Bagless Robotic Sweepers

Some robot vacuums, including Scuttle Bug and RoRo have been adopted as family pets. They even play hide-and-seek with their owners!

Robotic vacuums and mops operate independently, so once you've set them up, they'll be content to continue cleaning on their own. They'll last for a long time with minimal maintenance, such as emptying the bins and cleaning the brushes.

1. Powerful suction

Bagless robotic sweepers have suction capabilities comparable to conventional vacuum cleaners. They are equipped with different features that allow them to deal with different kinds of floors and the sizes of homes. The top robots allow you to plan cleaning times for specific areas and define limits for areas you prefer or don't. You can use an app to change the intensity of your robot's cleaning and track its progress as it moves.

A feature that a lot of users find helpful is the ability to choose which direction and when your robot will begin. Based on the layout of your home, this can be especially useful in areas with a lot of doorways and corners. Many robots also have a docking station that lets you swap out reusable or disposable dustbins and recharge the robot between uses. Some even feature an auto-emptying base that eliminates the need to purchase disposal bags.

The primary drawback of robotic bagless sweepers is their expensive cost. This is particularly applicable to models with self-emptying bases, which can add significant cost to the overall 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.

While the Eufy 11s does well at general vacuuming and can get into most of my home's nooks and crannies, it does have some notable shortcomings when it comes to collecting 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 rearranging dog and cat hair. The robot can also get stuck on carpets and get trapped by soft 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 to collect different amounts of debris they are more efficient in collecting fur and are much easier to empty. They can also get into corners faster than other circular robots because of their square-ish design. They have excellent recognition of objects and can consume Cheerios, piles of oatmeal and even fake dog turds when managing the lamp cords and fake dog turds.

2. Adaptive cleaning

One of the most important aspects you'll find in any robot vacuum, and particularly one that is bagless, is the ability to adapt to changing conditions. For instance, your robo vac will learn what type of floors that you have in each room, whether it's hard or soft and how to maneuver around furniture and other obstacles like stairs. The more information it has the better it will clean your entire home.

A smart robot cleaner can also get into corners that a traditional broom and dustpan cannot, as well as under beds and other high spots which require your hands and knees. Based on the model you choose, some robots can be programmed to clean specific rooms or spaces at specific times of the day.

The best robot vacuum self empty bagless vacuums are able to remove fine particles such as baking soda or sand and heavier debris like heaps of oatmeal or orzo pasta, metal screws and nuts or fluffy things like pet hair. They'll also scoot into tight spaces where you might need to move a stick or broom to reach. They're also quieter than an upright or canister vacuum. They can be programmed to run in the background while you read or watch television.

Some models can sweep and mop floors and even vacuum. These machines require extra care. You'll need to remove the mopping pad, bagless robot vacuum And mop clean it (and let it dry) before reinstalling. If your manufacturer suggests that you do so, you'll want to wash and rinse the filter frequently (and allow it to dry).

Most mops can be used several times before having to be replaced. However, you'll want to make sure that you buy a machine with an enormous water tank as well as mop pad capacity (the Dreametech W10, for instance, which earned an award in the previous Good Housekeeping Best Cleaning and Organizing Award and holds a hefty 5 gallon of water and can hold up to 12 mopping pads). Some of the most advanced models have an charging dock that can refill the tank and empty the bin.

3. Efficient

There's no other home appliance that has changed in the same speed as the robot vacuum. They were initially overpriced devices that sat on the steps and were filled with cat litter and pet hair. Today there is numerous models available in all price ranges that have self-emptying bins and mapping capabilities.

The robotic vacuum has been improved by incorporating more effective obstacle avoidance. This is the ability to recognize and skirt around problem-causing obstacles such as tangled cords, furniture legs and piles dog waste (catch that hall-of-fame CNET article for more details on this issue). However, even the most powerful robot vacuums cannot completely avoid them all the time, meaning they could still be overwhelmed by them and end up getting snagged or scattering poop across your floors, causing a mess, expensive and time-consuming poop.

Advanced robots utilize gyroscopes camera, radar and laser (laser distance sensors or LDS) guided system to draw out your floor plan and ensure that they are clean thoroughly and are not missing any space. They can also store and update multiple floor plans. This increases their efficiency and reduces the time they are spending cleaning the same areas or repeating steps.

If you want a robot vacuum that you can set and forget, the iRobot J7+ is the best one we've tested. It was the most efficient robot vacuum we've tested for mapping the virtual boundaries, and eliminating obstacles.

If, however, you're more interested in saving some cash and don't require features like mapping or a self-emptying bin, check out our budget choice for this year Eufy 11S. It has great performance on carpeting with low pile and hardwood floors cleaning up dust, pet hair and cat litter efficiently. The onboard dust bin can hold up to 45 days of dirt, and when it gets full, it automatically goes back to its dock for emptying.

4. Easy to maintain

Like any household appliance, robotic vacuums and mops require periodic cleaning. But how often is contingent on the model and the needs of your household. You will need to empty the dustbin frequently and clean the brushes or wheels depending on the model. The majority of robots come with a guide to recommended maintenance procedures.

For instance, you could rinse the bin and wipe it down with a moist (not dripping wet) sponge made of melamine. This will remove any dirt that has accumulated. You can also clean the filters and wheels of your robot vacuum to ensure that it runs smoothly. Nasrallah recommends you check the wheels at least once per week to ensure they're free of threads, hairs, and other debris that could get inside and cause the machine to malfunction. It is also recommended to clean the main brushes that are located under your robot -- the left and right drive wheels, and the side brush -- at least once every month to keep them free of any debris and functioning correctly.

There are models that are robot mop machines that can be used to add mopping to your cleaning routine. If you intend to make use of the feature, make sure your home is vacuum-proofed thoroughly prior to turning on your mop robot. This means that the robot won't be dragged around by pet toys or socks that haven't been secured.

Other handy features to look for include an auto-emptying base that makes it easier to take out the garbage, a high-efficiency filter to reduce allergens in the air, and a smart mapping technology that lets the robot learn the patterns of your rooms so it can clean them in a systematic manner. Some models also allow you to set areas that your robot won't clean -- a great option for parents who like to put their shoes on the floor.

To determine the most effective 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 of ECOVACS Americas. The experts assessed the products by evaluating their setup, effectiveness and the level of noise. They also assessed the features, ease of maintenance and maneuverability.