What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum
A good robot vacuum can help you stay on top of pet hair, lint and dust on a regular basis. Many robot vacuums are compatible with applications that allow you to schedule cleaning sessions. You can also set virtual boundaries, or 'walls,' to ensure that the vacuum is kept away from areas you don't wish to be cleaned.
This smart vac-mop will create a map of your home's layout with its initial run. It then saves the space to help you with future cleaning tasks. It has an extra-large dustbin that automatically emptys and a self-cleaning, brush roll.
Object Detection
When choosing a robot vacuum, make sure you choose one that can take in large items, like lamps and toys and also dust particles. This will ensure that they don't get caught in the roller brush or left on your floor. This is especially crucial if the robot will be cleaned regularly by children or pets.
A model that has a powerful engine and lots of suction is also a good choice. This will make it more effective at getting up pet hair, dust and lint off your carpets and hardwood floors.
Another factor to consider is the size of your home. If you have an apartment you might want to choose a model that has multiple cleaning zones, so you can clean your entire house in one session. Some models also have mopping capabilities, which can be used to keep your floors looking fresh and clean.
Robot vacuums are long-lasting, but they need to be cleaned properly and regularly. Cleaning the rotating brushes regularly and emptying the dust bin, and wiping the sensors will ensure that your robot is running smoothly for a long time. Many of the owners of robot vacuums that we have spoken with have owned the same model for 10 years or more (and replaced brushes, motors and batteries in the process).
A basic robot will cost less than a full-sized vacuum cleaner, but they'll still do a great job of keeping up with dirt and pet hair and lint. You can use them to clean your floors several times per day. The drawback is that they don't offer as much advanced technology, and could be susceptible to becoming 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 staircase. They can also avoid obstacles such as furniture legs and cords, and some models will automatically return to their base or dock when they are running low on energy. Some of the more expensive models have mapping capabilities that allow them to remember the layout of your home and spend less time bouncing off walls.
There is no need to spend a lot of money on the most expensive robotic vacuums. You can still find models that do an excellent job at picking up pet hair and dirt from hard surfaces, such as tile, wood and low-pile rugs. They also do a good job of handling larger objects such as metal screws and staples that are rusty or even discarded toys. Some models come with a base that automatically empties itself, which is great for those who don't want to empty it every cleaning session.
Some robotic vacuums have clever features, making the traditional stick vacuum look outdated. They include schedules, zone-targeting, and the ability to control them using an app or voice assistants, such as Alexa. You can also create cleaning zones as well as 'virtual walls' to block off areas you do not want the robots to venture.
Some robotic vacs like the Eufy 11S and my former top choice the Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that prevents them from getting sucked into furniture or tangling with cords. Others, such as the iRobot Roomba j7+, have more advanced AI obstacle avoidance, which uses sensors powered by processors to detect and avoid objects like lamp cords, shoes, socks and pet waste. It's 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 floors.
While the iRobot j7+ was a great obstacle avoidance tool but it wasn't always able to do an excellent job of removing dirt and crumbs from my carpets. It also tends to over-vacuum certain areas, resulting in an abundance of dust in the filter, and an unclean home.
Smart Mapping
The best robot vacuums have an app that allows you to alter cleaning modes, create schedules, and view a map of the floor area covered by the machine. This is a handy feature, and one that many competitors don't have. It is easy to create profiles that will automatically start your robot at certain times and continue to run on a regular basis, like cleaning the living area prior to dinner or on a regular basis.
A good app will also allow you to control your robot using voice commands. Certain models are compatible with Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant, which allows you to control your robot with voice commands.
To have a hands-free experience, choose a model with a large dust bin that can hold many cleaning sessions before needing to be empty. You can find models that self-empty, which eliminates the need to empty the robot after each vacuuming session.
If you want a robot that is more than simply vacuum, you'll need to look at a model that can mop floors. These are typically larger than the robotic vacuums and have a water tank in the interior that can hold multiple cleaning sessions worth of dirt and other debris prior to needing to be cleaned.
The most advanced robots generate their own maps of your home. They can even keep track of the layout between cleanings and help them avoid getting lost or stuck in corners. This can make a big difference in how efficiently your robot vacuums because it won't need to spend time returning to the beginning of the room whenever it encounters furniture or walls.
Our test participants who utilized robots with this feature found it to be very efficient. They could easily sit back and watch TV or perform other chores while the robot was cleaning. Some models employ laser navigation to create an outline of your home. You can program them to clean your bedroom after dinner, or throughout the house while you are at work.
App Control
It is best to select one that comes with an app for mobile devices in case you wish to alter the frequency of cleaning and choose cleaning mode. Within the app, you can examine the status of your vacuum and its dust bin. Some of the best robot vacuums can even be operated by voice using Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri Shortcuts.
It is simple to maintain a robot with a washable filter and a self-emptying bin, particularly when the filter can be easily removed and rinsed. Another excellent feature is a high-powered brush that gets into corners and along baseboards, making it easier to get rid of dirt and hair. Certain robots are better in avoiding chair leg splinters than others. Some have a sensor that automatically cleans brushes to prevent clogging.
Some robo-vacs have navigation tools to assist them in navigating around obstacles and help you understand your home. The top models come with sensors and cameras that detect obstacles such as furniture, stairs and cords. On the other hand, less expensive models may use boundary strips that you put on the floor to mark areas you don't want it to enter. Avoidance of objects is particularly beneficial for families with young children who throw socks and toys around the house. This helps your robot to gather these items, instead of scattering them.
Robots are increasingly equipped with mops. This is great for those with hard floors who require to mop frequently. These robots come with a water reservoir built into their chassis or as a separate component that can be swapped in when ready to mop. They may need to be refilled frequently, but are ideal for homes that have hard floors and can't be cleaned easily with vacuum cleaners.
These robots are packed with some amazing technology, and they are priced a lot less than you'd expect. In fact, you can get an affordable model for less than $200 that can do a decent job of cleaning pet hair and crumbs off hard floors, and also navigating the edges of lightweight carpets or area rug. It is possible to schedule the robot to clean rooms on a regular basis, and it can be controlled remotely using the app or by pressing buttons on its side.