Best robot vacuum cleaner - These are worth the most (2024)

Did you know that RendeljKínait became a company more than eight years ago - because its predecessor, the RendeljKínait blog, has existed for almost 11 years - with the help of the mass sale of a robot vacuum cleaner? Sure, people bought the iLife X5 robot vacuum cleaner like sugar, as the market for vacuum cleaners capable of independent life exploded at this time. Since then, we must have tested more than 100 types of cleaning devices, among them were traditional and self-emptying robotic vacuum cleaners, crumb vacuum cleaners, battery vacuum cleaners, 2-in-1 dry-wet, window cleaning equipment, and much more. Under the label Robot vacuum cleaner test and I can safely say that we have produced dozens, if not hundreds, of writings.

Based on the above, one thing is certain: there are few things on the market regarding robotic vacuum cleaners that we haven't come across, especially since we also worked with partners who sold Xiaomi, Roborock, Dreame, Roidmi, Viomi products, all of which, by the way, belong to Xiaomi's sphere of interest , companies that also manufacture robot vacuum cleaners. Of course, every member of the editorial staff has one or more cleaning tools at home that we use on a daily basis. We are happy to share our vast experience with you, and even describe some tips and tricks.

contents

• These are the best robot vacuum cleaners (2024)
• Everything you need to know about robotic vacuum cleaners
• On what basis should you choose a robot vacuum cleaner?
• Advantages and disadvantages of using robotic vacuum cleaners
• Alternatives to or instead of the robotic vacuum cleaner
• Frequently Asked Questions

We try to answer all the questions that you, the readers, may have. Which are the best value-for-money robot vacuum cleaners, as this parameter plays an important role in purchasing decisions in our country. Which robot vacuum cleaner is best suited for certain special life situations. How big is the apartment you plan to live in, and how many people live in it? What surfaces are there in the largest number: parquet, laminate, tiles, or even carpet? Are there children, dogs, cats or other pets in the household? Where do you get the supplies from? Countless additional questions may arise, and we will try to cover them with our article.

These are the best robot vacuum cleaners (2024)

The robot vacuum cleaners on our list have been selected based on the following criteria:

• based on more than 10 years of experience as a tester
• our previous partners - e.g. Xiaomishop, Roborockshop, Roidmi.hu, etc. – based on service experience and long-term tests
• based on individual research, which is based on domestic and international customer opinions
• based on opinions read in various forums and special groups

The map can be broken up in countless ways with the help of the software, and it can even raise its mop plate when it comes to the carpets, which it recognizes automatically. In other words, it is full, but so is the price.

READ THE DETAILED TEST OF THE ROBOROCK S8!

READ THE DETAILED TEST OF THE ROBOROCK S7!

It's as if you're not sitting in the roughest 911 from the Porsche range, but one smaller, but it still delivers. Here you can also play what you did with the S8 and S7, check out the Roborock Q7 Max+ robot vacuum cleaner if it's still available and which we also tested.

READ THE DETAILED TEST OF ROBOROCK Q8 MAX+!

With the help of the "water hookup kit", the Dreame L10s Pro Heat does this for you, and the self-emptying of the dirt can also be automated for weeks. Not to mention, its suction power is huge.

Of course, this robot vacuum also cleans and dries itself - so much so that the docker can physically remove the mop pads -, it manages "hundred" levels, has all kinds of electronic functions, and lifts the mop pads when they reach the carpet, so that it doesn't accidentally get wet. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the future.

You can track everything in the app, it sends push messages if something is wrong or the cleaning is finished.

Of course, you can set up a virtual wall, no-go zone and the like, but it can also be timed, there is a do not disturb mode. The Xiaomi Robot Vacuum S10 actually brings the same level that the top vacuum cleaners were able to achieve a few years ago, which is not a bad offer.

The full name of the robot is Rowenta X-Plorer S240+ AI Animal & Allergy, which means it is also recommended for pet owners, and the HEPA filter-based cleaning is also useful for people with allergies. Needless to say, practically everything can be set from the app.

The Narwal is also able to recognize and avoid objects, has all kinds of software functions - no-mop, no-go zone, virtual wall, management of multiple levels - and even a plastic, 1 liter! also got a tank. In addition, it does not roll up hairs and strands. The Ultra is the typical self-draining docking solution, although it is much more expensive.

READ THE DETAILED TEST OF NARWAL FREO X PLUS!

It is interesting that, although it has a LiDAR tower, the machine is surprisingly low, less than 10 centimeters, so it can also fit under furniture that hangs lower. What's more, it even disinfects with UV light.

READ THE DETAILED TEST OF THE PROSCENIC M9!

Moreover, like all its competitors, it can be associated with a smart home and controlled by a voice assistant. What else could be needed? For example, Japanese reliability, which Sencor has a good chance of fulfilling.

It doesn't wash, it just wipes, but in most cases this is perfectly enough to bind the dust. And yet it also has fancy functions such as suction power control on carpets, which a few years ago was only for the top category.

Another popular category is the Aldi Easy Home robot vacuum cleaner, the main problem of which is that it is a "dumb" robot vacuum cleaner that works with predefined algorithms. For that price, there are much better models, such as the Tesvor S5 mentioned above, so it is not worth buying an Aldis robot vacuum cleaner. The same is true for Lidl, where you can sometimes get the Silvercrest robotic vacuum cleaner. There are also robot vacuum cleaners in Vileda's range, but it's no accident that they didn't become popular. There is also Tesla, which has nothing to do with the car manufacturer, the company is not even American, but Czech, so if you read the words Tesla robot vacuum together, don't think of Elon Musk.

