What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum

A robot vacuum and mop combo 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 create virtual boundaries, or 'walls' to keep them from areas that you don't want to be cleaned.

This smart vac-mop creates the map of your home using its first run. It then saves the space for future cleaning jobs. It comes with a large dust bin that automatically emptys, as well as self-cleaning, self-cleaning brush roll.

Object Detection

When you are choosing a robotic vacuum, make sure you choose one that is able to pick up large objects, such as lamps and toys as well as dust particles. This will ensure that they do not get stuck in the roller brush or end up on your floor. This is especially important when you have pets or children, and need to clean the robot on a regular basis.

A model with an efficient engine and plenty of suction is also an ideal option. This will make it more effective in removing pet hair, lint and dust from your carpets and hardwood floors.

The size of your home is another important consideration. If you live in a big house, you may prefer one with multiple cleaning zones that cover the entire house in one go. Some models come with a mopping feature that can be used to keep floors looking clean and fresh.

Robot vacuums can last a long time however they'll need to be maintained regularly and in a proper manner. Cleaning the rotating brushes, emptying the dust bin and wiping down the sensors regularly will keep your robot running efficiently for long time to be. Many owners of robot vacuums that we have spoken with have owned the same machine for 10 years or more (and changed motors, brushes and batteries along the way).

A basic robot is less expensive than a large vacuum cleaner. They will still be able to do a fantastic job of cleaning surface dirt as well as pet fur and lint. You can use them to clean your floors multiple times per day. However, they don't have as technological innovation, and may be prone to becoming stuck or require human intervention.

Object Avoidance

The most effective robot vacuums make use of sensors, lasers, or cameras to guide them around your home without falling off or getting stuck on the stairs. They can also stay clear of obstacles such as cords and furniture legs and some models will automatically return to their base or dock when they run low on power. The ones that are more expensive usually have mapping capabilities that allow them to learn the arrangement of your home, and reduce the amount of time you're hitting walls.

You don't need to spend a lot of money on the most expensive robotic vacuums. There are models that do an excellent job of removing pet hair and dirt from hard surfaces, such as tiles, wood, and low-pile rugs. They can also do a good job of removing larger debris such as metal screws or staples that have rust, or the remains of toys. Some come with an automatic base that drains itself, which is a great feature when you don't need to empty it every cleaning session.

The majority of robotic vacuums have innovative features that make a ordinary stick vacuum appear old-fashioned with features like zones, schedules, and the ability to control them with 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 robots to access.

Certain robotic vacuums like the Eufy 11S and my former favorite, the Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that keeps them from getting sucked into furniture or tangling cords. Some robot vacuums, like the iRobot Roomba j7+ have more advanced AI obstacle avoidance technology that makes use of sensors, cameras and algorithms to stay clear of items like lamp cords and pet waste. It's a bit more expensive than other bots I've tried, however, it did a great job of avoiding obstacles around my home. It was also very rarely stuck or tangled when I was working on my flooring.

The J7+ from iRobot was a great obstacle-avoiding robot, but it did not always succeed at avoiding dirt or crumbs on my carpets. It also had a tendency to over-vacuum certain areas, which led to lots of dust in the filter and a less-clean house.

Smart Mapping

Some of the best robots vacuums have an application that lets you alter cleaning modes, create schedules, and look at a map of the floor area covered by the machine. This is a very useful feature that some competitors do not have. This allows you to create profiles that will automatically start your robot at specified times and keep it running on regularly, for example, cleaning your living room prior to dinner or every other day.

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

Look for models with a large dust bin. This will allow you to perform numerous cleaning sessions without having empty it. There are models that self-empty which takes a portion of the burden of emptying the machine after each cleaning run.

If you're looking for a robot that is more than just vacuum, you'll want to consider the possibility of a model which can mop your floors. They are usually larger than the robotic vacuums and come with a water tank in the interior that can hold several cleaning sessions worth of dirt and debris prior to needing to be cleaned.

Robots that are more sophisticated can develop their own maps and remember the arrangement 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 go back to the beginning when it comes across walls or furniture.

Our test participants who utilized robots with this capability found it to be very efficient. They could comfortably watch TV or do other chores while the robot was cleaning. Some models employ laser navigation and can create an exact map of your entire home, which means that you can program them to clean just the bedroom after dinner, or every room in your home while you're at work.

App Control

It is recommended to select one that comes with an app for mobile devices for those who want to modify the frequency of cleaning and select a cleaning mode. In the app, you can check the status of your vacuum and its dust bin. Some of the best robot vacuums are controlled by voice with Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri Shortcuts.

It is simple to maintain a robot equipped with an washable filter and self-emptying bin, particularly when the filter is easily removed and rinsed. Another excellent feature is a high-powered brush that can be found in corners and along baseboards which makes it easier to clean up hair and dirt. Some robots are more adept at avoiding chair leg than others. Others have an automatic cleaning system that cleans brushes to avoid clogging.

Some robo-vacs use navigation tools that allow them to learn your home and overcome obstacles. High-end models are equipped with sensors and cameras that recognize obstacles like stairs, furniture and cords. On the other hand, less expensive models often use boundary strips you place on the floor to mark off areas you don't want to go. Avoidance of objects is crucial for families with young children who leave socks and toys scattered around the house, because it allows your robot to grab these items instead of scattering them.

We're beginning to see more robots equipped with mops which are useful for those who have hard floors and need to mop them regularly. They have a water reservoir built into their chassis or as a separate piece that can be swapped in when ready to mop. These robots may need to be refilled frequently, but are ideal for homes that have hard floors that aren't cleaned with vacuum cleaners.

We've seen some amazing technology in these small robots, and they're a lot less expensive than you might think. In fact, you can find an affordable model for less than $200 that does a decent job of cleaning pet hair and crumbs off hard floors while also moving around the edges of light carpets or area rugs. The robot can be programmed to vacuum a particular room on a regular schedule. It can also be controlled remotely via an app or by pressing buttons.