7 Tips About Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best That Nobody Can Tell You

How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A robot vacuum cleaner top 10 vacuum will save you lots of time and effort when it comes to regular touch-ups. Top performers are good at getting rid of dust light debris, cords and dust.

The ones that are more expensive can even mop your floor but they aren't able to climb stairs. Choose models that have intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.

Best Overall

The top robots that we have tested are effective and user-friendly, and able to cope with the everyday messes. It is also important to choose a model capable of handling stairs and has adequate ability to pick up carpets. And, if you're looking for extra features, you might be interested in a model that uses smart robot mapping technology, or an app that lets you control the robot remotely.

Camryn Rabideau is a contributing shopping writer and product reviewer at PEOPLE who has tested dozens of robotic vacuums. She's a fan of the robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, such as self cleaning vacuum-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill the water tanks used by mopping robots. She also loves robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables so they won't trip up when climbing the stairs.

This Black and Decker robot has a lower score for navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the best-rated models. It has a large non-refillable dustbin as well as a long battery. Additionally, it comes with the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and then return to the place where it stopped last, making it easier to cover larger spaces. This model is also a good option for pet owners since it is able to spot and prevent tangled hair as well as fallen food particles.

In our tests we tested the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines a LIDAR sensor that can map rooms and identify obstacles using a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. It can avoid liquid droplets, stairs, and furniture legs easily with this combination. It can also save up to four floor plans for future use. It can also stop the cleaning process at any moment and return to where it stopped and let you do chores while the robot is working. The app provides the 3D image of your home, with room labels and advanced cleaning options.

Although this robot isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in removing small particles like sand and baking soda, as well as heavier objects, like orzo pasta and metal screws. The only drawbacks are that it isn't able to mop, and its navigation system is less impressive.

Best for Carpet

If you have carpeting in your home, you should look for a vacuum that has strong pickup and maneuverability scores on carpet and rug. Many models do a good job of removing dust that has been embedded in carpets with a low pile, and several do a decent job at sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. They don't pick-up small particles like an upright or canister, and could be unable to pick up dirt close to baseboards or thresholds.

The best option for carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop, which allows you to swap between the cleaning bin as well as mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, is a vacuum cleaner and mops with circular pads that spin at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts its pads when they come into contact with carpet, which prevents the flooring from becoming wet. You don't need remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also better than other robot cleaner amazon vacuum/mops at staying clear of obstacles and rugs, while also getting close to them and thresholds, and avoiding obstacles.

The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another good option. It did well in our tests and you can set it up to schedule it to tidy your home when you are away. It can be set to only mop and we loved its excellent navigation on rug and floor surfaces and its ability to climb up and over furniture. The Combo i5 has a long time to run and excellent path planning for an item of this size.

If you're looking for a top-of-the-line vacuum Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a fantastic alternative. It has a large charging dock that can go several weeks without having to be emptied, and it has impressive navigation skills and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors. It's also got a smart-mapping system and can be programmed to only operate at certain times of the day (a useful feature that can keep children and pets who are prone to mischief from running it amuck). The Shark isn't as powerful than some other robot vacuums and mops but it's efficient in removing hair and pet hair and is the best value of our top choices.

Best for Hard Flooring

Robot vacuums are the ideal pick for hardwood floors because they are able to maneuver around obstacles without damaging surfaces that are not bare. They do an excellent job of removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and other large debris. They lack the suction of the top canister or upright vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.

The most effective robots come with two-in-one features, combining mop and vacuum to do a complete job in one step. Find a model that has an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjust suction in line with the changes. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for example, has this feature and can transition seamlessly from soft to hard carpeting.

If you have a lot of hardwood flooring in your home you may want to consider a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model has an impressive robotic vacuum that has intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood floors and other surfaces. It can also mop. The sensors in it allow it to avoid hazards such as stairs.

The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, instead of simply swab them to remove dust and dirt. The mop pads that are reusable reduce the amount of waste, and spread germs less, and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving you time. The mops are also able to be dried, washed and used again.

The robovac can be controlled via your smartphone, making it simpler to use. You can, for example, use the app to create no-go zones that the vacuum will not be allowed to enter, label different rooms or plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris through trapdoors, and then stores it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as with other models.

Best for Small Spaces

As the name suggests, these robots are best designed for smaller areas. They have smaller bins which can hold less debris. They are also more efficient when it comes to getting around corners better than larger models. They can also be tucked under furniture, where the larger robots struggle to get in. They are also less expensive than the more expensive models, however you will have to empty their dirt bins manually at the end of each cleaning session.

A few years ago robot vacuums underwent an important change. Manufacturers began adding sensors that allowed them to navigate around and avoid household items that traditional sensors might be stuck on or across. This improved the number of times that our testers were required to clean up after a robot incident.

The new sensors haven't eliminated all the problems with these machines however. The lower-end models are not able to tackle the same obstacles as the older models, and require a certain level of light to be able to be able to see where they're moving. You should consider one that has a spinning LIDAR unit mounted on top to trace the area. Our best overall pick and runner-up models have this feature. This will allow them to stay clear of stairs and other obstacles when working in darkness.

In addition being capable of working in the dark, these models can be set to use their cliff sensors only when they're close to or on the floor, not when they're above them. It is still recommended to shield any mirrors that could interfere with this function, however, since the lasers used by a LIDAR-based model could bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot vacuum cleaners to believe it's in a different room.

A few of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones to protect areas you don't want the robot to go, which can be beneficial if you have small children or pets. Those features aren't available on all the models we've tested, so be sure to read our full reviews of each model below before you make a purchase.