What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum

A good robotic vacuum can help you stay on top of pet hair, lint and dust on a regular basis. Many of them use apps to allow you to schedule cleaning times and create virtual boundaries, or 'walls' to keep them away from areas you don't want cleaned.

This smart vacuum and mop creates a map of your home with its first trip, and then it will remember your space for future use. It comes with self-cleaning brush rolls as well as an large dust bin that is empty automatically.

Object Detection

When selecting a robot vacuum cleaner, select one that can clean up large items like lamps and toys and dust particles that are fine. This will help ensure they don't get caught in the roller brush and aren't left behind on your floors. This is especially crucial if your robot is going to be regularly cleaned by pets or children.

A model that has an efficient engine and plenty of suction is an excellent choice. This will make it more efficient at getting up pet hair, lint and dust off your carpets and hardwood floors.

The size of your house is a different factor to consider. If you have an area that is large it is possible to select one that has multiple cleaning zones, so you can clean the entire house in one go. Some models also come with mopping capabilities that can be used to keep your floors fresh and clean.

Robot vacuums can last a long time, but they'll need to be maintained regularly and in a proper manner. Regularly cleaning the rotating brushes and emptying your dust bin, and wiping your sensors will keep your machine running smoothly for a long time. Many robot vacuum owners we have spoken to have owned their machines for 10 years or more (and have replaced motors, brushes, and batteries with time).

A basic robot will cost less than a full-sized vacuum cleaner, however they'll still do an excellent job of keeping up with dirt and pet hair and lint. They're an excellent maintenance tool that you can distribute several times a week to keep your floor clean. The drawback is that they don't have as smart technology, and can be prone to getting stuck or needing human intervention.

Object Avoidance

The best robot vacuums 2022 robot vacuums use cameras, Self Vacuum Robot sensors or lasers to guide you around your home and prevent getting stuck or falling down the stairs. They are also able to avoid obstacles such as cords and furniture legs and some models will automatically return to their dock or base when they are running low on power. Some of the more expensive models have the ability to map, which allows them to remember your home's layout and therefore spend less time bouncing off walls.

There is no need to spend an enormous amount of money on the most expensive robotic vacuums. You can still find models that do an excellent job of removing pet hair and dirt from hard surfaces like tile, wood and low-pile rugs. They can also take care of larger particles like nails with rusty screws, metal screws or even toys that have been discarded. Some models even have a self-emptying base that is handy if you don't want to empty the trash bin after every cleaning run.

Most robotic vacs also offer innovative features that make a standard stick vacuum seem prehistoric with features like scheduling, zone targeting, and the ability to control them with an app or a voice assistant such as Alexa. You can also design cleaning zones and virtual walls to block off areas you don't want the robot to enter.

Some robotic vacs such as the Eufy 11S and my former top pick Roborock S8 Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that prevents them from crashing into furniture or tangling cords. Some robot vacuums, such as the iRobot Roomba j7+ have more advanced AI obstacle-avoidance technology which uses sensors, cameras and algorithms to stay clear of items such as lamp cords and pet waste. It's a little more expensive than other bots that I've tried, but it does a great job of avoiding obstacles and never gets stuck or derailed when working on my floor.

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

Smart Mapping

Some of the best robots vacuums have an application that lets you modify cleaning modes, make schedules, and look at the floor area covered by the machine. This is a handy feature that many competitors don't have. This lets you create profiles which will automatically start the robot at specific times and run it continuously. For instance, you could clean the living area every morning or prior to dinner.

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

Choose the model with a large dustbin. This will allow you to perform many cleaning sessions without having empty it. There are also models that Self Vacuum robot-empty that take some of the labor out of emptying the robot after each cleaning run.

If you're looking for a machine that can do more than just vacuum, you'll want to look at one that can mop floors. They are usually larger than the robotic vacuums, and come with a water tank in the interior which can store several cleaning sessions worth of dirt and debris prior to needing to be cleaned.

The most advanced robots can create their own maps of your home and can even remember the arrangement from one cleaning to the next and help them avoid getting lost or trapped in corners. This can make a huge difference in the efficiency of your robot vacuums, since it won't be spending time returning to the beginning of the room when it encounters furniture or walls.

Our test subjects found that robots that had this feature were extremely efficient. They could sit and watch TV or do other tasks while the robot cleaned. Certain models utilize laser navigation to create a map of your home. You can then program them to clean your bedroom after dinner, or throughout the house while you are at work.

App Control

It is recommended to select a robot that has an app that is mobile if you want to customize the frequency of cleaning and choose a cleaning mode. You can also view the status of the vacuum as well as the state of its dust bin using the app. Some of the best vacuums that are robotic can be controlled with Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri Shortcuts.

A robot that has a self-emptying bin and washable filters is simple to keep clean, especially if you can easily access the filter and take it off it to wash it. Another great feature is a high-powered brush that is able to reach into corners and along baseboards, making it easier to get rid of hair and dirt. Certain robots are better in avoiding chair leg splinters than others. Others have sensors that automatically clean brushes to prevent clogging.

Some robo-vacs use navigation tools to help them discover your home and get around obstacles. High-end models are equipped with sensors and cameras that detect obstacles like furniture, stairs and cords, whereas cheaper models often use boundary strips that you put on the floor to mark off areas where you don't want it to leave. Object avoidance is especially important for families with young children who throw socks and toys scattered around the house, since it helps your robot nab those objects instead of scattering them.

We're beginning to see more robots equipped with mops which are great for people who have hard floors and need to regularly clean them. These robots come with an integrated water tank into the chassis or an extra piece you can put in when it's time to mop. They may need to be filled more frequently than other types of robots, however they're perfect for homes with floors made of wood that can't be easily cleaned with a vacuum.

These robots come with some impressive technology, and cost significantly less than you'd think. In fact, you can find 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 program the robot to sweep rooms every day, and it can be controlled remotely using the app or Self vacuum Robot by pressing buttons on its side.