How to Choose the Best Robot Cleaner for Your Home
You'll need to do some work to maintain your robot's house. This includes cleaning up clutter, tangled rugs and loose cords.
Choose a model that comes with an automatic emptying bin. This will make it easier to clean up spills. You might want to consider two-in-one vacuums and mops.
Features
Based on your needs for your home depending on your home's needs, you can select the best robot cleaner with smart features. Certain models are designed to map your home and create floor plans, while others have a built-in camera that provides live videos of your home. These cameras can be used to identify obstructions and assist with problem solving. Some robots have a feature where you can program cleaning sessions or change the frequency.
Look for a robot with an auto-emptying dustbin in case you'd like it to be able to vacuum and mop. The Ecovacs Deebot T30S Pro is one the best options we've tested because it offers both features at an affordable price. It has a tiny suction opening that is similar to those on upright vacuums, which lets it to remove debris better than other robots. It is equipped with side brushes that have 3 bristles, which force hair and dirt into the path of the robot. This model is the top in its class for many reasons, including its efficient mopping capabilities, its navigation capability, and low price.
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 high-end robot that has a self-emptying dust bin and clever features that allow for an unrestricted hands-free experience. It comes with a small mopping mat that removes dirt that has been stuck to the floor. It can also glide across mats and carpets that are too heavy for other robots. Sensors can assist in locating areas that are more prone to dirt, and it can also mop and vacuum simultaneously.
Eufy Clean X10, with its user-friendly app is another excellent choice. Its customization options are simple and quick to set up. Its lidar mapping is fast and precise. It also lets you divide rooms easily to ensure a thorough cleaning. It has a fantastic object avoidance system that can eat Cheerios, and even dodge fake dog poop. However, it experienced some issues with stairs. Its square-front design allowed it to get into corners more efficiently than the majority of robots we've tried. It's also capable of edge-hugging and sweeping along baseboards with ease.
Cleaning performance
Robots are not as effective as vacuums at cleaning carpets from deep within and cleaning up dirt that's been hidden. However, they are able to pick up fine particles such as dust and baking soda as well as heavier debris such as screws made of metal and pet fur. They also clean up spills and crumbs. Maintaining your robot through regular maintenance like emptying the dustbin cleaning or changing the filter, and cleaning the cameras and sensors will ensure it will last for the longest time possible.
The best robots are great at picking up fine particles from hard carpets and floors that have low pile. They also excel at removing orzo sand and wood shavings. They can pick up screws made of metal and cat litter, but they struggle with slower objects like coffee grounds or baked flour. They're not as impressive on stairs and aren't always able to catch everything around the edges of furniture.
A few models excel at cleaning as well. The iRoborock Roomba 900, for example, is a model that can do an excellent job of cleaning hardwood floors. It can remove coffee spills and other liquids and dry or sticky food messes. Its zone and spot cleaning modes allow you to set up a specific area for the robot to concentrate on, so it won't take too long to vacuum areas that are already clean. The Dreame X40 is another bot which does a great job of mopping, and it has an extra advantage over the Roborock: the option to first vacuum before you mop makes it better at cleaning up spills from high-pile rugs.
The Dyson V8 Absolute is a top mopping robot. It's more expensive than Roomba but it has superior suction. It also has the ability to handle a greater variety of flooring types and textures. It also returns to the charging station once it's out of water and continues cleaning the area where it left off. Its app has many other options, including the ability to schedule periodic cleaning sessions. It's also extremely quiet, making it a great option for homes with pets or children.
Cost
The top robot cleaners are inexpensive and offer many smart features that will allow you to save money over time. You'll need to think about the cost of a vacuum and a mop to get the most bang for your money. Some models include additional features that you may not require but could be useful, such as the self-emptying bin or effective navigation.
A model that can do both mops and vacuums is the most cost-effective option. It is important to remember that a robot vacuum is only as effective as the dirt it sifts up It's not advised to abandon regular manual vacuuming to make room for using a robot vacuum.
You can expect to spend around $500 on a robot that can do both vacuuming and mopping, like the iRobot Combo j9+. The robot scored high in CR's tests and can clean bare floors as well as carpets. It has an intuitive application that allows you to view its cleaning route and set no-go areas. Jaclyn discovered that the mopping feature could be improved since it relies on light pressure and a dragging movement rather than scrubbing.
If you're on the budget it's possible to find a bargain for robot vacuums that are highly rated and only does one thing, like the Eufy 11S. Its sleek and quiet design excels at cleaning floors made of hardwood, tiles and carpets with low pile. It also proved very efficient in removing pet hair, and litter.
Some budget-friendly robotics have rudimentary bump navigation that doesn't generate a map of coverage, and is more likely to fall on furniture or miss certain areas. These robots can still clean your floors but they are not as efficient or capable of navigate around household obstacles.
Another option is the less expensive Shark IQ XL, which has received high marks for its cleaning efficiency and price-to-value ratio. It's not as smart as the Combo j9+, but it's user-friendly and does a great job on floors that are not bare and carpets. It's also fairly light and can be carried under furniture without getting stuck.
Maintenance
A robot cleaner is a fantastic method of keeping your home spotless, particularly if you have children or pets. However, it requires some attention to ensure it is in top condition. Regular cleaning, such as emptying dust bins washing or changing filters as well as wiping sensors and cameras, can prolong the life of your robot.
Vacuums require more frequent maintenance than mopping robots, however you can prolong the life of your vacuum by observing manufacturer's guidelines for cleaning and emptying the brush roll, dust bin and filter. Wipe down the charging contacts of the robot and sensor using a damp rag to avoid them becoming blocked.
This model from Eufy is a great choice to get a smart, durable robot that's easy to use. It has a sleek ultra-slim design that enables it to slip underneath sofas and ottomans to get rid of dirt. The app makes it easy to pick rooms and schedule cleaning as well as to set no-go zones and alter cleaning intensity.
This model is a little more expensive than the other models on this list, but it comes with many features that will make up for it. robot vac robotvacuummops is fast and it can save four maps of your home 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 versatile vacuum cleaner that can work well along walls. It cleared up to 1.3 inches away from the wall in our tests, which is higher than any other robot we test. It has many useful smart features, like the ability to clean up spots and an auto-boost mode. It also uses random navigation, which means that it doesn't clean the same spots repeatedly.
The only downside to this robot is that it doesn't have the ability to discern bare floors and can be confused by thick carpets or rug. But it's a great choice when you live in a tiny house or apartment with narrow hallways and plenty of furniture.