What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum

A robot vacuum will help keep you on the top of pet hair and lint on a regular basis. Many use apps that let you schedule cleaning sessions and set virtual boundaries or "walls" to keep them away from areas that you don't want to be cleaned.

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

Object Detection

When you are choosing a robotic vacuum, make sure you choose one that can pick up large objects, such as toys and lamp cords, and also dust particles. This will ensure that they do not get stuck in the roller brush or strewn across your floor. This is especially crucial if your robot is going to be regularly cleaned by children or pets.

A model with a powerful engine and lots of suction is also a good option. This will make it 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 huge home, you might choose a model with multiple cleaning zones that cover the entire house in a single session. Some models have mopping features that can be used to keep floors fresh and clean.

Robot vacuums can last for a long time however, they must be cleaned regularly and properly. Cleaning the rotating brushes and emptying the dust bin and wiping the sensors clean regularly will keep your robot running smoothly for the years to be. Many owners of robot vacuums we speak with have had the same machine for a period of 10 years or more (and changed motors, brushes and batteries in the process).

A basic robot is less expensive than a large vacuum cleaner. They will still be able to do a fantastic job of cleaning dirt from surfaces pet fur, lint and other debris. You can use them to clean your floors several times per day. They do not have as much technology and are more prone to get stuck or require manual intervention.

Object Avoidance

The most effective robot vacuums make use of sensors, lasers, or cameras to help them navigate 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 automatically return to their base or dock when they run out of power. The more expensive ones often come with mapping capabilities that permit them to learn the arrangement of your home, and lessen the time you spend running into walls.

If you're not looking to spend a lot of money on the latest robotic vacuums, you could find a model that does a great job of removing pet hair, dirt, dust and debris from floors that are hard like tile and wood as well as carpets with a low pile. They can also handle bigger debris like metal screws, rusty nails or discarded toys. Some models come with an automatic base that drains itself, which is great for those who don't want to empty it every cleaning session.

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

Some robotic vacs like the Eufy 11S and my former favorite the Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that prevents them from derailing by running into furniture or getting caught in cords. Certain robot vacuums, such as the iRobot Roomba j7+ have more sophisticated AI obstacle avoidance technology that makes use of a camera, processors and smarts to avoid items like lamp cords as well as pet waste. It's a little more expensive than other bots I've tried, however, it did a fantastic job of avoiding obstacles within my home. It was also very rarely derailed or trapped while working on my floors.

The J7+ from iRobot was an excellent obstacle avoidance robot however it didn't always do a good job at avoiding dirt or crumbs on my carpets. It also was prone to over-vacuum certain areas which resulted in dust accumulating in the filters and an unclean house.

Smart Mapping

The best self emptying robot vacuum and mop robot vacuums have an app that helps you set up cleaning modes and schedules, as well as view the floor area that the machine covers. This is a useful feature that some competitors lack altogether. This makes it easy to create profiles that will automatically start your robot at specified times and continue to run on regularly, for example, cleaning the living room before dinner or on a regular basis.

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

Choose the model with a large dust bin. This will allow you to do many cleaning sessions without needing to empty it. There are also models that self-empty that take some of the labor out of emptying the machine after each run of vacuuming.

If you want a robot that is more than just vacuum, you'll want to look at the possibility of a model that can mop floors. They are usually larger than the robotic vacuums and include a water tank in the interior that can hold several cleaning sessions worth of dirt and debris before having to be empty.

The most advanced robots create their own maps of your house and can even remember the layout from one cleaning to the next which can help them avoid getting lost or trapped in corners. This can make a huge difference in the efficiency of your robot vacuum because it won't need to go back to the beginning when it encounters walls or furniture.

Our test participants found that the robots with 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 create an exact map of your home, meaning you can program them to clean just the bedroom after dinner or every room in your home while you're at work.

App Control

If you'd like to alter how often the robot cleans your house and select a cleaning option it is recommended to purchase one that works with an app for mobile devices. Through the app, you can monitor the condition of your vacuum and its dust bin. Some of the best hybrid robot vacuum and mop robot vacuums can be 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, particularly when you are able to easily access the filter and then remove it to rinse it. Another excellent feature is a powerful brush that is able to reach into corners and along baseboards, making it easier to get rid of dirt and hair. Certain robots are better in avoiding chair legs than others. Others have sensors that automatically clean brushes to prevent clogging.

Some robot vacuums have navigation tools to help them discover your home and overcome obstacles. The top models utilize sensors and cameras to identify obstacles such as stairs, furniture, and cords. The cheaper models could utilize boundaries to mark areas you don't want it to go. Avoidance of objects is crucial for families with children who leave socks and toys scattered across the house, as it allows your robot to grab the objects instead of scattering them.

More robots are coming with mop heads. This is beneficial for those with floors that are hard and need to mop frequently. These robots have a reservoir of water built into their chassis or as a separate component that you can swap in when ready to mop. These robots might require refilling frequently, best hybrid robot vacuum and mop but are ideal for homes with hard floors that can't be cleaned easily with vacuum cleaners.

These robots come with some amazing technology, and cost a lot less than you would expect. In fact, you can get a decent one for less than $200 that does a good job of cleaning pet hair and crumbs from hard floors while also navigating the edges of lightweight carpets or area rugs. The robot can be programmed to vacuum specific rooms on a regular basis. It can be controlled remotely through an app or by pressing buttons.