Whether you have a large house with three shaggy dogs or a chic apartment with medium-pile carpets, a robot vacuum can aid in keeping your floors clean. Be sure that the model you select is designed to clean rugs and carpets effectively.
Fortunately, the latest models are more advanced than ever before. Some models even have sensors that let them not climb on the rugs when they're mopping to ensure that the rug won't get wet.
Powerful Suction
A robot isn't able to replace a stick vacuum or upright, but many do a good job of picking up tracked-in dirt, crumbs and shed pet hair from hard floors and carpeting with a low pile. For the best results, opt for a model with strong suction that is able to quickly clean up debris and dust in a single sweep over your floors or multiple passes across carpeting. You want a robot with the ability to effortlessly move around furniture and tight corners.
In our tests, the top-rated robots in this category are able to handle almost any type of flooring. They can also shift from carpeting to hardwood tile without getting stuck. Larger wheels enable them to climb over ledges, stairs and doorways with greater ease than smaller ones. They also have sensors that assist them in avoiding bumping into furniture or falling. Certain models detect when they are close to the tassels on a rug and increase suction to prevent tangling.
The majority of the top robots in this category use powerful motors that can provide powerful suction to speed up cleanups. They also come with attachments for mopping and sweeping floors. Some can even be used in conjunction with a compatible smart speaker, such as Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant, for a hands-free cleaning experience.
Toner says you'll also want to think about how long the robot can run on a battery and how it's easy to recharge. Some robots come with a helpful feature that allows you to resume cleaning from where the robot stopped. This is beneficial when you have a large home or a schedule that changes frequently.
Although most robots don't require much maintenance, they do need to be cleaned periodically to remove lint and hair from their brushes as well as other parts. It's also a good idea to empty (and, if necessary, rinse) the dust bin and clean the cameras and sensors periodically. If you own a robot mop, ensure that you clean and dry the pads before using it again.
Customized Cleaning Schedules
If you own carpet it is essential to clean it regularly because dirt and debris tend to get trapped in the base of the carpet's fibers. A carpet vacuum that is robotic can make this chore a lot less labor-intensive and time-consuming. These smart appliances automatically sweep and mop floors at scheduled times and can operate when you're not home.
But you should take care to select the best robot vacuum mop for tile floors model that meets your requirements. The cheapest robotic vacuums won't work well on carpets, and you'll need to buy one with more features to ensure better performance. The best models feature numerous settings that can be adjusted and advanced navigation tools to ensure that they don't miss any dirt.
An excellent example is the Neato D9. It's among our top robot vacuums overall however, it's especially effective at cleaning carpeted areas and getting around tricky areas such as under furniture. This is due to its mapping technology. It is able to learn and save the location of your home to help it vacuum rooms more efficiently, without getting lost or tangled up behind furniture. You can also edit the map using an app to block off rooms that you don't want to access.
A large battery, a powerful battery, dustbins and a long cycle of cleaning are other features to look out for. We also recommend choosing an auto-emptying model that will empty its own bin once it is full, instead of needing you to do it manually.
Shark ION Robot vacuum series is a great option for those on a tight budget who nevertheless want an efficient carpet cleaner. It's not as advanced in its mapping capabilities of our top pick however, it's effective on carpeted floors. It also does a great job navigating narrow spaces. It doesn't come with docking stations however, so you'll have to locate a space to put it in your home.
You can also opt for a hybrid model which doubles as mop. These machines feature an water reservoir that is paired with a microfiber pad that can be used to wet and scrub floors. These machines aren't as powerful as carpet-cleaning vacuums, but they can be useful for cleaning up more serious spills or stains.
Advanced Sensors
Modern robots can recognize different floor surfaces, and adjust their cleaning accordingly. For instance, the most effective carpet vacuum we reviewed can automatically increase suction when switching from hardwood to carpet and even go back and clean the same area a third time for an extra-thorough clean. This is possible because the robot utilizes several sensors to navigate through your home and build an accurate map of furniture and window blinds, power cords and more. This information is then used to determine the most efficient method to clean each room.
In addition to carpet recognition sensors, search for other advanced features that will help the robot vacuum perform a great job on your floors. For instance some of the most highly-rated models have gyroscopes that assist in calculating the distance to obstacles, like staircases or walls. This technology works the same way as an compass, and works by spinning at a rapid rate to determine the robot's position. This feature prevents the robot from falling down steep steps or other obstacles that could damage it or cause an accident.
Furthermore, some models also have a special setting that detects hair from pets and other allergens on carpet. This is a great feature to have with pets and need a robot that can reliably remove hair from various flooring types without damaging the carpet fibres. We also examined models with smart mapping functions that can learn the layout of your home so that you can mark off areas that you don't want cleaned or create no-go zones so that the robot won't be able to access these areas.
Make sure your robot vacuum is tidy to ensure it lasts as long as it can. Hild suggests inspecting the filter frequently (follow the instructions of the manufacturer for cleaning) and remove hair that is caught in the brushes. Emptying and rinsing the dust bin after each use and wiping down the sensors and cameras periodically is a good idea, as well.
Easy to operate
It's difficult to keep your floors clear of crumbs, dirt and pet hair. A robot vacuum can help. Carpet cleaners with the best robotics can thoroughly clean your floors in much less time than it would take to manually sweep them. They also have a much better chances of catching embedded debris like metal screws or nails, as well as nuts. They're also quiet and don't interfere with your routine.
You can control your robot vacuum using its app or via voice commands with an appropriate smart home assistant such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models let you see the robot's path to cleaning and progress while it's working. You can also design custom schedules and define specific areas for the robot.
Look for a hybrid vacuum-mop that is able to clean carpet and hard surfaces in one go. Eufy 11s is our top pick in this category. It comes with a range of features that allow it to distinct from other models. For instance, its mopping pad dispenser automatically cleans and removes the pads after each use and prevents hair tangled from blocking the roller brush on the vacuum. It also has a cleaner head option which comes with "powerfins," which dig deeper into carpets to more easily remove pet hair.Its powerful suction makes it a good choice for picking up hair from carpets, but it might require switching to a lower setting for floors made of hard wood. The dust bin of the vacuum fills up faster than other models we've tried, which means it's likely to have to be emptied more often however, this is a minor chore in comparison to the time and effort involved in manually cleaning and cleaning your floors.
This robot vacuum would be more convenient when it can be integrated with your smart home system to determine when to empty the trash and then return to its charging station. This feature is coming soon to other models. It's worth thinking about if your household has pets or children who are messy.
