You don’t want to wet your carpets, and some robot manufacturers are now solving this problem with robots that automatically detect carpets and lift the mopping pads to avoid causing damage.

Many vacuums connect to apps that allow you to schedule cleaning sessions, and some even sync with Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant and other digital voice aids for a truly hands-free experience. All robot vacuums will automatically return to their docks to recharge, and some can even pause a cleaning session, recharge and continue cleaning from where they left off.

If you’re using a standard charging base, you may have to fix it to the wall, so the robot vacuum won’t knock it out of place. Some bases come with stickers to help with this issue. If you’re lucky enough to own a robot vacuum with a self-emptying base, it should be heavy enough to hold itself in place.

❌ You're on a budget: This is a premium robovac, and while we think the performance justifies the price, there are cheaper alternatives if it's out of your budget.

While it lacks mopping or self-emptying capabilities, the Dyson 360 Vis Nav is a compact, reliable option for anyone prioritizing high-end vacuum performance. By focusing on the essentials, it saves space without sacrificing premium features like voice control, automatic suction adjustment and scheduled cleaning.

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Robot vacuums are great maintenance cleaners. If you hate cleaning your floors or just want to extend the length of time in between cleanings, consider investing in one.

The iRobot s9+ is simple to operate and provides strong pick up across hard floors and carpet. Its high-end performance especially excels in picking up strands of pet hair. Roomba's self-emptying base saves you time and effort on maintenance too.

It's speedy as well, mapping the first floor of our home in a near record of 7 minutes, thanks to the Quick Mapping option. However, it was less impressive on carpet, with an average score of 86% — its downfall was its inability to pick up dog hair, collecting just 74%.

For a robot vacuum that will clean according to your preferences and habits, consider the Roomba j7+. Its app can create personalised cleaning suggestions. This means that you can factor allergy seasons into your schedule. It also has dual multi-surface rubber brushes that work for different floors and don't get tangled with pet hair.

The top-rated robot vacuums excel at cleaning bare floors and picking up pet hair. Some also come with advanced features like ​​WiFi connectivity and smart mapping technology.

How big is your home? If your robot vacuum will have a lot of ground to cover, look for a model with a long battery life and a large dust bin.

I test vacuums for a living — here are 5 robot vacuum deals I’d pick up in Amazon’s Spring Sale

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