And under the term Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner, we usually mean not only Roborock and Dreame, but also Roidmi products - for example the Roidmi Eve Plus robot vacuum cleaner or EVA - or Viomi pieces. It depends on the website whether the word Xiaomi is written in front of it, the point is that they all belong to the company's ecosystem, and these devices work with the Mi Home app and can be integrated into smart home systems. So, when you see the words Roborock, Dreame, Roidmi, Viomi, imagine (Xiaomi) in front of it.

YOU CAN FIND ALL THE ROBOT VACUUM CLEANERS TESTED BY US ON THIS LINK!

Everything you need to know about the robot vacuum cleaner

Most of you have probably already seen robot vacuum cleaners, but you may not know how they work, what parts they are made of, or what you should look at them, and how you can tell roughly how they build their map based on their appearance. We will now introduce you to this world!

How does a robot vacuum cleaner work?

A robot vacuum cleaner is nothing more than a cleaning device that can autonomously map the apartment or walk around a specific area based on pre-programmed algorithms. Newer models are already quite complicated, they usually use a LiDAR sensor or camera to build the map that forms the basis of the cleaning, and then travel around the area with a multitude of sensors, while doing roughly what traditional vacuum cleaners do: they sweep to the suction opening and then vacuum. the impurities. More serious equipment is also capable of wiping/mopping, this does not mean exactly the same thing, we will clarify the difference later.

The essence of how a robot vacuum cleaner works is that it does (almost) everything automatically. It can be timed, that is, it can be started at a predetermined time, even on all days of the year, and it maps the surface to be cleaned. From this, it usually draws a 2D map - although some robot vacuum cleaners can also create a 3D line drawing - on which the better ones also mark the objects and the material of the floor, and then automatically clean the area based on the set algorithms. This covers more things, sweeps or wipes the surface, avoids objects, and I could list more. Why does the robot vacuum cleaner not fall, get stuck - sometimes it does - or get stuck under/among furniture? Because it uses a ton of sensors to map its environment, we'll talk about them now.

The sensor set of the robot vacuum cleaner

Modern robotic vacuum cleaners contain tons of sensors, typically the following:

• optical anti-fall sensor (useful for stairs)
• ultrasound (it detects different floor surfaces and carpets, and in some cases also falls)
• LiDAR (for mapping)
• 3D camera (for mapping and object detection)
• WiFi (for smart functions)
• the pump's liquid sensor (to detect a lack of water, which is usually just a float or similar solution)
• pressure sensor (at the front, on the bumper and on the top, the latter prevents jamming)

Some models have additional additional sensors, and some have several at the same time, such as the anti-fall sensor, which is almost always used in a circle. As you can see, the robot vacuum cleaner has to process quite a lot of data, which is one of the reasons why a modern model costs as much as it does. Let's take a look behind the most important sensors, what they do.

LiDAR sensor

LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging. It's nothing more than a laser ranging sensor, it's the one that rotates on top of the machines, usually the basis of map construction. More modern robotic vacuum cleaners almost always have such a sensor, without which the construction of high-resolution maps is unthinkable. That is why you can see that during the first mapping the robots rotate in one place, in this case they scan around the place from which they start and mark where they will dock back.

Ultrasonic sensor

Ultrasonic sensors are basically used for distance measurement and density testing of materials, which is why they work great when detecting carpets. It is less dense than, say, tiles or laminate floors, so the robot vacuum cleaner can mark areas covered by carpets on the map. Among other things, this sensor forms the basis for increasing the suction power and setting out no-mop zones, with the stipulation that zones where the devices do not clean can also be set out manually, not only automatically detected by the robot vacuum cleaner. There are also versions operating with ultrasonic mopping, which move their mopping platform with a high vibration rate.

3D camera

3D cameras are basically good for two things: recognizing objects and thus avoiding them, and building maps. In the former case, the camera recognizes and tries to identify the objects appearing in front of it, which, according to our experience, do not usually work perfectly smoothly. Such models include the Xiaomi Roborock MaxV models.

Another use of 3D cameras is map building. In this case, the robot vacuum cleaner photographs the ceiling and determines its own position based on the differences between the photographs.

Collision sensor

The collision sensor is nothing more than a pressure sensor. It is usually designed in two ways, or a "bumper" is mounted on the front of the robot vacuum cleaner, which, if it touches something, the robot stops and starts reversing. The other solution does the same thing, only using a push-in surface on top of the LiDAR tower. This behaves in the same way as the bumper, with the difference that it protects against entrapment, for example if the robot vacuum cleaner moves under the bed. If it senses pressure, the robot will also reverse and free itself.

Optical sensor

They are also called anti-fall sensors, there are usually 5-6 of them at the bottom of the robot vacuum cleaner, and they monitor the distance from the floor. Since the robot vacuum cleaner knows how high it is, if the measured distance increases, it assumes that it has reached a surface from which it can fall, such as the edge of the stairs. You can test its operation by placing the robot on a low coffee table and letting it spin, it will always turn back nicely at the edge.

