What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum

A robot vacuum can help keep you on the top of pet hair and lint on daily basis. Many of them use apps to allow you to schedule cleaning times and create virtual boundaries, or "walls" to keep them from areas you don't want cleaned.

This smart vac and mop creates a home map with its first run, storing your space for future jobs. It has a self-cleaning brush roll and an large dust bin that is empty automatically.

Object Detection

When selecting a robot vacuum cleaner, pick one that can pick-up large items like lamp cords and toys as well as dust particles of fine size. This will ensure that they don't get stuck in the roller brushes or strewn across your floor. This is especially important when you have pets or children, and may need to clean the robot regularly.

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

Another important consideration is the size of your home. If you have an apartment, you may want to pick models that have multiple cleaning zones so you can clean the entire house in one session. Some models come with mopping features that can be used to keep floors fresh and clean.

Robot vacuums can last for a long time however they'll need to be cleaned regularly and properly. Cleaning the rotating brushes and emptying the dust container and wiping down the sensors regularly will ensure that your robot is running smoothly for the years to be. Many owners of robot vacuums we chat with have owned the same model for 10 years or more (and changed motors, brushes and batteries along the way).

A basic robot will cost less than a large-sized vacuum cleaner, however they'll do a fantastic job at removing dirt and pet hair and dust. You can use them to scrub your floor several times a day. The downside is they don't offer as much advanced technology, and could be prone to becoming stuck or needing human intervention.

Object Avoidance

The most effective robot vacuums utilize sensors, lasers, or cameras to guide them around your home without getting stuck or falling down the stairs. Certain models are able to return to their base or dock when their batteries are low. They can also stay clear of obstacles like furniture cords and legs. The ones that are more expensive usually feature mapping capabilities that allow them to learn the arrangement of your home, and lessen the time you spend running into walls.

If you're not looking to spend the money on the most sophisticated robotic vacuums, you can find a model that is capable of picking up pet hair dirt, dust, and dust from floors made of tiles and wood, as well as carpets with low pile. They can also handle larger particles like nails that are rusty, metal screws or even toys that have been discarded. Some models even have an auto-emptying base, which is useful if you don't want to empty your trash bin after every cleaning run.

Certain robotic vacuums come with smart features that make the traditional stick vacuum look old-fashioned. These include schedules, zone-targeting, and the capability to control them via an app or voice assistant, like Alexa. You can also design cleaning zones and virtual walls to block off areas that you don't wish robots to access.

Some robotic vacuums, such as the Eufy 11S or my former favorite, Roborock S8, come equipped with obstacle avoidance technology to keep them from tripping over cords or furniture. Others, such as the iRobot Roomba j7+, have more advanced AI obstacle avoidance, which uses sensors powered by processors to identify and avoid items like lamp cords, shoes, socks, and pet waste. It is a little bit more expensive than the other bots I've tried, but it does a great job of avoiding obstacles and rarely gets stuck or derailed while working on my floor.

While the iRobot's j7+ was a great obstacle avoidance robot, it didn't always do an excellent job of avoiding dirt and crumbs from my rugs. It also tended to over-vacuum areas, resulting in lots of dust in the filter and a less-clean house.

Smart Mapping

The best robot vacuums come with an app that allows you to alter cleaning modes, create schedules, and view an image of the floor area covered by the machine. This is an excellent feature, and one that many competitors don't have. It allows you to create profiles that will automatically start the robot mop vacuum at specified times, and keep it running continuously. For example, cleaning the living room each day or before dinner.

A good app can also let you control your robot using voice commands. Some models support Amazon Robot Vacuum's Alexa or Google Assistant and can work completely hands-free, so you can say "start with a clean" or "change cleaning mode" without using the app.

To enjoy a hands-free and effortless experience, opt for models with a large dust bin that can withstand many cleaning sessions before needing to be empty. There are models that are self-emptying, which takes some of the burden of emptying the machine after each vacuuming run.

If you're looking for a robotic that does more than vacuum, consider a model with mopping capabilities. These are usually bigger than the robotic vacuums and include a water tank inside that holds many cleaning sessions of dirt and debris prior to needing to be emptied.

The most advanced robots create their own maps of your home and can even remember the layout from one cleaning to another 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 where it was when it encounters walls or furniture.

Our testers who used robots with this feature found it to be very efficient, and could comfortably sit back and watch TV or perform other chores while the robot was cleaning. Some of these models utilize laser navigation and can make an exact map of your entire home, which means that you can program them to clean just the bedroom after dinner or each room of the house while you're at work.

App Control

It is best robot vacuum cleaner for pet hair to select the vacuum that comes with a mobile application for those who want to modify the frequency of cleaning and select a cleaning mode. You can also check the state of the vacuum and the state of its dust bin using the app. Some of the most effective robot vacuums can be controlled by voice with Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri Shortcuts.

It is easy to maintain a robot that has a washable filter and a self-emptying container, particularly if the filter can be easily cleaned and washed. A high-powered brush is a excellent feature that can reach into corners and along baseboards to remove hair and dirt. Certain robots are more adept in avoiding chairs' legs than others, and some even have an auto-cleaning sensor that helps prevent the clogging of brushes that can happen in other machines.

Certain robo-vacs come with navigational tools that aid them in navigating obstacles and to learn about your home. High-end models are equipped with sensors and cameras that recognize obstacles such as furniture, stairs and cords, whereas cheaper models often use boundary strips you place on the floor to mark areas where you don't want it to go. Object avoidance can be especially beneficial for families with children who scatter socks and toys around the home. This allows your robot collect the items instead of scattering.

We're starting to see more robots that have mops, which are great for people who have hard floors and need to mop them regularly. These robots come with water tanks built into the chassis or an extra piece which you can change out when you're ready to mop. These robots might require refilling frequently but they're ideal for homes with hard floors that aren't easily cleaned by vacuum cleaners.

We've seen some incredible technology in these small robots and they're cheaper than you expect. In fact, you can find an affordable model for less than $200 that does a decent job of getting rid of pet hair and crumbs off hard floors while also traversing the edges of lightweight carpets or area carpets. The robot can be programmed to clean specific rooms on a regular schedule. It can also be controlled remotely via an app or by pressing buttons.