How to Choose the Best Robot Cleaner for Your Home

You'll have to do some work in order to keep your robot's home in order. That means clearing out debris, tidying up loose cords and knotted rugs.

Pick a model that comes with self-emptying containers. This will make it easier to clean up spills and mess. You may want a 2-in-1 vacuum and mop.

Features

You can pick a robot vacuum cleaner with intelligent vacuum cleaner features that are suited to your home's needs. Some models are able to map your home's layout to create floor plans, while others include an integrated camera that can show live video feeds. These cameras can be used to detect obstacles and assist in solving problems. Some robots have a feature that lets you schedule cleaning sessions and change the frequency.

Choose a model with a self emptying dustbin in case you'd like it to to mop and vacuum. Ecovacs Deebot Pro is among our top choices because it has both features at a reasonable price. It has a small suction opening, similar to those on upright vacuums, allowing it to remove debris more effectively than other robots. It also uses side brushes that have three bristles to push hair and dirt into the path of the robot. This model is the Best robovac of its kind for a variety reasons, including its mopping ability as well as its efficient navigation and the low cost.

The best robovacs are equipped with large dust bins that can last for weeks without needing to be emptied. The Narwal Freo X Ultra is an outstanding example of a premium robot that has a self-emptying bin and smart features for a hands-free experience. It comes with a tiny mopping pad that scrubs away stuck-on dirt and can glide across light mats and rugs that make other robots stumble. Its sensors can help you find the areas that are prone to dirt, and it is able to mop and vacuum at the same time making it the perfect choice for keeping your home clean.

The Eufy Clean X10 is another top choice, and its application has a user-friendly interface that makes setting up customization options easy and straightforward. The lidar-powered mapping it uses is fast and precise, and it easily divides rooms to ensure a thorough cleaning. It is equipped with excellent object avoidance technology that sucks up Cheerios and evades fake dog poop, however it struggled a bit with stairs. The square-front design of the robot helped it to get into corners more easily than other robots we've tested. It's also capable of edge-hugging which allows it to sweep across baseboards effortlessly.

Cleaning performance

While robots can't clean deep into carpets or sweep up dirt from the ground like a real vacuum, they do an impressive job of picking up fine particles like baking soda and dust, as well as heavier debris such as metal screws and pet hair. They also can sweep up crumbs and spills. Keeping up with routine maintenance, such as emptying the dust bin, cleaning or replacing the filter, and cleaning sensors and cameras will ensure that you get the longest possible life span from your robot.

The top robots do an excellent job of picking up small particles from carpets with low pile and hard floors They're particularly adept at sweeping up orzo pasta as well as wood shavings, sand and sand. They are able to pick up metal screws and cat litter, however they aren't as adept at slower items like coffee grounds or baked flour. They're less impressive when climbing stairs, and they don't always grab everything around the edges.

Some models are also fantastic in mopping. The iRoborock Roomba 900 is one of them and does a great job getting rid of spills of liquids and coffee as well as dry or sticky food messes from hardwood. The robot's smart spot and area cleaning modes allow you to set up an area for it to focus on. This way, the robot won't be wasting time vacuuming areas that are already clean. The Dreame X40 also does a good job of mopping, but it has one advantage over the Roborock. It can vacuum first and then mop to remove staining and spills on high pile rug.

Another top-rated mopping robot is the Dyson V8 Absolute. It's more expensive than Roomba but has a superior suction. It also has the ability to handle a wider variety of flooring types and textures. It can also return to the charging station after running out of water and continues cleaning where it started. Its app offers lots of other conveniences 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 kids or pets.

Cost

The best robot floor cleaner robot cleaners perform well for a reasonable cost and many come with smart features that can help you save money in the end. You'll want to consider the cost of mop and vacuum to get the most value for your buck. Some models have features you don't need but will be useful. For instance the self-emptying trash container or a navigation system that's efficient.

It is recommended to invest in a model that does both vacuums and mops is the most economical choice. It's important to keep in mind that a robot vacuum is only as effective as the dirt it sifts up therefore it's not recommended to skip regular manual vacuuming in favour of using a robot cleaner.

You can expect to spend around $500 on a robot that can do both vacuuming as well as mopping, such as the iRobot Combo j9+. This robot received excellent scores in CR's tests and can clean bare floors as well as carpets. It comes with a user-friendly app which allows you to track its cleaning routes, and to set no-go areas. Jaclyn Turner found that the mopping function could be improved, since it is based on a dragging system using light pressure instead of real scrub.

However, if you're on a tight budget you can still find a great deal on a top-rated robotic vacuum that is able to do one job, such as 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 at picking up pet hair, and litter.

A few robotics with a budget-friendly price tag have basic bump navigation, but it doesn't create a map of coverage and is more likely to be caught on furniture or miss specific spots. While these robots can still clean your floors but they're not as efficient and are less capable of navigating around household obstacles.

Shark IQ XL is another alternative. It's a budget-friendly device that has been praised for its cleaning performance as well as 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 is also relatively light and can be pushed underneath furniture without getting stuck.

Maintenance

A robot cleaner is a great method to keep your home clean, especially when you have pets or children. However, it requires some attention to ensure it is in good shape. Keeping up with regular cleaning tasks like emptying the dust bin, washing or replacing the filter and wiping down sensors and cameras can extend the lifespan of your robot.

Vacuums need more frequent maintenance than mopping robots. However, you can extend the life of your vacuum by following the manufacturer's guidelines for emptying and cleaning the brush roll, dust bin and filter. Clean the charging contacts on the robot's sensor with a damp rag to avoid them becoming blocked.

This model from Eufy is an excellent pick for those who want a sophisticated robust and durable robot that's simple to use. It's sleek ultra-slim design that enables it to slip underneath low ottomans and couches to nab hidden dirt. The app makes it simple to pick rooms and schedule cleaning as well as to set no-go zones and adjust cleaning intensity.

Although it's a little more expensive than other models on this list, this robot comes with a variety of features that will make up for the cost. Its mapping speed is quick and it has the capacity to store four maps of your home in 3D or 2D. It's also one of the quieter robotic devices that we tested. The battery lasts for about three hours.

The Romba 11s is a multi-functional vacuum with an impressively high performance along walls. It was able to clean up to 1.3 inches away from the wall in our tests, which is higher than any other bot we tried. It comes with a variety of smart features, including a spot cleaning feature and an automatic floor cleaner boost mode. It also makes use of random navigation, which means it doesn't re-clean the same spots over and over.

This robot has one disadvantage It is unable to recognize the floor's surface and can be easily confused by carpets and rug. It's an excellent choice for those who live in a small house or apartment with narrow hallways and lots of furniture.