What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum

A robot vacuum can keep you on the top of pet hair and lint on regular basis. Many use apps that allow you to schedule cleaning times and create virtual boundaries, or "walls" to keep them from areas that you don't want to be cleaned.

This smart vac-mop creates an outline of your home using its initial run. It then stores the area for future cleaning jobs. It comes with a self-cleaning brush roll and an extra-large dust bin that empties automatically.

Object Detection

When you are choosing a robotic vacuum, choose one that is able to pick up large objects, such as toys and lamp cords, and also fine dirt. This will ensure that they don't get caught in the roller brush and don't end up on your floors. This is especially crucial if the robot will be regularly cleaned by pets or children.

It's also a good idea to select a model that has a powerful motor and lots of suction power. This will make it more efficient in removing pet hair, lint, and dust from your hardwood and carpet floors.

Another important consideration is the size of your space. If you live in a large house, you may want to select one that has multiple cleaning zones so you can clean your entire house in a single session. Certain models have mopping features that can be used to keep floors looking fresh and clean.

Robot vacuums can last for a long time, but they'll need to be cleaned regularly and properly. Regularly cleaning the rotating brushes, emptying your dust bin, and wiping your sensors will ensure that your robot is working efficiently for many years. Many of the robot vacuum owners who we talk to have been using their machines for 10 years or more (and have replaced motors, brushes, and batteries along with time).

A basic robot will cost you less than a full-sized vacuum cleaner, but they'll do a fantastic job of keeping up with dirt on the surface, pet hair and dust. You can use them to scrub your floor several times a day. However, they don't have as smart technology, and can be susceptible to becoming stuck or requiring human intervention.

Object Avoidance

The most effective robot vacuums make use of sensors, lasers or cameras to help them navigate your home without falling off or getting stuck on the stairs. They also can stay clear of obstacles such as cords and furniture legs, and some models can automatically return to their dock or base when they run out of energy. The more expensive ones often come with mapping capabilities that permit them to learn the layout of your home and lessen the time you spend bumping into walls.

You don't have to spend a lot of money on the most expensive robotic vacuums. You can still find models that do a fantastic job of removing pet hair and dirt from hard surfaces like tiles, wood and low-pile rugs. They can also take care of bigger debris like nails with rusty screws, metal screws or even toys that have been discarded. Some models even have self-emptying bases that is handy for those who don't want to empty your trash bin after every cleaning session.

Some robotic vacuums have smart features, making the standard stick vacuum look quaint. They include zones-targeting, schedules, and the ability to control them via an app or a voice assistants, such as Alexa. You can also create cleaning zones and virtual walls to block off areas you don't want robots to access.

Some robotic vacs such as the Eufy 11S and my former favorite Roborock S8 Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that prevents them from getting sucked into furniture or tangling with cords. Others, like the iRobot Roomba j7+, have more advanced AI obstacle avoidance that uses a camera and processor-powered smarts to see and avoid items like shoes, lamp cords, socks and pet waste. It's more expensive than the other bots I've tried, however, it did a great job of avoiding obstacles in my home. It also didn't get derailed or trapped while working on my floors.

The J7+ from iRobot was a fantastic obstacle avoidance robot however it didn't always do a good job at avoiding dirt or crumbs on my carpets. It also tends to over-vacuum areas, which led to lots of dust in the filter, and a less clean house.

Smart Mapping

The best robot vacuums have an app that helps you set up cleaning modes, set schedules and see a map of your flooring area that the machine covers. This is an extremely useful feature that other models do not have. This allows you to create profiles that automatically start your robot at specific times and continue to run on an ongoing basis, such as cleaning your living room prior to dinner or every other day.

A good app will also allow you to control your robot using voice commands. Some models support Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant and can work completely hands-free, so you can say "start cleaning" or "change cleaning mode" without using the app.

For a truly hands-free experience, opt for a model with a large dust bin that can accommodate several cleaning sessions before having to be empty. You can find models that self-empty. This eliminates the requirement to empty the machine after every time you vacuum.

If you're looking for a robot that is more than simply vacuum, you'll need to consider the possibility of a model that can mop floors. These are usually bigger than the robotic vacuums and come with a water tank inside which can store multiple cleaning sessions worth of dirt and other debris prior to needing to be emptied.

The most advanced robots can create their own maps of your home and can even keep track of the arrangement from one cleaning to another which can help them avoid getting lost or trapped in corners. This can make a significant difference in the efficiency of your robot vacuum, since it won't have to return to where it was when it encounters walls or furniture.

Our testers who used the robot that has this feature discovered it to be extremely efficient. They could easily watch TV or complete other chores while the robot was cleaning. Some models employ laser navigation, and can create an exact map of your entire home, which means that you can program them to clean just the bedroom after dinner or every room in your home while you're at work.

App Control

If you want to customize the frequency with which the robot cleans your home and choose a cleaning option you should choose one that is compatible with an app for mobile devices. Through the app, you can check the status of your vacuum and its dust bin. Some of the top robot vacuums can be operated by voice using Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri Shortcuts.

A cheap robot vacuum cleaner that self-empties a bin and washable filters makes it easy to keep clean, particularly when you are able to easily access the filter and remove it to wash it. Another great feature is a powerful brush that gets into corners and along baseboards which makes it easier to remove dirt and hair. Some robots are better in avoiding the chair's legs than others, and some also have self-cleaning sensors that can prevent the obstruction of brushes that may be a problem in other robots.

Some robot vacuums have navigation tools to help them discover your home and navigate around obstacles. The top models utilize sensors and cameras to detect obstacles such as stairs, furniture, and cords. Less expensive models might use boundary strips to mark areas where you don't want it to enter. Avoidance of objects is particularly important for families with young children who throw socks and toys scattered across the house, as it assists your robot in capturing the objects instead of scattering them.

More robots are equipped with mop attachments. This is great for those with hard floors who require to mop regularly. These robots have an integrated water tank into the chassis or an additional piece that you can put in when it's time to clean. They may need to be filled more frequently than other kinds of robots, however they're great for homes with floors made of wood which aren't easy to clean by vacuum.

These robots are loaded with impressive technology, and cost much less than you'd expect. You can find a quality one for under $200. It does a decent cleaning job on hard floors, while also navigating around the edges of carpets and carpets. The robot can be programmed to clean the room on a regular basis. It can be controlled remotely through an app or by pressing buttons.