The Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best Mistake That Every Beginner Makes
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. Top performers are good at getting rid of dust light debris, cords and dust.
The higher-end models even sweep your floors, but they can't climb stairs. Choose models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and spacious self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we've tested in our testing are efficient, easy to use, and are able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll want a robot with decent carpet-picking power and the capability to climb stairs. And, if you're looking for extra features, you might be interested in a robot equipped with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you remote control vacuum cleaner it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tested numerous robotic vacuums. She's a fan of the robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, including self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She also loves robots that recognize landmarks, such as furniture legs and power cables so they don't fall when climbing steps.
This robot from Black and Decker has a lower navigation score and less object-avoidance tech than the most popular models. It has a large, non-refillable dustbin and a long battery. In addition, it has a feature that allows you to plan cleaning times and return to the spot where it last stopped and makes it much easier to clean larger homes. This model is a great choice for pet owners, as it can avoid hair tangles and food particles.
In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor that can map rooms and detect obstacles by using a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps for future reference. It can also stop the cleaning process at any point and pick up where it left off so that you can complete chores while the robot does its work. The app includes a 3D view 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 such as baking soda and sand and heavier items, such as orzo pasta and metal screws. The only drawbacks are that it isn't able to mop and its navigation system is a little less impressive.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a robot vacuum with excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpets and rugs. Many models do a good job of removing dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile, and several do a good job of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. However, they can't handle fine particles like canister or upright vacuums, and they may be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of thresholds and baseboards.
For homes with carpets, a 2-in-1 robotic vacuum/mop is the best option. You can swap out a cleaning bin to a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads that spin at 200 rpm. It recognizes and raises its pads when they come into contact with carpets, preventing 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 vacuum/mops in avoiding obstacles and getting closer to carpets and thresholds.
Another option that is worth considering is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean when you're away from home. It can also be set to mop only and we were impressed by its remarkable navigation on rug and floor surfaces, as well as its ability to climb up and over furniture. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for a device of this size.
If you're looking for a high-tech vacuum that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 robot vacuum cleaner industrial automatic vacuum cleaners & Mop is a fantastic option. It comes with a large dock that can last for weeks and not need to be cleaned. It also features impressive ability to navigate and auto-empty on carpets and bare floors. It also has an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to be operational during certain times of the day (a handy feature for keeping mischievous kids and dextrous pets from causing chaos). The Shark has less powerful suction than some other robot vacuums robot and mops, but its still very efficient in removing hair and pet hair. It is the best automatic floor Cleaner value among our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are the best choice for floors with hardwood floors because they can maneuver around obstacles easily without damaging the surfaces that are not. They are excellent at of picking up dust and crumbs, but they aren't able to handle pet hair and larger debris. They lack the suction of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.
The best two-in-1 robots combine mopping and vacuum and take care of an entire task in one go. Choose one that has an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor texture and adjust suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, comes with this feature and can go effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If your home is primarily made up of hardwood floors, think about a robotic vacuum and mop combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model features a powerful robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces, plus it can mop as well. Its sensors allow it to stay clear of hazards like stairs.
When it comes to mop pads the Eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually clean hardwood floors using downward pressure rather than wipe them to remove dirt and dust. Its reusable mop pads reduce waste, reduce the spread of germs and can be cleaned at the docking station to save your time. The mop pads can also be cleaned and dried to stop the spread of mold.
The robovac can be operated by your smartphone, making it much easier to use. You can, for instance utilize the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum won't be allowed to enter, label different rooms, or schedule specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via trapdoors and then puts it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means that you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.
Best suited for small Spaces
These robots are designed for smaller spaces. They have smaller bins that can store less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to getting around corners better than larger models. They can also fit under furniture where larger robots aren't able to reach. These robots are also cheaper than more expensive models, but you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.
A couple of years ago, robotic vacuum cleaner amazon vacuums underwent a major transformation when manufacturers started adding sensors to help navigate around and avoid household objects that their conventional sensors would become stuck on or over. These advances have reduced the number of times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was an electrical cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.
The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all the issues that these devices have however. The most affordable models struggle with the same issues that the older ones faced and most require a certain amount illumination to be able to see where they're going. If you live in a dark house or have lots of furniture with low-profiles, consider purchasing top-mounted spinning laser units to map your area, like our best overall and runner-up choices do. This allows them to work in the dark and avoid obstacles like stairs.
They can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors when they are on or near the ground, and not when they are above it. It is still recommended to shield any mirrors that might hinder this function, however, because the laser used by a laser-based model can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to believe it's in another room.
Some of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones in areas you do not want the robot to go, which is useful if you have small pets or children. These features aren't available on all models we test. Read our full reviews before deciding.