What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum
A robot vacuum can help keep you on top of pet hair and lint on a regular basis. Many robot vacuums are compatible with apps that allow you to schedule cleaning sessions. You can also set virtual boundaries, or "walls," to keep the vacuum away from areas that you don't want cleaned.
This smart vac-mop creates an outline of your home's layout with its initial run. It then stores the space to help you with future cleaning tasks. It has an extra-large dustbin that automatically emptys and self-cleaning brush roll.
Object Detection
When you are choosing a robotic vacuum, look for one that is able to pick up big items, such as lamps and toys and also dust particles. This will help ensure they don't get caught in the roller brush and aren't left on your floors. This is particularly crucial if the robot will be regularly cleaned by children or pets.
A model that has an engine that is powerful and lots of suction is also an ideal choice. This will make it more efficient at getting up pet hair, lint, and dust off your carpets and hardwood floors.
The size of your house is another important consideration. If you have a huge house, you may prefer models with multiple cleaning zones that cover the entire house in one session. Some models also come with mopping capabilities that can be used to keep your floors looking fresh and clean.
Robot vacuums can last for a long time, but they'll need to be cleaned regularly and properly. Cleaning the rotating brushes, emptying the dust bin and wiping down the sensors regularly will keep your machine running efficiently for years to be. Many owners of robot vacuums we chat with have had the same model for a period of 10 years or more (and changed motors, brushes and batteries in the process).
A basic robot is much less costly than a larger vacuum cleaner. They'll still do an excellent job of cleaning surface dirt pet fur, lint and other debris. You can use them to scrub your floors several times per day. However, they don't come with as technological innovation, and may be prone to getting stuck or requiring human intervention.
Object Avoidance
The best vacuum robot and mop robot vacs use sensors, lasers, or cameras to guide them around your home without falling off or getting stuck on the staircase. They also can avoid obstacles such as cords and furniture legs, and some models automatically return to their dock or base when they are running low on power. The more expensive ones often feature mapping capabilities that allow them to remember the arrangement of your home, and spend less time running into walls.
If you don't want splurge on the most advanced robotic vacuums, you can find one that is capable of picking up pet hair, dirt, dust and crumbs from hard floors like tiles and wood, as well as carpets with a low pile. They also can handle larger particles like nails with rusty screws, metal screws or discarded toys. Some come with a base that automatically empty itself, which is a great feature for those who don't want to empty it after each cleaning session.
Many robotic vacuums also come with advanced features that make your standard stick vacuum seem prehistoric with features like scheduling, zone targeting, and the ability to control them with an app or voice assistant like Alexa. You can also set up cleaning zones and virtual walls to block off areas you don't wish the robot to get into.
Some robotic vacs such as the Eufy 11S and my former top pick, the Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that stops them from derailing by running into furniture or getting caught in cords. Others, such as the iRobot Roomba j7+, have more advanced AI obstacle avoidance that uses cameras and processor-powered smarts to see and avoid items like shoe cords, lamp cords socks and pet waste. It is a little bit more expensive than other bots I've tested, but it does a great job of avoiding obstacles and never gets stuck or derailed when I'm working on my floor.
The iRobot J7+ was a great obstacle-avoiding robot, but it did not always do a great job at avoiding crumbs and dirt on my carpets. It also had a tendency to over-vacuum certain areas, which resulted in dust accumulating in the filters and a less clean house.
Smart Mapping
Some of the best robots vacuums come with an application that lets you alter cleaning modes, create schedules, and look at the floor area covered by the machine. This is a handy feature, and one that a few competitors do not have. This allows you to create profiles that will automatically start the robot at certain times, and keep it running regularly. For example, it could be cleaning the living area every day, or just before dinner.
A good app can also allow you to control your robot with voice commands. Certain models are compatible with Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant, which allows you to control your robot with voice commands.
To enjoy a hands-free and effortless experience, opt for models with a large dust bin that can withstand several cleaning sessions before having to be empty. There are models that self-empty. This eliminates the need to empty the robot after each vacuuming session.
If you're looking for a robot that does more than vacuum, consider the models that have a mopping function. These are usually bigger than robotic vacuums and have a water tank in the interior which can store multiple cleaning sessions worth of dirt and debris before needing to be emptied.
Robots that are more sophisticated can create their own maps, and can remember the layout of your home from one cleaning session to the next, which prevents them from getting lost or stuck. This can make a huge difference in the efficiency of your robot vacuums, as it won't be spending time returning to the beginning of the room when it comes into contact with walls or furniture.
Our test subjects found that robots with this feature were very efficient. They could sit and watch television or perform other tasks while the robot cleaned. Some of these models utilize laser navigation and can make an exact map of your house, which means you can program them to clean just the bedroom after dinner, or each room of the house when you're at work.
App Control
It is recommended to select the vacuum that comes with a mobile application for those who want to modify the frequency of cleaning and select a cleaning mode. You can also view the state of the vacuum and the condition of its dust bin within the app. Some of the top robot vacuums are operated by voice using Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri Shortcuts.
It is simple to maintain a robot that has an washable filter and self-emptying container, particularly when the filter can be easily removed and rinsed. Another great feature is a high-powered brush that gets into corners and along baseboards making it much easier to get rid of hair and dirt. Certain robots are better in avoiding chair legs than others. Others have a sensor that automatically cleans brushes to avoid the clogging.
Some robot vacuums have navigation tools that allow them to discover your home and navigate around obstacles. High-end models are equipped with sensors and cameras that recognize obstacles such as furniture, stairs and cords, while cheaper models often utilize boundary strips that you place on the floor to mark off areas where you don't want it to leave. Avoidance of objects is particularly beneficial for families with young kids who throw socks and toys all over the home. This can help your robot to gather these items, instead of scattering them.
Robots are increasingly equipped with mop heads. This is great for those with hard floors who require to mop regularly. These robots come with an integrated water tank into the chassis, or an extra piece which you can change out when you're ready to mop. They may require to be refilled more often than other kinds of robots, however they're perfect for homes with hard floors which aren't easy to clean using a vacuum.
These robots come with some impressive technology, and cost a lot less than you would expect. You can find a decent one for less than $200, and it does a decent cleaning job on hard floors, while also navigating around the edges of carpets and area rugs. The robot can be programmed to clean specific rooms on a regular basis. It can also be controlled remotely via an app or by pressing buttons.