Blog entry by Pablo Matos
How to Choose the best robot cleaner - supplemental resources - for Your Home
You'll have to do some work to keep your robot's home in order. That means clearing out the clutter, removing loose cords and rug rugs that are tangled.
Look for a model with self-emptying bins. This makes it easier for you to clean up spills. You may also want an all-in-one that vacuums and mops.
Features
Based on your needs for your home depending on your home's needs, you can select the best robot cleaner with advanced features. Some models are designed to draw a map of your home and make floor plans, while others have an integrated camera that can provide live footage of your space. These cameras can be used to spot obstructions and assist in problem solving. Some robots have a feature that lets you schedule cleaning sessions and change the frequency.
Choose a model with a self emptying dustbin in case you'd like it to be able to mop and vacuum. Ecovacs Deebot Pro is among our top picks because it offers both features for a reasonable price. It has a small suction opening similar to those found on upright vacuums, which helps to collect debris more efficiently than other robots. It also has 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 efficient mopping capabilities, its navigation capability, and its low cost.
The best robovacs are equipped with large dust bins that last for months without needing to be emptied. The Narwal Freo X Ultra, an ultra-high-end robotic vacuum cleaner commercial vacuum cleaner with self-emptying dust bins and smart features that offer a hands-free cleaning experience, is a perfect example. It comes with a tiny mopping pad that scrubs off dirt stuck on it and is able to glide over light mats and rugs that can trip up other robots. Sensors help identify areas that are more prone to dirt and it can mop and vacuum simultaneously, making it perfect for a clean home.
The Eufy Clean X10 is another excellent choice, and its app comes with a simple interface which makes setting up customized options easy and straightforward. Its lidar mapping technology is fast and precise. It also lets you divide rooms easily for a thorough clean. It has a fantastic anti-object system that can eat Cheerios and even dodge fake dog poop. However, it had some trouble with stairs. Its square-front design helped it to maneuver around corners more easily than other robots we've tried. It can also edge-hug, which helps it to easily sweep across baseboards.
Cleaning performance
While robots can't get deep into carpets or clean up dirt that has been ground in, as a vacuum cleaner, they are capable of removing fine particles like baking soda and dust as well as heavier debris like metal screws and pet hair. They can also remove spills and crumbs. Keeping up with routine maintenance, like emptying the trash bin and cleaning or replacing the filter, and cleaning cameras and sensors will ensure that 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 are also adept at removing orzo sand, and wood shavings. They can even take cat litter and screws made of metal but they're more likely to struggle with more sluggish items like baked flour or coffee grounds. They're less impressive on stairs and don't always catch all the debris that floats around the edges of furniture.
Some models are great at mopping also. The iRoborock Roomba 900 is one of them, and it does an excellent job of getting rid of coffee and other liquid spills as well as dry or sticky food-related messes off of hardwood. The robot's spot and area cleaning modes let you set up the area it is to focus on. This means that the robot doesn't be wasting time vacuuming areas that are already clean. The Dreame X40 is another bot which does a great job of mopping. It has an extra advantage over the Roborock that is the ability to vacuum first and then mop makes it better at cleaning up spills on high pile carpets.
The Dyson V8 Absolute is a different top mopping robot. It's more expensive than Roomba however it has superior suction. It's also able to handle a wider variety of floor types and textures. It's smart enough to return to the charging dock if it's getting dry and then resume cleaning the point it was when it left. The app also has a variety of features, such as the ability to schedule regular cleaning sessions. It's also very quiet which makes it a great choice for homes with children or pets.
Cost
The best robot cleaners perform well at a low cost, and many offer intelligent features that will help you save money over the long term. Think about how much you'll pay for the vacuum cleaner and mop to get the best bang for your buck. Certain models have features you don't need but 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 one that is able to do both mops as well as vacuums. It is important to remember that a robot vacuum is only as effective as the dirt it sifts up It's not advised to skip regular manual vacuuming in favour of using a robot cleaner.
A robot that costs $500 capable of both vacuuming and mopping is reasonable. One example is the iRobot Combo j9+. It scored high in the CR's tests and can clean floors and carpets. It comes with a user-friendly app which allows you to see its cleaning route, and to set no-go areas. Jaclyn Turner noticed that the mopping functionality could use improvement, as it relies on a dragging mechanism with light pressure rather than the actual scrub.
If you're in a pinch you can still find a bargain on a top-rated robot vacuum that is able to do one task, like the Eufy 11S. Its sleek and quiet design was great in cleaning hardwood floors, tiles and carpets with low pile. It also did a great job when it came to removing pet hair and litter.
Some robotics that are budget-friendly have basic bump navigation that doesn't produce a map of coverage, and is more likely to fall on furniture or miss specific spots. These robots are still able to clean your floors but they are not as efficient or capable of navigate around obstacles in your home.
Shark IQ XL is another option. It's a budget-friendly model that has been praised for its cleaning performance as well as its price-to-value ratio. It's not as efficient as the Combo J9+, but is a breeze to use and is effective on floors that are carpeted or bare. It is also relatively light and can be carried underneath furniture without getting stuck.
Maintenance
A robot cleaner is an excellent way to keep your house tidy, particularly if it has children or pets. However, it requires some care to keep it in top shape. Keeping up with regular cleaning tasks like emptying the dust bin washing or changing the filter, and wiping off cameras and sensors can prolong the life of your robot.
Vacuums require more frequent maintenance than robot mopping machines however, you can extend the life of your vacuum by making sure you follow the manufacturer's guidelines for emptying and cleaning the dustbin, brush roller and filter. Wipe down the robot's charging contacts and sensor with a damp cloth to avoid them becoming clogged.
This model is a great choice to find a durable, smart robot that's easy to use. Its slim, sleek design allows it to be placed under couches that are low and ottomans to collect dirt that's not visible. The app makes it simple to choose rooms and plan the cleaning schedule, and also set no-go zones and alter room cleaning robot intensity.
This model is a little more costly than the other models on this list, however it has many features that will make up for it. Its mapping is fast, and it can save four maps of your house in 2D or 3-D. It's also among the quieter robots we tested, and its battery lasts about three hours per charge.
The Romba 11s is an extremely versatile vacuum cleaner that can work well against walls. In our tests, it cleared up to 1.3 inches away from the wall. This is more than any of the other robots we tried. It has many smart features, including a spot-cleaning feature as well as an automatic cleaning robot boost mode. It also makes use of random navigation, which means that it doesn't clean the same spots repeatedly.
This robot has one drawback it is that it cannot recognize the floor's surface and can be easily confused by carpets and rug. It's great for small apartments or single-family homes with narrow hallways with lots of furniture and narrow hallways.