What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum
A robot vacuum can help keep you on the top of pet hair and lint on regular basis. Many robot vacuums are compatible with applications that let you schedule cleaning times. You can also set virtual boundaries, or "walls," to ensure that the vacuum stays away from areas that you don't wish to be cleaned.
This smart vac-mop creates an outline of your home's layout with its first run. It then saves the space for future cleaning jobs. It has self-cleaning brush rolls as well as an extra-large dust bin that empty automatically.
Object Detection
When you are choosing a robotic vacuum cleaner, select one that can clean up big items such as lamp cords and toys as well as dust particles that are fine. This will ensure that they do not get stuck in the roller brush or left on your floor. This is especially important if you have pets or children and you may have to clean the robot on a regular basis.
vacuum and mop combo with an efficient engine and plenty of suction is also an ideal choice. This will make it more effective in removing pet hair, dust and lint from your carpets and hardwood floors.
Another important consideration is the size of your home. If you have a large house, you may prefer models with multiple cleaning zones that can cover the entire home in one go. Some models also come with a mopping function that can be used to keep your floors fresh and clean.
Robot vacuums are durable but they need to be maintained in a timely and efficient manner. Cleaning the rotating brushes and emptying the dust container and wiping the sensors clean regularly will ensure that your robot is functioning efficiently for many the years to come. Many of the owners of robot vacuums we chat with have had the same machine for a decade or more (and changed motors, brushes and batteries along the way).
A basic robot will cost less than a large-sized vacuum cleaner, however they'll still do an excellent job of keeping up with surface dirt, pet hair, and dust. You can use them to sweep your floors multiple times per day. They don't have as much technology and are more prone to get stuck or require manual intervention.
Object Avoidance
The most effective robot vacuums make use of sensors, lasers, or cameras to help them navigate your home without falling off or getting stuck on the staircase. Some models will return to their dock or base when their battery is depleted. They can also stay clear of obstacles like furniture legs and cords. The ones that are more expensive usually come with mapping capabilities that permit them to memorize the layout of your home and lessen the time you spend running into walls.
If you don't want to spend a lot of money on the latest robotic vacuums, you could find one that is capable of removing pet hair dirt, dust, and debris from floors that are hard like tiles and wood, as well as carpets with a low pile. They can also do a good job of removing larger debris such as metal screws, rusty staples or the remains of toys. Some models even have a self-emptying base which is helpful for those who don't want to empty your trash bin after every clean-up.
Some robotic vacuums have clever features that make the traditional stick vacuum look outdated. They include scheduling, zone-targeting and the ability for you to control them via an app or voice assistant, such as 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 or my former top choice, Roborock S8, come with obstacle avoidance technology to prevent them from tripping over cords or furniture. Other models, like the iRobot Roomba j7+, have more advanced AI obstacle avoidance that uses sensors powered by processors to identify and avoid items like lamp cords, shoes, socks and pet waste. It is a little bit more expensive than other bots I've tested, but it does a great job of avoiding obstacles and rarely is stuck or derails when working on my floor.
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 rugs. It also had a tendency to over-vacuum certain areas, which resulted in a lot of dust in the filters and an unclean home.
Smart Mapping
A few of the top robot vacuums come with an app that can help you set up cleaning modes and schedules, as well as view an outline of the flooring area that the machine covers. This is an extremely useful feature that many competitors do not have. It allows you to create profiles that automatically start the robot at certain times and continue to run regularly. For example, it could be cleaning the living room every day or before dinner.
A good app will allow you to control your robot with voice commands. Some models are compatible with Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant and can work completely hands-free. You can say "start with a clean" or "change cleaning mode" without the need for an app.
Look for a model that has a large dust bin. This allows you to complete many cleaning sessions without having to empty it. You can also find models that self-empty, which takes some of the burden of emptying the robot after each vacuuming run.
If you're looking for a robotic that does more than vacuum, you should consider a model with mopping capabilities. These are usually bigger than the robotic vacuums and come with a water tank in the interior which can store multiple cleaning sessions worth of dirt and debris before having to be empty.
Robots that are more sophisticated can develop their own maps and remember the arrangement of your home from one cleaning session to the next, which prevents them from getting lost or stuck. 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 comes into contact with walls or furniture.
Our test participants found that the robots with this feature were very efficient. They could sit and watch TV or do other tasks while the robot cleaned. Some models use laser navigation to create a map of your home. You can program them to clean your bedroom after dinner, or throughout the house while you are at work.
App Control
If you want to customize how often the robot cleans your home and choose a cleaning mode it is recommended to purchase one that works with an app that can be downloaded on mobile. You can also view the status of the vacuum as well as the condition of its dust bin using the app. Some of the best robot vacuums are operated by voice using Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri Shortcuts.
A robot that has a self-emptying bin and washable filters is simple to keep hygienic, especially when you are able to easily access the filter and 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 more adept in avoiding chairs' legs than others, and some have self-cleaning sensors that can prevent the obstruction of brushes that may happen in other machines.
Certain robo-vacs come with navigational tools to aid them in navigating obstacles and help you understand your home. High-end models have sensors and cameras that recognize obstacles like furniture, stairs and cords, while cheaper models often utilize boundary strips that you place on the floor to mark off areas you don't want it to leave. Avoidance of objects is crucial for families with children who throw socks and toys scattered across the house, since it allows your robot to grab these objects instead of scattering them.
We're seeing more robots with mops, which are beneficial for those who have hard floors and require to mop them regularly. They come with a water tank built into the chassis, or an extra piece which you can change out when it's time to mop. These robots may need to be refilled frequently however, they are perfect for homes with hard floors that can't be cleaned easily with vacuums.
We've seen some amazing technology packed into these little robots and they're cheaper than you think. You can find a quality 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 carpets. The robot can be programmed to vacuum a particular room on a regular schedule. It can also be controlled remotely via an app or by pressing buttons.