What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum

A good robot vacuum can assist you in keeping track of pet hair, lint, and dust on a regular basis. Many of them use apps to 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 mop and vac creates a home map after its first run, storing your home's layout for future tasks. It comes with self-cleaning brush rolls and an extra-large dust bin that empty automatically.

Object Detection

When selecting a robot vacuum cleaner, choose one that can clean up big items such as lamps and toys as well as fine dust. This will ensure that they do not get caught in the roller brush or left on your floor. This is especially important when you have pets or children, and you may have to clean the robot regularly.

It's recommended to choose a model with strong motors and plenty of suction power. This will enable it to be more effective in eliminating dust, pet hair and lint off carpets and hardwood flooring.

The size of your home is another important consideration. If you have a huge house, you may choose one with multiple cleaning zones that cover your entire house in one session. Some models also come with a mopping function, which can be used to keep your floors looking fresh and clean.

Robot vacuums are durable however, they must be maintained in a timely and efficient manner. Cleaning the rotating brushes and emptying the dust container and wiping down the sensors regularly will keep your robot running efficiently for the years to be. Many owners of robot vacuums that we have spoken with have owned the same model for a decade or more (and have replaced motors, brushes and batteries in the process).

A basic robot will cost less than a full-size vacuum cleaner, but they'll still do an excellent job of keeping up with surface dirt, pet hair, and dust. They're a great maintenance cleaner that you can use often throughout the week to keep your floor tidy. The drawback is that they don't have as smart technology, and can be prone to becoming stuck or require human intervention.

Object Avoidance

The top robot vacuums make use of sensors, cameras or lasers to navigate your home and prevent getting stuck or falling down the stairs. Some models will return to their base or dock when their batteries are low. They can also stay clear of obstacles such as furniture cords and legs. Some of the most expensive models come with mapping capabilities that allow them to remember your home's layout and therefore spend less time bumping against walls.

There is no need to spend a lot of money on the most expensive robotic vacuums. There are models that do a great job at picking up pet hair and dirt from hard surfaces like wood, tile and low-pile rug. They also do a decent job of removing larger debris such as metal screws and staples that are rusty or even abandoned toys. Some models even have a self-emptying base that is handy in the event that you don't wish to empty your trash bin after every cleaning session.

The majority of robotic vacuums have advanced features that make your standard stick vacuum seem prehistoric, including scheduling, zone targeting, and the ability to control them with an app or voice assistant such as Alexa. You can also create cleaning zones and virtual walls to block off areas that you don't wish the robot to get into.

Some robotic vacuums, like the Eufy 11S or my former top robot vacuum choice, Roborock S8, come with obstacle avoidance technology to prevent them from tripping over furniture or cords. Some robot vacuums, such as the iRobot Roomba j7+ have more advanced AI obstacle-avoidance technology that uses a camera, processors and algorithms to stay clear of items like lamp cords and pet waste. It's a bit more expensive than other bots I've tested however, it did a fantastic job of avoiding obstacles around my home. It also didn't get derailed or trapped while working on my floors.

While the iRobot's j7+ was a solid obstacle avoidance bot, it didn't always do well in removing dirt and crumbs from my rugs. It also tends to over-vacuum areas, which resulted in a lot of extra dust in the filter, and a less-clean house.

Smart Mapping

A few of the top robot vacuums come with an app that lets you customize cleaning modes and schedules, as well as view the floor area that the machine covers. This is a useful feature that many competitors don't have. It allows you to create profiles that automatically start the robot at specified times and best robot Mop and vacuum combo continue to run regularly. For example, it could be cleaning the living area every day or before dinner.

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

For a truly hands-free experience, opt for a model with a large dust bin that can withstand several cleaning sessions before having to be empty. You can find models that self-empty, which eliminates the requirement to empty the machine after each vacuuming session.

If you're looking for a robotic that does more than vacuum, you should consider the models that have mopping capabilities. They are typically larger than robotic vacuums and come with a water tank that can hold multiple cleaning sessions' worth of dust and dirt before needing to emptied.

Robots that are more advanced can make their own maps and keep track of the arrangement of your home from one cleaning session to the next, which prevents them from getting lost or stuck. This can make a significant difference in the effectiveness of your robot vacuum, as it will not have to go back to the beginning when it encounters furniture or walls.

Our testers who used robots with this capability found it to be extremely efficient, and they could comfortably sit back and watch TV or perform other chores while the robot was cleaning. Some models employ laser navigation and can make an exact map of your house, which means you can program them to clean only the bedroom after dinner or every room in your home while you're at work.

App Control

It is best to select one that comes with an app for mobile devices if you want to customize the frequency of cleaning and select cleaning mode. Through the app, you can monitor the condition of your vacuum and its dust bin. The best robot vacuum for hard floors vacuums that are robotic can be controlled by Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri Shortcuts.

A robot with a self-emptying bin and washable filters is easy to keep clean, particularly if you can easily access the filter and remove it to wash it. Another excellent feature is a powerful brush that is able to reach into corners and along baseboards, making it easier to remove dirt and hair. Certain robots are better in avoiding chair leg splinters than others. Some have an automatic cleaning system that cleans brushes to avoid the clogging.

Some robo-vacs use navigation tools that help them discover your home and navigate around obstacles. The top models come with sensors and cameras that can detect obstacles such as furniture, stairs and cords. On the other hand, less expensive models may utilize boundary strips that you place on the floor to mark areas you don't want it to enter. Object avoidance can be especially beneficial for families with young children who throw socks and toys all over the house. This allows your robot to gather the items instead of scattering.

We're beginning to see more robots with mops, which are useful for those who have hard floors and need to regularly clean them. These robots come with water tanks built into the chassis or an additional piece that you can put in when it's time to mop. They may require to be refilled more often than other types of robots, but they're ideal for homes with hard floors that aren't easily cleaned with a vacuum.

We've seen some impressive technology packed into these little robots, and they're a lot cheaper than you expect. You can find a quality one for under $200. It does a decent job cleaning on hard floors and can be scoured around the edges of carpets and rug. The robot can be programmed to vacuum specific rooms on a regular basis. It can also be controlled remotely via an app or by pressing buttons.