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 daily basis. Many of them use apps to allow you to schedule cleaning sessions and set virtual boundaries or 'walls' to keep them away from areas that you don't want to be cleaned.

This smart vac and mop creates a map of your home with its first trip, and then it will remember your home's layout for future tasks. It comes with a huge dust bin that automatically emptys, as well as self-cleaning brush roll.

Object Detection

When you are choosing a robotic vacuum cleaner, select one that is able to pick up big items such as toys and lamp cords and fine dust. This will ensure they don't get caught by the roller brush and don't end up on your floors. This is particularly crucial if the robot will be regularly cleaned by pets or children.

It's an excellent idea to choose a model with a powerful motor and lots of suction power. This will enable it to be more efficient in removing dust, pet hair and lint from carpets as well as hardwood flooring.

The size of your house is another crucial factor to consider. If you live in an area that is large, you may want to choose a model that has multiple cleaning zones so you can clean the entire house in one session. Some models also have a mopping function, which can be used to keep your floors fresh and clean.

Robot vacuums are durable but they need to be maintained in a timely and efficient manner. Cleaning the rotating brushes and emptying the dust container and wiping down the sensors regularly will ensure that your robot is functioning efficiently for many the years to come. Many owners of robot vacuums that we have spoken with have had the same machine for a period of 10 years or more (and replaced brushes, motors and batteries along the way).

A basic robot is less expensive than a large vacuum cleaner. They will still do an excellent job of cleaning the surface of dirt pet fur, lint and other debris. You can use them to clean your floor several times a day. They do not have as much technology and are more prone to becoming jammed or requiring manual intervention.

Object Avoidance

The best robot vacuum with mapping robot vacuums use sensors, cameras or lasers to navigate your home, avoiding getting stuck or falling on the stairs. Some models can return to their dock or base when their battery is depleted. They can also stay clear of obstacles like furniture legs and cords. Some of the more expensive models have mapping capabilities that allow them to remember your home's layout and therefore spend less time bouncing against walls.

If you don't want to splurge on the most advanced robotic vacuums, you can still locate a model that is capable of picking up pet hair dirt, dust, and dust from floors made of tile and wood as well as carpets with low pile. They can also take care of bigger debris like metal screws, rusty nails or discarded toys. Some have an automatic base that drains itself, which is great for those who don't want to empty it at the end of each cleaning session.

Some robotic vacuums have smart features, making the look of a stick vacuum outdated. They include scheduling, zone-targeting and the ability to control them through an app or voice assistants, such as Alexa. You can also design cleaning zones and virtual walls to block off areas you don't wish the robot to enter.

Some robotic vacs, such as the Eufy 11S and my former top choice Roborock S8 Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that prevents them from derailing by running into furniture or tangling cords. Some robot vacuums, such as the iRobot Roomba j7+ have more advanced AI obstacle-avoidance technology which uses cameras, processors and smarts to avoid items such as lamp cords and pet waste. It's a little more expensive than other bots I've tried, however it does a great job of avoiding obstacles and never is stuck or tripped while working on my floor.

The J7+ from iRobot was an excellent obstacle avoidance robot however it didn't always do a great job at avoiding crumbs and dirt on my carpets. It also was prone to over-vacuum specific areas, resulting in dust accumulation in the filters, and an unclean home.

Smart Mapping

Some of the best robots vacuums come with an app that lets you modify cleaning modes, make schedules, and view an image of the area covered by the machine. This is a great feature that some competitors do not have. This allows you to create profiles that will automatically start your robot at specified time intervals and run it on a regular basis, like cleaning the living area prior to dinner or every other day.

A good app will allow you to control your robot using voice commands. Some models are compatible with Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant and Self Vacuum robot can work completely hands-free. You can say "start a clean" or "change cleaning mode" without using the app.

To have a hands-free experience, opt for an option with a big dust bin that can withstand many cleaning sessions before needing to be empty. There are models that Self vacuum robot-empty. This eliminates the need to empty the machine after each vacuuming session.

If you're looking for a machine that can do more than simply vacuum, you'll need to look into a model that can mop your floors. They are typically larger than robotic vacuums, and include a tank of water that can hold multiple cleaning sessions worth of dirt and dust before needing to emptied.

The most advanced robots create their own maps of your home and can even keep track of the layout from one cleaning to the next, which helps them avoid getting lost or stuck in corners. This can make a significant difference in the efficiency of your robot vacuums because it won't need to spend time going back to the beginning of the room if it encounters furniture or walls.

Our test participants found that the robots with this feature were extremely efficient. They could sit and watch TV or do other things while the robot cleaned. Some models employ laser navigation and can create an exact map of your entire home, meaning you can program them to clean just the bedroom after dinner, or each room of the house while you're at work.

App Control

If you're looking to change the frequency with which the robot cleans your home and choose a cleaning option it is recommended to purchase one that has a mobile app. In the app, you can also monitor the condition of your vacuum and its dust bin. Some of the top vacuums that are robotic can be controlled with Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri Shortcuts.

A robot with a self-emptying bin and washable filters makes it easy to keep clean, especially when you are able to access the filter and remove it to wash it. Another excellent feature is a high-powered brush that can be found in corners and along baseboards making it much easier to get rid of hair and dirt. Some robots are more adept in avoiding chair leg splinters than others. Others come with an automatic cleaning system that cleans brushes to prevent clogging.

Certain robo-vacs come with navigational tools to help them navigate around obstacles and to learn about your home. The top models utilize sensors and cameras to identify obstacles like stairs, furniture and cords. Less expensive models might use boundary strips to mark areas that you don't wish it to go. Object avoidance can be especially beneficial for families with children who scatter toys and socks around the house. This can help your robot collect these items, instead of scattering them.

More robots are equipped with mop heads. This is useful for those with hard floors who require to clean regularly. They come with a water tank built into the chassis, or a separate piece you can swap in when you're ready to mop. They may require to be refilled more frequently than other kinds of robots, however they're ideal for homes with floors made of wood that can't be easily cleaned with a vacuum.

These robots come with impressive technology, and cost significantly less than you'd expect. You can get a good one for under $200. 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 specific rooms on a regular basis. It can also be controlled remotely via an app or by pressing buttons.