The optical sensors get dirty quite often, the reason being that the side brushes kick up dust and it can stick to the surface of the sensors. It is not particularly complicated to clean: simply wipe the surface.

Cycle counters

There are also software counters that cannot be called sensors, but still return sensor-like information. An example is the replacement of filters, which is usually indicated either based on operating time or, if the power of suction decreases, the vacuum cleaner measures it and recommends replacing the filter, although this is more typical of wireless solutions. The indication of the consumption of other consumables is also done in this simple way.

Technical parameters of the robot vacuum cleaner

Most readers usually start looking for devices by sorting out the range of robotic vacuum cleaners based on technical parameters. That's why we think it's worth picking them out a little, in the list below you can see the most important ones:

• suction force (Pa): value given in pascals, with this force the robot vacuum cleaner sucks up dirt from the ground. It is not equal to the quality of cleaning, which depends on many other things (type, number of side and roller brushes, etc.).
• power (W): actually an irrelevant data, it shows how much power the engine delivers, from which consumption (Wh) is also used to be calculated. In the case of some robot vacuum cleaners, they are already optimized for this, for example, the devices only charge at night.
• suction power (AW): air watt, i.e. "air power", the expression of suction power in watts
• battery capacity (mAh): shows the capacity of the battery, from which the operating time can be deduced
• operating time (minutes): usually given in minutes or in floor space that can be cleaned. Today, it has become a largely irrelevant technical parameter, because all robotic vacuum cleaners know the recharge and resume routine. It is important in one case: if the floor area is larger than the maximum area that can be covered by the robot vacuum cleaner. In this case, you have to choose another device or wait for the battery to recharge.
• threshold climbing ability (mm): usually 18-20 mm, this is the height that the robot vacuum cleaner can still pass. It is important in the case of apartments where the rooms are demarcated by high wall dividers.

However, the above parameters do not really determine the performance of robot vacuum cleaners, nowadays you have to look for tricks on the software side, you can find them below.

How does a robot vacuum cleaner clean?

Basically with some sort of brush. We distinguish between two main types, side and main, cylinder or otherwise known as floating brushes. You can guess which one does what from their name, but ours has 2 types:

• traditional side brush: plastic bristles, easily bends and wears out, cheap in return
• silicone side brush: breaks less and is more durable, has better cleaning capabilities, but can get stuck in things. A more expensive solution, you can find them on more serious machines.
• Smooth swimming brush: this is a continuous cylinder, basically for the floor, collects dust, rubs relatively gently
• Silicone bristle swimming brush: it contains silicone bristles twisted in the middle, it is basically for carpets, the dirt is not only picked up by the suction power, but the physical impact also loosens the dust.

In front of roller brushes, there is usually a blade that cuts the hairs, this is also usually present on premium products.

The robot vacuum cleaner sweeps the dust under itself with 1 or 2 side brushes, where there is only 1, it turns around its axis of symmetry or goes over the same area several times, only in the opposite direction. No matter how many side brushes it has, their role is to sweep the dirt that it sucks up to the suction nozzles. What constitutes good suction power? The scale ranges from roughly 1000 to 8000 pascals, machines with a suction power greater than 2 kPa are among the more powerful robot vacuum cleaners, but nowadays everything is like that.

Robot vacuum cleaner with mopping function

Robot vacuum cleaners are capable of mopping up and mopping up with the help of a pad or rag mounted on the bottom. It is important that this does not bind airborne dust, it only collects what falls on the floor and loosens or even removes the dirt that has dried on it. The difference between wiping and mopping is that in the former case, the robot only passively pulls a rag, which may be supplemented with special movements. For example, it moves in a zig-zag pattern, passes over a certain surface several times, and the like.

On the other hand, a robot vacuum cleaner that can mop actively rubs surfaces, i.e. exerts pressure on them, and the mopping plate also vibrates, and if it has a mopping disc, it rotates. The force of pressure is usually given in newtons, for example 12 N means that the robot vacuum cleaner presses the surface with 12 newtons.

The method of mapping

I will expand a bit on how robotic vacuum cleaners build their software map. Basically, there are two types of methods, LiDAR sensor, which is a rotating laser, where the sensor detects the bounce of the fired rays, so it can determine the distance of the objects. This is theoretically suitable for drawing a 3D spatial network, and some models - we have seen this with some Xiaomi and 360 models - also build such a map. However, it cannot record colors, textures and the like, but pre-generated objects such as chairs, tables, sofas and so on can be placed in the 3D map.

The other solution is the 3D camera, which also records the shape of objects, and can record colors and textures - with some AI help. If we combine the knowledge of LiDAR and 3D camera, then in principle we get a system that can build a full-fledged map of your apartment, and this is also the basis for object recognition. One of the basic principles of robot vacuuming is that in order for it to work well, you need to tidy up. This alleviates this problem, and objects of net height from the point of view of the robot vacuum cleaner - such as the leg of my ACGAM electric table - can be automatically excluded from the cleaning area. If this doesn't work for some reason, the software still marks the problem area on the map, so a no-go zone or virtual wall can be placed from the robot vacuum cleaner's application.

Should the robot vacuum cleaner be traditional or self-emptying?

