How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum

If you don't require advanced features such as mapping and aren't worried about emptying your bin every 60 to 90 days, a basic robotic vacuum is likely to be the best robot mop hardwood floors choice for you. Find one with a clean base and can work with voice assistants.

It is the most effective robo-vacuum we have tested for getting rid of dirt and pet hair from tiles, hardwood floors, and carpets with low pile. It also maps and create virtual no-go zones for rooms and areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum will assist you in keeping up with the dust, pet fur and dander that settles on your floors every day. It also can reduce the frequency of deep cleaning, which will save you both time and effort. The best vacuum and mop combo robot model has powerful suction that can clean up most mess and leave your home sparkling clean.

Selecting a vacuum that can also mop will help you cover more ground by using just one machine. This can be particularly beneficial in a larger home. Find one that has an water reservoir built into its chassis or as a separate item that you swap in when vacuuming is complete. It will have to be filled and empty, so it's an extra task.

In ideal world, you'd be able to clean your floors before you used your robot vacuum to keep it from hitting things. In the majority of homes, however it's not feasible or desirable. Thankfully, most models let you use your smartphone app to set up virtual barriers that the robot can detect and avoid. Some models have no-go zones which you can use to flag areas you don't want it to enter, such as kids rooms or a stack of device cords in the corner.

If you're looking for a simple robot vacuum without all the bells and whistles, this model made by the company that makes networking TP-Link is a great choice. It's quiet and is able to work on hard floors as well as carpets with low pile and can be programmed using the app to vacuum and mop at your own convenience. It comes with a battery life of up to 180 minutes.

2. Simple to operate

Robot vacuums typically require very little effort from you. They use sensors lasers, cameras, and sensors to move around and collect dust, pet hair, and food crumbs from hard floors, tiles and hardwood. A lot of them have boundary strips that aid in staying within the walls of a room, while pricier models can be set to automatically wake up and begin cleaning at a predetermined time. Some models have fall detection technology to help them avoid falling down a flight of stairs or getting caught in cords.

If you're looking to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of your couch, you should look for models that integrate voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also pick Wi-Fi models that allow you to begin cleaning anywhere you want using an app. You might want to choose one with a long-lasting battery, as well as a large dust bin, depending on the size of your home.

Some robot vacuums can also be mopping machines. They use water reservoirs to clean the floor. This is useful for normal mopping, but it won't be effective for messes that are more difficult to clean, like pet poop, or other wet spills. You can find hybrids with a removable microfiber pad for mopping, or opt for a self-emptying model that lets you use the device for 30 to 60 days without needing to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Certain robots utilize advanced mapping technology to create a precise map while they clean. This makes it easier to avoid hitting furniture and getting caught on cords or legs of chairs. This feature is only available on higher-end models however, it lets your robot be aware of the layout of your home and know where to go when the battery runs out.

The majority of robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done via an app or physically-based boundary strips. This allows you to create zones that you don't want your robot explore, so that it can focus its attention on areas and rooms that require the most cleaning.

Many robots also automatically switch floors based on the kind of flooring they are cleaning. This can be achieved by changing from carpet to hard flooring or by paying attention to certain areas of your home, such as corners and baseboards. In our tests, this was a useful feature that improved their scores on picking up hardwood and low-pile carpeting. It is essential to put away any furniture or cords that are loose prior to using your robot vacuum to ensure that it doesn't get caught.

4. Remote Control

The majority of robot vacuums have WiFi connectivity and can be controlled by Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts that enable you to control them via voice commands or via your smartphone. Many robot vacuums connect to smart home systems, and generate a map of the best vacuum mop robot area they clean after each session. This allows them to "learn" how your home is laid out and plan more efficient routes for future cleaning sessions. There are also built-in obstacles avoidance that prevents them from crashing into furniture and damaging it or getting stuck on things like loose charging cables or shoe laces, as well as pet hair.

Most robots come with a remote you can use to control them around your home. The majority of robots can be operated by mobile applications, which offers more features. You can create multiple cleaning schedules, and create an inventory of your preferred rooms. You can also manually direct the robot with directional Arrows.

Some models provide no-go zones that are virtual barriers you can set up in the app to stop the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for kids or dog bowls and beds). Some apps let you draw an outline of your home and provide detailed information on the floors. The Roborock S7+ app has several useful features to assist you in cleaning your home. However, its interface isn't quite as sleek as iRobot or Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robot vacuums that can clean your entire house without stopping to recharge or to empty their dustbins save time and effort. Some of them work with smart home platforms such as Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts for hands-free operation. They can also create an image of your space that allows you to program them to clean certain areas or rooms, and to beware of obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, however the iRobot j7 offers advanced features, such as "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These can simplify your life (although one of our test bots did "eat" a couple of socks). If you want to take your home maintenance to the next level opt for a robotic mop that comes with a water tank that can be filled and then empty.

While none of the models that we tested could match the dirt-picking ability of a stand-up vacuum, they did a great job cleaning hard floors as well as carpets with low pile. They excel at sweeping up fine dirt, food crumbs, and dirt that has been tracked in. They are also able to tackle stray cat litter and metal screws and nuts. The top robot vacuums can easily maneuver around furniture, and they do a great job of cleaning corners and edges as well. Eufy 11S is a relatively basic and affordable model.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

With the proper setup and the right setup, a robotic vacuum can help you keep your home looking and feeling cleaner regularly, without a lot of effort. You can schedule cleanings using the app, and you can create no-go zones so that the robot won't get in the way of your plants or favorite chair. The majority of our top picks will also empty their trash bins for you and clean their docking station.

The best robot vacuum cleaner and mop robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors regularly for weeks or even months at a time, removing you from the tedious chore of manually cleaning your floors on a daily or weekly basis. This lets you enjoy more time doing things you enjoy, and decreases the time it takes to clean your floors manually.

In our tests the Q Revo was able to pick up small particles such as baking soda and oatmeal and heavier debris like metal screws and nails, and fluffy stuff such as hair from pets. It lacks the smart mapping and object-avoiding features found in our top picks, but is still a great option for most families.

The most appealing aspect of the j7 robot is that it utilizes camera and processor-powered smarts to detect and avoid obstacles such as power cords, shoes socks and pet waste. This means that you don't need to clean up before you can run your robot, but clutter in your home can mean your bot may get stuck and not be able to do as well.