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 daily basis. Many of them use apps to allow you to schedule cleaning sessions and create virtual boundaries, robot vacuum & mop or 'walls' to keep them out of areas you don't want cleaned.

This smart vac and mop creates a map of your home with its first run, storing your space for future jobs. It comes with self-cleaning brush rolls and an large dust bin that is empty automatically.

Object Detection

When choosing a robot vacuum cleaner, choose one that can clean up big items such as toys and lamp cords as well as dust particles of fine size. This will ensure that they don't get stuck in the roller brush or strewn across your floor. This is especially important for those who have children or pets and may need to clean the robot regularly.

A model that has an engine that is powerful and lots of suction is also an excellent choice. This will help it be more effective in removing pet hair, lint and dust from your carpets and hardwood floors.

Another important consideration is the size of your space. If you have a large house, you may choose one with multiple cleaning zones that can clean your entire house in a single 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 however, they must be maintained regularly and in a proper manner. Cleaning the rotating brushes regularly and emptying the dust bin, and wiping your sensors will keep your robot functioning efficiently for many years. Many owners of robot vacuums we chat with have owned the same model for a decade or more (and replaced brushes, motors and batteries as they went along).

A basic robot is much less costly than a larger vacuum cleaner. They will still be able to do a fantastic job of cleaning dirt from surfaces as well as pet fur and lint. They're an excellent maintenance tool that you can use several times a week to keep your floors tidy. They do not have as much technology and are more susceptible to getting jammed or needing manual intervention.

Object Avoidance

The best robot vacuums use sensors, cameras or lasers to navigate your home, avoiding getting stuck or falling on the stairs. They also can avoid obstacles like cords and furniture legs, and some models will automatically return to their base or dock when they run out of energy. Some of the more expensive models have mapping capabilities that allow them to learn your home's layout and spend less time bouncing against walls.

If you don't want to splurge on the most advanced robotic vacuums, you can still locate a model that does a great job of picking up pet hair dirt, dust, and crumbs from hard floors like tiles and wood, as well as carpets with low pile. They can also handle larger particles like metal screws, rusty nails or even toys that have been discarded. Some models come with a base that automatically empty itself, which is a great feature when you don't need to empty it at the end of each cleaning session.

The majority of robotic vacuums have smart features that make your ordinary stick vacuum appear old-fashioned with features like zones, schedules, and the ability to control them via an app or a voice assistant like Alexa. You can also set up cleaning zones as well as 'virtual walls' to block off areas where you do not want the robots to venture.

Some robotic vacs such as the Eufy 11S and my former top pick Roborock S8 Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that keeps them from derailing by running into furniture or tangling cords. Others, like the iRobot Roomba j7+, have more advanced AI obstacle avoidance that uses sensors powered by processors to see and avoid items like shoe cords, lamp cords socks and pet waste. It is a little bit more expensive than other bots that I've tried, but it does an excellent job of avoiding obstacles and never is stuck or tripped when I'm working on my floor.

The iRobot J7+ was a fantastic obstacle avoidance robot however, it didn't always do a great job at avoiding crumbs and dirt on my rugs. It also had a tendency to over-vacuum certain areas, which resulted in dust accumulation in the filters, and an unclean house.

Smart Mapping

Some of the top robot vacuums include an app that allows you to customize cleaning modes, create schedules, and view a map of the floor area that is covered by the machine. This is a handy feature that many competitors don't have. This allows you to create profiles that automatically start the robot at specific times, and keep it running continuously. For example, it could be cleaning the living area every morning or prior to dinner.

A good app will also allow you to control your robot via voice commands. Certain models are compatible with Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant, which allows you to control your robot through voice commands.

Choose models with a large dust bin. This allows you to complete numerous cleaning sessions without having to empty it. You can find models that self-empty, eliminating the need to empty the robot after every time you vacuum.

If you want a robot that is more than simply vacuum, you'll need to look into one that can mop floors. These are usually larger than robotic vacuums, Robot Vacuum & Mop and include a tank of water which can hold several cleaning sessions' worth of dirt and dust before needing to emptied.

Robots that are more sophisticated can develop their own maps, and can remember the plan of your house from one cleaning session to the next, preventing them from getting lost or stuck. This can make a huge difference in the efficiency of your robot vacuum, as it will not have to return to where it was when it comes across walls or furniture.

Our test subjects who tested a robot with this feature found it to be extremely efficient. They could watch TV or complete other chores while the robot was cleaning. Some models employ laser navigation, and can create an exact map of your house, which means you can program them to clean only the bedroom after dinner or every room in the house when you're at work.

App Control

It is best to select one that comes with a mobile application for those who want to modify the frequency of cleaning and select cleaning mode. You can also see the status of the vacuum as well as the condition of its dust bin using the app. Some of the most effective robot vacuums can be controlled by voice with Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri Shortcuts.

It is simple to maintain a Robot Vacuum & Mop with a washable filter and a self-emptying bin, particularly when the filter can be easily cleaned and washed. A powerful brush is another great feature that can reach into corners and along baseboards to get rid of hair and dirt. Certain robots are better in avoiding chairs' legs than others, and some have a self-cleaning sensor that prevents the blockage of brushes that could be a problem in other robots.

Some robo-vacs use navigation tools that allow them to learn your home and overcome obstacles. The top models utilize sensors and cameras to detect obstacles such as furniture, stairs and cords. Less expensive models might utilize boundaries to mark areas where you don't want to see it go. Object avoidance can be especially useful for families with young children who throw socks and toys all over the house. This helps your robot collect the items instead of scattering.

Robots are increasingly equipped with mop attachments. This is great for those with hard floors who require to clean regularly. They come with water tanks built into the chassis or a separate piece you can put in when it's time to mop. These robots may require frequent refills however, they are perfect for homes with hard floors that can't be easily cleaned by vacuum cleaners.

We've seen some incredible technology in these small robots, and they're a lot less expensive than you might think. In fact, you can get a good one for under $200 that can do a decent job of cleaning pet hair and crumbs off hard floors, and also moving around the edges of light carpets or area rugs. The robot vacuum with self empty can be programmed to vacuum the room at regular intervals. It can also be controlled remotely via an app or by pressing buttons.