What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum

A good best robot vacuum with laser mapping vacuum can keep you on top of pet hair, lint and dust on a regular basis. Many work with apps to allow you to schedule cleaning sessions and create virtual boundaries, or "walls" to keep them away from areas you don't want cleaned.

This smart vac-mop will create the map of your home with its initial run. It then remembers the area for future cleaning jobs. It has self-cleaning brush rolls and an large dust bin that is empty automatically.

Object Detection

When choosing a robot vacuum, look for one that is able to pick up big items, such as toys and lamp cords, as well as fine dirt. This will ensure that the items don't get caught in the roller brush or strewn across your floor. This is particularly important if your robot will be regularly cleaned by children or pets.

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

Another factor to consider is the size of your room. If you live in a big home, you might prefer one with multiple cleaning zones that cover your entire house in one session. Some models come with mopping features that can be used to keep floors looking fresh and clean.

Robot vacuums last a long time, but they'll need to be cleaned regularly and properly. Cleaning the rotating brushes regularly and emptying the dust bin, and wiping the sensors will keep your machine working efficiently for many years. Many owners of robot vacuums that we have spoken with have owned the same model for 10 years or more (and have replaced motors, brushes and batteries as they went along).

A basic robot will cost less than a large-sized vacuum cleaner, however they'll still do a great job of keeping up with dirt and pet hair, and dust. You can use them to clean your floor several times a day. The drawback is that they don't have as technological innovation, and may be susceptible to becoming stuck or require human intervention.

Object Avoidance

The most effective robot vacuums utilize sensors, lasers, or cameras to guide them around your home without falling off or getting stuck on the staircase. They are also able to stay clear of obstacles such as cords and furniture legs, and some models will automatically return to their base or dock when they run low on energy. The most expensive models usually come with mapping capabilities that permit them to remember the design of your home and spend less time bumping into walls.

If you don't want to spend the money on the most sophisticated robotic vacuums, you can still find one that does a great job of picking up pet hair dirt, dust, and dust from floors made of tiles and wood, as well as low-pile carpets. They also do a decent job of handling larger objects such as metal screws or staples that have rust, or discarded toys. Some have a base that automatically empties itself, which is a great feature when you don't need to empty it after each cleaning session.

Some robotic vacuums have smart features that make the standard stick vacuum look outdated. These include schedules, zone-targeting, and the ability for you to control them using an app or a voice assistant, like Alexa. You can also create cleaning zones and 'virtual walls' to block off areas where you do not want the robots to go.

Certain robotic vacuums like the Eufy 11S and my former top choice the Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that stops them from crashing into furniture or tangling cords. Some robot vacuums, like the iRobot Roomba j7+ have more sophisticated AI obstacle-avoidance technology which uses a camera, Best self emptying robot vacuum Mop processors and intelligent algorithms to avoid objects like lamp cords and pet waste. It's a little more expensive than other bots I've tried, but it does a great job of avoiding obstacles and never is stuck or tripped when working on my floor.

Although the iRobot J7+ was a good obstacle avoidance tool, it didn't always do well in removing dust and crumbs from my rugs. It also was known to over-vacuum certain areas, which resulted in a lot of dust in the filters and a less clean home.

Smart Mapping

Some of the top robot vacuums have an app that allows you to modify cleaning modes, make schedules, and see the floor area covered by the machine. This is an extremely useful feature that some competitors do not have. It is easy to create profiles that automatically start your robot at specified times and keep it running on regularly, for example, cleaning your living room prior to dinner or every other day.

A good app will allow you to control your robot via voice commands. Some models support Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant and can work entirely hands-free, meaning you can say "start a clean" or "change cleaning mode" without using the app.

To enjoy a hands-free and effortless experience, look for a model with a large dust bin that can accommodate numerous cleaning sessions before needing to be emptied. There are models that self-empty, eliminating the need to empty the robot after every time you vacuum.

If you want a best robot wet mop that is more than simply vacuum, you'll need to look into a model that can mop floors. They are usually larger than the robotic vacuums and include a water tank in the interior which can store many cleaning sessions of dirt and debris prior to needing to be cleaned.

The most advanced robots generate their own maps of your home. They can even keep track of the layout from one cleaning to the next, which helps them avoid getting lost or trapped in corners. This can make a significant difference in the efficiency of your robot vacuum, as it will not have to return to the beginning when it encounters furniture or walls.

Our test participants who utilized robots with this capability found it to be extremely efficient, and they could comfortably watch TV or do other chores while the robot was cleaning. Some models employ laser navigation and can create an exact map of your home, which means that you can program them to clean only the bedroom after dinner, or every room in the house when you're at work.

App Control

If you'd like to alter how often the robot cleans your home and select a cleaning option it is recommended to purchase one that works with a mobile app. You can also see the status of the vacuum and the state of its dust bin within the app. Some of the top robot vacuums can be operated by voice using Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri Shortcuts.

It is easy to maintain a robot that has a washable filter and a self-emptying bin, particularly when the filter is easily cleaned and washed. Another great feature is a high-powered brush that can be found in corners and along baseboards which makes it easier to get rid of dirt and hair. Certain robots are more adept in avoiding the chair's legs than others, and some also have Best Self Emptying Robot Vacuum Mop-cleaning sensors that can prevent the blockage of brushes that could be a problem in other robots.

Some robot vacuums come with navigation tools that aid them in navigating obstacles and learn your home. High-end models are equipped with sensors and cameras that recognize obstacles like stairs, furniture and cords. On the other hand, less expensive models often utilize boundary strips that you place on the floor to mark areas you don't want to go. Object avoidance is especially important for families with children who have toys and socks scattered throughout the house, as it helps your robot nab 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 mop them regularly. These robots come with a water reservoir built into their chassis or as a separate piece you can swap in when ready to mop. They might need to be filled more frequently than other types of robots, but they're great for homes with hard floors which aren't easy to clean with a vacuum.

We've seen some incredible technology incorporated into these tiny robots and they're less expensive than you might imagine. In fact, you can get an affordable model for less than $200 that does a good job of removing pet hair and crumbs off hard floors, and also navigating the edges of lightweight carpets or area rug. You can schedule the robot to sweep the room regularly and can be controlled remotely with the app or by pressing buttons on its side.