The Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best Mistake That Every Newbie Makes
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The best models are capable of picking up dust, light debris and cords.
The more expensive ones will even sweep your floor, but they can't climb stairs. Find models with smart mapping, real-time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly, and able keep up with daily debris. You'll want a robot with adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the capability to climb stairs. If you want a robot that has additional features, you should consider one that comes with smart mapping technology, or an app to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a reviewer of products who has tested several robotic vacuums, has been credited with testing numerous robot vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most conveniences like those with self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robotic vacuums. She's also a fan of robots that detect landmarks such as furniture legs and power cords, so they don't get tripped up when climbing the stairs.
Compared with the top robot vacuum cleaner-rated models this Black and Decker vacuum is less equipped with object-avoidance technology, and its navigation score is lower. However, it does have a large dustbin that doesn't need regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. It also has a feature which allows you to schedule cleaning times and then return to the place it stopped at the last point, making it easier to clean larger homes. 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 tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines an LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and identify obstacles using an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. The combination lets it stay clear of stairs, drops of liquid and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for references. It can also stop the cleaning process at any moment and pick up where it left off and let you do chores while the robot works. The app includes an interactive 3D model of your home, with room labels as well as advanced cleaning robots for home options.
While this robot can't clean as well as our top-rated models, it is superior in picking up fine debris like sand and baking soda, as well as heavier items like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. Its only drawbacks are that it's not able to mop, and has a slightly less impressive navigation system.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, look for a robot vacuum Cleaner Amazon vacuum with excellent pickup and good maneuverability scores on carpet and rug. A lot of models are adept at picking up dust in low-pile carpets, and some do a decently job of cleaning up larger debris, such as orzo pasta and metal screws. However, they aren't able to pick up fine particles as well as an upright or canister vacuum and can be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of baseboards and thresholds.
The best option for carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop, which lets you swap in an empty bin for cleaning and a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a mops wet with circular pads that rotate at a speed of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and raises the pads when it encounters carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor. Additionally, you do not need to take them off or replace them after every use. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to keeping away from obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It performed well in our tests and you can program it to tidy your home while you are away. It can be set to mop only. We were impressed by its ability to navigate on floors with no flooring as well as carpets. The Combo i5 also has a very long run time and a great path-planning feature for such a small device.
If you want a more advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a large dock that can last for weeks without having to be empty. It also has amazing ability to navigate and auto-empty on carpets and bare floors. It's also got an intelligent mapping system that can be programmed to only be operational during certain times of the day (a useful feature to keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from causing havoc). The Shark has less powerful suction than other robot vacuum/mop combos, but its still very effective in removing hair and pet hair. It is the best value among our top robot vacuum cleaner choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are the ideal pick for hardwood floors because they are able to easily maneuver around obstacles and not damage the floor's surface. They are great at picking up dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair or other debris. They lack the suction power of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.
The most effective robots are two-in-one, combining a vacuum with a mop to complete the task in one step. If you have flooring that is mixed choose models with an onboard sensor which detects changes in floor texture and adjusts suction to match. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for instance, has this feature and can go seamlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home, you may want to consider a robot mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum that has smart robot navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors help it avoid stairs and other hazards so you don't need to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.
When it comes to mops, the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure rather than just wipe them clean to remove dust and dirt. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce the amount of waste, and reduce the spread of germs and can be cleaned at the docking station to save your time. The mop pads can also be washed and dried to avoid spreading mold.
Both the robovac as well as the mop can be controlled from your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance you can make use of the app to designate a zone that the vacuum won't enter, label separate rooms, or schedule cleaning times for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via trapdoors and then puts it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
As the name suggests the robots are best designed for smaller areas. They have smaller bins that can store less debris. They are also more efficient in moving around corners more efficiently as opposed to larger models. They can also fit under furniture, where larger robots are unable to reach. They are generally less expensive than the higher-end models too, although you'll need to empty their dirt storage compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years back, robot vacuums went through an important change. Manufacturers began adding sensors that helped them navigate around and avoid household items that their conventional sensors might become stuck on or run across. These advancements reduced the number of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was an electrical cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.
However, the latest sensors haven't resolved all of the issues these machines face. The cheapest models are still struggling with the same challenges that the older ones faced and, in addition, they require a certain amount illumination to be able to see where they're going. You should consider an option that incorporates a spinning LIDAR device mounted on top to create maps of the area. Our top models and runners-up models use this. This lets them avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones while working in the dark.
These models 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. You'll still want to cover any mirrors that may hinder this function, though, as the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it is in another room.
Some of the models we recommend also allow you to create virtual no-go zones to protect areas where you do not want the robot to go, which can be useful if you have small pets or children. Those features aren't available on all of the models we test so make sure to review our full reviews of the models below before you make a purchase.