bagless vacuum robots Robotic Sweepers

Some robot vacuums, like Scuttle Bug and RoRo, have become family pets. They even play hide-and-seek games with their owners!

Robot vacuums and mops have self-cleaning capabilities that you can set up. They'll last for years with little maintenance, like emptying the bins and cleaning the brushes.

1. Powerful suction

Bagless robotic sweepers offer powerful suction that is similar to traditional vacuum cleaners. They are equipped with different features that let them handle different types of floors and the sizes of homes. The top robots let you schedule cleaning in specific rooms and set boundaries around areas that you do or don't want it to clean. You can use an app to modify the intensity of your robot cleaning and see its route as it moves.

Another feature that many people like is the capability to change the direction that your robot sweeps and where it begins. This feature can be particularly useful in areas with lots of corners and doors, based on the design of your home. Many robots also have docking stations that let you swap out reusable or disposable dustbins and recharge the robot vacuum with bagless self empty between uses. Some robots come with a base that automatically empties itself, eliminating the need to buy disposal bags.

The main disadvantage of most robotic bagless sweepers is their expensive cost. This is particularly true of models with bases that can be self-emptied and can add significant amounts to the price of the device. These devices are becoming more popular and are a great choice for homeowners who are frustrated or tired with manually vacuuming their floor or dealing with pet hair.

Although the Eufy 11s does well at general vacuuming and getting into the majority of my home's nooks and crannies however, it has some flaws in the area of cleaning up pet hair. Although it comes with an anti-tangle tool that claims to shreds and cuts up hair however, I was constantly taking up and arranging cat and dog hair. The robot also seems to get stuck on carpets frequently and easily get caught in plush, high-pile fibers.

Some of the most expensive models I tested (such as the Shark Matrix Auto-Emptying Vacuum) had superior pet hair collection and navigation. Their dual dustbins that can be switched between to collect different amounts of debris and are more efficient at collecting fur and are much easier to empty. Their square shape allows them to get into corners better than most circular robots, too. They have excellent object recognition and can eat Cheerios and oatmeal granules and even fake dog turds, while navigating the lamp cords and fake dog turds.

2. Adaptive cleaning

One of the most important aspects you'll find in any robot vacuum, and especially a bagless smart floor vacuum model, is the ability to adapt to changes in the environment. Your robo-vac will learn, for instance, what type of floor you have in each room that is hard or soft. It will also be able to maneuver around obstacles such as stairs and furniture. The more information it has the better it is able to clean your entire home.

A robotic cleaner that is smart can also reach corners where traditional brooms and dustpans cannot, as well as under beds and other places which require your hands and knees. Some robots, depending on the model that you choose can be programmed to clean specific areas or rooms during specific times of the day.

The most effective robot vacuums can take out fine particles like baking soda and sand heavier debris such as heaps of oatmeal or pasta, as well as nuts and screws made of steel and even fluffy items like pet hair easily. They also can maneuver into tight spaces where you might have to wiggle a stick broom to get at. They're usually quieter than an upright or canister vacuum. They can be programmed to run in the background while you read or watch TV.

Some models can sweep and mop your floors as well as vacuum. You'll need to take extra care with these types of robots. Ensure that you remove the mopping pads and clean them (and allow them to dry) before installing them again. If your manufacturer recommends that you do so, you'll want to clean and rinse the filter frequently (and allow it to dry).

Most mops are reusable multiple times, but ensure you buy one with an enormous water tank and a lot of mopping pads (the Dreametech W10 for example, which won an award called the Good Housekeeping Best Cleaning and Organizing Award in the past, holds up to 12 mopping pads as well as 5 gallons). Some of the most sophisticated models come with a complete charging dock that can both fill the tank and empties the bin, giving you an entirely hands-free experience.

3. Efficient

There's no other home appliance that has developed in the same speed as the robot vacuum. They were originally expensive devices which got stuck on the stairs and filled with cat litter and pet hair. But today there's a wide range of models that are available in all price ranges that offer self-emptying bins and mapping capabilities.

The biggest improvement that has occurred to the robotic vacuum is the addition of improved obstacle avoidance. This is the ability to identify and skirt around problem-causing obstacles such as tangled cords, furniture legs and piles dog waste (catch that hall-of-fame CNET guide for more information on this important topic). Even the most efficient robot vacuums won't always avoid them all the time, which means they can still get flustered by them and end up getting caught or scattering poop on your floors in a messy, expensive and time-consuming poop.

More advanced robots use gyro-, cameraradar-, laser-(laser distance sensor or LDS) guided systems to draw the layout of your space in order to ensure they're receiving a thorough cleaning and don't miss any spaces. They can also keep and update multiple floorplans. This helps them be more efficient and decreases the chance that they'll need to spend a lot of time retracing their steps or cleaning the same areas repeatedly.

If you're looking for a set-it-and forget robot vacuum that will complete the job without assistance from you think about the most intelligent robot vacuum we've tested up to date: the iRobot+. It beat all of the competitors we tested when it came to mapping, creating virtual boundaries and avoiding obstacles, making it the ideal "set it and forget it" robot vac.

If you're looking to save money and don't want to invest in smart features like mapping or a self-emptying bin, take a look at our budget pick for the year Eufy 11S. It is suitable for hardwood floors and carpets with low pile and cleans up cat litter, pet hair, and dust. The onboard dust bin can hold up to 45 days of dirt, and when it gets full, it automatically returns to its charging dock for emptying.

4. Easy to maintain

Robotic vacuums and mops must be cleaned every so often like any other appliance used in the house. But how often depends on the model and your household's needs. You will need to empty the dustbin frequently and clean the brushes or wheels depending on the model. Most robots come with guidelines for maintenance.

For instance, you can wash the bin with water and wipe it down with a wet (not drippy) Melamine spong to get rid of any dirt caked on. You can also clean the filters and wheels of your robot vac to keep it running smoothly. Nasrallah recommends you check the wheels at least once a week to make sure they're free of threads, hairs, or other debris that could get caught in the machine and cause it to malfunction. You should also clean the brushes under your robot - the left and right drive wheel, as well as the sidebrush at least once a month. This will help keep them free of any debris.

Some models are also robot mop machines that can be used to add mopping to your cleaning routine. If you are planning to use this feature, make sure you have thoroughly vacuumed the area before turning on your robot to mop. This will prevent the robot from being dragged into the vacuum by pet toys or socks which aren't properly secured.

Smart mapping technology allows the robot learn about the layout of the rooms, so that it can clean them in an organized manner. Some models let you define areas that the robot won't clean. This is great if your kids tend to pile their shoes on the hallway.

To find the best bagless robot vacuum and mop for your home, Real Simple consulted experts such as Forrest McCall, co-owner of the blog Mama Needs a Project; Alvin Pullins, CEO and founder of Nerd in the House; and Michele Jones, associate brand marketing director at ECOVACS Americas. The experts reviewed the items based on their configuration, effectiveness, noise level, features, maneuverability, and ease of maintenance.