How to Choose the Best Robot Cleaner for Your Home
You'll have to do some work to keep your robot's home in order. This means getting rid of debris, tangled rugs, and loose cords.
Pick a model that comes with self-emptying containers. This will make it easier to clean up spills. You might want to consider two-in-one vacuums and mops.
Features
Based on the needs of your home, you can choose the best robot cleaner with smart features. Some models use maps of your home to make floor plans, while others include an integrated camera that shows live video feeds. These cameras can be used to identify obstacles and assist in problem solving. Some robots even have a feature that lets you plan cleaning sessions and alter the frequency.
Find a robot that has a self emptying dustbin if you want it to be able to mop and vacuum. The Ecovacs Deebot T30S Pro is among the best robot vacuum options we've tested since it comes with both features at an affordable price. It features a suction opening similar to upright vacuums. This makes it able to get rid of debris faster than other robots. It also has side brushes with three bristles that move dirt and hair into the robot's path. This model is the top of its kind due to a variety of reasons including its mopping capabilities as well as its efficient navigation and the low cost.
The most efficient robovacs have huge dust bins that can last for months without needing to be emptied. The Narwal Freo X Ultra is an excellent example of a top-quality robot that has a self-emptying dust bin and clever features that allow for hands-free operation. It comes with a tiny mopping mat that is able to remove dirt that has been stuck to the floor. It also glides over mats and carpets that are too heavy for other robots. The sensors it uses can assist in locating dirtier areas, and it can also vacuum and mop simultaneously.
The Eufy Clean X10 is another top choice, and its app comes with a simple interface that makes setting up customization options simple and quick. The lidar-powered mapping it uses is fast and accurate and allows you to easily divide rooms to ensure a thorough cleaning. It's got great technology to avoid objects, which sucks up Cheerios and evades fake dog poop, but it had some issues with stairs. Its square front design however, helped it navigate around corners more effectively than most of the other robots we've tested. It's also capable of bending its edges and sweeping along baseboards with ease.
Cleaning performance
Robots aren't as effective as vacuums at cleaning carpets deep and cleaning up dirt that has been buried. However, they are able to remove small particles such as dust and baking soda and heavier debris such as metal screws and pet fur. They also remove spills and crumbs. Maintaining your robot vacuum price with regular maintenance, such as emptying the dustbin cleaning or changing the filter and wiping down the sensors and cameras will ensure that it has the longest lifespan possible.
The most effective robots are capable of removing fine particles from hard floors and low-pile carpets and are particularly adept at sweeping up orzo pasta as well as wood shavings, sand and sand. They can even clean up cat litter and metal screws however they often struggle with slower items such as baked flour or coffee grounds. They're less impressive when climbing stairs, and do not always grab everything that is around the edges.
Some models excel at mopping as well. The iRoborock Roomba 900 is one of them, and it does a great job taking off coffee spills and other liquids as well as sticky or dried-on food-related messes off of hardwood. Its smart spot and zone cleaning modes allow you to create a specific area for the robot to concentrate on, so that it doesn't spend time cleaning areas that are already clean. The Dreame X40 is another bot that is capable of mopping, and it has a distinct advantage over the Roborock: the option to first vacuum before you mop, which is better at cleaning up spills on high pile rugs.
The Dyson V8 Absolute is a top mopping robot. It's a bit more expensive than the Roomba however it comes with superior suction and can handle a greater variety of flooring types and textures. It is also able to return to the charging station after running out of water to continue cleaning the area where it started. Its app offers lots of other perks as well with a feature that automatically schedules regular cleaning sessions. It's also very quiet which makes it a great choice for homes with children or pets.
Cost
The best robot cleaners perform well at a low 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 an air cleaner and a mop in order to get the most value for your buck. Some models include additional features that you may not require but could be useful, like the self cleaning vacuum-emptying bin or effective navigation.
The most cost-effective choice is to buy one that is able to do both mops as well as vacuums. It is essential to remember that a robot cleaner will only be as effective as the dirt they remove.
The cost of $500 for a robot capable of both vacuuming and mopping is reasonable. A good example is the iRobot Combo j9+. This robot scored excellent marks in the tests conducted by CR and is able to clean both bare floors and carpets. It also comes with an intuitive app that allows you to see its cleaning route and set zones that are not allowed to be used. Jaclyn discovered that the mopping process could be improved, as it uses gentle pressure and a dragging movement rather than scratching.
If you're on a tight budget you can still get a good deal on a top-rated robot vacuum that does just one job, such as the Eufy 11S. Its streamlined design is slim and quiet and it excelled on hardwood floors, tile carpets, and carpets with low pile. It also did a great job when it came to removing pet hair and litter.
A few robots with a budget-friendly price tag have basic bump navigation systems that don't provide a coverage map, and are more likely to be stuck on furniture or miss spots. These robots are still able to clean your floors but they're not as efficient or are able to navigate around obstacles that are common to household use.
Shark IQ XL is another option. It's a budget-friendly model that has been praised for its cleaning capabilities and price-to-value ratio. It's not quite as smart as the Combo J9+, but it is easy to use and performs well on floors with carpets and even bare floors. It's also relatively lightweight and can be moved under furniture without getting caught.
Maintenance
A robot vacuum cleaner can be an excellent way to keep your house clean, especially in the case of pets or children. But, it will require some maintenance to stay in good shape. Keeping up with regular cleaning tasks like emptying the trash bin and washing or replacing the filter, and wiping down sensors and cameras can extend the longevity of your robot.
Vacuums need more frequent maintenance than mopping robots, however you can prolong the life of your automatic vacuum by following the instructions from the manufacturer for emptying and cleaning the brush roll, dust bin and filter. Clean the robot's charging contacts and sensor using a damp rag to avoid them becoming clogged.
This model from Eufy is a great option to get a smart robust, sturdy robot that is easy to use. Its slim, sleek design allows it to be placed under couches that are low and ottomans to collect dirt that's hidden. The app makes it simple to select rooms and schedule the cleaning schedule, as well as set no-go zones and adjust cleaning intensity.
The robot is more costly than the other models in this list, but it comes with numerous features that make up for that. Its mapping is fast and it's able to save four maps of your house in 3-D or 2D. It's also one of the quieter robots we tested, and its battery lasts about three hours on charge.
The Romba 11s is a multi-functional vacuum with an impressively high performance when it comes to walls. It was able to clean up to 1.3 inches from the wall in our tests, which is higher than any other bot we tried. It has a number of useful smart features, such as a spot-cleaning feature and an auto-boost mode. It also makes use of random navigation, so it doesn't have to clean the same spots over and over.
The robot's drawback is: it can't detect bare flooring and is easily confused by thick carpets and rug. It's great for small apartments or single-family homes with narrow hallways, lots of furniture and narrow hallways.