How To Make A Profitable Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best Even If You're Not Business-Savvy
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to regular cleaning. The best models are capable of getting rid of dust, light debris and cords.
The more expensive ones can even mop your floor, but they can't climb up stairs. Make sure you choose models with intelligent mapping, real-time hazards avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The best robots we tested were reliable, user-friendly, and able keep up with daily debris. You'll want a robot with adequate carpet-picking capabilities and the capability to climb stairs. If you're looking to add more features, you may be interested in a model with smart mapping technology or an application that allows you to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested numerous robotic vacuums. She's a big fan of robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and fill water tanks for mopping robots. She's also a big fan of the robots that can recognize landmarks like furniture legs and power cords to ensure they don't trip when climbing steps.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower score for navigation and less object-avoidance tech than the top-rated models. It comes with a large dust bin that is non-refillable and a long battery. Additionally, it has a feature that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the spot where it stopped last and makes it much easier to clean larger areas. This model is also a good option for pet owners as it is able to identify and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.
In our tests, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combines with a LIDAR sensor that maps rooms and see obstacles with a structured light sensor that can identify objects and detect edges. This combination lets it avoid steps, drops of liquid, and furniture legs with ease and save up to four floor maps for future reference. It can also stop the cleaning process at any point and return to where it stopped and let you do chores while the robot is working. The included app provides an interactive 3D model of your home, room labels and advanced cleaning options.
This model isn't as effective at cleaning like our top models, however it is great in removing heavier objects like orzo pasta, metal screws and even fine particles like sand. Its only downsides are that it isn't able to mop, and its navigation system is a little less impressive.
The best for Carpet
If you have carpeting in your home, look for a robotic vacuum that has good pickup and a high score for maneuverability on carpets and rugs. A lot of models are adept at cleaning dust from low-pile carpets, and some can be quite effective in sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta and screws made of steel. But they don't pick up fine particles like canister or upright vacuums, and they may be unable to pick up dirt in the vicinity of baseboards and thresholds.
The best option for carpeted homes is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum/mop, which allows you to swap between an empty bin for cleaning and mopping pad with damp. The Roborock Q Revo is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that can clean and mop simultaneously with circular pads that spin at 200 revolutions per minute. It is able to detect and lift its pads when it comes in contact with carpet, which prevents the flooring from getting wet. You don't have to remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo also performs better than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to keeping away from obstacles and being close to carpets and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It was a great performer in our tests, and you can schedule it to clean your home even when you're away. It can also be set to mop only and we were impressed by its excellent navigation on rug and floor surfaces, as well as its ability to get up and over furniture. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for an item of this size.
If you're looking for a high-tech vacuum that is high-tech, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop is a great alternative. It comes with a large charging dock that can last for weeks without needing to be emptying and boasts amazing navigation capabilities and auto-emptying on both carpets and floors that are not cleaned. It also has a clever mapping system and can be set to only run for certain times (a beneficial feature to keep the sly children and animals from running wild). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combinations, but it still picks hair and pet hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the best value of our top choices.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are the best choice for hardwood floors, as they can maneuver around obstacles easily without damaging the surfaces that are not. They are great at picking up dust and crumbs, but struggle with pet hair or other debris. They don't have the suction of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, making them unsuitable for deep cleaning upholstery or carpeted areas.
The best two-in-one robots combine a vacuum and a mop and take care of a more complete chore in one pass. If you have floors that are mixed you should look for one equipped with an onboard sensor that detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction accordingly. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+, for example, has this feature and can go effortlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If you have lots of hardwood flooring in your home you might want to think about a robot mop and vacuum combination like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model is a powerful robotic vacuum equipped with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It also mop. Its sensors help it avoid stairs and other hazards so you don't have to be worried about the bot plummeting down the stairs and breaking your hardwood.
When it comes to mop pads the eufy S1 Pro is designed to actually wash hardwood floors with downward pressure rather than just wipe them clean to remove dust and dirt. Its reusable mop pads reduce waste, spread germs less, and can be cleaned at the docking station, saving you time. The mop pads can also be cleaned and dried to prevent the spread of mold.
Both the robovac and mop can be controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. For instance, you can use the app to set up a zone that the vacuum won't enter or label rooms separately, or schedule cleaning sessions for specific areas. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects the debris via a trapdoor, and stores it in a bagless or disposable bin. This means that you don't have to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
These robots are specifically designed to work in small spaces. They have smaller bins which can hold less debris. They are also more efficient in maneuvering around tight corners over larger models. robotic vacuum cleaners can also fit under furniture, whereas larger robots struggle to get in. They are generally less expensive than the higher-end models as well, but you'll have to empty them manually from their dirt bins at end of each cleaning session.
A few years ago robot vacuums underwent a major change. Manufacturers started adding sensors that helped them navigate and avoid household items that traditional sensors might become stuck on or run across. This improved the number of times our testers were required to clean up after a robot incident.
The new sensors don't solve all issues with these machines, however. The lower-end models are unable to navigate the same obstacles as older models, and they require an adequate amount of light to know where they are moving. If you are living in a dark space or have a lot of furniture that is low-profile, think about buying a model that utilizes top-mounted spinning laser units to map your area, as our top overall and runner-up choices do. This allows them to stay clear of stairs and other obstacles while working in the dark.
The models can be programmed to only utilize their cliff sensors when they are on or near the ground, but not when they are above it. It is essential to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models can bounce off reflective surfaces, which makes the robot think it's in another room.
Some of the models we recommend also let you set up virtual no-go zones to protect areas you do not want the robot go, which can be useful if you have small children or pets. These features aren't on all models we test. Read our full reviews before deciding.