GitLab

How to Choose the Best Robot Cleaner for Your Home

You'll have to put some effort in the home maintenance of your robot. This includes clearing out clutter, tangled rugs and loose cords.

Look for a model with self-emptying bins. This makes it easier for you to clean up spills. It is also possible to get a 2-in-1 that vacuums and mop.

Features

You can select a robotic vacuum cleaner with intelligent features based on the needs of your home. Some models use maps of your home to make floor plans while others have an integrated camera that shows live video feeds. These cameras can be used to spot obstructions and assist with problem solving. Some robots feature an option to program cleaning sessions or change the frequency.

Find a robot that has an auto-emptying dustbin in case you'd like it to to mop and vacuum. Ecovacs' Deebot Pro is one of our top picks since it offers both features for a reasonable price. It has a small suction opening similar to those found on upright vacuums, which lets it to remove debris more effectively than other robots. It also uses side brushes that have three bristles to push dirt and hair into the robot's path. This model is the best of its kind due to a variety of reasons, including its mopping ability as well as its efficient navigation and affordable price.

The best robovacs are equipped with large dust bins, that last for weeks without having to be empty. The Narwal Freo X Ultra, an ultra-high-end robotic vacuum cleaner with self-emptying dust bins and smart features that allow for an unhands-free cleaning experience is a perfect example. It comes with a small mopping mat that can remove dirt that has been stuck to the floor. It also glides over mats and rug that are too lightweight for other robots. Its sensors help it find areas that are more prone to dirt, and it can also vacuum and mop simultaneously.

The Eufy Clean X10 is another popular choice, and the app comes with a simple interface which makes setting up customized options simple and quick. The lidar-powered mapping it uses is fast and accurate, and it easily divides rooms to ensure a thorough cleaning. It has great technology to avoid objects, which sucks up Cheerios and avoids fake dog poop, however it struggled with stairs. Its square-front design allowed it to maneuver around corners more efficiently than the majority of robots we've tried. It can also edge-hug, which makes it easier to easily sweep across baseboards.

Cleaning performance

Robots aren't as efficient as vacuums at cleaning deep into carpets and cleaning up dirt that has been hidden. However, they can remove small particles such as baking soda and dust and heavier debris such as screws made of metal and pet fur. They can also clean up spills and crumbs. Maintaining your robot with regular maintenance, such as emptying the dustbin, cleaning or changing the filter and wiping down 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 floors and low pile carpets. They are also adept at removing orzo sand, and wood shavings. They can even pick up cat litter and metal screws but they're more likely to struggle with heavier items like baked flour or coffee grounds. They are less impressive on stairs, and they don't always grab everything on the edges.

A few models excel at cleaning as well. The iRoborock Roomba 900, for instance is a model that can do excellent job cleaning hardwood floors. It is able to remove coffee spills and other liquids as well as dried or sticky food spills. Its zone and spot cleaning modes allow you to create a specific area for the robot to focus on, so it doesn't waste time vacuuming areas that are already clean. The Dreame X40 also does a excellent job at mopping however it has an advantage over the Roborock. It can first vacuum, and then mop to remove staining and spills on high pile rugs.

The Dyson V8 Absolute is another top mopping robot. It's more expensive than the Roomba but it's got superior suction and is able to handle more flooring types and textures. It's smart enough to return to the charging dock when it's running low on water and then resume cleaning where it left off. Its app offers lots of other conveniences as well, including the ability to schedule recurring cleaning sessions. It's also quiet, making it a great option for homes with pets or children.

Cost

The best robot cleaners are affordable and offer many smart features that can help you save money over time. You'll need to think about how much you need a vacuum and a mop to get the most bang for your buck. Certain models have features you may not use but find useful. For instance the self-emptying trash container or a navigation system that's efficient.

A model that is able to do both mops and vacuums is the most economical choice. It is essential to remember that a robot cleaner will only be as effective as the dirt they pick up.

You can expect to spend around $500 for a machine that does both vacuuming and mopping, like the iRobot Combo j9+. The robot scored well in CR's testing and can clean carpets and bare floors. It also comes with an intuitive application that lets you examine its cleaning routes and create no-go zones. Jaclyn found that the mopping feature could be improved since it is based on gentle pressure and a dragging movement rather than scrubbering.

If you're on a budget you can still find a bargain on a top-rated robot vacuum Mops 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 carpets with low pile. It also proved very efficient at picking up pet hair, litter, and other particles.

Some budget-friendly robots feature rudimentary bump navigation systems that do not generate a coverage map and are more likely to become stuck on furniture or miss spots. Although these robots can clean your floors however, they're not as efficient and aren't capable of navigating around household obstacles.

Shark IQ XL is another alternative. It's a budget-friendly machine 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 does an excellent job on both floors that are unfinished and carpets. It's also relatively lightweight and can be easily pushed under furniture without getting stuck.

Maintenance

A robot cleaner is a great method to keep your home tidy, especially when you have children or pets. However, it needs some care to keep it in top condition. Maintaining a regular schedule of cleaning tasks, such as emptying the dust bin, washing or replacing the filter, and wiping off cameras and sensors can extend the lifespan of your robot.

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

This model from Eufy is a great choice to get a smart robust, sturdy robot that is easy to use. It features a sleek ultra-slim design that enables it to slip under sofas and ottomans to find hidden dirt. The app allows you to pick rooms and schedule a cleaning, and also set areas that are not allowed to be cleaned and adjust the cleaning intensity.

This model is a little more expensive than the other models on this list, but it comes with numerous features that can make up for the cost. Its mapping speed is quick and it's able to save four maps of your home in 3D or 2D. 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 an extremely versatile vacuum cleaner that works well on walls. It cleared up to 1.3 inches away from the wall in our tests, which is far more than any other robot we test. It comes with a variety of useful smart features, like the ability to clean up spots and an auto-boost mode. It makes use of random navigation to ensure that it doesn't scrub the same spots on a regular basis.

This robot has one drawback: it can't detect the floor's surface and can be easily confused by thick carpets and rugs. It's ideal for apartments with small spaces or single-family homes with narrow hallways with lots of furniture and narrow hallways.