The new generation of robotic vacuum cleaners is capable of self-emptying. The way it works is that the docking station contains 1-3 containers, where there is 1, a large dust bag is placed in the dock. Where there are 3, in addition to the former, there is also a clean and a dirty water tank. The automation is 60-90 days, at least for the dust container, which means that you really don't have to touch it for a month and a half. The problem is that the same does not apply to water, because they run out much faster, but the larger tanks still last for 1 week.

The advantage of the thing is, by definition, the automatic operation of robot vacuum cleaners, the disadvantage is that you have to order a dust bag. In the case of Xiaomi models, these are also available in the longer term, but it is worth stocking up roughly 1 year in advance. Dust bags have an additional advantage that you can close the dust opening with a lamella and at the same time, it can be thrown away relatively hygienically. Unfortunately, our experience is that it is not always possible to extract 100% of the dirt from the dust container of the vacuum cleaner, so sometimes it is worth cleaning it by hand.

How big should the robot vacuum cleaner be?

It may seem like a strange question at first, but it is a very important question whether the robot vacuum cleaner can go under the wall or raised furniture - typically the bed. They usually get stuck in two ways: either they go between the legs of the chair and can't find it, or the LiDAR tower gets stuck, because this is the highest point of the devices.

Solutions with a LiDAR tower are usually 10-11 cm high, while those with LiDAR in the front or those looking with a camera are 7-8 cm high. The latter are better able to hide under the furniture, but this is the rarest solution. Simply because the LiDAR towers build a much more accurate map, and they usually have a pressure sensor on top, which they use to detect entrapment and push them out of their trapped position. The 3D camera of more advanced robot vacuum cleaners can also measure the height of individual gaps, so they won't even try to enter if they might not fit there.

Maintenance of the robot vacuum cleaner

Robotic vacuum cleaners, like all technical equipment, must be maintained. It's a relatively simple process, mostly changing filters and brushes. We describe our own experiences and what elements need to be replaced, so that you too can prepare for them:

• side brushes: approximately 6-12 months
• roller brushes: we didn't change the ones for the floor for years, we just cleaned them, we changed the silicone bristles when it got caught in something and it broke the bristles (after several years)
• HEPA filter: every few months, but if you have a compressor, you should blow it out once a month, and they can also be washed in most cases
• dust container: every 2-4 weeks, if the machine is not self-draining, it is also worth washing
• wiping sensors: I only experienced soiling on the anti-drop, it is necessary when the robot vacuum cleaner indicates this

All robotic vacuum cleaners – stick vacuum cleaners in particular – have internal counters that the machine moves in response to certain events. For example, starting a cleaning program, removing the dust container, but only based on the elapsed time. If they reach a certain level, you will automatically receive a push message from the application to either empty something or exchange supplies.

It is a relatively few-known fact that the majority of robot vacuum cleaners capable of wiping/mopping use a water pump to push the liquid onto the wiper plate. Like all things that work with liquid, it can also scale, so it is worth pouring distilled water into it. Scaling due to the use of plain water voids the warranty! If the robot vacuum cleaner breaks down because of this, it will not be repaired for free in the service center.

What is the application of the robot vacuum cleaner good for?

Almost all modern robot vacuum cleaners can communicate with your phone using WiFi. There is always an app for this, in the case of devices belonging to the Xiaomi ecosystem, they are usually integrated into Mi Home, but for example Roborock and Roidmi use their own (also). The other manufacturers - 360, Proscenic, Ultenic - all have unique applications, but smaller companies often use some general smart home platform.

The essence of the application is that it compiles the historical data collected by the robot vacuum cleaner, and it can be controlled from here - although most models also have buttons on the top, and sometimes a remote control is also provided - and certain software functions can only be set from here. Since all modern robotic vacuum cleaners build a map, they can also be tracked here.

Software functions of the robot vacuum cleaner

There is almost no robot vacuum cleaner today that does not have a million software functions. What's more, manufacturers specifically compete to see who can develop forward-looking innovations into their devices. The far from complete list below covers the most important options:

• 2D/3D map construction: both mean a line drawing, only the former only shows the ground plan of the area, the latter also the space
• object placement on map: there are robot vacuum cleaners that can put pre-generated objects on the map. Eye candy function, we haven't seen a good one yet.
• object detection/avoidance: the essence of the function follows from its name. In this case, the object also appears on the map, and some models even add a picture to it. For the time being, there are relatively many false recognitions (e.g. he writes dog poop on potatoes and the like), but it is still pretty much usable.
• full map based cleaning: this is traditional cleaning, the robot vacuum cleaner goes along the map
• chopped up area: the map can be divided manually or automatically into rooms
• room or point (spot) cleaning: can be sent to a specific area or a unique room sequence can also be selected
• emptying at a self-emptying station: not only can it be emptied automatically, but you can also return it to the station
• cleaning methods, vacuuming, mopping, two in one: if your robot vacuum cleaner can mop, you can combine the two
• adjustment of suction power and liquid volume: self-explanatory, usually adjustable in 3-4 steps
• setting up virtual walls, no-go and no-mop zones: the difference between the three is that the first is a strip-like exclusion zone, the other two are area-based. In the case of the first, the robot vacuum does not even enter the designated area, in the case of the second, it just does not clean (e.g. carpet).
• managing maps and levels: modern devices are capable of handling multi-storey buildings. In this case, the robot has saved each level in its memory, and if you move it, it will recognize the given level.
• timing (schedule): the start of cleaning can be set for a given time, as well as where and what to do
• Do Not Disturb! mode (DND): during this period the robot does not start, does not sound and in many cases turns off its LEDs
• cleaning history: histogram of previous cleanings
• previous list of status changes and error messages: the robot vacuum cleaner can send push messages to your phone and inform you in this way
• carpet monitoring, increasing performance on the carpet: this is usually done with the ultrasonic sensor, it notices the carpet of different density and increases the suction power on it
• self cleaning: some robotic vacuum cleaners can clean their own brushes or mop discs
• self-drying: the additional activity of the former, it dries itself after washing
• self-drain calibration: it's usually a complete menu with all kinds of options, like how often to empty, whether to wash the robot's brushes, how long to dry, etc.
• sound and language settings: most robot vacuum cleaners communicate in several languages, but at least in English and German
• display of consumables: usually there is a cycle counter in the robot vacuum cleaner and after a certain time it tells you to replace the consumables. It is worth checking whether this is really necessary.
• virtual remote control: the same as the physical one, you only need to press the directions on the phone's surface.
• firmware update: the vacuum cleaner downloads the latest software version, which in many cases also includes the appearance of new functions

