What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum

A good robotic vacuum can assist you in keeping track of pet hair, lint and dust on a daily basis. Many robot vacuums have apps that allow you to schedule cleaning sessions. You can also set virtual boundaries or walls, to keep the vacuum away from areas that you don't want to be cleaned.

This smart vac and mop creates a home map with its first run, memorizing your home's layout for future tasks. It comes with a large dust bin that automatically emptys and self-cleaning, self-cleaning brush roll.

Object Detection

When choosing a robot vacuum, make sure you choose one that is able to pick up large objects, such as lamp cords and toys, as well as fine dirt. This will ensure that they don't get caught by the roller brush and aren't left behind on your floors. This is especially crucial if your robot is going to be cleaned regularly by pets or children.

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

Another important consideration is the size of your room. If you live in an apartment, you may want to pick a model that has multiple cleaning zones so you can clean your entire home in one session. Certain models have mopping capabilities that can be used to keep floors clean and fresh.

Robot vacuums can last a long time however, they must be maintained regularly and in a proper manner. Cleaning the rotating brushes regularly, emptying your dust bin, and wiping your sensors will ensure that your robot is functioning efficiently for many years. Many owners of robot vacuums we speak with have had the same machine for 10 years or more (and changed motors, brushes and batteries in the process).

A basic robot will cost you less than a large-sized vacuum cleaner, however they'll still do an excellent job of keeping up with dirt on the surface, pet hair, and lint. You can use them to clean your floors multiple times per day. They do not have as much technology and are more susceptible to getting jammed or needing manual intervention.

Object Avoidance

The most effective robot vacuums utilize sensors, lasers, or cameras to help them navigate your home without getting stuck or falling down the staircase. They can also stay clear of obstacles such as cords and furniture legs, and some models will automatically return to their dock or base when they run low on energy. The ones that are more expensive usually feature mapping capabilities that allow them to memorize the arrangement of your home, and lessen the time you spend bumping into walls.

If you're not looking to splurge on the most advanced robotic vacuums, you could find a model that is capable of removing pet hair dirt, dust, and good robot vacuum crumbs from hard floors like tiles and wood, as well as carpets with low pile. They can also handle bigger debris like metal screws, rusty nails or even toys that have been discarded. 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, making the traditional stick vacuum look quaint. These include schedules, zone-targeting, and the capability to control them via an app or voice assistant, like Alexa. You can also set up cleaning zones and virtual walls to block off areas you don't wish the robot to enter.

Some robotic vacs like the Eufy 11S and my former top pick, the Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that stops them from crashing into furniture or getting caught in cords. Some robot vacuums, like the iRobot Roomba j7+ have more advanced AI obstacle-avoidance technology which uses a camera, processors and algorithms to stay clear of items like lamp cords and pet waste. It's a little more expensive than the other bots I've tested however, it did a fantastic job of avoiding obstacles within my home. It also didn't get stuck or derailment when I was working on my flooring.

While the iRobot j7+ was a solid obstacle avoidance shark robot vacuum however, it wasn't always doing well in removing dust and crumbs from my rugs. It also tends to over-vacuum some areas, resulting in an abundance of dust in the filter and an unclean home.

Smart Mapping

The best buy robot vacuum robot vacuums come with an app that lets you to customize cleaning settings set schedules, and view an outline of the floor area that the machine covers. This is a useful feature, and one that a few competitors do not have. This makes it easy to create profiles that will automatically start your robot at specific times and continue to run on an ongoing basis, such as cleaning your living room prior to dinner or every other day.

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

Look for the model with an enormous dust bin. This will allow you to perform many cleaning sessions without needing empty it. You can find models that self-empty, which eliminates the need to empty the machine after every time you vacuum.

If you're looking for a robot that can do more than vacuum, consider the models that have mopping functions. These are usually bigger than the robotic vacuums, and have a water tank inside which can store several cleaning sessions worth of dirt and debris before needing to be emptied.

Robots that are more advanced can make their own maps and keep track of the layout of your home from one cleaning session to the next, which prevents them from getting lost or stuck. This can make a significant difference in how efficiently your robot vacuums, since it won't need to spend time going back to the beginning of the room if it encounters furniture or walls.

Our testers found that robots that had this feature were very efficient. They could watch television or perform other things while the robot was cleaning. Some of these models use laser navigation, and can create an exact map of your entire home, meaning you can program them to clean only the bedroom after dinner or each room of the house while you're working.

App Control

It is recommended to select a robot that has an app that is mobile for those who want to modify the frequency of cleaning and choose the cleaning mode. In the app, you can monitor the condition of your vacuum and its dust bin. Some of the most effective robot vacuums can even be operated by voice using Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri Shortcuts.

It is simple to maintain a robot that has a washable filter and a self-emptying container, particularly when the filter is easily cleaned and washed. A powerful brush is another great feature that can reach into corners and along baseboards to get rid of dirt and hair. Some robots are more adept in avoiding chair leg splinters than others. Others come with a sensor that automatically cleans brushes to prevent the clogging.

Certain robo-vacs utilize navigation tools to help them learn your home and navigate around obstacles. The most expensive models employ sensors and cameras to identify obstacles such as furniture, stairs, and cords. Less expensive models might use boundaries to mark areas where you don't want it to enter. Avoidance of objects can be particularly useful for families with young kids who scatter toys and socks around the house. This helps your robot to gather the items instead of scattering.

Robots are increasingly equipped with mop attachments. This is beneficial for those with hard floors who need to mop frequently. These robots come with a water tank built into the chassis, or a separate piece you can swap in when you're ready to mop. These robots might require refilling frequently however, they are perfect for homes with hard floors that can't be easily cleaned by vacuum cleaners.

These robots are packed with some impressive technology, and cost significantly less than you would expect. You can find a decent one under $200, which does a decent job cleaning on hard floors, while also navigating around the edges of carpets and area carpets. You can program the robot to vacuum rooms regularly and can be controlled remotely via the app or by pressing buttons on its side.