We’ve tested 30 robot vacuums and counting; here are the ones that didn’t make our top picks. The vacuum’s extras are helpful to any pet parent, including a mop tank attachment, spinning mop pads, and a trial-size bottle of cleaning formula. Plus, you receive a cleaning tool that helps remove hairs from the brushes and irobot vacuum cleaner clean the filter. The iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO Robot Vacuum is iRobot’s most affordable option that features automatic dirt disposal, which empties the vac’s dustbin automatically. We provide a detailed analysis of each of these vacuums in our reviews, and you can see our vacuum product guide for the latest models.
You need to clear their path of anything that might get tangled in their wheels, and some have trouble getting into or out of tight spaces. Their bins are relatively small, so you’ll need to empty them more regularly than an upright or stick version. The main brush is between five and ten inches long, located under the unit, and is made of a rubber-like material. The vacuum sucks debris into the main brush, which spins to feed the materials into the dustbin.
When it’s running low on battery—after about 75 minutes of runtime—the Roomba will automatically recharge and then resume cleaning. For homes with pet dander and shedded fur, a dual multisurface rubber brush allows for easy release of hair to avoid tangling, while a high-efficiency filter traps 99 percent of dander and other common allergens. A recharge and resume feature automatically activates after about 90 minutes of battery use.
While it doesn’t come with the ick factor of cleaning the toilet or the tedium of dusting, pushing and dragging a noisy, cumbersome vacuum is its own kind of torture. Depending on the model you are using, your robot cleaner can run a total of 60 to 120 minutes on a single charge. Roomba models that do not have the VSLM feature move in a random pattern. According to the company’s test lab, a unit with VSLM can clean up to 2,000 square feet on a 120-minute charge. So far, though, the Yeedi K650 is the most effective and affordable of the ones I’ve tried. The battery lasts a really long time for a budget vac—more than 100 minutes—and it navigates adroitly around the most common vacuum traps in my house, like my kitchen step.
The RoboVac and iRobot Roomba are popular robot vacuum cleaners with a sleek design and superior cleaning. Find easy-to-use cord-free and backpack vacuum cleaners for wall-to-wall cleaning, and DuoClean vacuums with two brushrolls and better suction power for hardwood floors and carpets. Backpack vacuums are an especially convenient way to cover more area. The popular and powerful Lift-Away with great suction is a canister vacuum for households with pet hair, bare floors, carpets and area rugs. The Lift-away is also available as a lightweight and bagless upright vacuum. There are other vac options with a more powerful suction ability and built-in lithium-ion battery for some heavy-duty, battery-powered vacuuming.
The Wi-Fi-enabled S4 Max has features that I’ve previously seen only on much pricier robot vacuums, like mapping, virtual barriers, and problem spot detection. This is one of the only robot vacuums that doesn’t get tripped up on my kitchen step, and it gets up to three hours of battery life on a charge, which is insane. Designed to navigate your home and clean your floors automatically, robot vacuum cleaners are made to tackle this chore so you don’t have to.
It had no problem cleaning under kitchen cabinet toe kicks or figuring out how to clean tight spaces without getting stuck. Though it’s not Wi-Fi connected, it comes with a remote that you can use to direct the robot to clean only the edges or do a quick spot clean, which it did very well. You can also easily set a future cleaning schedule to take care of your home when you’re away. Like others, the automatic sensors detect stairs and drop-offs and alert the robot to low battery levels so that it can automatically return to the docking station to recharge. The Bissell is a great starter robot vacuum for those not into techy gadgets.
The more helpful feature is the auto-empty station that automatically empties the dustbin after cleaning sessions. Beyond quickly testing to make sure it worked, I didn’t use the controller because the vacuum pairs with your phone and is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. Unfortunately, the app doesn’t allow you to set up no-go zones or virtual barriers. Setup is a breeze, only taking about 10 minutes, including connecting to the user-friendly app. Unfortunately, the app doesn’t allow you to set up no-go zones, so you must buy virtual wall barriers.
It has the power to vault over raised thresholds and automatically finds high traffic/high dirt areas where it should spend more time. Purchasing a robot vacuum doesn’t need to be a major financial line item in your household budget. The iRobot Roomba 675 is the most basic and affordable model but still does everything that you want from a robot cleaning machine. irobot vacuum cleaner It works with your Alexa smart speaker, can be app-controlled, and adjusts itself to work around obstacles and different types of flooring. It doesn’t have a particularly large in-unit canister but will still get the job done. Consider investing in one if you absolutely hate this chore or want your home cleaned more often than you have the time or energy for.
I tested each robot vac’s cleaning abilities along with its extra features and app. You can find the details of how we tested, what else we recommend, how to shop for a robot vacuum, and more at the end of our guide. IRobot set out to solve this potential problem with its new Roomba J7 Plus. This robot’s software is designed to enable it to recognize solid pet waste on the floor and steer clear of it.