Why You Should Be Working With This Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
A robot vacuum will save you a lot of time and hassle in the case of regular cleaning. Top performers do a good job at removing dust and light debris and many allow you to set no-go zones for pets or power cords.
The more expensive ones can even sweep your floors but they aren't able to climb up the stairs. Find models with smart mapping, real-time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tried were user-friendly, efficient, and able keep up with the daily debris. You'll need a model with decent carpet-picking power and the capability to climb stairs. And, if you're looking for additional features, you might be interested in a robot with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you control the robot remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tested dozens of robotic vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most features like those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuums. She's also a big fan of the robots that are able to recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords, so they don't get tripped up when climbing the stairs.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower navigation score and less object-avoidance tech than the most popular models. However, it does have an enormous dust bin that doesn't require frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. Additionally, it has the ability to schedule cleaning robots for home sessions and then return to the spot the last time it was used which makes it easier to tackle larger spaces. This model is also a good choice for pet owners because it is able to identify and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.
In our tests, we found that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined the LIDAR (light) sensor that can map rooms and detect obstacles by using a structured-light sensor to identify objects as well as detect edges. This combination lets it avoid stairs, droplets of liquid and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for references. It can also pause the cleaning process at any time and return to where it stopped and let you do chores while the robot is working. The app offers the 3D image of your home with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.
Although this robot isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it is superior in removing small particles like baking soda and sand, as well as heavier items like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. Its only downsides are that it isn't able to mop and its navigation system is less impressive.
best combo vacuum for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a robotic vacuum that has excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpet and rug. Many models are good at picking up dust in low-pile rugs, and some are capable of picking up heavier debris, such as orzo pasta and screws made of metal. They don't pick-up small particles like an upright or canister, and may miss dirt that is close to baseboards or thresholds.
The best choice for most carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum and mop that allows you to swap between a cleaning bin and a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop that can clean and mop at the same time with circular pads spinning at 200 rotations a minute. It detects and lifts its pads when it comes into contact with carpet, which prevents the flooring from becoming wet. You don't need remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums and mops in avoiding obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.
Another option that is worth considering is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which performed very well in our tests and can be scheduled through the app to clean your home when you're away from home. It can be set to mop only, and we liked its excellent navigation on rug and floor surfaces, as well as its ability to go up and over furniture. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for an item of this size.
If you're looking to buy a high-tech vacuum, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 robot cleaner commercial Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic option. It comes with a large charging dock that can run for weeks without needing to be emptied, and it has impressive navigation skills and auto-emptying on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a clever mapping system and can be programmed to run only during specific times (a beneficial feature to keep mischievous children and dextrous animals from running amok). The Shark isn't as powerful than other mop/robot Vacuum Price combos but it's good at picking up hair and pet hair and is the most affordable of our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are a great option for hardwood floors since they are able to easily navigate around obstacles without damaging bare surfaces. They are excellent at of picking up crumbs and dust, but they are unable to deal with pet hair and larger debris. They also lack the suction power of a top-of-the-line upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not an ideal option for rooms with carpets or upholstery that requires deep cleaning.
The most effective two-in-one robots incorporate a vacuum and a mop, taking care of a more complete chore in one sweep. Look for models that have an onboard sensor to detect any changes in the flooring and adjust suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and lets it effortlessly switch 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 an impressive robotic vacuum that has smart navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It also mop. The sensors in it allow it to stay clear of hazards like stairs.
The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, not simply swab them to get rid of dirt and dust. Its reusable pads reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned in docking stations to help save time. The mops can also be washed and dried to prevent the spread of mold.
Both the robovac as well as the mop can be controlled from your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance you can make use of the app to designate a no-go zone that the vacuum cannot enter or mark rooms as separate or schedule cleaning sessions for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via trapdoors and then puts it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means that you won't have to empty the bin manually as often as other models.
Ideal for small Spaces
As the name implies that these robots are suited for small spaces. They have smaller bins that can store less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to maneuvering around tight corners as opposed to larger models. They can also be placed under furniture that larger robots have difficulty reaching. They are also less expensive than higher-end models, but you will need to empty their dirt compartments manually at the end each cleaning session.
A few years ago, robot vacuums went through a major change when manufacturers started adding sensors to help navigate around and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would get stuck on or run over. This improved the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robotic snag.
The new sensors don't solve all the problems that these devices have, however. The lower-end models are unable to navigate the same obstacles as the older models, and they need a certain level of light to be able to be able to see where they're going. You should consider one that has a spinning LIDAR device placed on top of the model to map the area. Our top pick and runner-up models do this. This allows them to avoid stairs and other barriers when working in darkness.
They can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they are in or near the ground, and not when they are above it. It is still recommended to cover any mirrors that may interfere with this function though, as the laser used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to think it's in a different room.
Some of the models we recommend also allow you to create virtual no-go zones in areas where you do not want the budget robot vacuum go, which can be beneficial if you have small children or pets. These features aren't on all models we test. Read our full reviews before deciding.