On what basis should you choose a robot vacuum cleaner?

It's a very common question, and quite rightly so. The general answer is whatever suits your needs, but that would avoid the real answer. Rather, we have collected some clues that can help you sift through the offer:

• If you can, don't buy "dumb" vacuum cleaners, only ones that build a map with a LiDAR sensor. In fact, even the dumb ones work according to pre-programmed algorithms, but on the one hand, their movement is very annoying, and on the other hand, they get stuck quite often. So what's the point of all the automation?
• Think about how big the floor area of ​​the housing cases is. It is completely unnecessary to buy a Roborock S8 Pro Ultra for half a million for a 35 square meter studio. The reverse is also true: a HUF 300 vacuum cleaner probably won't work for 50 square meters.
• If there is a small child in the family who slides and crawls on the floor, the robot should be able to wipe it up. It binds a lot of dust and the thin film layer dries very quickly. It is also recommended for asthmatics and allergy sufferers.
• For pets, dogs and cats, it is worth buying something that either cuts or does not roll up the hair. These are called "antitangle" in English.
• If there are many children or pets in the household, it is worth buying a robot that can mop up, because it can pick up dried mud as long as it is not very thick.
• The threshold is the enemy of all robots, especially if the mop plate is also on top. Measure the height of the cover selectors before you buy a device.
• Automation is a good thing, but the constant hunt for dust bags is not so much. Always check whether everything is available for a robot vacuum cleaner!
• In most cases, the 3D map and the placement of the furniture are peasant blinding, nothing else.
• The silicone side brush wears less and cleans better than the traditional one.
• If you have a lot of carpets, it is worth buying an additional stick vacuum cleaner or a mite remover in addition to the robot vacuum cleaner. The latter is also good for furniture and bed mattresses.
• The über-vacuum cleaners are often so expensive that they come out as models 1-2 categories smaller, but still able to handle more floors. If you live in a multi-story building, it is easier to buy 1 cheaper per floor than to constantly repack the expensive robot.
• One of the biggest enemies of the robot vacuum cleaner is the IKEA shoe tray. It's just so high that it still goes over the rim, but it's hard to get out of it.
• Everyone asks if self-emptying is necessary. In our opinion, not up to 50 square meters. In apartments of this size, emptying the dust container once a week is more than enough, and robot vacuum cleaners are fundamentally unsuitable for large-scale cleaning. If, on the other hand, you have to clean 100-200 square meters, then in many cases the tank can be full in 1-2 days, so it is worth considering self-emptying.
• Modern self-draining robotic vacuum cleaners often also empty the water, the problem of which is that the size of the tank limits the automation, but the water tank will definitely fill up in a much shorter time than the dust tank. So, if long-term automation is the point, then buy a model that only empties the dust.

Advantages and disadvantages of using robotic vacuum cleaners

Robot vacuum cleaners are spreading rapidly because they make everyday life a lot easier and free up a lot of time by replacing housework. In other words, they have countless advantages, but there are also disadvantages to using robot vacuum cleaners, which we will now take a look at.

The advantages of using a robot vacuum cleaner:

• It cuts the vacuuming and cleaning time in half or a third. If you use the robot vacuum cleaner every day, you will need to do significantly less vacuuming.
• It can be automated for weeks: it vacuums, mops or washes for you, then empties itself, even refills itself, and then goes to clean again.
• It can be connected to a smart home and controlled from other devices.
• He can work even when you are not at home.
• It can be launched from anywhere.
• More expensive models handle multi-story houses.
• The LEDs of many robot vacuum cleaners can be turned off, as can their sound, and they even have a silent mode, so they don't bother you much even when you're at home.

Disadvantages of using a robot vacuum cleaner:

• To use a robot vacuum cleaner effectively, you need to keep it tidy, otherwise it will collect slippers, USB cables or even LEGO bricks.
• He cannot clean what is not on the ground, that is, furniture, door jambs, shelves and the like are left out.
• They are not suitable for all apartments, especially where there are very high covering separating elements or where there are many very deep carpets (e.g. shaggy).
• High-end models are expensive.
• Pets may be afraid of it at first, but they get used to it in the long run (cats sometimes travel on it too).
• It does not completely replace cleaning.

