How to Choose the Best Robovac Robot Cleaner for Your Home
You'll need to do some work to keep your robot's home in order. This involves getting rid of debris, tangled rugs, and loose cords.
Choose a model that comes 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 mop.
Features
Based on the needs of your home You can pick an automated cleaner that has intelligent features. Some models are designed to draw a map of your home and make floor plans, while others have a built-in camera that provides live videos of your home. These cameras can be used to identify obstacles and assist in problem solving. Some robots even have an option to schedule cleaning sessions and adjust the frequency.
Look for a robot with a self emptying dustbin if you want it to to vacuum and mop. Ecovacs Deebot Pro is one our top picks since it has both features at an affordable price. It has a tiny suction opening similar to those found on upright vacuums, allowing to collect debris better than other robots. It uses side brushes with 3 bristles, which help to push hair and dirt into the robot's path. This model is among the top in its class for a variety of reasons, including its high-quality mopping, navigation and the low price.
The best robovacs are equipped with large dust bins that last for weeks without needing to be empty. The Narwal Freo X Ultra is an excellent example of a high-end robot with a self-emptying dustbin and intelligent features to provide an unrestricted hands-free experience. It comes with a small mopping mat that removes dirt that is stuck to the floor. It can also glide over mats and rug that are too lightweight for other robots. Its sensors can help you find dirtier areas and it can mop and vacuum simultaneously, making it perfect for keeping your home clean.
Eufy Clean X10, with its user-friendly app, is another great choice. The options for customization are easy and quick to set up. Its lidar mapping is quick and accurate. It also divides rooms easily for a thorough cleaning. It has great technology for avoiding objects that suckers up Cheerios and evades fake dog poop. However, it struggled a bit with stairs. The square front design, however, allowed it to reach corners more efficiently than other robots we've evaluated. It's also capable of edge-hugging and sweeping along baseboards easily.
Cleaning performance
Robots aren't as efficient as vacuums in cleaning carpets from deep within and sweeping up dirt that has been put in. However, they are able to collect small particles such as baking soda and dust as well as heavier debris such as screws made of metal and pet fur. They also can sweep up crumbs and spills. Maintaining a routine of maintenance, like emptying the trash bin cleaning or replacing the filter and cleaning sensors and cameras will ensure that you get the longest life possible from your robot.
The best robots are great at picking up fine particles from hard floors and low pile carpets. They also excel at removing orzo sand, and wood shavings. They can pick up metal screws and cat litter, however they aren't as adept at slower items like coffee grounds or baked flour. They're less impressive on stairs and aren't always able to catch everything that's thrown around the furniture's edges.
A few models excel at cleaning as well. The iRoborock Roomba 900 is one of them, and it does a great job taking off coffee spills and other liquids as well as dried-on or sticky food-related messes off of hardwood. Its spot and zone cleaning modes allow you to define a specific area for the robot to focus on, so that it doesn't waste time vacuuming areas that are already clean. The Dreame X40 also does a good job of mopping but it has a distinct advantage over the Roborock. It can first vacuum, and then mop to clean up spills and stains that are on high-pile rug.
Another top-rated mopping robot is the Dyson V8 Absolute. It's more expensive than Roomba however it has superior suction. It can also handle a wider range of floor types and textures. It is also able to return to the charging station when it runs out of water to continue cleaning where it left off. The app provides a variety of other conveniences as well, including a feature that automatically schedules recurring cleaning sessions. It's also extremely quiet and a good choice for homes with kids or pets.
Cost
The best robot cleaners perform well at a low cost, and many offer intelligent features that will help you save money in the end. Take into consideration the amount you'll need for a vacuum cleaner and a mop to get the best bang for your money. Some models also have extra features you might not require but could be useful, such as a self-emptying bin or efficient navigation.
A model that is able to do both mops and vacuums is the most economical option. It's important to keep in mind that robot vacuums are only as effective as the dirt it sifts up, so it's not recommended to abandon regular manual vacuuming in favor of using your robot cleaner.
You should expect to pay around $500 for a machine that does both vacuuming and mopping, like the iRobot Combo j9+. This robot received excellent scores in CR's tests and can clean floors that are not bare and carpets. It also comes with an intuitive application that lets you examine its cleaning routes and create zones that are not allowed to be used. Jaclyn Turner noticed that the mopping functionality could be improved, since it uses a dragging mechanism using light pressure instead of true scrubbing.
However, if you're on a budget it's possible to get a good deal on a top-rated robotic vacuum that does just one task, like the Eufy 11S. Its slim and quiet design was great in cleaning tiles, hardwood floors and carpets with low pile. It was also very effective in removing pet hair, and litter.
Some budget-friendly robots feature rudimentary bump navigation systems that do not create a coverage map and are more likely to be stuck on furniture or miss spots. While these robots are able to clean your floors, they're not as time efficient and aren't able to navigate around household obstacles.
Another option is the less expensive Shark IQ XL, which received high marks for its cleaning capabilities and price-to-value ratio. It's not as sophisticated as the Combo j9+, however it's a breeze to use and does an excellent job on floors that are not bare and carpets. It's also fairly light and can be pushed under furniture without getting stuck.
Maintenance
A robot cleaner is an excellent method of keeping your home clean, especially if you have pets or children. However, it requires some care to keep it in good shape. Maintaining a regular schedule of cleaning tasks, such as emptying the dust bin washing or changing the filter, and wiping off sensors and cameras can extend the lifespan of your robot.
Vacuums require more frequent maintenance than robot mopping machines but you can prolong the life of your vacuum if you follow the manufacturer's guidelines for emptying and cleaning its dustbin, brush roller, and filter. Clean the charging contacts of the robot and sensor using a damp rag to avoid them becoming clogged.
This model from Eufy is a great choice for those who want a sophisticated, durable robot that's easy to use. It has a sleek slim design that allows it to slip under couches and ottomans in order to get rid of dirt. The app lets you plan a cleaning schedule and choose rooms. You can also set up zones that are not allowed to be used, and also adjust the intensity of cleaning.
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 speed is quick and it can save four maps of your home in 3D or 2D. It's also among the quieter robots we tested and its battery can last for around three hours on charge.
The Romba 11s is a multi-functional vacuum with a stunningly high performance 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 has a number of clever features including a spot cleaning feature and an automatic boost mode. It uses random navigation so that it doesn't scrub the same spots on a regular basis.
The robot's drawback is it is that it cannot recognize the floor's surface and can be easily confused by thick carpets and rug. But it's a great choice when you live in a tiny home or apartment with narrow hallways and lots of furniture.