20 Tips To Help You Be Better At Robot Vacuum

The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Vacuuming is the bane of many people’s existence However, robot vacuums make it less tedious. Modern models mop and can even climb (small) steps.

They have a small dustbin that they empty themselves and some can be controlled by smartphone apps instead of the physical remote. Some models have mapping features that help them navigate more efficiently.

1. Power

With an impressive 8,000Pa of suction, our top pick for robot vacuums is durable enough to take care of the most difficult hairs and dirt. Its ultra-thin square design allows it to slide underneath furniture, such as beds and sofas, and its Dual-Laser LiDAR technology allows for precise navigation and obstacle avoidance. It’s also great for cleaning pet hair, baking powder and other messes around corners and baseboards.

Other high-powered robots that are listed besides the DEEBOT X2 OMNI, are the IRobot Roomba j7+ as well as the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. The latter comes with a powerful docking station that automates maintenance and mopping functions as well. Its powerful suction and effective mopping kept my floors free of pet hair and muddy footprints and other debris during every flooring type test we conducted.

In the lower price range, a model with around 2,500Pa of suction is sufficient for the majority of homes. These models are quieter, making them a better option for those with hearing issues. They’re not silent but they’re not about the same as normal conversations at home.

Consider your budget and cleaning requirements to find the perfect combination of power and usability. Regular light-duty cleaning requires a longer runtime and a lower suction, whereas weekly heavy-duty cleaning demands maximum power. Then assess your flooring, layout of your home and cleaning schedules to select the best model for your needs. We suggest looking through our entire list of robot vacuum reviews and ratings to get more details on the most recent models available. Many users report that their carpets and floor look cleaner after using a robotic vacuum.

2. Navigation

A robot vacuum isn’t able to perform its job effectively when it doesn’t know how to navigate around your home. For this reason, the best robots use advanced navigation technology that effectively scans rooms and then creates an outline map to ensure thorough cleaning without getting lost or hitting obstacles. There are three kinds of robot navigation that include LiDAR, camera and sensor.

The most expensive models use LiDAR to create a digital map of the room, offering the highest level of accuracy and efficiency. Bump sensors are employed in lower-end models, however they aren’t always accurate and miss a lot of debris when working in dark areas. Most robots are equipped with cliff sensors, which stop them from falling off steps or other drops.

A variety of robots I tested employed object recognition to skillfully navigate objects such as fake dog turds and cords, but the most effective was the Eufy X10. It had superb mapping capabilities and powerful oscillating mops that could be used as a user-friendly app and the ability to clean by zones, rooms or even the all of the home.

Other features worth looking into include floor type sensors that recognize carpets that are hard and soft, automatically boosting suction power when required. Some robots like the Roborock mop use a mopping pad lift that allows you to get into corners and clean up dried spills. Many hybrids can apply cleaning solutions to staining that is difficult to remove.

A smaller size of the bin will require less frequent emptying while bigger ones can save money on replacements. The cheapest robotic cleaners usually use a small disposable dust bag, while the mid-range models typically have larger dust bins of 3L that last for decades. Some premium robots like the EcoVACS DEEBOT OMNI Station can self-empty and refill their water tanks, allowing hands-free convenience.

3. App control

The majority of robot vacuums come with an app that can monitor the progress of cleaning and schedule sessions. They also connect to smart home devices. Many robot vacuums can also be controlled by voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have a separate remote control that lets you start or pause, and then return to dock. Choose a model that has a larger dustbin and can self-empty rather than one that requires manual emptying.

Some robots are equipped with mapping technology that helps them avoid obstacles like furniture and stairs. Some allow you to set no-go zones or targeted rooms, so that they only clean the areas that need it most. They also have cliff sensors to prevent them from falling down the stairs, which is particularly helpful in multi-level homes.

If you intend to utilize your robot vacuum to clean your rugs choose a model that can do dry mopping as well as wet. You’ll have better results cleaning when your vacuum can also take off its mop pad. Rinse it and then reattach it when you need to run another cleaning cycle. Look for robots with an elastomer roller. This will be less likely to get caught from pet hair or other debris. Examine the robot’s side brushes and brushroll for any debris that has been stuck to them. Make sure to do this at least twice per week. If you notice that they’re beginning to get clogged up it might be time to buy replacement parts.

4. Debris collection

Robot vacuums are created according to the name to gather dust and debris on your floors. The best robot vacuums will collect tiny particles, such as baking soda and sand and larger ones like metal screws, orzo, and pet hair. They also have better results on carpets with a low pile than manual vacuums.

All flooring types are covered, and the top robots had pickup scores of greater than 95 95%. The two top performers in this category were the ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI and the Roborock Q Revo. Both are highly automated and feature robust docking stations that can perform maintenance on their own and apps that make them extremely user-friendly.

They both have self-emptying bins that suck up the contents of the wastebasket, and clean the washboard while mowing. They also have 8,000Pa suction and smart mapping technology and advanced obstacle avoidance that helps them find their way around even the most challenging areas. The ECOVACS model is also the few robots that we tested that can remove its mop pads and vacuum carpet making it the ideal choice for users who need to switch between mopping and vacuuming regularly.

If you’re looking for a less expensive option, we recommend the iRobot Roomba Kombo J7+, our budget choice. It has LIDAR navigation and decent debris pickup performance for the price. It’s slow to map out rooms and may be susceptible to hitting obstacles however, it’s cheaper than our other top selections.

5. Battery life

The most effective robot vacuums are designed to let you go to work while they keep your floors in tip-top clean. Although you’ll need to give your home a manual hoover every now and again robot vacuums can help you maintain a standard of tidiness and even clean when you’re away.

Find a robovac equipped with a long-lasting battery to get the most of it. A good guideline is to anticipate a model to last for around two full cleaning sessions if you use it at the highest power setting. This is less than a larger vacuum however, it should be enough to get the job done in most homes. If you don’t wish to wait while your robovac charges you can opt for one that automatically returns to the base station for charging.

If you’re looking for a robovac that has a little bit of everything in it, then consider one that is able to mop. Eufy’s X10 is the most effective model in this category. It provides self-emptying, auto-draining and self-refilling of your dust bin and mop pad. It can be programmed to refill and wash mops once they are out.

Its dependable carpet and hard floor pickup excellent hair pickup, tangle prevention, and its close to perfect auto empty scores make it the clear winner of our test scores. It’s not cheap, however and unless you have a an apartment without pets, it may be too pricey for some. The second-placed model one, the Dreametech D10+, has identical performance, but is priced 25% less.