What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum
A good robot vacuum can keep you on top of pet hair, lint and dust on a regular basis. Many of them use apps to allow you to schedule cleaning times and set virtual boundaries or 'walls' to keep them from areas that you don't want to be cleaned.
This smart vacuum and mop creates a map of your home with its first trip, and then it will remember your space for future use. It comes with a huge dust bin that automatically emptys, as well as self-cleaning brush roll.
Object Detection
When you are choosing a robotic vacuum cleaner, pick one that can pick-up large objects like lamps and toys and fine dust. This will help ensure they don't become entangled in the roller brush, and aren't left on your floors. This feature is particularly important for those who have pets or children and need to clean the robot on a regular basis.
A model that has an engine that is powerful and lots of suction is also an ideal choice. This will help it to be more efficient in eliminating dust, pet hair and lint off carpets and hardwood floors.
Another crucial aspect to consider is the size of your space. If you have an area that is large you might want to select one that has multiple cleaning zones so you can clean your entire home in a single session. Some models come with mopping capabilities that can be utilized to keep floors fresh and clean.
Robot vacuums last a long time, but they'll need to be maintained and cleaned regularly. Cleaning the rotating brushes and emptying the dust bin and wiping down the sensors on a regular basis will keep your robot running efficiently for years to come. Many of the owners of robot vacuums that we have spoken with have owned the same machine for 10 years or more (and changed motors, brushes and batteries in the process).
A basic robot is less expensive than a full size vacuum cleaner. They'll still be able to do a fantastic job of cleaning the surface of dirt as well as pet fur and lint. They're a great maintenance cleaner that you can use every week to keep your floors tidy. The drawback is that they don't come with as smart technology, and can be prone to getting stuck or require human intervention.
Object Avoidance
The best robot vacuums use sensors, cameras or lasers to guide you around your home, avoiding getting stuck or falling down the stairs. Some models can return to their dock or base when their batteries are low. They can also avoid obstacles such as furniture cords and legs. The ones that are more expensive usually feature mapping capabilities that allow them to memorize the layout of your home and spend less time running into walls.
If you don't want splurge on the most advanced robotic vacuums, you could locate a model that is capable of removing pet hair dirt, dust, and crumbs from hard floors like tiles and wood, as well as low-pile carpets. They can also do a good job of handling larger objects such as metal screws and staples that are rusty or even discarded toys. Some come with an auto-emptying base which is helpful for those who don't want to empty the dustbin after every clean-up.
Some robotic vacuums have smart features that make the traditional stick vacuum look old-fashioned. These include schedules, zone-targeting, and the ability for you to control them using an app or voice assistant, like Alexa. You can also create cleaning zones and virtual walls to block off areas that you don't wish the robot to enter.
Some robotic vacuums, like the Eufy 11S or my former favorite, Roborock S8, come with obstacle avoidance technology that will prevent them from tripping over furniture or cords. Others, like the iRobot Roomba j7+, have more advanced AI obstacle avoidance that uses sensors powered by processors to detect and avoid objects like shoes, lamp cords, socks, and pet waste. It's more expensive than other bots I've tested however, it did a great job of avoiding obstacles in my home. It also didn't get derailed or trapped when I was cleaning my flooring.
While the iRobot j7+ was a solid obstacle avoidance robot however, it wasn't always doing an excellent job of removing dirt and crumbs off my rugs. It also tends to over-vacuum certain areas, which led to an abundance of dust in the filter, and an unclean home.
Smart Mapping
Some of the best rated robot mop robot vacuums have an app that can help you set up cleaning modes set schedules, and view a map of your area of floor that the machine covers. This is a handy feature, and one that many competitors don't have. This allows you to create profiles that automatically start your robot at specific times and continue to run on an ongoing basis, such as cleaning the living area prior to dinner or every other day.
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.
Choose models with a large dust bin. This will allow you to perform many cleaning sessions without needing to empty it. There are models that are self-emptying which takes a portion of the work out of emptying the machine after each run of vacuuming.
If you're looking for a robot that is more than just vacuum, you'll want to look at one that can mop your floors. These are typically larger than robotic vacuums and include a water tank inside that can hold several 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 arrangement from one cleaning to another which can help them avoid getting lost or trapped in corners. This can make a huge difference in the efficiency of your robot vacuums because it won't have to spend time returning to the beginning of the room whenever it encounters furniture or walls.
Our test subjects found that robots with this feature were very efficient. They could watch television or perform other things while the robot was cleaning. Some models use laser navigation to create the map of your home. You can then program them to clean your bedroom after dinner, or throughout the house while you are at work.
App Control
If you'd like to alter how often the robot cleans your home and choose the cleaning mode you should choose one that is compatible with an app that can be downloaded on mobile. You can also see the status of the vacuum and the condition of its dust bin in the app. Some of 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 makes it easy to keep hygienic, especially if you can easily access the filter and then remove it to wash it. A high-powered brush is another fantastic feature that allows you to reach into corners and along baseboards for removal of dirt and hair. Certain robots are better in avoiding chair legs than others. Others have an automatic cleaning system that cleans brushes to prevent obstruction.
Some robo-vacs have navigation tools that aid them in navigating obstacles and help you understand your home. The most expensive models employ sensors and cameras to identify obstacles like stairs, furniture, and cords. Cheaper models may use boundary strips to mark areas where you don't want it to enter. Avoidance of objects is crucial for families with children who throw socks and toys scattered across the house, because it assists your robot in capturing the objects instead of scattering them.
We're starting to see more robots with mops, which are beneficial for those who have hard floors and need to mop them regularly. These robots come with an integrated water tank into the chassis or an additional piece that you can swap in when it's time to mop. These robots might require frequent refills however, they are perfect for homes with hard floors that aren't easily cleaned by vacuums.
These robots are loaded with some impressive technology, and cost significantly less than you'd think. You can find a decent one for less than $200, and it does a decent job cleaning on hard floors and can be scoured around the edges of carpets and rug. It is possible to schedule the robot to clean rooms every day and it can be controlled remotely via the app or by pressing buttons on its side.