What to Look For in a good robot vacuum (www.annunciogratis.net)

A good robot vacuum can help you stay on top of pet hair, lint and dust on a daily basis. Many robot vacuums work with applications that allow you to schedule cleaning sessions. You can also set virtual boundaries or 'walls,' to keep the vacuum away from areas you don't want to be cleaned.

This smart vac-mop makes the map of your home using its initial run. It then remembers the area to help you with future cleaning tasks. It comes with a huge dust bin that automatically emptys and a self-cleaning, brush roll.

Object Detection

When selecting a robot vacuum cleaner, pick one that is able to pick up large items like lamp cords and toys and fine dust. This will help ensure they don't get snarled in the roller brush, and aren't left behind on your floors. This is particularly important if your robot will be cleaned frequently by pets or children.

It's also a good idea to choose a model with strong motors and lots of suction power. This will help it be more effective at getting up pet hair, dust and lint off your carpets and hardwood floors.

The size of your house is a different factor to consider. If you have a huge home, you might prefer one with multiple cleaning zones that cover the entire house in one go. Some models also have mopping capabilities that can be used to keep your floors fresh and clean.

Robot vacuums can last a long time however, they must be cleaned regularly and properly. Cleaning the rotating brushes regularly and emptying your dust bin, and wiping your sensors will ensure that your robot is functioning efficiently for many years. Many of the owners of robot vacuums we chat with have owned the same machine for 10 years or more (and have replaced motors, brushes and batteries along the way).

A basic robot is much less costly than a larger vacuum cleaner. They'll be able to do a fantastic job of cleaning the surface of dirt, pet fur and lint. You can use them to sweep your floor several times a day. They aren't as technologically advanced and are more susceptible to becoming jammed or requiring manual intervention.

Object Avoidance

The most effective robot vacuums make use of sensors, lasers or cameras to guide them around your home without getting stuck or falling down the stairs. Certain models are able to return to their base or dock when their battery is depleted. They can also avoid obstacles such as furniture cords and legs. Some of the more expensive models come with mapping capabilities that allow them to memorize your home's layout and therefore spend less time bouncing against walls.

You don't need to spend a lot of money on the most expensive robotic vacuums. There are models that do a great job at picking up pet hair and dirt from hard surfaces, such as wood, tile and low-pile rug. They also do a good job of handling larger objects such as metal screws or staples that have rust, or the remains of toys. Some models even have self-emptying bases, which is useful for those who don't want to empty the dustbin after every clean-up.

Certain robotic vacuums come with smart features that make the look of a stick vacuum outdated. 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.

Certain robotic vacuums such as the Eufy 11S and my former top pick 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 sophisticated AI obstacle avoidance, which uses sensors powered by processors to see and avoid items like shoes, lamp cords, socks, and good robot vacuum pet waste. It's a bit more expensive than the other bots I've tested, but it does an excellent job of avoiding obstacles, and never is stuck or tripped when working on my floor.

The J7+ from iRobot was a fantastic obstacle avoidance robot vacuum that vacuums and mops however it didn't always do a good job at avoiding dirt or crumbs on my carpets. It also was known to over-vacuum specific areas, which resulted in dust accumulation in the filters and a less clean home.

Smart Mapping

Some of the best robot vacuums come with an app that can help you set up cleaning modes, set schedules and see the floor area that the machine covers. This is an excellent feature that many competitors don't have. It is easy to create profiles that automatically start your robot at specific times and keep it running on a regular basis, like cleaning the living area prior to dinner or on a regular basis.

A good app can also let you control your robot with voice commands. Some models are compatible with Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant and can work entirely hands-free, meaning you can say "start cleaning" or "change cleaning mode" without having to use the app.

For a truly 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 just vacuum, you'll want to look at a model that can mop floors. These are usually bigger than the robotic vacuums, and include a water tank in the interior that holds many cleaning sessions of dirt and debris prior to needing to be cleaned.

The most advanced robots can create their own maps of your house and can even remember the layout between cleanings, which helps them avoid getting lost or trapped in corners. This can make a huge difference in how efficiently your robot vacuums, since it won't need to spend time going back to the beginning of the room when it comes into contact with 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 of these models utilize laser navigation and can make an exact map of your home, meaning 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're looking to change the frequency at which the robot cleans your home and select a cleaning mode, it's best to get one that has a mobile app. You can also view the state of the vacuum and the condition of its dust bin within the app. Some of the most effective robot vacuums are controlled via voice with Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri Shortcuts.

A robot with a self-emptying bin and washable filters is easy to keep clean, especially if you can easily access the filter and remove it to wash it. Another excellent 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 have a self-cleaning sensor that prevents the clogging of brushes that can happen in other robots.

Certain robo-vacs come with navigational tools to help them navigate around obstacles and help you understand your home. The top 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 you don't want to go. Avoidance of objects is crucial for families with children who leave socks and toys scattered across the house, since it helps your robot nab the objects instead of scattering them.

More robots are equipped with mop attachments. This is great for those with floors that are hard and need to mop frequently. They have a reservoir of water built into their chassis or as a separate component that you can swap in when ready to mop. They may need to be refilled more often than other kinds of robots, however they're great for homes with hard floors that aren't easily cleaned using a vacuum.

These robots come with impressive technology, and cost significantly less than you'd expect. In fact, you can get an affordable model for less than $200 that can do a decent job of removing pet hair and crumbs from hard floors, and also moving around the edges of light carpets or area rugs. The robot can be programmed to vacuum a particular room on a regular basis. It can be controlled remotely through an app or by pressing buttons.