What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum

A robot vacuum can keep you on top of pet hair and lint on daily basis. Many onson robot vacuum vacuums have applications that let you schedule cleaning times. You can also set virtual boundaries, or walls, to keep the vacuum away from areas that you don't want cleaned.

This smart vac and mop creates a home map with its first run, memorizing your home's layout for future tasks. It comes with a large dust bin that automatically empties and self-cleaning brush roll.

Object Detection

When choosing a robot vacuum, look for one that is able to pick up large objects, such as lamp cords and toys, and also fine dirt. This will ensure they don't get caught in the roller brush, and aren't left behind on your floors. This feature is particularly important when you have pets or children, and you may have to clean the robot regularly.

It's also a good idea to choose a model with a powerful motor and plenty of suction power. This will make it more effective in removing pet hair, lint and dust off your carpets and hardwood floors.

Another important consideration is the size of your home. If you have a large house you might want to choose models that have multiple cleaning zones so you can clean your entire house in a single session. Some models also have mopping functions that can be used to keep your floors fresh and clean.

Robot vacuums can last for a long time, but 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 machine running smoothly for years to come. Many of the owners of robot vacuums that we have spoken with have owned the same machine for a period of 10 years or more (and have replaced motors, brushes and batteries as they went along).

A basic robot will cost less than a full-sized vacuum cleaner, however they'll still do a great job of keeping up with dirt and pet hair and dust. You can use them to scrub your floor several times a day. They don't have as much technology and are more susceptible to get stuck or require manual intervention.

Object Avoidance

The top robot vacuums make use of sensors, cameras or lasers to guide you around your home and avoid getting stuck or falling on the stairs. Some models can return to their dock or base when the battery is low. They can also stay clear of obstacles like furniture legs and cords. Some of the more expensive models have the ability to map, which allows them to memorize your home's layout and therefore spend less time bumping against walls.

You don't have to spend lots of money on the most expensive robotic vacuums. You can still find models that do a great job at picking up pet hair and dirt from hard surfaces like wood, tile, and low-pile rugs. They also be capable of handling larger objects such as metal screws, rusty staples or abandoned toys. Some have an automatic base that drains itself, which is a great feature for those who don't want to empty it at the end of each cleaning session.

Most robotic vacs also offer advanced features that make your regular stick vacuum appear ancient, including zones, schedules, and the capability to control them using an app or voice assistant like Alexa. You can also create cleaning zones and 'virtual walls to block off areas where you don't want the robot to enter.

Certain robotic vacuums such as the Eufy 11S and my former favorite, the Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that keeps them from crashing into furniture or tangling with cords. Some robot vacuums, such as the iRobot Roomba j7+ have more advanced AI obstacle-avoidance technology which uses a camera, processors and smarts to avoid items like lamp cords as well as pet waste. It's more expensive than the other bots I've tested, but it did an impressive job of avoiding obstacles in my home and rarely got stuck or derailment when I was working on my floors.

While the iRobot's j7+ was a great obstacle avoidance robot but it wasn't always able to do well in removing dirt and crumbs off my carpets. It also had a tendency to over-vacuum certain areas, which led to lots of dust in the filter and an unclean home.

Smart Mapping

Some of the best robot vacuums have an app that lets you to customize cleaning settings set schedules, and view the area of floor that the machine covers. This is an extremely useful feature that many competitors don't have. This allows you to create profiles that will automatically start your robot at certain time intervals and run it on a regular basis, like cleaning the living area prior to dinner or every other day.

A good app can let you control your robot using voice commands. Certain models can be controlled by Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant and can work entirely hands-free, meaning you can say "start with a clean" or "change cleaning mode" without having to use the app.

Choose a model that has a large dustbin. This will allow you to perform numerous cleaning sessions without having to empty it. There are models that self-empty which takes a portion of the work out of emptying the machine after each run of vacuuming.

If you're looking for a robot capable of doing more than simply vacuum, you'll need to consider a model which can mop your floors. They're usually bigger than robotic vacuums and include a tank of water that can hold multiple cleaning sessions worth of dirt and dust before needing to emptied.

Robots that are more advanced can develop their own maps and keep track of the arrangement of your home from one cleaning session to the next, floor which prevents them from getting lost or stuck. This can make a huge difference in how efficiently your robot vacuums, since it won't have to spend time going back to the beginning of the room whenever it comes across walls or furniture.

Our test subjects found that robots that had this feature were extremely efficient. They could watch TV or do other things while the robot cleaned. Certain models utilize laser navigation to create the map of your home. You can program them to clean your bedroom after dinner, or all rooms when you're at work.

App Control

It is recommended to select one that comes with an app for mobile devices if you want to customize the frequency of cleaning and choose cleaning mode. You can also see the state of the vacuum and the condition of its dust bin in the app. The best robotic vacuums can be controlled with Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri Shortcuts.

A robot that self-empties a bin and washable filters is easy to keep clean, especially if you can easily access the filter and remove it to rinse it. Another great feature is a high-powered brush that gets into corners and along baseboards which makes it easier to remove dirt and hair. Certain robots are better in avoiding the chair's legs than others, and some even have an auto-cleaning sensor that helps prevent the obstruction of brushes that may happen in other machines.

Some robot vacuums come with navigation tools that assist them in navigating around obstacles and to learn about your home. High-end models are equipped with sensors and cameras that detect obstacles like stairs, furniture and cords, whereas cheaper models sometimes utilize boundary strips that you place on the floor to mark areas you don't want it to enter. Avoidance of objects is particularly useful for families with children who scatter socks and toys around the home. This helps your robot to gather these items instead of scattering.

Robots are increasingly equipped with mop attachments. This is great for those with hard floors who need to mop regularly. They come with an integrated water tank into the chassis, or a separate piece which you can change out when it's time to clean. They may require refilling frequently however, they are perfect for homes with hard floors and can't be cleaned with vacuum cleaners.

These robots are loaded with impressive technology, and cost much less than you'd think. In fact, you can get an affordable model for less than $200 that does a decent job of cleaning pet hair and crumbs from hard floors while also navigating the edges of lightweight carpets or area carpets. You can schedule the robot to vacuum a room regularly and it can be controlled remotely using the app or by pressing buttons on its side.