Who doesn’t love being able to sit back and relax while a smart device cleans your house automatically? While robot vacuums perform well on hardwood floors, can it do as good a job on carpet as regular vacuum cleaners? The answer will depend on two things: which robot vacuum model you have and the type of carpet.

Do robot vacuum cleaners work on carpet? Not all robot vacuum cleaners work on carpet effectively. While some advanced models are equipped with carpet cleaning capabilities, robot vacuum cleaners are still comparatively poor at removing dirt from carpet compared to a standard vacuum cleaner.

With that in mind, robot vacuum cleaners are amazing for in-between cleans and can be used on a daily basis, especially if you'll be out of the house. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at how well robot vacuum cleaners are able to clean houses equipped with carpeted floors. Let’s get started.

Are Robot Vacuums Good on Carpet?

Generally, robot vacuum cleaners work on carpet. However, not all robot vacuums are created equal. The effectiveness of a robot vacuum cleaner on carpet will largely depend on two factors: the model of the robot vacuum cleaner and the thickness of the carpet. Let’s talk about each considerations in greater detail:

1. The Robot Vacuum Cleaner Model

The first consideration when measuring the effectiveness of a robot vacuum cleaner on carpet is the model of the robot vacuum cleaner itself. Thankfully, newer robot vacuum models are now very advanced and are equipped with the right features to not only clean flat surfaces, but carpets as well.

Several robot vacuum cleaners are designed specifically to deep-clean carpets. For example, the iRobot Roomba S9+ is marketed as a robot vacuum cleaner that delivers 40x the amount of suction power (compared to the Roomba 600 Series) for the deepest clean possible, including carpets. 

Another model, like the Roborock S6 Robot Vacuum, comes with 2000Pa of suction power, enough to lift AA batteries. The intense suction power easily lifts dirt from deep inside carpet fibres. Best of all, when a carpet is sensed, S6 increases suction to maximum capacity to give carpets a more thorough clean.

2. The Carpet Thickness

The second consideration when measuring the effectiveness of a robot vacuum cleaner on carpet is the thickness of the carpet. Obviously, a thinner carpet will be easier for any robot vacuum cleaner to navigate on. However, thicker carpets can pose as a challenge, even for newer robot vacuum models.

Despite being marketed as robot vacuum cleaners with carpet cleaning abilities, most manufacturers state that their products are best used on low to medium pile carpets. You will most likely find a warning by the manufacturer that states: not suitable for high-pile carpets and very dark-colored floors.

PRO TIP: Not all robot vacuum cleaners can work well on dark floors. If you want to know more about this topic, be sure to read our simple guide on whether or not robot vacuums work on dark floors. After reading our comprehensive post, you’ll be well-equipped to choose the right robot vacuum for your house.

Do Robot Vacuums Work on Thick Carpet?

So, do robot vacuums work on thick carpet? While most robot vacuums work on low to medium pile carpet, robot vacuums may not work well on thick carpet. Robot vacuums don’t generate enough suction to deep clean thick carpet. Additionally, the wheels and brushes may get stuck on thick carpet.

It’s true that robot vacuum cleaners are equipped with advanced technology. These include sophisticated mapping software, cameras that detect dirt, and stair detection sensors. However, robot vacuum cleaners are still comparatively poor at removing dirt from carpet compared to regular vacuum cleaners.

While there are a few exceptions, robot vacuum cleaners generally can’t generate the suction of a standard vacuum cleaner. Though they can make a carpet look clean, a lot of dirt may be left behind deep inside the carpet. Over time, the dirt left behind may pile up and damage the carpet. 

Additionally, a robot vacuum cleaner may get stuck when navigating on thick carpet. If you've got a combination of rugs and hard floors, they may have trouble travelling from one surface type to the next. Tassels or fringes on rugs and deep carpet piles can get tangled inside the wheels or brushes.

In summary, robot vacuum cleaners generally are not as good at removing dirt from carpet compared to regular vacuum cleaners, despite their advanced sensors and technology. If you’re looking to deep clean carpets, it’s best to use a regular vacuum cleaner.

How to Maximize Robot Vacuums on Thick Carpet?

Dirty carpets not only look disgusting, but they’re also full of harmful pollutants and grime. If your house has thick carpets, but you still want to enjoy the automation offered by a robot vacuum cleaner, the best way to maximize your smart gadget is to use them in between deep-cleaning sessions.

According to TODAY, the best way to keep carpets clean is to vacuum them slowly, back and forth with repetitive strokes. Optimally, you should aim for 15-20 minutes to effectively vacuum a 300-square-foot room. Doing so removes 83% of the dry soil in the carpet. On average, aim to vacuum your carpets twice a week.

If you have a robot vacuum cleaner, you can reduce the amount you need to vacuum your carpets to once a week. Then, you can use a robot vacuum cleaner to keep your carpets fairly clean throughout the week. Think of a robot vacuum cleaner as a way to reduce the time you spend on vacuuming your carpets.

Bottom Line

And there you have it, a comprehensive answer to the question: do robot vacuum cleaners work on carpet? Now that you know that some models work better on carpet than other models, be sure to buy the best robot vacuum cleaner designed for carpet cleaning if your house has carpeted floors.

After many hours of research and testing, we don’t recommend a robot vacuum cleaner as a complete replacement for a regular stick, barrel, or upright vacuum cleaner, especially in houses with carpeted floors. Nonetheless, robot vacuums are excellent for supplementary cleaning and can be used on a daily basis.

You may also want to read our comparison reviews:

• Roomba 980 vs. 985
• Roomba 670 vs. 675
• Roomba 675 vs. e5
• Roomba 614 vs. 675
• Roomba 890 vs. 960
• Roomba 675 vs. 960
• Roomba e5 vs. i3
• Roomba i3 vs. 675
• Roomba e5 vs. i7
• Roomba 614 vs. e5