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 bases. Many robot vacuums work with applications that let you schedule cleaning times. You can also set virtual boundaries or 'walls,' to ensure that the vacuum stays away from areas that you don't want to be cleaned.

This mop and vac creates a home map after its first run, storing your space for future use. It has self-cleaning brush rolls as well as an extra-large dust bin that empties automatically.

Object Detection

When you are choosing a robotic vacuum cleaner, pick one that can pick-up large items like lamps and toys and dust particles of fine size. This will ensure that the items don't get stuck in the roller brushes or end up on your floor. This feature is particularly important when you have pets or children, and need to clean the robot regularly.

A model that has an efficient engine and plenty of suction is a good option. This will enable it to be more effective in removing dust, pet hair, and lint from carpets and hardwood floors.

Another important consideration is the size of your room. If you have an area that is large, you may want to choose a model that has multiple cleaning zones, so you can clean your entire house in one go. Some models come with a mopping feature that can be utilized to keep floors clean and fresh.

Robot vacuums can last a long time, but they'll need to be maintained and cleaned regularly. Cleaning the rotating brushes, emptying the dust bin and wiping down the sensors regularly will keep your lefant robot vacuum running smoothly for long time to come. Many of the owners of robot vacuums we have spoken to have been using their machines for 10 years or longer (and have replaced brushes, motors, and batteries along with time).

A basic robot is less expensive than a full size vacuum cleaner. They will still do an excellent job of cleaning dirt from surfaces pet fur, lint and other debris. They're a great maintenance cleaner that you can distribute often throughout the week to keep your floors tidy. The downside is they don't have as smart technology, and can be prone to getting stuck or require human intervention.

Object Avoidance

The best robot vacs use sensors, lasers or cameras to guide them around your home without falling off or getting stuck on the stairs. They also can avoid obstacles such as cords and furniture legs, and some models will automatically return to their base or dock when they run low on energy. The ones that are more expensive usually come with mapping capabilities that permit them to learn the design of your home and reduce the amount of time you're running into walls.

If you don't want spend the money on the most sophisticated robotic vacuums, you can still locate a model that does a great job of removing pet hair, dirt, dust and debris from floors that are hard like tiles and wood, as well as low-pile carpets. They can also take care of larger particles like nails that are rusty, metal screws or even toys that have been discarded. Some models come with an automatic base that drains itself, which is ideal when you don't need to empty it every cleaning session.

Some robotic vacuums have clever features, which make the standard stick Vacuum Mop robot look outdated. They include zones-targeting, schedules, and the ability for you 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 don't want the robot to venture.

Certain robotic vacuums, such as the Eufy 11S or my former favorite, Roborock S8, come with obstacle avoidance technology to prevent them from tripping over furniture or cords. Some robot vacuums, like the iRobot Roomba j7+ have more advanced AI obstacle-avoidance technology which uses a camera, processors and algorithms to stay clear of items such as lamp cords and pet waste. It is a little bit more expensive than other bots I've tested, but it does an excellent job of avoiding obstacles, and never gets stuck or derailed when I'm working on my floor.

The iRobot J7+ was an excellent obstacle avoidance robot however it didn't always do a good job at avoiding crumbs and dirt on my rugs. It also had a tendency to over-vacuum certain areas, which resulted in a lot of extra dust in the filter and a less clean house.

Smart Mapping

The best robot vacuums come with an app that lets you set up cleaning modes, set schedules and see a map of your area of floor that the machine covers. This is a great feature that other models do not have. It is easy to create profiles that automatically start your robot at certain times and keep it running on a regular basis, like cleaning your living room prior to dinner or every other day.

A good app will allow you to control your robot via voice commands. Some models are compatible with Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant, which allows you to control your robot through voice commands.

For a truly hands-free experience, opt for an option with a big dust bin that can withstand numerous cleaning sessions before needing to be empty. You can find models that self-empty, eliminating the requirement to empty the machine after every vacuuming session.

If you're looking for a robotic that does more than vacuum, you should consider a model with mopping capabilities. These are usually larger than robotic vacuums, and have a water tank that can store multiple cleaning sessions' worth of dust and dirt before it needs to be empty.

Robots that are more advanced can develop their own maps, and can remember the layout of your home 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, as it won't need to spend time returning to the beginning of the room when it comes across walls or furniture.

Our test subjects found that robots that had this feature were very efficient. They could watch TV or complete other tasks while the robot was cleaning. Some of these models utilize laser navigation and can make an exact map of your entire house, which means you can program them to clean just the bedroom after dinner or every room in the house while you're working.

App Control

It is best to select the vacuum that comes with an app that is mobile for those who want to modify the frequency of cleaning and choose a cleaning mode. Within the app, you can also monitor the condition of your vacuum as well as its dust bin. Some of the most effective robot vacuums can even be operated by voice using Alexa, vacuum mop Robot Google Assistant or Siri Shortcuts.

It is easy to maintain a robot with a washable filter and a self-emptying container, particularly when 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 get rid of dirt and hair. Some robots are more adept in avoiding chair leg splinters than others. Others have a sensor that automatically cleans brushes to avoid clogging.

Some robot vacuums have navigation tools that allow them to discover your home and get around obstacles. The top models come with sensors and cameras that recognize obstacles such as furniture, stairs and cords, while cheaper models may utilize boundary strips that you place on the floor to mark off areas you don't want to leave. Avoidance of objects is crucial for families with young children who throw socks and toys scattered across the house, since it allows your robot to grab these objects instead of scattering them.

More robots are equipped with mop attachments. This is great for those with floors that are hard and need to mop regularly. These robots have water tanks built into the chassis, or an additional piece that you can swap in when you're ready to mop. They may need to be filled more frequently than other kinds of robots, but they're ideal for homes with hard floors that aren't easily cleaned using a vacuum.

These robots are packed with some impressive technology, and cost much less than you'd think. You can get a good one under $200, which can do a decent job of cleaning on hard floors and can be scoured around the edges of carpets and rugs. You can program the robot to clean the room regularly, and it can be controlled remotely using the app or by pressing buttons on its side.