You’ll Never Be Able To Figure Out This Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best’s Tricks

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 more expensive ones can even mop your floor, but they can’t climb up the stairs. Find models with intelligent mapping, real-time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The best robots we tested were user-friendly, efficient and able to cope with daily debris. It is also important to choose a model that can handle stairs and that has decent pick-up power on carpets. And, if you’re looking to add more features, you may be interested in a robot with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you control it remotely.

Camryn Rabideau, a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a product reviewer who has tested numerous robotic vacuums, is recognized for her testing of dozens of robot vacuums. She prefers the robovacs with the most conveniences, such as ones that have self-emptying bins and charging stations that automatically empty and fill water tanks to mop robotic vacuums. She’s also a fan of robots that recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords so they don’t get caught when climbing steps.

When compared to the top-rated models, this Black and Decker robot vacuum cleaner best vacuum isn’t as advanced in its object-avoidance capabilities and its navigation score is lower. However, it has an ample dust bin that doesn’t require regular emptying and has a lengthy battery life. It also comes with the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and return to where it stopped last, making it easier for you to take care of larger areas. This model is a great choice for pet owners because it will prevent the tangles of fur and food particles.

In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify obstacles and map rooms using a structured-light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid and furniture legs easily and save up to four floor maps to be used in the future for use. It can pause and resume the cleaning process at any point, so that you can continue with your chores while it is working. The app provides an interactive 3D model of your home with room labels as well as advanced cleaning options.

This model isn’t as good at cleaning like our top models, however it excels at picking up heavier items like orzo pasta, metal screws, and even fine particles like sand. The only drawbacks are that it’s not able to mop and that its navigation system is less impressive.

The best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, search for a robotic vacuum that has good pickup and a high score for maneuverability on carpets and rug. Many models are capable of cleaning dust from low-pile rugs. Some can be quite effective in picking up heavier debris, such as orzo pasta and metal screws. They don’t pick-up small particles like an upright canister, and may miss dirt that is close to baseboards or thresholds.

The best option for carpeted homes is a two-in-one robot vacuum/mop, which allows you to swap between a cleaning bin and mopping pad with damp. 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 automatically detects and lifts the pads when it encounters carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor. You do not need to take them off or replace them after each use. The Q Revo is also superior to other robot vacuums/mops in avoiding obstacles such as rugs and thresholds and staying clear of obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another option worth considering. It was a great performer in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to clean your home while you are away. It can be set to mop only. We loved its navigation on floors with no flooring and carpets. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for an item of this size.

If you want a more high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks and not need to be emptied. It also features impressive ability to navigate and auto-empty on carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a clever mapping system that can be programmed to run only during specific times (a useful feature to stop mischievous children and dextrous animals from running amok). The Shark isn’t as powerful as other robot vacuum/mop combinations however, it still picks up pet hair and hair with a high degree of accuracy. It’s also the highest price of our top picks.

Best for Hard Floors

Robot vacuums are best for floors made of hardwood, since they can navigate through obstacles with ease without causing damage floors that aren’t. 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 power of a high-end upright or canister vacuum, so they’re not the ideal choice for carpeted rooms or upholstery that needs deep cleaning.

The most effective robots are those that are two-in-one, combining mop and vacuum to do a complete job in one go. If you have floors that are mixed you should look for a model with an onboard sensor which detects changes in the floor’s texture and adjusts suction accordingly. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.

If your home is composed of hardwood floors, consider a robotic mop and vacuum combo like the eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum that has smart navigation to clean hardwood and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors allow it to avoid dangers like stairs.

The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors by applying downward pressure, not simply swab them to get rid of dirt and dust. Its reusable mop pads reduce the amount of waste, and reduce the spread of germs, and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving your time. The mops are also able to be washed, dried and reused.

Both the robovac and the mop are both controlled by your smartphone to make it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can utilize the app to create zones that the vacuum will not enter, label different rooms and plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock, which collects debris through a trapdoor, and is then stored in a bagless or disposable bin, so you don’t need to manually empty the bin every time as you would with other models.

Ideal for small Spaces

These robots are designed for small spaces. 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 be placed under furniture that larger robots aren’t able to reach. They are usually less expensive than the higher-end models however, you’ll need to empty their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago robot vacuums underwent significant changes. Manufacturers began to add sensors that allowed them to avoid household items that their conventional sensors might become stuck on or run across. This has decreased the amount of times that our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag whether it was a power cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.

The new sensors don’t solve all the issues that these devices have however. The lower-end models are unable to navigate the same obstacles as the older models, and require some level of illumination in order to be able to see where they’re moving. If you live in a dark house or have a lot of furniture with low-profiles, consider buying a model that utilizes top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your space like our best overall and runner-up picks do. This will allow them to avoid obstacles like stairs and other ones while working in the dark.

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

A few of the models we recommend allow you to set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas where you do not want the robot to move, which is useful if you have children or pets. These features aren’t offered on all of the models we test so make sure to review our full reviews of the models below before making your purchase.