How to Choose the Best robovac Robot Cleaner for Your Home
You'll need to put a bit of effort in the home maintenance of your robot. This involves cleaning up clutter, tangled rugs and loose cords.
Choose a model that has an auto-emptying container. This will make it easier to clean up spills and dirt. It is possible to get a 2-in-1 vacuum and mop.
Features
Based on the needs of your home, you can choose a robot cleaner with smart features. Some models map your home to create floor plans, while others include an integrated camera that displays live video feeds. These cameras can be used to detect obstructions and assist with problem solving. Certain robots come with the ability to schedule cleaning sessions or adjust the frequency.
Choose a model with a self emptying dustbin in case you'd like it to to vacuum and mop. The Ecovacs Deebot T30S Pro is one of the best options we've tested since it comes with both features for a low cost. It has a small suction opening that is similar to those on upright vacuums, allowing to collect debris better than other robots. It also uses side brushes that have three bristles to move dirt and hair into the path of the robot. This model is the top in its class due to numerous reasons, including its high-quality navigation, mopping capability and its low cost.
The best robovacs are equipped with large dust bins that can last for months without needing to be empty. The Narwal Freo X Ultra, the top-of-the-line robotic vacuum cleaner with self-emptying dustbins and smart features that allow for hands-free cleaning, is a perfect example. It comes with a tiny mopping mat that is able to 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 locate areas that are more prone to dirt and it can mop and vacuum at the same time, making it perfect for keeping your home clean.
Eufy Clean X10, with its easy-to-use app is a great alternative. Its options for customization are easy and quick to install. Its lidar mapping is fast and accurate. It also allows rooms to be divided easily for a thorough clean. It has great technology for avoiding objects that suckers up Cheerios and evades fake dog poop, however it struggled a bit with stairs. Its square front design however, allowed it to navigate around corners more effectively than the majority of other robots we've tested. It's also capable of bending its edges which allows it to sweep across baseboards easily.
Cleaning performance
While robots can't clean deep into carpets or remove dirt from the ground like a vacuum cleaner, they are capable of picking up fine particles such as baking soda and dust, as well as heavier debris like pet hair and screws made of metal. They also remove spills and crumbs. Making sure you are keeping up with routine maintenance, like emptying the trash bin cleaning or replacing the filter, and cleaning sensors and cameras, will help you get the longest life possible from your robot.
The best robots are excellent at picking up fine particles from hard carpets and floors that have low pile. They're also good at removing orzo sand, and wood shavings. They can pick up metal screws and cat litter, but they aren't as adept at slower items like coffee grounds or baked flour. They're not as impressive on stairs, and they don't always grab everything around the edges.
Some models are also fantastic 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 messes. Its intelligent zones and spot cleaning modes let you define an area for the robot to concentrate on, so that it doesn't waste time vacuuming areas that are already clean. The Dreame X40 is another bot that is capable of mopping. It has a distinct advantage over the Roborock that is the ability to first vacuum and then mop, which is better at cleaning up spills on high-pile carpets.
The Dyson V8 Absolute is a top mopping robot. It's more expensive than Roomba but it has superior suction. It can also handle a wider range of floor types and textures. It's smart enough to return to the charging dock when it's running low on water and then resume cleaning the point it left off. The app provides a variety of other perks, too, including the ability to schedule recurring cleaning sessions. It's also extremely quiet which makes it a great choice for homes with kids or pets.
Cost
The best robot cleaners are inexpensive and offer many smart features that will help you save money over time. You'll need to think about the cost of mop and vacuum to get the best value for your buck. Some models have features you may not use but you will find useful. For example, a self-emptying trash can or a navigation system that's efficient.
The most cost-effective option is to invest in an item that can perform both mops and vacuums. It is important to remember that a robot cleaner will only be as good as the dirt they remove.
It is possible to pay about $500 for a robot that can do both vacuuming as well as mopping, like the iRobot Combo j9+. It scored high in CR's testing and can clean floors, carpets, and even bare floors. It has a simple app which allows you to track its cleaning routes, and also set no-go zones. Jaclyn Turner found that the mopping function could be improved, since it uses a dragging mechanism with a light pressure, rather than the actual scrubbing.
If you're in a pinch, you can still get a good deal on a top-rated robotic vacuum that does just one task, like the Eufy 11S. Its slim design is sleek and quiet and it excelled on tile floors, hardwood floors carpets, and carpets with low pile. It also didn't miss a beat when it came to picking up pet hair and litter.
Some budget-friendly robots feature rudimentary bump navigation systems that do not generate a coverage map and are more likely to be stuck on furniture or miss spots. Although these robots can clean your floors however, they're not as efficient and aren't adept at navigating around home obstacles.
Another alternative is the budget-friendly Shark IQ XL, which earned high marks for both its cleaning capabilities and price-to-value ratio. It's not as efficient as the Combo J9+, however it is easy to use and is effective on floors with carpets and even bare floors. It's also relatively lightweight and can be pushed under furniture without getting stuck.
Maintenance
A robot cleaner is a fantastic way to keep your home tidy, especially when you have children or pets. It will require some attention to keep it in top condition. Making sure you are keeping up with routine cleaning tasks, such as emptying the trash bin and washing or replacing the filter, and wiping off sensors and cameras can extend the lifespan 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 for emptying and cleaning its dustbin, brush roller and filter. Clean the robot's charging contacts and sensor with a damp rag to avoid them becoming clogged.
This model from Eufy is a great option to get a smart, durable robot that's easy to use. Its ultra-slim and sleek design lets it fit under low couches and ottomans, allowing it to access dirt that's hidden. The app allows you to choose rooms and plan the cleaning schedule, as well as set areas that are not allowed to be cleaned and adjust the cleaning intensity.
The robot is more costly than the other models on this list, but it comes with many features that can make up for the cost. Its mapping is quick and it's able to save four maps of your home in 2D or 3-D. 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 when it comes to walls. It was able to clean up to 1.3 inches away from the wall in our tests, which is higher than any other vacuum we tested. It has many helpful smart features, including spot-cleaning features and an auto-boost mode. It also uses random navigation, which means that it doesn't re-clean the same spots repeatedly.
The only downside to this robot is that it lacks the ability to recognize unfinished floors, and is easily confused by large carpets or rugs. It's an excellent choice when you live in a tiny house or apartment with narrow hallways and lots of furniture.