How can the above disadvantages be eliminated? With alternative equipment, which will be discussed in the next section.

Alternatives to or instead of the robotic vacuum cleaner

Our personal experience is - at least that's how we do it - that robot vacuum cleaners alone are not enough to keep a household in order, so they need to be supplemented with something. Let's see what additional solutions are available and what you should forget about.

Window cleaning robot

One of the most useless things is the window cleaning robot. None of the ones we've seen so far have been good, forget them or read them thoroughly before buying one.

Dry-wet vacuum cleaners

Among the tools that can be used quite well are dry-wet, 2-in-1 tools. These are actually vacuum cleaners with one or more rotating brushes that are wet. The equipment achieves this by either spraying water in front of itself or directly wetting the roller brushes. We tested two, these On this link You can find.

The solution has two problems: they are quite heavy, so you can't simply lift them up, and the other is that since the roller brushes have to be held somewhere, a strip is always missing from the cleaning area at the support bracket on the edge of the brushes. There are exceptions to this, such as Roborock Dyad. The other problem is that the liquid can stink if you empty them at improper intervals. This still makes the solution usable, but you have to take into account the mentioned problems. There are better additional solutions for robotic vacuum cleaners.

Cordless, stick, rod or upright vacuum cleaners

Cordless vacuum cleaners are the other hit category next to robotic vacuum cleaners. These will not be discussed now, because we will explain this separately in another professional article. The spread of stick vacuum cleaners is no accident, these battery-powered solutions practically completely replace traditional vacuum cleaners. They are easy to move, they clean efficiently, they can be used not only for house cleaning, but also for cleaning the car, and even as a crumb vacuum cleaner. What's more, some models can also be equipped with a mopping plate, and they can also cut human and animal hair. In our household, a robot vacuum cleaner and a wireless vacuum cleaner work every day. The latter has been doing his job for six years.

Why not just use the cordless vacuum cleaner? Because it requires human intervention to use it. In other words, the robot vacuum cleaner is good for picking up everyday dirt, halving or tripling the number of cleanings, and what remains can be neatly cleaned with a wireless vacuum cleaner. If both can wash or wipe, then it is even better, as more dust is bound to wet surfaces.

Other additional equipment: mite remover and air purifier

Although a combination of a robot vacuum cleaner and a wireless vacuum cleaner is perfect for cleaning, there are tools that can be used to enhance the effect. There are two such devices that we think are effective, one of which can be completely replaced by a wireless vacuum cleaner.

Mite remover

Although the box of wireless vacuum cleaners often has a smaller motorized head next to the larger one - this is also called a mite remover - there are special tools for this. Why is this even necessary? For two reasons: the house dust mite is a strong allergen, it is also related to allergies and asthma, and one of the bases of house dust is the human skin itself. This is mostly collected by those surfaces that are porous, i.e. the carpet, the fabric surface of the furniture and the bed mattress. They need to be cleaned from time to time, and a mite remover is suitable for this, which not only vacuums, but also physically beats the surfaces and destroys pathogens with UV light. At this link find them.

Air purifiers

Air purifiers, also known as air purifiers, are similar devices to various vacuum cleaners, with the difference that they do not collect the settled dust from the surfaces, but collect the dust from the air. These devices also collect particles with a HEPA filter, but countless models also neutralize odors with activated carbon filters, but there are also chemicals that filter out, and some devices also sterilize with UV light. In other words, while the robot vacuum cleaner attacks the particles from below, the air cleaner attacks from above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which robot vacuum cleaner should I buy?

We have already touched on the issue in the article, primarily reliable equipment that can be adapted to your lifestyle. In the last 10 years, to put it mildly, the Chinese have torn the market and especially Western brands, starting with names like iRobot - they invented the entire market segment with their iRobot Roomba series - which was recently bought by Amazon. The top Chinese brands with a great price/value ratio are the following:

• Xiaomi, subject right
• The members of the Xiaomi ecosystem are: Roborock, Roidmi, Viomi, Dreame, etc.
• Uwant
• Neabot
• 360 models
• Secondary Chinese manufacturers: Proscenic, Ultenic, iLife, Trouver, etc.

Let's not write off the other Far Eastern and Western manufacturers either, Philips, Rowenta, Dyson are also present in the segment, but there are also own-brand products, for example Lidl and Aldi also distribute equipment, or there is Alza a Siguro with tools.

Which is the best robot vacuum cleaner?

Most people consider the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra model to be the most advanced and therefore one of the most expensive robot vacuum cleaners, but the Roidmi Eve is also a particularly sophisticated piece. However, it is worth knowing that the price of these is very high, just like any top model. Not even a Dyson is cheaper than half a million forints, and in most cases, these are unnecessarily high-tech devices for average people.

What is the best robot vacuum cleaner brand?

Further consideration of the above question, but based on the fact that the overwhelming majority of our acquaintances are models belonging to the Xiaomi ecosystem, so you should choose something from them. Fortunately, among the hundreds of products, everyone will find their solution.

Which is the best robotic vacuum cleaner for pets and pet hair?

Basically, any robot equipped with an anti-tangle roller brush is good. These are usually brushes twisted asymmetrically along their length, and there is usually a cutting edge in front of the suction opening, which slices hair and animal fur. A very useful function, there are few things more fiddly and disgusting than cutting hair from the shaft with scissors.

