How to Choose the
Best Robot Cleaner for Your Home
You'll need to perform some work in order to keep your robot's house in good order. This includes getting rid of the mess, tangled rug and loose cords.
Find a model that has an
automatic floor vacuum emptying bin. This makes it easier to clean up spills and dirt. It is also possible to get an all-in-one that vacuums and mop.
Features
Depending on your home needs You can pick the best robot cleaner with intelligent features. Certain models can map your home to create floor plans, while some have an integrated camera that shows live video feeds. These cameras can be used to detect obstacles and assist in solving problems. Certain robots come with the ability to schedule cleaning sessions or alter the frequency.
If you're looking for a machine that can also vacuum and mop, look for one with an automatic emptying dustbin. Ecovacs' Deebot Pro is one our top picks since it offers both features for a reasonable price. It features a suction opening similar to upright vacuums. This helps it pick up debris more efficiently than other robots. It also uses side brushes with three bristles that push hair and dirt into the path of the robot. This model is the top of its kind due to a variety of reasons such as its mopping capability as well as its efficient navigation and affordable price.
The best-performing robovacs have large dust bins that last for several weeks without having to be emptied. The Narwal Freo X Ultra is an excellent example of a high-end robot that has a self-emptying dust bin and intelligent features to provide hands-free operation. It has a small mopping pad that scrubs off dirt stuck on it and is able to glide over light mats and rugs that can cause problems for other robots. The sensors it uses can assist in locating dirtier areas, and it can also vacuum and mop simultaneously.
Eufy Clean X10, with its easy-to-use app, is another great choice. Its options for customization are quick and easy to install. Its lidar-powered mapping is fast and accurate and it is able to divide rooms for a thorough clean. It is equipped with excellent technology for avoiding objects that suckers up Cheerios and dodges fake dog poop, however it struggled with stairs. The square front design, however, helped it navigate around corners more effectively than most of the other robots we've examined. It's also capable of bending its edges and sweeping along baseboards easily.
Cleaning performance
Robots aren't as efficient as vacuums in cleaning carpets from deep within and sweeping up dirt that has been put in. However, they are able to remove small particles like baking soda and dust and heavier debris like metal screws and pet fur. They can also clean up spills and crumbs. Making sure you are keeping up with routine maintenance, such as emptying the dust bin and cleaning or replacing the filter and cleaning cameras and sensors can help you enjoy the longest possible lifespan from your robot.
The most effective robots do an excellent job of picking up small particles from carpets with low piles and hard floors 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 struggle with slower items like coffee grounds or baked flour. They're less impressive when climbing stairs and don't always catch everything that's thrown around the furniture's edges.
Some models are also great at sweeping. The iRoborock Roomba 900 is one of them and is a fantastic tool for getting rid of spills of liquids and coffee as well as dry or sticky food debris from hardwood. The robot's
smart robot spot and area cleaning modes let you set up the area it is to focus on. This way, the robot won't spend its time cleaning areas that are already clean. The Dreame X40 also does a excellent job at mopping, but it has one advantage over the Roborock. It can vacuum first and then mop to clean up spills and stains on high-pile carpets.
The Dyson V8 Absolute is a top mopping robot. It's more expensive than the Roomba however it comes with superior suction and can work with a wider range of flooring types and textures. It's also smart enough to return to the charging dock when running out of water and then resume cleaning the point it began. Its app has many other features, including the ability to schedule periodic cleaning sessions. And it's extremely quiet which makes it a great option for homes with children or pets.
Cost
The best robot cleaners perform well at a reasonable price, and many offer clever features that can help you save money in the end. Take into consideration the amount you'll need for an air cleaner and a mop in order to get the best bang for your money. Certain models have features you don't need but you will find useful. For instance the self-emptying trash bin or navigation that is efficient.
A model that can do both mops and vacuums is the most cost-effective option. It is important to remember that a robot vacuum cleaner will only be as good as the dirt they remove.
Spending $500 on a robot capable of vacuuming and mopping is reasonable. One example is the iRobot Combo j9+. This robot received excellent scores in the tests of CR and can clean both bare floors and carpets. It has an intuitive application that lets you see its cleaning route, and to set no-go areas. Jaclyn discovered that the mopping process could be improved as it relies on light pressure and a dragging motion, rather than scrubbering.
If you're budget-conscious you can get a good deal on an electric vacuum that is highly rated and can only do one thing, like the Eufy 11S. Its streamlined design is slim and quiet and it excelled on tile floors, hardwood floors, and low-pile carpets. It also did not miss a beat when it came to cleaning up pet hair and litter.
Some robots that are budget-friendly have basic bump navigation systems that don't create a coverage map and are more likely to become stuck on furniture or miss spots. While these robots are able to clean your floors however, they're not as efficient and are less able to navigate around household obstacles.
Another option is the budget-friendly Shark IQ XL, which earned high marks for both its cleaning efficiency and price-to-value ratio. It's not quite as smart as the Combo J9+, but is easy to use and is effective on carpets and bare floors. It's also fairly light and can be pushed underneath furniture without getting stuck.
Maintenance
A robot cleaner is a great option to keep your home tidy, particularly when it is used by pets or children. It does require some maintenance in order to keep it in good condition. Maintaining a regular schedule of cleaning tasks like emptying the dust bin and washing or replacing the filter, and wiping off cameras and sensors can extend the life of your robot.
Vacuums require more frequent maintenance than robot mopping machines, but you can extend the life of your
vacuum robot by making sure you follow the manufacturer's instructions for emptying and cleaning its dustbin, brush roller and filter. You should also wipe down the robot's sensors and charging contacts with a damp cloth to prevent them from getting clogged by dirt.
This model is an excellent choice to find an efficient, durable robot that is also simple to use. Its ultra-slim and sleek design lets it be placed under couches that are low and ottomans to collect dirt that's not visible. The app makes it simple to choose rooms and plan the cleaning schedule, as well as to set no-go zones and alter cleaning intensity.
While it's a bit more expensive than some models on this list, this one has many features that can make up for the cost. Its mapping is fast and it's able to save four maps of your house in 2D or 3-D. It's also among the quieter robots we tested, and its battery lasts about three hours on charge.
The Romba 11s is a versatile
vacuum deals with an impressively high performance when it comes to walls. In our tests, it cleared up to 1.3 inches away from the wall. This is more than any other robots we tested. It has many helpful smart features, including a spot-cleaning feature and an
auto vacuum cleaner-boost mode. It makes use of random navigation to ensure that it doesn't scrub the same spots on a regular basis.
The robot's drawback is It is unable to recognize bare flooring and is easily confused by carpets and rug. It's great for small apartments or single-family homes with narrow hallways with lots of furniture and narrow hallways.