What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum

A robot vacuum can help keep you on the top of pet hair and lint on a daily bases. Many use apps that allow you to schedule cleaning times and define virtual boundaries or "walls" to keep them out of areas you don't want cleaned.

This smart vac-mop makes the map of your home's layout with its first run. It then stores the space to be used for cleaning tasks in the future. It has a self-cleaning brush roll and an large dust bin that is empty automatically.

Object Detection

When choosing a robot vacuum cleaner, pick one that can pick-up big items such as toys and lamp cords as well as dust particles of fine size. This will ensure they don't become entangled in the roller brush and don't end up on your floors. This feature is particularly important for those who have children or pets and you may have to clean the robot regularly.

It's recommended to choose a model with a powerful motor and lots of suction power. This will allow it to be more effective in eliminating pet hair, dust and lint off carpets and hardwood floors.

The size of your house is another crucial factor to consider. If you have a large home, you might want to opt for one with multiple cleaning zones that cover the entire home in one session. Certain models have mopping features that can be utilized to keep floors clean and fresh.

Robot vacuums can last a long time however they'll need to be cleaned regularly and properly. Regularly cleaning the rotating brushes, emptying your dust bin, and wiping your sensors will keep your robot running smoothly for a long time. Many robot vacuum owners who we talk to have owned their machines for ten years or longer (and have replaced brushes, motors, and batteries as time went by).

A basic robot is much less expensive than a full size vacuum cleaner. They will still do an excellent job of cleaning surface dirt, pet fur and lint. They're an excellent maintenance tool that you can distribute every week to keep your floors clean. The downside is they don't have as advanced technology, and could be prone to becoming stuck or requiring human intervention.

Object Avoidance

The top robot vacuums make use of cameras, sensors or lasers to guide you around your home and avoid getting stuck or falling down the stairs. Some models will return to their dock or base when their battery is depleted. They can also avoid obstacles like furniture legs and cords. Some of the more expensive models have mapping capabilities that allow them to learn the layout of your home and spend less time bouncing off walls.

There is no need to spend a lot of money on the most expensive robotic vacuums. There are models that do a great job of removing pet hair and dirt from hard surfaces such as tiles, wood, and low-pile rugs. They can also handle larger debris such as metal screws, rusty nails or discarded toys. Some come with a self-emptying base that is handy in the event that you don't wish to empty the trash bin after every cleaning run.

Certain robotic vacuums come with smart features, which make the traditional stick vacuum look quaint. They include zones-targeting, schedules, and the ability for you to control them via an app or voice assistants, such as Alexa. You can also set up cleaning zones and 'virtual walls' to block off areas you do not want the robots to go.

Some robotic vacs, such as the Eufy 11S and my former favorite, the Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that prevents them from crashing into furniture or tangling with cords. Certain robot vacuums, such as the iRobot Roomba j7+ have more advanced AI obstacle-avoidance technology that uses a camera, processors and algorithms to stay clear of items like lamp cords and pet waste. It is a little bit more expensive than other bots that I've tried, however it does a fantastic job of avoiding obstacles, and never is stuck or derails when I'm working on my floor.

The iRobot J7+ was a great obstacle-avoiding robot however it didn't always do a great job in avoiding crumbs or dirt on my carpets. It also was prone to over-vacuum certain areas, which resulted in dust accumulating in the filters and a less tidy home.

Smart Mapping

Some of the top robot vacuum robot vacuums come with an app that allows you to alter cleaning modes, create schedules, and see the area covered by the machine. This is a handy feature that many competitors don't have. This lets you create profiles that will automatically start the robot at certain times and run it regularly. For example, cleaning the living room every morning or prior to dinner.

A good app will allow you to control your robot via voice commands. Certain models can be controlled by Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant and can work completely hands-free. You can say "start a clean" or "change cleaning mode" without the need for an app.

Find a model that has a large dustbin. This will allow you to do many cleaning sessions without having to empty it. There are models that self-empty, eliminating the need to empty the machine after every time you vacuum.

If you're looking for a machine that is more than simply vacuum, you'll need to look into one that can mop floors. These are usually larger than robotic vacuums and include a tank of water that can hold multiple cleaning sessions worth of dirt and dust before having to be emptied.

The most advanced robots generate their own maps of your home and can even keep track of the layout from one cleaning to the next which can help them avoid getting lost or trapped in corners. This can make a big difference in the efficiency of your robot vacuums, since it won't need to spend time going back to the beginning of the room whenever it comes across walls or furniture.

Our test participants found that the robots that had this feature were extremely efficient. They could sit and watch TV or do other tasks while the robot cleaned. Some models employ laser navigation, and can create an exact map of your entire home, which means that you can program them to clean only the bedroom after dinner, or every room in your home while you're at work.

App Control

If you'd like to alter the frequency with which the robot cleans your house and select a cleaning option, it's best to get one that works with an app that can be downloaded on mobile. Through the app, you can check the status of your vacuum as well as its dust bin. Some of the most effective robot vacuums are controlled via voice with Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri Shortcuts.

A robot that has a self-emptying bin and washable filters makes it easy to keep hygienic, especially if you can easily access the filter and then remove it to rinse it. Another great feature is a high-powered brush that can be found in corners and along baseboards making it much easier to clean up hair and dirt. Certain robots are better in avoiding the chair's legs than others, and some also have an auto-cleaning sensor that helps prevent the clogging of brushes that can be a problem in other robots.

Certain robo-vacs utilize navigation tools to help them learn your home and navigate around obstacles. High-end models have sensors and cameras that can detect obstacles like furniture, stairs and cords, while cheaper models may use boundary strips you place on the floor to mark areas you don't want it to go. Avoidance of objects is particularly important for families with young children who throw toys and socks scattered throughout the house, as it assists your robot in capturing those objects instead of scattering them.

We're beginning to see more robots with mops, which are beneficial for those who have hard floors and require to regularly clean them. These robots come with water tanks built into the chassis or an extra piece which you can change out when it's time to mop. They may need to be refilled frequently however, they are perfect for homes with hard floors that aren't cleaned easily with a vacuum.

We've seen some amazing technology in these small robots, and they're a lot cheaper than you expect. In fact, you can get an affordable model for less than $200 that does a good job of cleaning pet hair and crumbs from hard floors, while navigating the edges of lightweight carpets or area carpets. You can schedule the robot to clean rooms regularly and can be controlled remotely via the app or by pressing buttons on its side.