How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum will save you lots of time and hassle in the case of regular touch-ups. Top performers do a good job picking up dust and light debris and many allow you to set no-go zones for pet areas or power cords.

The most expensive models can even sweep your floors but they aren't able to climb up the stairs. Choose models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots in our testing are efficient, easy to use, and able to keep up with everyday debris. You'll also need a robot that can handle stairs and has adequate cleaning power for carpets. If you're looking for a robot that has additional features, you should consider one that comes with smart mapping technology or an app that allows you to control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested numerous robotic vacuums. She prefers the ones with the most features like those that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and refill the water tanks used to mop robotic vacuum cleaner commercial vacuums. She also enjoys robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so they won't trip up when climbing the stairs.

Compared to the top-rated models this Black and Decker robot vacuum isn't as advanced in its object-avoidance capabilities and its score for navigation is lower. It does however have an enormous dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying, and has a long battery life. Additionally, it has the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the location where it last stopped which makes it easier to cover larger spaces. This model is also a great choice for pet owners because it can spot and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.

In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that is able to map rooms and identify obstacles using an organized light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It can avoid liquid droplets, stairs, and furniture legs with this combination. It can also save up to four floor plans for future use. It can also pause the cleaning process at any point and resume where it left off and let you do chores while the robot works. The included app offers a 3D representation of your home, room labels, and advanced cleaning options.

This robot is not as good at cleaning as our top models, but it is great in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws, and fine particles such as sand. Its only downsides are that it's not able to mop and that 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 strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpets and rugs. Many models are good at collecting dust from low-pile rugs, and some are capable of picking up heavier debris like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. They don't pick-up fine particles like an upright or canister, and may be unable to pick up dirt close to thresholds or baseboards.

The best option for carpeted areas is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that allows you to swap between an empty bin for cleaning and a damp mopping pad. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and mops with circular pads that rotate at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It is able to detect and lift 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 superior to other robot vacuum/mops at staying clear of obstacles, getting close to rugs and thresholds and avoiding obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It performed well in our tests, and you can schedule it to clean your home even when you're away. It can be set up to mop only. We loved its navigation on bare floors and rugs. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for an item of this size.

If you're looking to buy a high-tech vacuum that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great alternative. It comes with a large charging dock that can run for several weeks without having to be emptied, and it has amazing navigation abilities and auto-emptying on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a smart mapping system and can be programmed to only run during certain times (a useful feature for keeping mischievous children and dextrous animals from running wild). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combinations however, it still manages to pick hair and pet hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the most affordable value of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the best choice for floors with hardwood floors because they can navigate around obstacles without causing damage to bare surfaces. They are excellent at of removing dust and crumbs, however they aren't able to handle pet hair and other larger particles. They lack the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, which makes them a poor choice for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.

The best robot vacuum for the money two-in-one robots combine mopping and vacuum to complete an entire task in one sweep. Find one that has an onboard sensor that can detect changes in the floor's texture and adjust suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for instance, has this feature and can move effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.

If your home is composed of hardwood floors, you should consider an automated vacuum - mouse click the following web site, and mop combo like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model uses an efficient robot vacuum with smart navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces, plus it can mop too. Its sensors help it avoid the stairs and other hazards, so you don't need to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.

When you need mops, the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than wipe them over to get rid of light dust and dirt. The pads that are reusable reduce waste and help to spread less germs. They can also be cleaned at docking stations to reduce time. The mops are also able to be washed, dried and reused.

Both the robovac and 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 create no-go zones that the vacuum will not enter, label different rooms, or schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via a trapdoor, and stores it in a bag-less or disposable bin. This means you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

As the name implies, these robots are best suited for small spaces. They have smaller bins that hold less waste, and they're more efficient than the larger models in navigating tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, where the larger robots are unable to reach. These robots are also cheaper than higher-end models, however you will need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago, robot vacuums underwent a significant change as manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate around and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would get stuck on or run over. This has have reduced the number of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic hoovers snag whether it was a power cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.

The new sensors haven't eliminated all the issues that these devices have, however. The cheaper models are still unable to navigate the same obstacles as the older models, and require some level of illumination to see where they are going. If you are living in a dark space or have a lot of furniture that is low-profile, think about purchasing top-mounted spinning laser units to map your space as our top overall and runner-up choices do. This allows them to avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones while working in the dark.

In addition being capable of working in the dark they can also be programmed to use their cliff sensors only when they're near or on the floor, not above them. It is essential to cover mirrors to prevent this from occurring. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models can bounce off reflective surfaces, making the robot think it's in a different space.

A few of the models we recommend also allow you to set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas where you do not want the robot to go, which can be useful if you have small children or pets. Those features aren't available on all the models we test so make sure to go through our complete reviews of the models below prior to making a purchase.