors, tile and hardwood. A lot of models come with boundaries strips that help them remain in a room. More expensive models can be programmed to get up at a particular time and start cleaning. Some even have fall-detection technology that prevents falling down the stairs or getting caught in electrical cords.

Look for models that you can control from your couch using voice assistants, such as Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also pick Wi-Fi models that allow users to start a cleaning session anywhere using an app. Depending on how large your house is, you might prefer one that has a long battery life and a spacious dust bin that doesn't need to be emptied frequently.

Some robot vacuums can also be mopping machines. They utilize water reservoirs to clean the floor. This is helpful for normal mopping, but it won't be effective for messes that are more difficult to clean, like pet poop, or other spills that get wet. You can choose hybrids with a removable microfiber mopping pad or a self-emptying model that lets you go 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 allows them to avoid hitting furniture and getting caught on cords or chair legs. This feature is typically only available on higher-end models, but it's certainly one of the best ways to make sure your robot has a complete understanding of the layout of your home and knows where to go next when it runs out of battery.

Most robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done through an application or even physical boundary strips. This allows you to define areas that you don't want your cheap robot vacuum cleaner to enter, so that it can concentrate its attention on rooms and spaces that need the most cleaning.

A lot of robots can also automatically switch floors based on the flooring they are cleaning. This can be accomplished by switching from carpet to hard flooring or by paying attention to certain areas of your home like corners and baseboards. In our tests it was a great feature that improved their pick-up scores for robot vacuum cleaner for pet hair both carpeting made of low-pile or hardwood. But, it's still essential to secure loose cords and furniture before using your robot vacuum to ensure that it doesn't get stuck or come into contact with something it shouldn't.

4. Remote Control

Most bob robot vacuum vacuums have WiFi capabilities and can be controlled using voice commands, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri Shortcuts. Many robot vacuums connect to smart home systems and generate a map of the area 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. Some also have built-in obstacle avoidance that prevents them from hitting furniture and causing damage or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables or shoe laces, as well as hair from pets.

Most robots come with a remote you can use to pilot them around your home. The majority of robots can be operated by mobile applications which has more options. You can set up a variety of cleaning schedules and create an agenda of your most-loved rooms. You can also guide the robot with direction the arrows.

Certain models have no-go zones These are virtual barriers you can create in the app to block the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for kids or dog beds and bowls). Some apps allow you to create an outline of your home and provide detailed information about the floors. The app on our top pick, the Roborock S7+, has many useful options to help you tidy your home, but 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 house without stopping to recharge or emptying their trash bins save time and effort. Some work with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts for hands-free operation. They can also make a map of the space that allows you to program them for specific areas or rooms and to avoid obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuum cleaner for pet hair vacuums detect objects, however the iRobot J7 has advanced features, such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These can make your life much easier (although one of our test robots did "eat" two socks). If you're looking to improve your home's maintenance, think about an automated mop that comes with an water container that can be filled and then empty.

While none of the models we tested could compete with the power of a stand-up vacuum, most do an admirable job at cleaning carpets and hard floors. They are great in sweeping up dust and food dust, tracked-in dirt, and pet hair. They can also tackle pet litter that is stray and metal screws and Robot vacuum cleaner for pet hair nuts. The best robot vacuums are able to clean corners and edges 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 can help keep your home clean and tidy without you having to do much work. You can schedule cleanings using the app, and designate no-go areas to ensure that your robot does not get in the way of your plants or favorite chair. A majority of our top picks will empty their dustbins and clean their docking stations.

The best robot vacuums are programmable to keep your floors clean for weeks or even months at a time, saving you the time and effort of manually mopping or sweeping your floors every single week or every day. This helps you have more time to do the things you enjoy and reduces the amount of time that your floors require to be cleaned manually.

During testing during testing, Q Revo was able to capture fine particles such as baking soda and oatmeal. It also grabbed heavier debris like nails and screws made of steel, as well as fluffy things like pet hair. It's not equipped with the advanced mapping and objects avoidance features of our top picks, but it's adequate for the majority of families.

The j7's best feature is its ability to recognize and avoid obstacles such as power cords as well as socks and shoes as well as pet waste. This means that you don't need to spend time tidying up before you can run your robot, however cluttered rooms will mean that your bot may get stuck and not be able to do as well.