What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum

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

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

Object Detection

When you are choosing a robotic vacuum, look for one that is able to pick up large items, like lamp cords and toys, and also fine dirt. This will help ensure they don't get snarled by the roller brush and mopping aren't left on your floors. This feature is especially important if your robot will be regularly cleaned by pets or children.

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

Another crucial aspect to consider is the size of your home. If you have a large home, you might choose models with multiple cleaning zones that can clean the entire house in one session. Some models have mopping features that can be used to keep floors fresh and clean.

Robot vacuums are tough however, they must be cleaned properly and regularly. Cleaning the rotating brushes regularly and emptying your dust bin, and wiping the sensors will keep your machine working efficiently for many years. Many of the owners of robot vacuums we speak with have owned the same model for 10 years or more (and changed motors, brushes and batteries in the process).

A basic robot will cost you less than a full-size vacuum cleaner, however they'll still do an excellent job at keeping up with dirt and pet hair and dust. You can use them to sweep your floors several times per day. They don't have as much technology and are more prone to becoming jammed or requiring manual intervention.

Object Avoidance

The best robot vacuums use sensors, cameras or lasers to help you navigate your home, avoiding getting stuck or falling on the stairs. Some models will return to their base or dock when their battery is depleted. They can also stay clear of obstacles like furniture cords and legs. Some of the most expensive models come with the ability to map, which allows them to learn your home's layout and therefore spend less time bouncing against walls.

If you're not looking to spend the money on the most sophisticated robotic vacuums, you can locate a model that does an excellent job 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 do a decent job of handling larger debris like metal screws, rusty staples or discarded toys. Some come with self-emptying bases which is helpful for those who don't want to empty the trash bin after every clean-up.

Most robotic vacs also offer smart features that make your regular stick vacuum appear ancient, including schedules, zone targeting and the ability to control them via an app or voice assistant such as Alexa. You can also set up cleaning zones and virtual walls to block off areas you don't want the robot to venture.

Certain robotic vacuums, such as the Eufy 11S and my former favorite, the Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that prevents them from crashing into furniture or getting caught in cords. Others, such as the iRobot Roomba j7+, have more advanced AI obstacle avoidance, which uses cameras and processor-powered smarts to detect and avoid objects like shoe cords, lamp cords socks, and pet waste. It's a bit more expensive than other bots I've tried, however it does a great job of avoiding obstacles and rarely gets stuck or derailed when I'm working on my floor.

The J7+ from iRobot was an excellent obstacle avoidance robot however, it didn't always succeed at avoiding crumbs and dirt on my rugs. It also was prone to over-vacuum specific areas, leading to dust accumulation in the filters and an unclean house.

Smart Mapping

Some of the top robot vacuums come with an app that allows you to alter cleaning modes, create schedules, and see an image of the area covered by the machine. This is a useful feature, and one that many competitors don't have. This allows you to create profiles that will automatically start the robot at specific times and run it continuously. For example, cleaning the living area every day or before dinner.

A good app will also let you control your robot via voice commands. Some models are compatible with Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant and can work completely hands-free. You can say "start cleaning" or "change cleaning mode" without having to use the app.

For a truly hands-free experience, look for a model with a large dust bin that can withstand numerous cleaning sessions before needing to be emptied. There are models that self-empty, which eliminates the requirement to empty the robot after every time you vacuum.

If you're looking for a robot that can do more than vacuum, you should consider a model with mopping capabilities. They are usually larger than the robotic vacuums, and have an internal water tank that holds several cleaning sessions worth of dirt and debris prior to needing to be cleaned.

Robots that are more advanced can create their own maps, and can remember the plan of your house from one cleaning session to the next, preventing them from getting lost or stuck. This can make a huge difference in the speed at which your robot vacuums because 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 watch television or perform other things while the robot cleaned. Some models employ laser navigation, and can create an exact map of your home, meaning you can program them to clean only the bedroom after dinner, or each room of the house when you're at work.

App Control

It is recommended to select a robot that has an app that is mobile for those who want to modify the frequency of cleaning and choose cleaning mode. You can also check the status of the vacuum and the state of its dust bin within the app. Some of the most effective robot vacuums can be controlled via voice with Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri Shortcuts.

It is easy to maintain a robot equipped with the ability to wash the filter and a self-emptying container, especially when the filter can be easily removed and rinsed. A powerful brush is another fantastic feature that allows you to reach into corners and along baseboards to get rid of hair and dirt. Certain robots are more adept at avoiding chair legs than others, and some even have an auto-cleaning sensor that helps prevent the obstruction of brushes that may be a problem in other machines.

Certain robo-vacs utilize navigation tools that allow them to understand your home and navigate around obstacles. High-end models use sensors and cameras to detect obstacles such as stairs, furniture and cords. Less expensive models might use boundary strips to mark areas where you don't want to see it go. Avoidance of objects is crucial for families with children who leave toys and socks scattered throughout the house, because it helps your robot nab the items instead of scattering them.

More robots are coming with mops. This is great for those with hard floors who require to clean regularly. These robots come with water tanks built into the chassis or a separate piece you can put in when it's time to clean. They may require to be refilled more often than other kinds of robots, however they're perfect for homes with hard floors that can't be easily cleaned with a vacuum.

We've seen some impressive technology incorporated into these tiny robots, and they're a lot less expensive than you might expect. You can find a decent one for less than $200, and it does a decent cleaning job on hard floors while navigating around the edges of carpets and carpets. The robot can be programmed to clean the room on a regular schedule. It can also be controlled remotely using an app or by pressing buttons.