What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum

A robot vacuum will help keep you on top of pet hair and lint on a regular basis. Many use apps that let you schedule cleaning sessions and create virtual boundaries, or 'walls' to keep them from areas you don't want cleaned.

This smart vac and mop creates a home map after its first run, memorizing your space for future use. It comes with a huge dust bin that automatically empties and self-cleaning, self-cleaning brush roll.

Object Detection

When you are choosing a robotic vacuum, choose one that is able to pick up big items, such as lamp cords and toys, vacuum mop combo robot as well as fine dirt. This will ensure that they don't become entangled by the roller brush and aren't left behind on your floors. This is particularly important if your robot will be cleaned regularly by children or pets.

A model with an efficient engine and plenty of suction is also a good option. This will make it more efficient in removing pet hair, lint and dust from your carpets and hardwood floors.

Another crucial aspect to consider is the size of your room. If you have a huge house, you may choose a model with multiple cleaning zones that can cover the entire home in a single session. Some models come with a mopping feature that can be used to keep floors looking clean and fresh.

Robot vacuums are durable, but they need to be maintained in a timely and efficient manner. Cleaning the rotating brushes and emptying the dust container and wiping the sensors clean on a regular basis will keep your robot functioning efficiently for many long time to come. Many owners of robot vacuums we speak with have had the same machine for a period of 10 years or more (and have replaced motors, brushes and batteries in the process).

A basic robot is much less expensive than a large Vacuum Mop Combo Robot cleaner. They'll still perform a great job of cleaning dirt from surfaces, pet fur and lint. They're an excellent maintenance tool that you can use several times a week to keep your floors free of dirt. They don't have as much technology and are more prone to becoming jammed or requiring manual intervention.

Object Avoidance

The most effective robot vacuums utilize sensors, lasers or cameras to help them navigate your home without falling off or getting stuck on the staircase. They can also avoid obstacles such as cords and furniture legs, and some models can automatically return to their dock or base when they run low on power. Some of the more expensive models have mapping capabilities that allow them to remember your home's layout and spend less time bumping against walls.

If you don't want to spend the money on the most sophisticated robotic vacuums, you could find one that does an excellent job of removing pet hair dirt, dust, and crumbs from hard floors like tiles and wood, as well as carpets with low pile. They can also do a decent job of handling larger objects such as metal screws and staples that are rusty or even discarded toys. Some have a base that automatically empties itself, which is ideal if you do not want to empty it every cleaning session.

Some robotic vacuums have clever features, which make the traditional stick vacuum look old-fashioned. They include zones-targeting, schedules, and the ability to control them using an app or a voice assistant, such as Alexa. You can also set up cleaning zones and virtual walls to block off areas that you don't want robots to access.

Some robotic vacuums, such as the Eufy 11S or my former top choice, Roborock S8, come with obstacle avoidance technology to keep them from tripping over cords or furniture. Others, such as the iRobot Roomba j7+, have more advanced AI obstacle avoidance, which uses cameras and processor-powered smarts to detect and avoid objects like shoes, lamp cords, socks and pet waste. It's a little more expensive than other bots I've tried, however, it did a fantastic job of avoiding obstacles in my home and rarely got stuck or derailment when I was cleaning my flooring.

The J7+ from iRobot was a great obstacle-avoiding robot however, it didn't always do a good job at avoiding crumbs and dirt on my rugs. It also was prone to over-vacuum specific areas, leading to dust accumulating in the filters and a less tidy house.

Smart Mapping

Some of the best robots vacuums have an app that lets you modify cleaning modes, make schedules, and look at the floor area covered by the machine. This is an extremely useful feature that some competitors do not have. This lets you create profiles that automatically start the robot at specified times and continue to run regularly. For example, it could be cleaning the living room every day, or just before dinner.

A good app will also allow you to control your robot via voice commands. Some models are compatible with Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant and can work completely hands-free. You can say "start a clean" or "change cleaning mode" without having to use the app.

For a truly hands-free experience, opt for an option with a big dust bin that can accommodate many cleaning sessions before needing to be empty. You can also find models that are self-emptying that take some of the work out of emptying the machine after each vacuuming run.

If you're looking for a machine that is more than just vacuum, you'll want to consider one that can mop floors. These are typically larger than the robotic vacuums and include an internal water tank that holds multiple cleaning sessions worth of dirt and debris prior to needing to be emptied.

The most advanced robots generate their own maps of your house and can even remember the arrangement between cleanings, which helps them avoid getting lost or trapped in corners. This can make a significant difference in the effectiveness of your robot vacuum mop cleaner robot, since it won't have to return to where it started when it comes across furniture or walls.

Our test participants who utilized the robot that has this capability found it to be extremely efficient, and could comfortably watch TV or complete other chores while the robot was cleaning. Some of these models utilize 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

It is best to select a robot that has an app for mobile devices if you want to customize the frequency of cleaning and choose the cleaning mode. Through the app, you can also examine the status of your vacuum as well as its dust bin. Some of the top vacuums that are robotic can be controlled with Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri Shortcuts.

It is easy to maintain a robot with the ability to wash the filter and a self-emptying container, particularly when the filter can be easily cleaned and washed. Another excellent feature is a powerful brush that can be found in corners and along baseboards, making it easier to clean up dirt and hair. Some robots are more adept in avoiding chair legs than others. Others have a sensor that automatically cleans brushes to prevent obstruction.

Certain robo-vacs utilize navigation tools that allow them to discover your home and get around obstacles. The top models utilize sensors and cameras to recognize obstacles such as furniture, stairs, and cords. Less expensive models might use boundaries to mark areas you don't want it to go. Avoidance of objects is particularly important for families with young children who have toys and socks scattered throughout the house, because it allows your robot to grab those objects instead of scattering them.

We're seeing more robots that have mops, which are great for people who have hard floors and need to regularly clean them. These robots come with a water reservoir built into their chassis or as a separate component that can be swapped in when ready to mop. They may require to be refilled more frequently than other kinds of robots, however they're ideal for homes with hard floors that aren't easily cleaned by vacuum.

We've seen some impressive technology in these small robots and they're less expensive than you might expect. You can find a quality one under $200, which does a decent cleaning job on hard floors while navigating around the edges of carpets and rugs. The robot can be programmed to vacuum the room on a regular basis. It can also be controlled remotely using an app or by pressing buttons.