What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum
A robot vacuum can help keep you on top of pet hair and lint on a daily bases. Many work with apps to allow you to schedule cleaning times and define virtual boundaries or "walls" to keep them out of areas that you don't want to be cleaned.
This smart vac-mop makes an outline of your home using its initial run. It then stores the space to be used for cleaning tasks in the future. It comes with a large dust bin that automatically empties and self-cleaning, self-cleaning brush roll.
Object Detection
When choosing a robot vacuum cleaner, select one that can pick-up large items like lamp cords and toys as well as dust particles of fine size. This will help ensure they don't get caught by the roller brush and don't end up on your floors. This feature is particularly important when you have pets or children, and need to clean the robot regularly.
It's an excellent idea to choose a model with strong motors and plenty of suction power. This will help it to be more efficient in removing dust, pet hair, and lint from carpets as well as hardwood floors.
mop robot vacuum of your home is another crucial factor to consider. If you have a large house it is possible to select one that has multiple cleaning zones so that you can clean the entire house in one go. Some models also have a mopping function that can be used to keep your floors looking fresh and clean.
Robot vacuums are durable, but they need to be cleaned properly and regularly. Cleaning the rotating brushes, emptying the dust bin and wiping the sensors clean regularly will keep your robot functioning efficiently for many the years to be. Many of the owners of robot vacuums we have spoken to have been using their machines for 10 years or more (and have replaced motors, brushes, and batteries with time).
A basic robot is less expensive than a large vacuum cleaner. They'll perform a great job of cleaning surface dirt pet fur, lint and other debris. They're an excellent maintenance cleaner that you can use every week to keep your floor tidy. However, they don't offer as much smart technology, and can be prone to getting stuck or requiring human intervention.
Object Avoidance
The best robot vacuums use cameras, sensors or lasers to navigate your home, avoiding getting stuck or falling on the stairs. Some models will return to their base or dock when the battery is low. They can also stay clear of obstacles like furniture legs and cords. Some of the more expensive models come with mapping capabilities that allow them to memorize your home's layout and spend less time bouncing against walls.
There is no need to spend an enormous amount of money on the most expensive robotic vacuums. There are models that do a fantastic job of removing pet hair and dirt from hard surfaces such as wood, tile, and low-pile rugs. They also do a decent job of handling larger objects such as metal screws, rusty staples or discarded toys. Some come with an automatic base that drains itself, which is ideal when you don't need to empty it every cleaning session.
Many robotic vacuums also come with advanced features that make your ordinary stick vacuum appear old-fashioned, including zones, schedules, and the ability to control them with an app or a voice assistant like Alexa. You can also set up cleaning zones as well as 'virtual walls' to block off areas where you do not want the robots to venture.
Some robotic vacuums, such as the Eufy 11S or my former top choice, Roborock S8, come with obstacle avoidance technology that will stop them from falling over cords or furniture. Some robot vacuums, such as the iRobot Roomba j7+ have more advanced AI obstacle avoidance technology that makes use of a camera, processors and intelligent algorithms to avoid objects like lamp cords as well as pet waste. It's a little more expensive than other bots that I've tested, but it does an excellent job of avoiding obstacles and never is stuck or derails while working on my floor.
The iRobot J7+ was a great obstacle-avoiding robot, but it did not always do a good job at avoiding dirt or crumbs on my rugs. It also was prone to over-vacuum certain areas which resulted in dust accumulation in the filters and an unclean home.
Smart Mapping
The best robot vacuums come with an app that allows you to alter cleaning modes, create schedules, and view a map of the area covered by the machine. This is a useful feature that many competitors don't have. This lets you create profiles which will automatically start the robot at specified times, and keep it running regularly. For example, cleaning the living area every day, or just before dinner.
A good app can also allow you to control your robot via voice commands. Certain models are compatible with Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant, which allows you to control your robot through voice commands.
To enjoy a hands-free and effortless experience, choose a model with a large dust bin that can hold many cleaning sessions before needing to be emptied. There are models that self-empty, eliminating the need to empty the robot after every time you vacuum.
If you're looking for a robot that can do more than simply vacuum, you'll need to look into one that can mop your floors. These are usually larger than robotic vacuums and have a water tank that can hold multiple cleaning sessions' worth of dirt and dust before it needs to be empty.
The most advanced robots generate their own maps of your home. They can even keep track of the layout between cleanings, which helps them avoid getting lost or stuck in corners. This can make a huge difference in how efficiently your robot vacuums, as it won't be spending time returning to the beginning of the room when it comes across walls or furniture.
Our test subjects who tested robots with this capability found it to be very efficient, and could comfortably watch TV or do other chores while the robot was cleaning. Some models use laser navigation to create a map of your home. You can then program them to clean your bedroom after dinner, or in all rooms while you're working.
App Control
If you're looking to change the frequency with which the robot cleans your home and select a cleaning mode, it's best to get one that works with an app for mobile devices. You can also view the status of the vacuum and the condition of its dust bin within the app. The best vacuums that are robotic can be controlled by Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri Shortcuts.
A robot that has a self-emptying bin and washable filters is easy to keep clean, particularly when you are able to access the filter and take it off it to rinse it. A high-powered brush is another fantastic feature that allows you to reach into corners and along baseboards for removal of hair and dirt. Some robots are more adept at avoiding chair leg than others. Others come with an automatic cleaning system that cleans brushes to prevent obstruction.
Some robo-vacs use navigation tools that allow them to discover your home and get around obstacles. The top models utilize sensors and cameras to recognize obstacles such as furniture, stairs, and cords. Less expensive models might utilize boundary strips to mark off areas where you don't want it to go. Avoidance of objects is particularly useful for families with young children who scatter toys and socks around the house. This can help your robot to collect these items, instead of scattering them.
More robots are coming with mop attachments. This is beneficial for those with hard floors who require to clean regularly. These robots come with a reservoir of water built into their chassis or as a separate piece you can swap in when ready to mop. They may require frequent refills but they're ideal for homes that have hard floors that aren't cleaned easily with vacuums.
We've seen some impressive technology in these small robots, and they're a lot less expensive than you might imagine. You can find a decent one for under $200. It does a decent job cleaning on hard floors while navigating around the edges of carpets and area carpets. You can schedule the robot to vacuum a room every day, and it can be controlled remotely via the app or by pressing buttons on its side.