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 robot vacuums have apps that allow you to schedule cleaning times. You can also set virtual boundaries, or "walls," to ensure that the vacuum is kept away from areas you don't want cleaned.

This mop and vac creates a home map with its first run, storing your space for future use. It has an extra-large dustbin that automatically empties and self-cleaning, self-cleaning brush roll.

Object Detection

When you are choosing a robotic vacuum, choose one that can take in big items, such as lamp cords and toys, as well as fine dirt. This will ensure that they do not get stuck in the roller brush or end up on your floor. This is especially important if you have children or pets and may need to clean the robot on a regular basis.

It's an excellent idea to choose a model with strong motors and lots of suction power. This will make it more efficient at getting up pet hair, lint, and dust from your carpets and hardwood floors.

Another factor to consider is the size of your home. If you live in an area that is large it is possible to choose models that have multiple cleaning zones so that you can clean your entire house in one go. Certain models also include a mopping function that can be used to keep your floors fresh and clean.

Robot vacuums can last for a long time however, they must be maintained and cleaned regularly. Cleaning the rotating brushes and emptying the dust container and wiping down the sensors regularly will keep your robot functioning efficiently for many years to come. Many robot vacuum owners we speak to have owned their machines for ten years or more (and have replaced motors, brushes and batteries along with time).

A basic robot will cost less than a full-sized vacuum cleaner, but they'll do a fantastic job at keeping up with surface dirt, pet hair and dust. You can use them to scrub your floors multiple 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 stairs. They can also avoid obstacles like cords and furniture legs and some models will automatically return to their base or dock when they run low on energy. The most expensive models usually come with mapping capabilities that permit them to memorize the arrangement of your home, and lessen the time you spend running into walls.

You don't have to spend lots of money on the most expensive robotic vacuums. You can still find models that do a great job of removing pet hair and dirt from hard surfaces, such as wood, tile and low-pile rugs. They can also handle larger particles like nails with rusty screws, metal screws or discarded toys. Some have a base that automatically empties itself, which is a great feature when you don't need to empty it at the end of each cleaning session.

Some robotic vacuums have clever features that make the look of a stick vacuum outdated. These include schedules, zone-targeting, and the ability to control them using an app or voice assistant, such as Alexa. You can also set up cleaning zones and 'virtual walls to block off areas you do not want the robot to go.

Certain robotic vacuums, such as the Eufy 11S or my former top choice, Roborock S8, come with obstacle avoidance technology to stop them from falling over furniture or cords. Other models, like the iRobot Roomba j7+, have more advanced AI obstacle avoidance, which uses a camera and processor-powered smarts to identify and avoid items like shoes, lamp cords, socks, and pet waste. It's a little more expensive than the other bots I've tried, however it does an excellent job of avoiding obstacles, and never is stuck or tripped when I'm working on my floor.

The iRobot J7+ was a great obstacle-avoiding robot, but it did not always succeed at avoiding dirt or crumbs on my carpets. It also was prone to over-vacuum certain areas, resulting in dust accumulation in the filters and a less tidy home.

Smart Mapping

Some of the top robot vacuums have an app that allows you to customize cleaning modes, create schedules, and view a map of the floor area that is covered by the machine. This is an excellent feature that some competitors lack altogether. This allows you to create profiles which will automatically start the robot at certain times and continue to run regularly. For instance, you could clean the living area every day, or just before dinner.

A good app will also let you control your robot using voice commands. Certain models are compatible with Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant, which allows you to control your robot using voice commands.

Look for a model that has a large dust bin. This will allow you to perform many cleaning sessions without having empty it. You can find models that self-empty. This eliminates the requirement to empty the machine after every vacuuming session.

If you're looking to purchase a robot that is more than a vacuum, consider the models that have mopping functions. These are typically larger than the robotic vacuums, and come with a water tank inside that holds several cleaning sessions worth of dirt and debris before needing to be cleaned.

Robots that are more advanced can create their own maps, and can remember the layout of your home from one cleaning session to the next, which prevents them from getting lost or stuck. This can make a huge difference in the efficiency of your robot vacuum, as it will not have to return to where it was when it encounters walls or furniture.

Our test participants found that the robots with this feature were extremely efficient. They could watch TV or do other things while the robot cleaned. Certain models utilize laser navigation to create an outline of your home. You can program them to clean the bedroom after dinner, or in all rooms when you're at work.

App Control

It is recommended to select a robot that has an app for mobile devices if you want to customize the frequency of cleaning and choose cleaning mode. Through the app, you can also monitor the condition of your vacuum and its dust bin. Some of the top Buy Robot Vacuum vacuums are controlled by voice with Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri Shortcuts.

A robot that self-empties a bin and washable filters is easy to keep clean, especially when you are able to easily access the filter and take it off it to wash it. A high-powered brush is another excellent feature that can reach into corners and along baseboards to get rid of hair and dirt. Certain robots are better in avoiding chair leg splinters than others. Some have an automatic cleaning system that cleans brushes to prevent obstruction.

Some robot vacuums have navigation tools that allow them to discover your home and overcome obstacles. High-end models use sensors and cameras to recognize obstacles like stairs, furniture, and cords. Cheaper models may use boundary strips to mark areas where you don't want to see it go. Avoidance of objects is particularly useful for families with young kids who throw socks and toys around the home. This allows your robot to collect the items instead of scattering.

We're beginning to see more robots with mops, which are beneficial for those who have hard floors and need to clean them regularly. These robots come with a water reservoir that is built into their chassis or as a separate component that you swap in when they're ready to mop. They might need to be refilled more frequently than other kinds of robots, but they're great for homes with floors made of wood that can't be easily cleaned by vacuum.

We've seen some impressive technology packed into these little robots and they're less expensive than you might expect. You can find a decent one for under $200. It does a decent job cleaning on hard floors and can be scoured around the edges of carpets and area carpets. You can program the small robot vacuum to vacuum the room every day and can be controlled remotely via the app or by pressing buttons on its side.