Which is the best vacuum cleaner for children?

Small children like to crawl on the floor and put everything in their mouths, so cleanliness is of utmost importance to parents. From this point of view, robotic vacuum cleaners capable of wiping or mopping are especially good, as they not only suck up, but also bind dust with the liquid, and disinfection with UV light is also a useful extra.

What is also important is that the device should be quiet, fortunately most robot vacuum cleaners already have a silent mode. The self-emptying, on the other hand, is very loud, because it has to be done with high power, it's like starting an airplane turbine for 10 seconds.

Which is the best robot vacuum cleaner for carpets?

Basically, there are two important things about carpet cleaning: mechanical scrubbing and strong suction power. They are also used to associate other functions with it, for example carpet recognition - in this case it marks it on the map - and increasing the suction power, and if the robot mops or mops, it mentions its mop plate.

Based on these, buy a robot vacuum cleaner with as much suction as possible and a good roller brush.

How often should the dust container be emptied?

Based on practical experience, approximately weekly containers of around 300 ml are worth it. If you don't do this, the suction force will start to compress the dirt, and sooner or later the robot will not have the power to suck.

How noisy is a robot vacuum cleaner?

It depends on what power it is running on. In general, the suction power can be set in four stages, from quiet to maximum, and by definition, the lowest suction power is the quietest. The maximum sound effect is somewhere around 65-75 dB, the silent mode is 50, which is roughly equal to the volume of a conversation. Since the decibel is a logarithmic measurement unit, it does not increase linearly, that is, the difference between 30 and 60 is not double, but MUCH more.

What constitutes good suction power?

This is one of the central questions about how much suction power robotic vacuum cleaners have. This is a real poster figure that every manufacturer is proud of, but in fact the machines cleaned well 5-6 years ago, when this value was only 1500-2000 pascals (this is enough to suck up the smaller bearing balls), and today it is around 6000-8000 Pa we are going The suction power alone is not sufficient to determine the efficiency, the efficiency of the rotating brush in front of it, the design of the suction channel, and many other things are important.

Which is better: a robotic vacuum cleaner with one or two side brushes

We have seen good and bad from both. Robot vacuum cleaners with a single side brush software "turn over" to the side where they have a side brush, that is, they go through the same place twice, so that they can also sweep along the skirting boards. Models with two side brushes do not need to turn, but this does not mean that they clean better. This is basically determined by the routing algorithm - SLAM.

How much does a robot vacuum cleaner go with one charge?

The manufacturer used to specify this in two ways: in minutes or in square meters. The average battery capacity is 3000-5200 mAh - Xiaomis are typically 5,2 Ah-sak - which typically means 120-180 minutes of cleaning. Today, however, this value is not really relevant, because all robot vacuum cleaners are capable of recharge and resume, that is, if they run out of power, they can return to their dock, charge themselves, and then continue working from where they left off.

What is the difference between a virtual wall, a no-go and a no-mop zone?

The three concepts are similar, in a certain sense mutually exclusive software functions. The virtual wall is a one-dimensional element that can be placed in a line, for example, it can be stretched between two walls, the robot vacuum cleaner cannot pass through it. The no-go zone is a two-dimensional shape that can be placed on an area that the robot vacuum cleaner cannot pass through, such as furniture, cables and other "landmarks". The robot vacuum cleaner can enter the no-mop zone, but cannot wash dishes. The latter is usually combined with carpet detection, these are marked on the map by more serious devices.

Most modern robotic vacuum cleaners can also raise the mop plate when it reaches a carpet.

How often should a robot vacuum cleaner be serviced?

Basically, wear and tear parts must be replaced and sometimes cleaned. A typical problem is that its wheels collect dirt and start to get stuck, and the planet wheel that turns it picks up hair. In addition to these, filters and brushes need to be replaced, roughly every six months, but at least it's worth cleaning.

How many years can a robot vacuum cleaner work?

A significant part of the early iLife models are no longer with us, roughly 7-8 years. The main reason for this is that the batteries have gone bad, and it is possible to replace them, but it is not profitable. The wheel-turning motor also tends to die due to lack of maintenance.

Not long after the appearance of the iLifes, the first Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaners came, which are still working today, i.e. 5-6 years ago. They have service and spare parts, so I wouldn't worry too much about that, but we also know of one where the battery died within 1 year and had to be replaced.

The same is true for their wireless vacuum cleaners, we use a Xiaomi Roidmi vacuum cleaner that is from 2018, and its operating time still hasn't decreased, even in six years. It had only one fault, a motorized head had to be replaced because the flexible tube in it was broken. So they are quite durable and reliable devices.

Does the robot vacuum cleaner fall down the stairs?

The answer is no. There are several optical sensors on the edge of robot vacuum cleaners that monitor the distance from surfaces and stop the robot before it falls.

Can robotic vacuum cleaners cope with the threshold?

Generally yes, but it depends on the height. Typically, they are still able to climb 18-20 mm, but if they get stuck, it is worth removing the wiper plate, because this is often the lowest point of the machine.

What wiping and mopping methods are there?

The difference between mopping and mopping is that in mopping, the vacuum cleaner only drags a rag behind it, while in mopping, it actively contributes to the removal of dirt by rubbing – see VibraRise used in the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra – and rotating.

