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 includes getting rid of clutter, tangled rugs and loose cords.
Pick a model that comes with self-emptying containers. This makes it easier to clean up spills and dirt. It is also possible to get a 2-in-1 that vacuums and mops.
Features
You can select a robotic vacuum cleaner that has smart features based on the needs of your home. Some models are designed to draw a map of your home and make floor plans, whereas others have an integrated camera that can provide live footage of your space. These cameras can be used to detect obstructions and assist in problem solving. Some robots feature the ability to schedule cleaning sessions or adjust the frequency.
If robotic vacuum cleaners looking for a robot that can vacuum and mop, look for a model with an automatic emptying dustbin. The Ecovacs Deebot T30S Pro is one of the top options we've tested because it offers both features at an affordable cost. It has 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 among the top in its class due to a variety of reasons, including its effective mopping capabilities, its navigation capability, and its low cost.
The best-performing robovacs have large dust bins that can last for weeks without needing to be emptied. The Narwal Freo X Ultra is an excellent example of a high-end robot that has a self-emptying bin and clever features that allow for a hands-free experience. It comes with a tiny mopping mat that removes dirt that is stuck to the floor. It also glides over mats and carpets that are too heavy for other robots. Its sensors help locate the areas that are prone to dirt, and it is able to mop and vacuum at the same time making it the perfect choice to keep your home tidy.
Eufy Clean X10, with its user-friendly app, is another great choice. Its customization options are quick and easy to set up. Its lidar-powered mapping is quick and accurate and it is able to divide rooms for a thorough clean. It has great object avoidance technology that sucks up Cheerios and dodges fake dog poop. However, it had some issues with stairs. The square-front design of the robot helped it get into corners better than most other robots that we've tested. It also has the ability to edge-hug, which helps it to effortlessly sweep along baseboards.
Cleaning performance
While robots can't get deep into carpets or remove ground-in dirt as well as a vacuum cleaner, they are capable of removing fine particles such as baking soda and dust, as well as heavier debris such as pet hair and metal screws. They can also clean up crumbs and spills. Maintaining your robot with regular maintenance, such as emptying the dustbin cleaning or changing the filter, and cleaning the cameras and sensors will ensure it has the longest lifespan possible.
The top robots are capable of picking up small particles from carpets with low pile and hard floors, and they're especially good at sweeping up orzo as well as wood shavings, sand and sand. They can also take cat litter and metal screws but they're more likely to struggle with heavier items such as baked flour or coffee grounds. They're not as impressive when climbing stairs, and they don't always grab everything on the edges.
Some models are also great in mopping. The iRoborock Roomba 900 is one of them and does a great job taking off coffee spills and other liquids as well as dried-on or sticky food messes from hardwood. Its zones and spot cleaning modes allow you to define an area that the robot will focus on, so that it doesn't waste time vacuuming areas that are already clean. The Dreame X40 is another bot that is capable of mopping, and it has an extra advantage over the Roborock one: the option to vacuum first and then mop is a great way of cleaning up spills on high-pile carpets.
Another top-rated mopping robot is the Dyson V8 Absolute. It's a little more expensive than the Roomba, but it has superior suction and can handle a greater variety of flooring types and textures. It's also smart enough to return to the charging dock if it's running low on water and then resume cleaning where it began. Its app has many other features, such as the ability to schedule recurring cleaning sessions. And it's extremely quiet and a good choice for homes with children or pets.
Cost
The top robot cleaners are inexpensive and offer many smart features that can help you save money over time. Consider how much you'll need for an air cleaner and a mop to get the most value for your buck. Some models also have extra features that you might not need, but may be useful, like the self-emptying bin or effective navigation.
Investing in a model that can do both vacuums and mops is the most economical choice. It is essential to remember that a robot vacuum cleaner will only be as good as the dirt they pick up.
A robot that costs $500 capable of both vacuuming as well as mopping is not unreasonable. One example is the iRobot Combo j9+. This robot scored highly in CR's testing, and it can clean floors and carpets. It comes with a user-friendly application that allows you to view its cleaning route and set no-go areas. Jaclyn Turner noticed that the mopping functionality could be improved, since it uses a dragging mechanism with a light pressure, rather than the actual scrub.
If you're on a budget you can still get a good deal on a top-rated robotic vacuum that can do just one task, like the Eufy 11S. Its slim and quiet design excels in cleaning floors made of hardwood, tiles, and low pile carpets. It was also extremely effective in removing pet hair, litter, and other particles.
Some robotics that are budget-friendly have basic bump navigation, but it doesn't create an outline of coverage and is more likely to be caught on furniture or miss certain spots. Although these robots can clean your floors however, they're not as efficient and are less able to navigate around household obstacles.
Another alternative is the budget-friendly Shark IQ XL, which received high marks for its cleaning capabilities and price-to-value ratio. It's not as sophisticated as the Combo j9+, but it's easy to use and performs admirably on both floors that are unfinished and carpets. It is also relatively lightweight and can be moved underneath furniture without getting stuck.
Maintenance
A robot cleaner is an excellent way to keep your house in order, especially in the case of children or pets. It will require some attention to keep it in good condition. Regular cleaning, like emptying the dust bins and washing filters, changing them as well as wiping sensors and cameras, can extend the life span of your robot.
Vacuums require more frequent maintenance than robot mopping machines, however, you can extend the life of your vacuum by making sure you follow the manufacturer's guidelines for emptying and cleaning its dustbin, brush roller, and filter. It is also recommended to clean the robot's sensor and charging contacts with a damp cloth to keep them from becoming clogged with dirt.
This model is an excellent choice if you're looking for an efficient, durable robot that is also simple to use. It has a sleek slim design that allows it to slip under couches and ottomans in order to nab hidden dirt. The app allows you to plan a cleaning schedule and choose rooms. You can also set up no-go zones, and adjust the cleaning intensity.
Although robotic vacuum cleaners 's more expensive than the other models on this list, this model has many features that make up for the extra price tag. Its mapping speed is quick, and it can store four maps of your home in 2D or 3D. It's also one of the quieter robots we tested and its battery lasts about three hours on a single charge.
The Romba 11s is a versatile vacuum with an impressively high performance along walls. It cleaned up to 1.3 inches away from the wall in our tests, which is far more than any other robot we test. It has a number of helpful smart features, including spot-cleaning features and an auto-boost mode. It also uses random navigation, which means it doesn't re-clean the same spots over and over.
The only drawback to this robot is that it lacks the ability to recognize unfinished floors, and is easily confused by large carpets or rug. But it's a great choice for those who live in a small home or apartment with narrow hallways and lots of furniture.