What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum
A robot vacuum will help keep you on the top of pet hair and lint on regular basis. Many robot vacuums have apps that allow you to schedule cleaning sessions. You can also set virtual boundaries, or "walls," to keep the vacuum away from areas you don't want to be cleaned.
This smart vacuum and mop creates a home map with its first run, storing your home's layout for future tasks. It comes with self-cleaning brush rolls and an extra-large dust bin that empties automatically.
Object Detection
When selecting a robot vacuum cleaner, select one that can clean up big items such as lamp cords and toys and dust particles that are fine. This will ensure that they don't get caught in the roller brush and don't end up on your floors. This is especially important if your robot will be cleaned regularly by children or pets.
It's also a good idea to select a model that has strong motors and lots of suction power. This will help it be more effective at getting up pet hair, lint and dust from your carpets and hardwood floors.
The size of your house is another crucial factor to consider. If you live in a large house you might want to choose one that has multiple cleaning zones so you can clean your entire house in a single session. Some models also come with mopping functions, which can be used to keep your floors looking fresh and clean.
Robot vacuums can last for a long time however they'll need to be cleaned regularly and properly. Cleaning the rotating brushes regularly and emptying the dust bin, and wiping your sensors will ensure that your robot is working efficiently for many years. Many robot vacuum owners we speak to have been using their machines for 10 years or longer (and have replaced motors, brushes, and batteries with time).
A basic robot will cost less than a full-size vacuum cleaner, however they'll still do an excellent job of keeping up with dirt and pet hair and dust. You can use them to clean your floors multiple times per day. The drawback is that they don't have as technological innovation, and may be susceptible to becoming stuck or needing human intervention.
Object Avoidance
The best robot vacuums use sensors, cameras or lasers to guide you around your home and prevent getting stuck or falling down the stairs. Some models can return to their base or dock when their batteries are low. They can also stay clear of obstacles such as furniture cords and legs. The ones that are more expensive usually come with mapping capabilities that permit them to remember the layout of your home and reduce the amount of time you're running into walls.
You don't need to spend an enormous amount of money on the most expensive robotic vacuums. You can still find models that do a great job of picking up pet hair and dirt from hard surfaces like tiles, wood and low-pile rugs. They can also take care of larger particles like nails that are rusty, metal screws or even toys that have been discarded. Some have a base that automatically empty itself, which is ideal for those who don't want to empty it every cleaning session.
The majority of robotic vacuums have advanced features that make your ordinary stick vacuum appear old-fashioned such as scheduling, zone targeting, and the ability to control them with an app or voice assistant like Alexa. You can also create cleaning zones as well as 'virtual walls' to block off areas where you do not want the robots to venture.
Certain robotic vacuums, such as the Eufy 11S or my former top pick, Roborock S8, come equipped with obstacle avoidance technology to stop them from falling over cords or furniture. Some robot vacuums, like the iRobot Roomba j7+ have more sophisticated AI obstacle-avoidance technology which uses a camera, processors and smarts to avoid items such as lamp cords and pet waste. It is a little bit more expensive than other bots I've tested, but it does an excellent job of avoiding obstacles and never gets stuck or derailed while working on my floor.
The J7+ from iRobot was a great obstacle-avoiding robot, but it did not always do a great job in avoiding crumbs or dirt on my rugs. It also was prone to over-vacuum certain areas resulting in dust accumulation in the filters and a less tidy home.
Smart Mapping
A few of the top robot vacuums come with an app that lets you set up cleaning modes set schedules, and view a map of your flooring area that the machine covers. This is a handy feature, and one that some competitors lack altogether. It allows you to create profiles that will automatically start the robot at specified times and run it regularly. For example, cleaning the living area every day or before dinner.
A good app can also let you control your robot via voice commands. Some models support Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant and can work completely hands-free. You can say "start cleaning" or "change cleaning mode" without using the app.
Choose models with a large dust bin. This allows you to complete many cleaning sessions without having empty it. You can find models that self-empty, eliminating the requirement to empty the robot after each vacuuming session.
If you're looking for a robot that can do more than simply vacuum, you'll need to look into one which can mop your floors. These are typically larger than the robotic vacuums and have an internal water tank that holds many cleaning sessions of dirt and debris before needing to be emptied.
The most advanced robots can create their own maps of your home and can even keep track of the layout from one cleaning to the next which can help them avoid getting lost or stuck in corners. This can make a huge difference in how efficiently your robot vacuums, since it won't have to spend time returning to the beginning of the room when it encounters furniture or walls.
Our test participants found that the robots with this feature were very efficient. They could sit and watch television or perform other things while the robot was cleaning. Certain models utilize laser navigation to create an outline of your home. You can program them to clean the bedroom after dinner, or all rooms when you're at work.
App Control
It is best robot vacuum to select the vacuum that comes with a mobile application for those who want to modify the frequency of cleaning and choose a cleaning mode. You can also check the state of the vacuum and the state of its dust bin within the app. The best robotic vacuums can be controlled using Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri Shortcuts.
It is easy to maintain a robot with a washable filter and a self-emptying bin, particularly when the filter is easily removed and rinsed. A high-powered brush is another fantastic feature that allows you to reach into corners and along baseboards to remove dirt and hair. Certain robots are better in avoiding chair legs than others. Others have sensors that automatically clean brushes to avoid the clogging.
Some robot vacuums come with navigation tools to assist them in navigating around obstacles and learn your home. High-end models are equipped with sensors and cameras that detect obstacles like furniture, stairs and cords, whereas cheaper models sometimes use boundary strips you place on the floor to mark areas you don't want to go. Object avoidance can be especially beneficial for families with young kids who throw socks and toys all over the home. This allows your robot to collect the items instead of scattering.
More robots are coming with mops. This is beneficial for those with hard floors who need to clean regularly. They have a water reservoir built into their chassis or as a separate component that you swap in when they're ready to mop. They may need to be refilled frequently, but are ideal for homes with hard floors that can't be cleaned with a vacuum.
We've seen some amazing technology incorporated into these tiny robots and they're less expensive than you might imagine. In fact, you can get an affordable model for less than $200 that does a good job of getting rid of pet hair and crumbs from hard floors while also moving around the edges of light carpets or area rug. You can schedule the robot to clean a room every day, and it can be controlled remotely using the app or by pressing buttons on its side.