The 10 Scariest Things About Robot Vacuum

How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you're willing to live without smart capabilities like mapping, and don't mind emptying the garbage bin every 60 days or so, a basic robot vacuum will probably work for you. Choose a model with an uncluttered base that can work with voice assistants.

It excels at removing dirt, clumps of pet hair and cat litter on hardwood floors, tile and carpeting that is lower-pile better than any other vacuum we've tried. It also maps and set virtual no-go zones in rooms or areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum will help you keep track of the dust, pet fur and dander that settles on your floor each day. It can also decrease the frequency of deep cleaning, home saving you both time and effort. The best models come with powerful suction, which will tackle most powerful robot vacuum messes with ease and leave your home clean.

You can cover more area with a robot vacuum and mop, which can be beneficial if you live in a large home. Find 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 finished. You'll have to empty it and fill it up, however, so this is an additional chore that requires some extra effort on your part.

In a perfect world, you'd clear your floors before you used your robot vacuum to keep it from crashing into objects. In most homes, however this isn't possible or desirable. Fortunately, the majority of models let you use your smartphone to create virtual barriers that the robot will see and avoid. Certain models have no-go zones, which you can flag areas you don't wish it to be allowed to enter. For example an area for children's play or a pile cords in the corner.

If you're looking for a basic robot vacuum without all the bells and whistles, this model from the networking company TP-Link is a great option. It's quiet, it works on both hard floors as well as low-pile carpets and can be programmed via the app to vacuum and mop at your convenience. It has a long battery life that can last up to 180 minutes before it requires to recharge.

2. Easy to operate

Robot vacuums typically require only minimal effort from you. They use navigation tools like sensors lasers, cameras and sensors to navigate around obstacles and suck up food particles, dust and pet hair from hard flooring, tile carpets, hardwood floors and low-pile carpets. A lot of models come with boundary strips that allow them to remain inside the room. More expensive models can be programmed to wake up at a specific time and begin cleaning. Some models have fall detection technology that helps users avoid falling down the stairs or getting caught in cords.

If you're looking 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 search for models that connect to Wi-Fi and allow you to start cleaning sessions from anywhere using an app. You may prefer a model that has a long-lasting battery, as well as a large dustbin, depending on the size of your house.

Some robot vacuums double as mops, utilizing reservoirs of water to wash your floor. This is helpful for everyday mopping, but will not be effective for messes that are more difficult to clean, like pet poop, or other wet spills. There are hybrids that come with a removable microfiber pad that can be used for mopping, or choose self-emptying models that let you use the device for 30 to 60 days without having to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots use advanced mapping technology to create a precise map as they clean. This allows them to avoid bumping into furniture and getting caught on cords or legs of 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 home and knows where to go next when it's low on battery.

If you don't want your robot navigating into areas of your home that you'd prefer to keep it away from (like your children's toys or the tangled mess of gadget cords in the corner) The majority of robots offer the possibility of creating virtual barriers, either with their apps or a set of physical boundary strips. You can block off areas you don't want your robot to enter in order to concentrate on the rooms that require the most attention.

Many robots also have the ability to automatically navigate to different floors depending on the flooring they're cleaning, be it that's changing between hard flooring and carpet or focusing on certain areas of your home, like corners and baseboards. In our tests this was a helpful feature that improved their performance in picking up hardwood and low-pile carpeting. It is essential to put away any loose cords or furniture before using your robot vacuum to ensure that it doesn't get caught.

4. Remote Control

Almost all robot vacuums have WiFi connectivity and can be controlled by Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts that enable you to control them using voice commands or through your smartphone. Many connect to smart home systems that create an outline of your space after each cleaning session to "learn" your layout and plan more efficient routes for future trips. Certain models have obstacle avoidance built in that prevents them from damaging furniture and getting stuck on things such as loose charging cables or pet hair.

Most robots come with a remote that you can use to pilot them around your home. However, many can be controlled via an app for mobile devices, which gives you more features. You can usually create multiple cleaning schedules, make the list of rooms you like and even manually guide your robot around specific areas by using directional arrows that appear on the screen.

Some models have no-go zones. These are virtual barriers you can set up within the app to block the robot from entering specific areas (like kid's toys or dishes and dog beds). Some apps let you draw a map of your house and provide detailed information on the floors. The app on our top pick, the Roborock S7+, has a lot of useful options to help you tidy your house, but its interface isn't as polished as the ones from iRobot and Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacuums that clean your entire house without stopping to recharge or to empty their dustbins save time and effort. Certain robot vacuums can work with smart home platforms such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to enable hands-free operation. They can also create an outline of the space that allows you to program them for certain areas or rooms, and to avoid obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, but the iRobot j7 offers advanced features such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These can make your life easier (although one of our test robots did "eat" a couple of socks). If you're seeking to improve your home maintenance, consider an automated mop that comes with a water container that you can fill and empty.

While none of the models we tested beat the dirt-picking power of a stand-up vacuum they all do a great job at cleaning hard floors and low-pile carpets. They are excellent at sweeping up food crumbs, and dirt that has been tracked in. They can even tackle some stray cat litter and metal screws and home nuts. The best budget robot vacuum robot vacuums are able to remove dirt from edges and corners and can even work on furniture. For a basic model that functions on its own and is comparatively inexpensive take a look at the Eufy 11S.

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 without a lot of effort. You can schedule cleanings in the app and set up no-go zones to ensure that your robot doesn't damage your plants or ruin your favorite chair. A majority of our top picks will also empty their trash bins for you and clean their docking station.

The best robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors on a regular basis for weeks or even months at a stretch, freeing you from the time-consuming task of manually sweeping and mopping your floors on a daily or weekly basis. This lets 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 fine particles like oatmeal and baking soda and heavier debris like nails and screws made of metal, and fluffy stuff like pet hair. It isn't equipped with the advanced mapping and objects-avoiding features of our top picks, but is still a great choice for most families.

The most appealing feature of the j7 is that it utilizes camera and processor-powered sensors to identify and avoid obstacles such as power cords, shoes, socks, and pet waste. This means that you don't need to tidy up before you can run your robot, however clutter in your home can mean the robot may become stuck and not do the job as well.