What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum

A good robot vacuum can help you stay on top of pet hair, lint and dust on a regular basis. Many of them use apps to let you schedule cleaning sessions and set virtual boundaries or 'walls' to keep them out of areas you don't want cleaned.

This mop and vac creates a home map with its first run, storing your space for future use. It comes with a huge dust bin that automatically emptys, as well as a self-cleaning, brush roll.

Object Detection

When selecting a robot vacuum cleaner, select one that is able to pick up big items such as lamp cords and toys as well as dust particles that are fine. This will ensure that the items don't get stuck in the roller brush or end up on your floor. This feature is particularly important when you have children or pets and you may have to clean the robot on a regular basis.

A model with an engine that is powerful and lots of suction is also an ideal option. This will help it to be more effective in getting rid of dust, pet hair and lint from carpets as well as hardwood floors.

The size of your home is another important consideration. If you have a large home, you may want to opt for models with multiple cleaning zones that cover the entire house in one session. Some models also come with a mopping function, which can be used to keep your floors fresh and clean.

Robot vacuums are tough however, they must be cleaned properly and regularly. Cleaning the rotating brushes and emptying the dust container and wiping the sensors clean on a regular basis will keep your robot running smoothly for the years to come. Many owners of robot vacuums that we have spoken with have had the same model for 10 years or more (and changed motors, brushes and batteries along the way).

A basic robot will cost you less than a full-size vacuum cleaner, however they'll do a fantastic job at keeping up with dirt on the surface, pet hair and dust. You can use them to clean your floors multiple times per day. They aren't as technologically advanced and are more prone to get stuck or require manual intervention.

Object Avoidance

The top robot vacuums make use of cameras, sensors or lasers to help you navigate your home, avoiding getting stuck or falling down the stairs. Some models will return to their base or dock when their batteries are low. They also can avoid obstacles such as furniture cords and legs. Some of the more expensive models have the ability to map, which allows them to remember the layout of your home and spend less time bouncing off walls.

If you don't want splurge on the most advanced robotic vacuums, you could find a model that does a great job of removing pet hair, dirt, dust and crumbs from hard floors like tiles and wood, as well as carpets with low pile. They also be capable of handling larger objects such as metal screws, rusty staples or discarded toys. Some models even have an auto-emptying base which is helpful if you don't want to empty the dustbin after every cleaning session.

The majority of robotic vacuums have smart features that make your standard stick vacuum seem prehistoric with features like scheduling, zone targeting, and the capability to control them using an app or voice assistant such as Alexa. You can also create cleaning zones and virtual walls to block off areas you don't want robots to access.

Certain robotic vacuums such as the Eufy 11S and my former favorite Roborock S8 Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that keeps them from crashing into furniture or tangling with cords. Others, such as the iRobot Roomba j7+, have more advanced AI obstacle avoidance that uses sensors powered by processors to see and avoid items like lamp cords, shoes, socks, and pet waste. It is a little bit more expensive than other bots I've tried, but it does a great job of avoiding obstacles and rarely gets stuck or derailed when working on my floor.

While the iRobot's j7+ was a good obstacle avoidance robot, it didn't always do well in removing dirt and crumbs off my rugs. It also had a tendency to over-vacuum some areas, resulting in a lot of extra dust in the filter and a less-clean house.

Smart Mapping

Some of the best robot vacuums have an app that can help you set up cleaning modes, set schedules and see a map of your area of floor Top Robot Vacuum that the machine covers. This is a great feature that many competitors don't have. This allows you to create profiles that will automatically start the cheap robot vacuum at specific times and run it regularly. For example, cleaning the living area every day or before dinner.

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

To have a hands-free experience, look for a model with a large dust bin that can accommodate numerous cleaning sessions before needing to be emptied. You can find models that self-empty. This eliminates the need to empty the machine after every vacuuming session.

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 your floors. They are usually larger than the robotic vacuums and include an internal water tank that holds many cleaning sessions of dirt and debris prior to needing to be cleaned.

Robots that are more advanced can develop their own maps and remember the layout of your home from one cleaning session to the next, preventing them from getting lost or stuck. This can make a huge difference in the speed at which your robot vacuums because it won't be spending time going back to the beginning of the room when it comes across walls or furniture.

Our test subjects found that robots that had this feature were very efficient. They could watch television or perform other tasks while the robot cleaned. Some models employ laser navigation to create the map of your home. You can then program them to clean the bedroom after dinner, or all rooms while you are at work.

App Control

If you're looking to change the frequency at which the robot cleans your home and select a cleaning option, it's best to get one that is compatible with a mobile app. You can also see the status of the vacuum and the condition of its dust bin in the app. Some of the top vacuums that are robotic can be controlled with Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri Shortcuts.

A robot that has a self-emptying bin and washable filters makes it easy to keep clean, especially if you can 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. Certain robots are better in avoiding chair leg splinters than others. Some have sensors that automatically clean brushes to prevent the clogging.

Some robo-vacs use navigation tools that help them discover your home and get around obstacles. The Top Robot Vacuum models come with sensors and cameras that recognize obstacles like furniture, stairs and cords. On the other hand, less expensive models sometimes utilize boundary strips that you place on the floor to mark areas where you don't want it to enter. Avoidance of objects is particularly useful for families with young children who scatter socks and toys around the home. This helps your robot collect the items instead of scattering.

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

We've seen some amazing technology incorporated into these tiny robots, and they're a lot cheaper than you think. In fact, you can find a good one for under $200 that does a good job of getting rid of pet hair and crumbs off hard floors while also traversing the edges of lightweight carpets or area rugs. You can program the robot to vacuum the room every day and can be controlled remotely via the app or by pressing buttons on its side.