10 Best Robot Cleaner Tricks All Experts Recommend
How to Choose the Best Robot Cleaner for Your Home
You'll need to do some work in order to maintain your robot's house. This includes clearing out the clutter, removing loose cords and knotted rugs.
Pick a model that comes with self-emptying containers. This makes it easier to clean up spills and dirt. You may want two-in-one vacuums and mops.
Features
You can choose a robot vacuum bot cleaner that has smart features that are suited to the needs of your home. Certain models can are able to map your home's layout to create floor plans while others have an integrated camera that displays live video feeds. These cameras can be used to identify obstructions and assist with problem solving. Some robots come with an option to schedule cleaning sessions and change the frequency.
Look for a robot with self-emptying dustbins if you want it to be able to vacuum and mop. The Ecovacs Deebot T30S Pro is one the top options we've tested because it has both features at a reasonable cost. It has a suction opening that is similar to upright vacuums. This helps it remove debris more effectively than other robots. It has side brushes with 3 bristles that push dirt and hair into the path of the robot. This model is the best of its kind for a variety reasons, including its mopping ability as well as its efficient navigation and affordable price.
The most effective robovacs come with large dust bins, that can last for weeks without having to be empty. The Narwal Freo X Ultra, a high-end robotic vacuum cleaner with self-emptying dust bins and smart features that provide an unhands-free cleaning experience is a perfect example. It comes with a small mopping mat that removes dirt that has gotten stuck to the floor. It can also glide across mats and carpets that are too heavy for other robots. Sensors can assist in locating dirtier areas. It can also vacuum and mop simultaneously.
Eufy Clean X10, with its simple-to-use application, is another great choice. Its customization options are easy and quick to install. Its lidar-powered mapping is quick and accurate, and it easily divides rooms to ensure a thorough cleaning. It has a great object avoidance system that can take in Cheerios and even dodge fake dog poop. However, it did have some trouble with stairs. The square-front design of the robot helped it to maneuver around corners more efficiently than the majority of robots we've tried. It's also capable to edge-hugging which allows it to sweep across baseboards with ease.
Cleaning performance
Robots aren't as efficient as vacuums at cleaning carpets from deep within and sweeping up dirt that has been hidden. However, they can pick up fine particles like baking soda and dust as well as heavier debris such as metal screws and pet fur. They can also sweep up spills and crumbs. Maintaining your robot through regular maintenance, such as emptying the dustbin and cleaning or changing the filter and cleaning the cameras and sensors will ensure it will last for the longest time possible.
The most effective robots do a great job of picking up small particles from hard floors and low-pile carpets They're particularly adept at sweeping up orzo pasta, sand and wood shavings. They can pick up metal screws and cat litter, however they struggle with slower objects like coffee grounds or baked flour. They're not as impressive on stairs and aren't always able to catch all the debris that floats around the edges of furniture.
A few models excel at cleaning as well. The iRoborock Roomba 900 is one of them and does an excellent job of removing spills of liquids and coffee as well as sticky or dried-on food messes from hardwood. The automatic Hoover robot's intelligent spot and area cleaning options allow you to create the area it is to concentrate on. This means that the robot won't spend its time cleaning areas that are already clean. The Dreame X40 also does a good mopping job, but it has one advantage over the Roborock. It can first vacuum, and afterwards mop to clean up staining and spills on high pile carpets.
Another top mopping robot is the Dyson V8 Absolute. It's more expensive than Roomba but it has superior suction. It also has the ability to handle a greater variety of automatic floor cleaner types and textures. It is also able to return to the charging station once it's out of water to continue cleaning where it began. The app provides a variety of other conveniences also with the ability to schedule recurring cleaning sessions. It's also very quiet which makes it a great choice for homes with kids or pets.
Cost
The top robot cleaners are affordable and offer many smart features that can help you save money over time. Think about how much you'll pay for a vacuum cleaner and a mop to ensure you get the best smart vacuum bang for your money. Certain models have features you might not need but find useful. For example the self-emptying trash container or a navigation system that's efficient.
It is recommended to invest in a model that is able to do both mops and vacuums is the most economical option. It is important to remember that a robot vacuum cleaner will only be as good as the dirt they collect.
The cost of $500 for a robot capable of both vacuuming as well as mopping is a reasonable price. A good example is the iRobot Combo j9+. This robot scored highly in CR's testing, and it can clean floors, carpets, and even bare floors. It has a simple application that lets you see its cleaning route, and set no-go areas. Jaclyn Turner noticed that the mopping functionality could use improvement, as it uses a dragging mechanism with a light pressure, rather than real scrub.
However, if you're in a pinch it's possible to find a great deal on a top-rated robotic vacuum that does just one task, like the Eufy 11S. Its slim and quiet design excels in cleaning tiles, hardwood floors, and low pile carpets. It also didn't miss a beat when it came to cleaning up pet hair and litter.
A few robots with a budget-friendly price tag have basic bump navigation systems that don't provide a coverage map, and are more likely to be stuck on furniture or miss spots. These robots can still clean your floors, but they are not as efficient or capable of navigate around household obstacles.
Another alternative is the budget-friendly Shark IQ XL, which received high marks for its cleaning performance and price-to-value ratio. It's not as sophisticated as the Combo J9+, but is easy to use and works well on floors with carpets and even bare floors. It's also fairly light and can be pushed under furniture without getting stuck.
Maintenance
A robot cleaner is an ideal method to keep your home in order, especially when it is used by pets or children. It will require some care to keep it in good condition. Regular cleaning, such as emptying the dust bins and washing filters, changing them as well as wiping cameras and sensors can extend the life span 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 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 blocked.
This model from Eufy is a great option to get a smart robust and durable robot that's simple to use. Its ultra-slim and sleek design lets it fit under low couches and ottomans to collect dirt that's hidden. The app makes it simple to select rooms and schedule cleaning as well as set no-go zones and adjust cleaning intensity.
Although it's more expensive than the other models on this list, this model comes with a variety of features that can make up for the cost. Its mapping is fast and it's able to save four maps of your house in 3-D or 2D. It's also among the quieter robotics devices we test. The battery lasts for about three hours.
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 higher than any of the other robots we test. It comes with a variety of helpful smart features, including a spot-cleaning feature and an auto-boost mode. It also uses random navigation, which means that it doesn't clean the same spots over and over.
The only downside to this robot is that it doesn't have the ability to detect unfinished floors, and is easily confused by thick carpets or rugs. It's great for small apartments or single-family homes with narrow hallways with lots of furniture and narrow hallways.