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 are compatible with applications that let you schedule cleaning sessions. You can also set virtual boundaries or 'walls,' to ensure that the vacuum stays away from areas you don't want cleaned.

This smart vacuum that cleans and mops and mop creates a home map after its first run, memorizing your home's layout for future tasks. It has an extra-large dustbin that automatically emptys and self-cleaning brush roll.

Object Detection

When choosing a robot vacuum cleaner, pick one that can clean up big items such as lamps and toys as well as dust particles of fine size. This will ensure that they don't get stuck in the roller brush or left on your floor. This feature is especially important if your robot will be cleaned regularly by pets or children.

A model that has an engine that is powerful and lots of suction is also an ideal choice. This will allow it to be more effective in eliminating dust, pet hair and lint from carpets and hardwood flooring.

The size of your home is a different factor to consider. If you have a huge home, good robot vacuum you may prefer models with multiple cleaning zones that can cover your entire house in a single session. Certain models also include mopping functions, which can be used to keep your floors looking fresh and clean.

Robot vacuums can last for a long time, but they'll need to be cleaned regularly and properly. Regularly cleaning the rotating brushes and emptying your dust bin, and wiping your sensors will ensure that your robot is running smoothly for a long time. Many of the owners of robot vacuums we have spoken to have owned their machines for ten years or longer (and have replaced brushes, motors, and batteries along with time).

A basic robot is much less expensive than a full size 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 scrub your floors several times per day. The drawback is that they don't come with as smart technology, and can be prone to becoming stuck or requiring human 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 stairs. Certain models are able to return to their base or dock when their battery is depleted. They can also avoid obstacles such as furniture legs and cords. Some of the more expensive models come with mapping capabilities that allow them to memorize the layout of your home and spend less time bumping against walls.

If you don't want to spend a lot of money on the latest robotic vacuums, you can locate a model that is capable of removing pet hair dirt, dust, and debris from floors that are hard like tiles and wood, as well as low-pile carpets. They can also be capable of handling larger objects such as metal screws and staples that are rusty or even abandoned toys. Some models come with an automatic vacuum base that drains itself, which is ideal when you don't need to empty it after each cleaning session.

Certain robotic vacuums come with smart features that make the traditional stick vacuum look outdated. They include scheduling, zone-targeting and the capability to control them via an app or a voice assistant, like Alexa. You can also design cleaning zones and virtual walls to block off areas that you don't want the robot to get into.

Certain robotic vacuums such as the Eufy 11S and my former top pick the Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that stops them from derailing by running into furniture or getting caught in cords. Other models, like the iRobot Roomba j7+, have more advanced AI obstacle avoidance that uses a camera and processor-powered smarts to identify and avoid items like shoes, lamp cords, socks and pet waste. It's a bit more expensive than other bots I've tested, however, it did a fantastic job of avoiding obstacles around my home. It was also very rarely derailed or trapped when I was cleaning my floors.

While the iRobot j7+ was a good obstacle avoidance robot however, it wasn't always doing well in removing dust and crumbs from my rugs. It also was known to over-vacuum specific areas, which resulted in a lot of dust in the filters and a less tidy house.

Smart Mapping

The best robot vacuums come with an app that helps you customize cleaning modes set schedules, and view the area of floor that the machine covers. This is an excellent feature that many competitors don't have. It allows you to create profiles that will 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 can allow you to control your robot using voice commands. Some models are compatible with Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant and can work entirely hands-free, meaning you can say "start cleaning" or "change cleaning mode" without the need for an app.

To enjoy a hands-free and effortless experience, choose an option with a big dust bin that can accommodate several cleaning sessions before having to be emptied. There are models that self-empty, which takes some of the burden of emptying the robot after each vacuuming run.

If you want a robot that is more than just vacuum, you'll want to look into the possibility of a model that can mop floors. They're usually bigger than robotic vacuums, and come with a water tank which can hold several cleaning sessions' worth of dirt and dust before needing to emptied.

The most advanced robots generate their own maps of your home and can even remember the layout from one cleaning to the next, which helps them avoid getting lost or stuck in corners. This can make a huge difference in the effectiveness of your robot vacuum since it won't have to go back to where it started when it encounters furniture or walls.

Our testers who used robots with this feature discovered it to be extremely efficient, and could comfortably watch TV or do other chores while the robot was cleaning. Some models employ laser navigation, good robot Vacuum and can create an exact map of your entire home, meaning you can program them to clean only the bedroom after dinner, or every room in your home when you're at work.

App Control

If you're looking to change the frequency at which the robot cleans your home and choose a cleaning mode it is recommended to purchase one that has a mobile app. Within the app, you can also examine the status of your vacuum and its dust bin. Some of the best robot vacuums can even be controlled by voice with Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri Shortcuts.

It is simple to maintain a robot that has a washable filter and a self-emptying bin, particularly when the filter is easily removed and rinsed. Another feature that is great is a high-powered brush that gets into corners and along baseboards making it much easier to remove hair and dirt. Some robots are better in avoiding chairs' legs than others, and some also have a self-cleaning sensor that prevents the obstruction of brushes that may be a problem in other robots.

Some robo-vacs use navigation tools that allow them to understand your home and overcome obstacles. High-end models have sensors and cameras that recognize obstacles like furniture, stairs and cords, while cheaper models sometimes use boundary strips that you put on the floor to mark off areas you don't want it to go. Avoidance of objects is particularly beneficial for families with children who throw socks and toys all over the house. This can help your robot to gather these items, instead of scattering them.

Robots are increasingly equipped with mops. This is useful for those with floors that are hard and need to clean regularly. They come with a water tank built into the chassis, or an additional piece that which you can change out when you're ready to mop. These robots may need to be refilled frequently but they're ideal for homes with hard floors that aren't easily cleaned by vacuums.

These robots are packed with some amazing technology, and cost a lot less than you would expect. 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 while also navigating the edges of lightweight carpets or area rug. You can program the robot to sweep the room every day and can be controlled remotely using the app or by pressing buttons on its side.