How to Choose the Best Robot Cleaner for Your Home
You'll need to put a bit of effort in the home maintenance of your robot. This includes clearing out clutter, tangled rugs and loose cords.
Choose a model that comes with a self-emptying bin. This will make it easier for you to clean up spills. You might also consider two-in-ones that vacuum and mops.
Features
Based on your needs for your home, you can choose the best robot cleaner with intelligent features. Some models are built to map your home and create floor plans, while others have an integrated camera that can provide live footage of your space. These cameras can be used to detect obstacles and help with problem-solving. Some robots even have an option to schedule cleaning sessions and change the frequency.
Choose a model with an auto-emptying dustbin in case you'd like it to to vacuum and mop. Ecovacs Deebot Pro is one our top choices because it offers both features for a reasonable price. It features a suction opening similar to upright vacuums. This allows it to remove debris more effectively than other robots. It has side brushes with 3 bristles that force hair and dirt into the robot's path. This model is the best in its class due to numerous reasons, including its efficient navigation, mopping capability and the low price.
The best-performing robovacs have large dust bins that can go several 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 a hands-free cleaning experience, is a perfect example. It comes with a tiny mopping mat that is able to remove dirt that has gotten stuck to the floor. It also glides over mats and rugs that are too light for other robots. Its sensors help locate dirtier areas and it can mop and vacuum simultaneously, making it perfect to keep your home tidy.
The Eufy Clean X10 is another excellent choice, and its app comes with a simple interface that makes setting up custom options quick and simple. Its lidar mapping is quick and accurate. It also divides rooms easily for a thorough cleaning. It has a great anti-object system that can eat Cheerios and even avoid fake dog poop. However, it did have some issues with stairs. Its square-front design allowed it get into corners more easily than other robots that we've tested. It also has the ability to edge-hug, which allows it to sweep along baseboards easily.
Cleaning performance
Robots aren't as efficient as vacuums in cleaning deep into carpets 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 like metal screws and pet fur. They can also clean up spills and crumbs. Making sure that your robot is maintained with regular maintenance, such as emptying the dustbin and cleaning or changing the filter and wiping down the sensors and cameras will ensure that it lasts for the longest time possible.
The top robots do an excellent job of picking up fine particles on carpets with low pile and hard floors, and they're especially good at sweeping up orzo, sand, and wood shavings. They can also pick up cat litter and metal screws, though they tend to struggle with slower items such as baked flour or coffee grounds. They're less impressive on stairs, and do not always grab everything that is around the edges.
Certain models are also excellent at mopping. The iRoborock Roomba 900, for instance, is a model that does an excellent job of cleaning hardwood flooring. It is able to remove coffee spills, liquids, as well sticky or dried food mess. Its smart zones and spot cleaning modes let you set up a specific area for the robot to focus on, so that it doesn't spend time cleaning areas that are already clean. The Dreame X40 is another bot which does a great job of mopping, and it offers an additional advantage over the Roborock: the option to vacuum first and then mop makes it better at cleaning up spills on high-pile rug.
Another top-rated mopping robot is the Dyson V8 Absolute. It's more expensive than Roomba but it has superior suction. It's also able to 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 pick up the point it was when it left. The app comes with a lot of other perks, too with an option to automatically schedule periodic cleaning sessions. It's also very quiet, which makes it an ideal choice for homes that have pets or children.
Cost
The top robot cleaners work well for a reasonable cost and many come with clever features that can help you save money in the end. You should consider the price of mop and vacuum to get the most value for your buck. Some models include additional features that you might not need, but may be useful, such as an automatic emptying bin or efficient navigation.
Investing in a model that does both mops and vacuums is the most economical choice. It is important to remember that a robot vacuum is only as effective as the dirt it collects therefore it's not recommended to skip regular manual vacuuming in favour of using your robot cleaner.
The cost of $500 for a robot capable of both vacuuming as well as mopping is not unreasonable. A good example is the iRobot Combo j9+. The robot scored high in the tests of CR and can clean bare floors as well as carpets. It has an intuitive app which allows you to view its cleaning route and also set no-go zones. Jaclyn Turner noticed that the mopping feature could be improved since it uses a dragging mechanism with a light pressure, rather than the actual scrub.
However, if you're on a budget you can still find a great deal on a top-rated robot vacuum that can do just one task, like the Eufy 11S. Its sleek design is slim and quiet and it excelled on hardwood floors, tile and carpets with low pile. It also proved very efficient at picking up pet hair, and litter.
A few robots with a budget-friendly price tag have basic bump navigation systems that do not generate a coverage map and are more likely to become stuck on furniture or miss spots. These robots can still clean your floors, but they are not as efficient or are able to navigate around obstacles that are common to household use.
Another option is the less expensive Shark IQ XL, which received high marks for its cleaning performance and price-to-value ratio. It's not as sophisticated as the Combo j9+, but it's a breeze to use and performs admirably on both floors that are unfinished and carpets. It's also light and can be carried underneath furniture without getting stuck.
Maintenance
A robot cleaner is an excellent method of keeping your home tidy, especially when you have children or pets. It will require some maintenance in order to keep it in good condition. Maintaining a regular schedule of cleaning tasks, like emptying the dust bin, washing or replacing the filter, and wiping off cameras and sensors can prolong the longevity of your robot.
Vacuums require more frequent maintenance than robot mopping machines, however, you can extend the life of your vacuum if you follow the instructions of the manufacturer to empty and clean its dustbin, brush roller and filter. Also, you should clean the robot's sensors and charging contacts with a damp cloth in order to prevent them from being clogged by dirt.
This model from Eufy is a great choice for those who want a sophisticated, durable robot that's easy to use. It has a sleek, ultra-slim design that allows it to slip under couches and ottomans in order to get rid of dirt. The app allows you to schedule a cleaning and select rooms. You can also create no-go zones, and adjust the intensity of cleaning.
This model is a little more expensive than the other models in this list, however it has numerous features that make up for that. Its mapping is quick, and it can save four maps of your house in 2D or 3-D. It's also one of the quieter Robotic floor vacuums devices that we tested. The battery lasts for about three hours.
The Romba 11s is a multi-functional vacuum that has a remarkable performance when it comes to walls. It cleared up to 1.3 inches away from the wall in our tests, which is far more than any other bot we tested. It comes with a variety of smart features, including a spot-cleaning feature as well as an automatic boost mode. It employs random navigation to ensure that it doesn't have to clean the same spots over and over.
The only issue with this robot is that it lacks the ability to recognize the floor's nakedness and is confused by large carpets or rug. It's perfect for small apartments or single-family homes with narrow hallways as well as furniture that is a lot of narrow hallways.