How to Choose the Best Robot Cleaner for Your Home
You'll need to put a bit of effort into the home maintenance of your robot. That means clearing out clutter, tidying up loose cords and tangled rugs.
Look for a model with a self-emptying bin. This makes it easier to clean up spills. You might also consider an all-in-one that vacuums and mops.
Features
Based on your needs for your home You can pick the best robot cleaner with smart features. Some models are able to map your home's layout to create floor plans, while others include an integrated camera that displays live video feeds. These cameras can be used to identify obstacles and assist in problem solving. Some robots feature a feature where you can schedule cleaning sessions or alter the frequency.
Find a robot that has a self emptying dustbin in case you'd like it to be able to mop and vacuum. Ecovacs' Deebot Pro is among our top picks since it offers both features for a reasonable price. It has a small suction opening, similar to those on upright vacuums, which helps it to remove debris more effectively than other robots. It uses side brushes with 3 bristles that push dirt and hair into the robot's path. This model is the best of its kind for a variety reasons, including its mopping ability, efficient navigation and affordable price.
The best robovacs are equipped with large dust bins, that last for weeks without needing to be emptied. The Narwal Freo X Ultra is an excellent example of a high-end robot that has a self-emptying dust bin and clever features that allow for a hands-free experience. It comes with a tiny mopping mat that removes dirt that is stuck to the floor. It can also glide over mats and rugs that are too light for other robots. Its sensors can help you find areas that are more prone to dirt and it can mop and vacuum simultaneously making it the perfect choice to keep your home tidy.
Eufy Clean X10, with its easy-to-use app, is another great choice. Its customization options are simple and quick to set up. Its lidar-powered mapping is fast and accurate and it is able to divide rooms for a thorough clean. It is equipped with excellent technology for avoiding objects that suckers up Cheerios and avoids fake dog poop, however it struggled a bit with stairs. The square-front design of the robot helped it to get into corners more easily than other robots that we've tested. It also has the ability to edge-hug which allows it to easily sweep across baseboards.
Cleaning performance
While robots aren't able to clean deep into carpets or sweep up dirt from the ground like a real vacuum, they do an impressive job of removing small particles like baking soda and dust, as well as heavier debris such as metal screws and pet hair. They can also sweep up crumbs and spills. Maintaining your robot through routine maintenance such as emptying the dustbin, cleaning or changing the filter and wiping down the cameras and sensors will ensure that it has the longest lifespan possible.
The best robots do a great job of removing fine particles from hard floors and low-pile carpets and are particularly adept at sweeping up orzo pasta as well as wood shavings, sand and sand. They can pick up screws made of metal and cat litter, but they struggle with slower objects like coffee grounds or baked flour. They're less impressive on stairs, and do not always grab everything that is around the edges.
Certain models are also excellent at mopping. The iRoborock Roomba 900, for example is a model that does a great cleaning job on hardwood floors. It can remove coffee spills, liquids, and dry or sticky food mess. Its smart spot and zone cleaning modes let you define an area for the robot to focus on, so it won't take too long to vacuum areas that are already clean. The Dreame X40 also does a good mopping job but it has a distinct advantage over the Roborock. It can first vacuum, and afterwards mop to clean up staining and spills on high pile carpets.
Another top mopping robot is the Dyson V8 Absolute. It's more expensive than the Roomba but it's got superior suction and is able to handle more floor types and textures. It's also able to return to the charging dock when it's running out of water and then resume cleaning the point it was when it left. Its app has many other options, including the ability to schedule recurring cleaning sessions. It's also extremely quiet, making it a great choice for homes that have pets or children.
Cost
The best robot cleaners perform well at a reasonable price, and many offer smart features that can help you save money in the end. You'll need to think about how much you need mop and vacuum to get the best value for your money. Some models have features you might not need but you will find useful. For instance the self-emptying trash bin or a navigation system that is efficient.
The most cost-effective option is to invest in a model which can do both mops as well as vacuums. It's important to keep in mind that the robot vacuum is only as good as the dirt it collects, so it's not recommended to abandon regular manual vacuuming in favour of using a robot vacuum.
It is possible to pay around $500 for a machine that does both vacuuming and mopping, such as the iRobot Combo j9+. The robot scored well in CR's testing, and it can clean floors, carpets, and even bare floors. It comes with a user-friendly application that allows you to track its cleaning routes, and set no-go areas. Jaclyn discovered that the mopping process could be improved as it is based on gentle pressure and a dragging motion rather than scratching.
If you're in a pinch it's possible to find a bargain on a top-rated robot vacuum that does just one job, such as the Eufy 11S. Its sleek design is slim and quiet, and it performed well on hardwood floors, tile and carpets with low pile. It was also very effective at picking up pet hair, and litter.
A few robots with a budget-friendly price tag have basic bump navigation systems that do not generate a coverage map and are more likely to become stuck on furniture or miss spots. These robots can still clean your floors but they are not as efficient or are able to navigate around household obstacles.
Another alternative is the budget-friendly Shark IQ XL, which earned high marks for both its cleaning capabilities and price-to-value ratio. It's not as sophisticated as the Combo J9+, but it is a breeze to use and is effective on floors that are carpeted or bare. It's also fairly light and can be pushed underneath furniture without getting stuck.
Maintenance
A robot vacuum cleaner can be a great method to keep your home clean, especially when it is used by pets or children. But, it will require some maintenance to stay in good shape. Maintaining a regular schedule of cleaning tasks, like emptying the trash bin washing or changing the filter, and wiping down sensors and cameras can extend the longevity of your robot.
Vacuums require more frequent maintenance than robot mopping machines, but you can extend the life of your vacuum if you follow the manufacturer's guidelines to empty and clean its brush roller, dust bin, and filter. Wipe down the charging contacts on the robot's sensor with a damp rag to prevent them from becoming clogged.
This model is a great option when you're looking for an efficient, durable robot that is also simple to use. It's sleek ultra-slim design that enables it to slip underneath couches and ottomans in order to find hidden dirt. The app makes it simple to select rooms and schedule a cleaning, as well as set areas that are not allowed to be cleaned and adjust the cleaning intensity.
This robot is a bit more costly than the other models in this list, but it has many features that make up for that. Its mapping is fast and it can save four maps of your home in 2D or 3D. It's also one of the quieter robots we tested, and its battery can last for around three hours on charge.
The Romba 11s is a versatile vacuum cleaner that can work well against walls. It cleared up to 1.3 inches away from the wall in our tests, which is higher than any other bot we tested. best budget robot vacuum has many smart features, including a spot-cleaning feature and an automatic boost mode. It also makes use of random navigation, which means it doesn't clean the same spots over and over.
The only downside to this robot is that it lacks the ability to discern bare floors and can be confused by thick carpets or rug. However, it's a great option when you live in a tiny house or apartment with narrow hallways and plenty of furniture.