Is a Robot Vacuum For Carpet Right For Your Home?

The most effective carpet cleaning robots did very well in our tests, even though robot vacuums can't yet pick up dirt and other debris that have been ground into the carpet, as do manual vacuums. They are equipped with strong suction and brush roll systems that dig into piles of different heights to grab hair large chunks of dirt and other debris.

1. Vacuuming

Robot vacuums are fantastic for cleaning hard surfaces, but they miss the dirt that is embedded in carpets and rug. While their obstacle-avoidance technology has advanced in recent years, it's not yet as strong as a traditional upright or canister vacuum & carpet cleaner in one. If you're considering using a robot to clean your carpets make sure you get rid of cords, toys and other objects that could be caught in the roller brush. Consider rolling up rugs with plush carpets or taping down tassles to keep them from sticking to the vacuum. Consider placing drinking and water bowls for your pet bowls in the rooms where you will be using the robot vacuum. You can also limit the access of a robot vacuum to rugs by using barriers that are not accessible. These can be thrown away physically or via an app (if supported). iRobot has virtual barriers that beam invisible infrared signals to ensure that Roombas cannot cross.

Robotic vacuums are available that adjust automatically to different flooring types. They can be used on carpets as well as bare floors, but are generally more expensive. Since robots need manual charging and may take up to four hours to charge, you should factor in the cost of electricity when deciding how much you'll need to spend.

The most effective robots for vacuuming carpets combine mopping capabilities with intelligent navigation systems. They can handle many surfaces, including plush area rug, low-pile natural fiber rug as well as plush area rugs. But not all robots are built to work on carpets, and even the most sophisticated models may still be stuck or be confused by their intricate weave and threads.

Pick a model with mopping pads that can be lifted and separated to vacuum over the rug. This is a feature found in a few top robotic vacuums, such as the Ecovacs DeebotX2 Omni. It allows them to maintain suction power even while moving over soft materials which could damage their brush roll or leave a dusty remnant. You can also control your robot manually through an app that allows you to create cleaning schedules and no-go zones easily and monitor its progress while it works.

2. Wet-mopping

If you have carpeting in your home, you'll want a robot that can both vacuum and mop. Robots that excel at vacuuming can also be used to mop hard floors. That means pet paw prints that are muddy and sticky stained milk stains, spilled coffee, even grime that has accumulated on hardwood and tile floors can be handled by these machines.

Some robots that can do mopping and vacuuming also come with larger cleaning pads and reservoirs. They also have an integrated navigation system that can recognize the layout of your home. You could program your robot to only clean certain rooms or select from various cleaning modes like Auto Spot, Auto, or Edge that will send the robot hugging walls to ensure effective cleaning.

Look into a robot that has lidar as well as a front-facing video camera to give you more control over how it moves around your home. These models, like our upgrade pick the Roborock S8+, are capable of detecting obstacles in real-time and avoid them during a cleaning session which allows you to keep your hands off the controls and makes for a cleaner, safer robot.

The most efficient robotic vacuum for carpet can take on a variety of pile heights due to brush roll systems that go deep into carpets to nip hair and larger pieces and take in fine debris that a traditional best robot vacuum for high pile carpet vacuum may overlook. Many also have automatic suction adjustments based on the floor type, and come with a self-emptying dock to mitigate frequent trips to the garbage bin.

Some people keep a regular upright model to tidy up areas which robots can't reach. Johnson says this is a perfectly legitimate option. It really comes down to your needs. If you're content with a single machine for your entire house then that could suffice for you.

For those who have a mix of carpeting and hardfloors in their homes a robotic vacuum for carpet can save you time, energy and effort. Choose a model that has a high carpeting rating, and a large dust bin that can handle your carpets when they become dirty.

3. Spot-cleaning

The layout of your home and your needs will determine if a robotic vacuum is worth the investment. If your rooms contain a lot of rugs with tassels that can be caught in the brush roll, or have shag or high-pile carpet it could be advantageous to invest in a dedicated vacuum that has special features for carpets that are made specifically for these types of materials.

Consider how often you will use the machine and if you are willing to keep an upright vacuum on hand to get into the difficult-to-access areas that robotic cleaners may leave out. Many of our top picks are excellent at picking up the majority of dirt and dust that collects on tile and hardwood floors, but they don't have enough power to deal with deep-set carpet messes and pet hair.

To get the best carpet floor vacuum results from your robot vacuum for carpet, choose one with a strong suction motor designed to handle different floor surfaces. It must also have rotating brushes, strong climbing capability and advanced mapping to find hard-to-reach debris in corners and around doorjambs and baseboards. You'll also need a vacuum that offers multiple cleaning modes, including Auto which will move the vacuum from room to room; Spot, which allows you to choose and control a specific area to clean and Edge that sends it hugging the walls of your home for perimeter cleaning.

Some of the models that we evaluated which included our top picks, are able to effortlessly transition between hardwood floors and carpet with the help of smart sensors. These sensors recognize different flooring types and adapt cleaning strategies accordingly. They can also raise their mop pads to tackle more dense carpet piles if required.

For a selection of our top-rated robots, you can also turn on carpet mode within the app. These apps provide various schedules to have them clean your carpets even if you are not home. They also offer a manual mode that lets you control the robot by hand using the remote included. Some users prefer this option as it gives them more control over which areas are cleaned and when.

4. Cleaning schedules

It can be difficult to keep track of your regular cleaning chores when you're working. With a robot vacuum you can program it to run when you're away and make sure your floors are always clean. That's a huge benefit for anyone who has a hectic lifestyle or who has difficulty fitting in regular, deep cleaning.

In our tests, we discovered that the top robot vacuums worked well on both hard and carpet floors. They are excellent at picking up fine particles, such as sand and baking soda, as well as heavy debris, like orzo pasta and nuts and screws made of metal as well as fluffy objects like pet hair. They aren't as effective as an upright vacuum when it comes to taking away dirt and other debris.

Consider the type of flooring and how often each space is utilized. For example, you might want to vacuum heavily used areas at least once each week and mop non-carpeted areas more often. Then, you can select one that automatically switches between tasks to ensure each space is properly cleaned.

Robot vacuums are now able to handle carpets more efficiently. Many of them now have powerful obstacle detection abilities that help them navigate around the unique obstacles that could arise in a home with rugs or other floor surfaces. For instance, a top robot vacuum cleaner for carpet and floor for rugs will not get tangled in the tassels of area rug, nor will it be able to pass through or over furniture. This is the same for robotic mopping systems that can be a good choice for homes with various flooring types.

You'll need to pay attention to the battery life and dust bin size of any model you consider, as these variables will determine the length of time it can go between emptying the trash. It is also advisable to find models with features that can reduce the number of charging sessions needed to complete an entire cycle. If you're looking for a robotic mop, look for one that is able to detect rugs and lift the mopping pad to be sure to avoid damaging them.