How to Choose the Best Robot Cleaner for Your Home
You'll need to put some effort in the home maintenance of your robot. That means clearing out debris, tidying up loose cords and tangled rugs.
Pick a model that comes with self-emptying containers. This makes it easier to clean up spills and mess. You may want two-in-one vacuums and mops.
Features
You can select a robotic vacuum cleaner with intelligent features that are suited to the needs of your home. Some models are built to draw a map of your home and make floor plans, whereas others have an integrated camera that can provide live footage of your space. These cameras can be used to detect obstacles and assist in solving problems. Some robots even have an option to schedule cleaning sessions and adjust the frequency.
If you're looking for a robot that can also vacuum and mop, look for one with an automatic emptying dustbin. The Ecovacs Deebot T30S Pro is one the top options we've tested since it comes with both features at a reasonable cost. It has a tiny suction opening similar to those found on upright vacuums, allowing to collect debris better than other robots. It also comes with side brushes with three bristles that push hair and dirt into the path of the robot. This model is the top in its category for many reasons, including its efficient navigation, mopping capability and the low price.
The best robovacs are equipped with large dust bins that last for months without needing to be emptied. The Narwal Freo X Ultra, a high-end robotic vacuum cleaner that has self-emptying dust bins and intelligent features that provide an unhands-free cleaning experience is a fantastic example. It comes with a small mopping mat that removes dirt that has gotten stuck to the floor. It can also glide over mats and rug that are too lightweight for other robots. vacuum deals help locate the areas that are prone to dirt, and it is able to mop and vacuum simultaneously, making it perfect to keep your home tidy.
The Eufy Clean X10 is another popular choice, and the application has a user-friendly interface that makes setting up custom options simple and quick. The lidar-powered mapping it uses is fast and precise and allows you to easily divide rooms for a thorough clean. It has a fantastic anti-object system that can eat Cheerios and even dodge fake dog poop. However, it did have difficulties with stairs. Its square-front design helped it to maneuver around corners more efficiently than the majority of robots we've tested. It's also capable of edge-hugging which allows it to sweep across baseboards with ease.
Cleaning performance
While robots aren't able to clean deep into carpets or remove dirt from the ground like a vacuum cleaner, they are capable of removing fine particles such as baking soda and dust, as well as larger debris like metal screws and pet hair. They can also clean up crumbs and spills. Maintaining your robot with routine maintenance such as emptying the dustbin and cleaning or changing the filter and cleaning the sensors and cameras will ensure it lasts for the longest time possible.
The most effective robots do an excellent job of picking up fine particles from hard floors and low-pile carpets and are particularly adept at sweeping up orzo pasta, sand, and wood shavings. They can pick up screws made of metal and cat litter, but they aren't as adept at slower items like coffee grounds or baked flour. They're less impressive on stairs, and they don't always grab everything that's thrown around the edges of furniture.
Some models are great at mopping as well. The iRoborock Roomba 900, for instance is a model that does a great cleaning job on hardwood floors. It can get rid of coffee spills, liquids, and dry or sticky food mess. Its zones and spot cleaning modes allow you to define a specific area for the robot to focus on, so it doesn't take too long to vacuum areas that are already clean. The Dreame X40 is another bot which does a great job of mopping, and offers an additional advantage over the Roborock that is the ability to vacuum first and then mop is a great way of cleaning up spills from high-pile rug.
Another top-rated mopping robot is the Dyson V8 Absolute. It's a bit more expensive than the Roomba however it comes with superior suction and can work with a greater variety of flooring types and textures. It is also able to return to the charging station when it runs out of water and continues cleaning the area where it started. The app provides a variety of other conveniences also such as an option to automatically schedule periodic cleaning sessions. It's also very quiet, making it a great choice for homes that have pets or children.
Cost
The best robot cleaners perform well at a low cost and a lot of them have smart features that can help you save money in the long run. Think about how much you'll pay for a vacuum cleaner and a mop to get the best bang for your buck. Certain models come with additional features that you may not require but could be useful, like a self-emptying bin or efficient navigation.
The most cost-effective choice is to invest in one that is able to do both mops and vacuums. It is important to remember that a robot vacuum is only as effective as the dirt it sifts up It's not advised to abandon regular manual vacuuming in favor of using a robot cleaner.
It is possible to pay around $500 on a robot that can do both vacuuming and mopping, such as the iRobot Combo j9+. The robot scored well in CR's testing, and it can clean floors and carpets. It comes with a user-friendly application that allows you to see its cleaning route, and set no-go areas. Jaclyn Turner noticed that the mopping functionality could use improvement, as it uses a dragging mechanism with a light pressure, rather than real scrubbing.
If you're looking to save money, you can find a great deal for an electric vacuum that is highly rated and only does one thing, such as the Eufy 11S. Its streamlined design is slim and quiet, and it performed well on tile floors, hardwood floors and carpets with low pile. It also proved very efficient at picking up pet hair, litter, and other particles.
Some robots that are budget-friendly have basic bump navigation systems that don't generate a coverage map and are more likely to become stuck on furniture or miss spots. These robots are still able to clean your floors, but they're not as efficient or able navigate around obstacles in your home.
Shark IQ XL is another alternative. It's a budget-friendly model that has been praised for its cleaning capabilities and price-to-value ratio. It's not as sophisticated as the Combo J9+, but is simple to use and works well on carpets and bare floors. It is also relatively light and can be pushed under furniture without getting stuck.
Maintenance
A robot vacuum cleaner can be an ideal option to keep your home clean, especially when it is used by pets or children. However, it requires some attention to ensure it is in good shape. Regular cleaning, like emptying bins of dust washing or changing filters, and wiping cameras and sensors can prolong the life 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 instructions for emptying and cleaning its dustbin, brush roller, and filter. Clean the charging contacts on the robot's sensor with a damp cloth to avoid them becoming blocked.
This model is an excellent choice if you're looking for an efficient, durable robot that's also easy to use. It's sleek, ultra-slim design that allows it to slide under couches and ottomans in order to get rid of dirt. The app allows you to organize a cleaning time and select rooms. You can also create no-go zones, and adjust the intensity of cleaning.
While it's a bit more expensive than other models on this list, this robot offers a number of features to can make up for the cost. Its mapping speed is quick and it can save four maps of your home in 3D or 2D. It's also among the quieter robotics devices we test. The battery life is around three hours.
The Romba 11s is a versatile vacuum cleaner that can work well along walls. In our tests, it cleaned up to 1.3 inches away from the wall. This is more than any of the other robots we test. It comes with a variety of smart features, including a spot-cleaning feature and an automatic boost mode. It also utilizes random navigation, which means that it doesn't clean the same spots over and over.
The robot's drawback is: it can't detect bare flooring and is easily confused by carpets and rug. However, it's a great option for those who live in a small house or apartment with narrow hallways and plenty of furniture.