One of the older methods of mopping is the Y movement, when the robot vacuum cleaner moves in a sweeping motion across the floor. The next, more advanced solution is the vibrating mop plate, which, for example, Roborock calls VibraRise, but the essence of all of them is the same: it vibrates quickly. More advanced solutions usually have mops that rotate in a circle and push the floor, like the Roidmi EVA or the Uwant 200.

Which is the best mop robot vacuum cleaner?

The top model of the Roborock S8 series, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra robot vacuum cleaner, is usually considered the best, but the MaxV series, which is also a Roborock product, is also interesting. It is currently in its 7th generation, it is called Roborock S7 MaxV. Nevertheless, even models belonging to the basic Xiaomi ecosystem are capable of at least erasing.

How wet does mopping make the floor?

In fact, barely. Robot vacuum cleaners leave a very thin film layer, which dries much faster than if you wash it with a manual mop. I've never seen a bumpy floor because of this, but if you don't handle the robot vacuum properly - for example, the mop tank doesn't fit properly - you can drain the water at the docking station. That is why robot vacuum cleaners are usually supplied with a transparent plastic sheet that must be placed in front of the docking station.

Do you need a dust bag in the robot vacuum cleaner?

Normally not, the dirt is sucked into a plastic container with a HEPA filter. The self-emptying models, on the other hand, contain a unique dust bag that must be changed every few weeks.

Can the robotic vacuum cleaner disinfect?

The answer is yes and no. There are models that work with UV light and disinfect themselves by setting up on their own docking station. Moreover, there are models that emit UV light while driving, but this is basically not the usual thing.

What is the difference between suction power and suction power?

The suction power is a value given in watts, while the suction force is expressed in pascals. The former shows how much power is required for the robot vacuum cleaner to produce the suction power.

How do robot vacuum cleaners filter the air?

They usually have a HEPA filter that collects the micro-particles. The number in the name of the HEPA filter shows its efficiency - e.g. HEPA 10 filters 85% of particles, and H13 filters 99,95% - robot vacuum cleaners typically have HEPA 11-13 filters.

How much space should be left around the robot vacuum cleaner dock?

They usually require 1,5 meters per side next to the dock, but they can actually dock in a much smaller space. With us, there are objects around it within half a meter and it goes into place without any problems.

How much time can I save with a robot vacuum cleaner?

According to our experience, the number of traditional vacuumings is halved/tripled. However, it cannot replace complete cleaning.

What happens to the liquids if I leave them in the self-draining station?

The containers of the self-emptying station are essentially closed, if not airtight, but they block odors quite well. However, if the liquid remains in it for a long time, it can still rot, especially the dirt in the dirty water tank. That's why it's worth pouring out its contents at certain intervals - say once a week.

How long can a robot vacuum cleaner be automated?

One of the most important features of modern robotic vacuum cleaners is that they can be automated. They start automatically and empty dust and water. The longest self-operating robot vacuum cleaners that we have tested are able to empty their dust tank for 60-90 days, the liquid in the water tank lasts somewhat less than that.

How long does it take to charge a robot vacuum cleaner?

It varies quite a bit, it obviously depends on the capacity of the battery, the duration is typically 2-6 hours. However, you don't have to worry much about this because robot vacuum cleaners automatically dock and charge themselves.

How to remotely control a robot vacuum cleaner?

In several ways, a physical remote control is added to certain models, this is already a rather outdated solution. There are two options for app-based robot vacuum cleaners: virtual remote control, which simulates the physical one, and you can also send the robot vacuum cleaner to a certain point on the map to clean.

Does the robot vacuum really wind up the cables and catch the carpet fringing?

Some models are advertised with an anti-tangle function, which in principle does not wind up the cables and does not catch the corner of the carpet. However, these do not always work well, but robotic vacuum cleaners equipped with an object recognition system are better in this regard as well. The most deadly thing for robot vacuum cleaners is the edge of rag carpets, almost all of them pick them up and get stuck.

Does the robot vacuum cleaner detect dirt?

There are models that are equipped with a dirt sensor - Dirt Detect - which, in principle, can see how dirty the cleaned area is. It is a function more typical of wireless vacuum cleaners. Although it is not dirt detection, some robot vacuum cleaners are able to detect floor types and carpets and adjust the suction power in such cases.

Does the robot vacuum cleaner damage the floor and furniture?

The bristles of robotic vacuum cleaners are made of very soft material, so they do not scratch the floor. They do hit objects, but they have a bumper at the front, behind which a pressure sensor is located, so if they touch a piece of furniture, they stop and turn back. There are models that do this more powerfully, so they have a sound effect, but they can only scratch themselves, not the furniture. However, it often happens that they get caught on the flat legs of tables or chairs, or start dragging the shoe tray behind them.

Does the robotic vacuum cleaner clean up crumbs or food residue?

The answer is, if it is solid, then yes. Obviously, grease stains can only be washed off with an added degreaser, but for example, it removes crumbs or fallen grains of rice without any problems. In some models, such as the Haier TAB P70, the motor can be removed and used as a crumb vacuum cleaner.

If you couldn't find one of your questions in the FAQ, or if we didn't have a clear answer, then contact us at one of our contact numbers listed on the page or on Facebook. To the best of our knowledge, we try to answer all questions about robot vacuum cleaners!

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