How to Choose the Best Robot Cleaner for Your Home

You'll need to put some effort into your robot's home maintenance. This includes clearing out the clutter, removing loose cords and knotted rugs.

Pick a model that comes with a self-emptying container. This makes it easier for you to clean up spills. It is possible to get a 2-in-1 vacuum and mop.

Features

Based on the needs of your home depending on your home's needs, you can select an automated cleaner that has advanced features. Some models are built to map your home and create automatic floor Cleaning machine plans, whereas others have an integrated camera that can provide live video feeds of your space. These cameras can be used to detect obstacles and assist in problem solving. Some robots have a feature where you can program cleaning sessions or change the frequency.

If you want a robot that can mop and vacuum, look for one with a self-emptying dustbin. Ecovacs Deebot Pro is one of our top choices because it has both features at reasonable prices. It has a small suction opening similar to those found on upright vacuums, which helps it scoop up debris more effectively than other robots. It uses side brushes with 3 bristles, which push dirt and hair into the robot's path. This model is the best value robot vacuum in its class for a variety of reasons, including its high-quality mopping, navigation and its low cost.

The best robovacs are equipped with large dust bins, that can last for weeks without having to be empty. The Narwal Freo X Ultra, an ultra-high-end robotic vacuum cleaner with a self emptying dustbin and smart features that provide hands-free cleaning, is a perfect example. It comes with a tiny mopping pad that scrubs away stuck-on dirt and can glide over lightweight mats and rugs that can make other robots stumble. Its sensors help locate the areas that are prone to dirt, and it is able to mop and vacuum simultaneously making it the perfect choice for keeping your home clean.

The Eufy Clean X10 is another excellent choice, and its app has an easy-to-use interface that makes setting up customization options simple and quick. Its lidar-powered mapping is fast and accurate, and it easily divides rooms for a thorough clean. It has a fantastic object avoidance system that can take in Cheerios, and even dodge fake dog poop. However, it had some trouble with stairs. The square front design, however, helped it navigate around corners more effectively than most of the other robots we've examined. It also has the ability to edge-hug which makes it easier to sweep along baseboards easily.

Cleaning performance

While robots aren't able to clean deep into carpets or remove ground-in dirt as well as a vacuum cleaner, they do an impressive job of removing small particles like baking soda and dust, as well as heavier debris like metal screws and pet hair. They can also clean up spills and crumbs. Keeping up with routine maintenance, like emptying the dust bin and cleaning or replacing the filter and cleaning sensors and cameras can help you enjoy the longest life possible from your robot.

The top robots do an excellent job of removing fine particles from hard floors and low-pile carpets, and they're especially good at sweeping up orzo, sand and wood shavings. They can pick up screws made of metal and cat litter, however they aren't as adept at slower items like coffee grounds or baked flour. They're less impressive on stairs and aren't always able to catch all the debris that floats around the furniture's edges.

Certain models are also excellent in mopping. The iRoborock Roomba 900 is one of them, and it does an excellent job of getting rid of coffee and other liquid spills as well as dry or sticky food debris from hardwood. The robot's smart spot and area cleaning options allow you to set up an area for it to concentrate on. This means that the robot won't spend its time cleaning areas which are already clean. The Dreame X40 also does a excellent job at mopping however it has an advantage over the Roborock. It can first vacuum and then mop to clean up staining and spills on high pile rugs.

Another top-rated mopping robot is the Dyson V8 Absolute. It's more expensive than Roomba but it has superior suction. It can also handle a wider variety of flooring types and textures. It also returns to the charging station after running out of water and continues cleaning where it left off. Its app comes with a myriad of features, including the ability to schedule periodic cleaning sessions. It's also very quiet and a good choice for homes with kids or pets.

Cost

The best robovac robot cleaners perform well for a reasonable cost and a lot of them have clever features that can help you save money over the long term. Take into consideration the amount you'll need for the automatic vacuum cleaner cleaner and mop to get the most value for your buck. Some models also have extra features you might not need, but may be useful, like a self-emptying bin or efficient navigation.

The most cost-effective option is to purchase an item that can perform both mops and vacuums. It is important to remember that robot vacuum cleaner cheap vacuums are only as good as the dirt it sifts up therefore it's not recommended to abandon regular manual vacuuming in favour of using a robot vacuum.

You should expect to pay about $500 for a robot that does both vacuuming and mopping, like the iRobot Combo j9+. The robot scored high in the tests conducted by CR and is able to clean both bare floors and carpets. It also comes with an intuitive application that lets you view its cleaning route and set zones that are not allowed to be used. Jaclyn found that the mopping feature could be improved as it uses light pressure and a dragging movement rather than scrubbering.

However, if you're in a pinch you can still find a bargain on a top-rated robotic vacuum that can do just one task, like the Eufy 11S. Its slim and quiet design excels at cleaning floors made of hardwood, tiles, and low pile carpets. It was also extremely effective in removing pet hair, and litter.

Some robots that are budget-friendly have basic bump navigation systems that don't provide 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 are not as efficient or capable of navigate around household obstacles.

Another option is the budget-friendly Shark IQ XL, which has received high marks for its cleaning efficiency and price-to-value ratio. It's not as efficient as the Combo j9+, but it's easy to use and does an excellent job on both floors that are unfinished and carpets. It's also fairly light and can be pushed under furniture without getting stuck.

Maintenance

A robot cleaner can be an excellent method to keep your home in order, especially if it has children or pets. However, it requires some maintenance to stay in good shape. Regular cleaning, like emptying bins of dust washing or changing filters, and wiping sensors and cameras, can extend the life span of your robot.

Vacuums need more frequent maintenance than mopping robots, however you can prolong the life of your vacuum by observing guidelines from the manufacturer on cleaning and emptying the dustbin, brush roll and filter. Also, you should clean the robot's sensors and charging contacts with a damp cloth to keep them from getting clogged by dirt.

This model from Eufy is a great option to get a smart, durable robot that's easy to use. It's sleek, ultra-slim design that allows it to slip under low ottomans and couches to find hidden dirt. The app allows you to select rooms and schedule cleaning and also set no-go zones and alter cleaning intensity.

The robot is more expensive than the other models on this list, but it comes with numerous features that can make up for the cost. Its mapping is fast and it can save four maps of your home in 2D or 3D. It's also among the quieter robots we tested, and its battery lasts about three hours on a single charge.

The Romba 11s is a versatile vacuum cleaner that can work well along walls. It cleaned up to 1.3 inches away from the wall in our tests, which is higher than any other robot we test. It comes with a variety of useful smart features, such as a spot-cleaning feature and an auto-boost mode. It makes use of random navigation to ensure that it doesn't have to clean the same spots repeatedly.

The only drawback to this robot is that it lacks the ability to recognize unfinished floors, and is easily confused by large carpets or rugs. It's great for small apartments or homes that have narrow hallways with lots of furniture and narrow hallways.