What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum
A robot vacuum can keep you on top of pet hair and lint on a daily bases. Many robot vacuums are compatible with applications that allow you to 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 vacuum and mop creates a home map after its first trip, and then it will remember your space for future use. It has self-cleaning brush rolls as well as an extra-large dust bin that empties automatically.
Object Detection
When you are choosing a robotic vacuum cleaner, select one that can pick-up big items such as lamp cords and toys and dust particles that are fine. This will ensure that they do not get caught in the roller brush or strewn across your floor. This is particularly important if your robot will be regularly cleaned by pets or children.
It's an excellent idea to choose a model with strong motors and plenty of suction power. This will make it more effective at getting up pet hair, dust and lint from your carpets and hardwood floors.
Another factor to consider is the size of your home. If you have an area that is large, you may want to pick one that has multiple cleaning zones so that you can clean your entire house in one go. Some models come with mopping capabilities that can be utilized to keep floors clean and fresh.
Robot vacuums can last a long time however, they must be cleaned regularly and properly. Cleaning the rotating brushes, emptying the dust bin and wiping the sensors clean regularly will keep your robot running efficiently for years to come. Many owners of robot vacuums that we have spoken with have had the same machine for a decade or more (and have replaced motors, brushes and batteries as they went along).
A basic robot will cost you less than a full-size vacuum cleaner, but they'll still do a great job at removing dirt on the surface, pet hair and dust. They're an excellent maintenance tool that you can send out every week to keep your floors clean. They aren't as technologically advanced and are more susceptible to getting jammed or needing manual intervention.
Object Avoidance
The best robot vacuums use cameras, sensors or lasers to navigate your home and avoid getting stuck or falling on the stairs. They are also able to avoid obstacles such as cords and furniture legs and some models automatically return to their dock or base when they are running low on power. The most expensive models usually have mapping capabilities that allow them to remember the layout of your home and lessen the time you spend running into walls.
If you don't want to spend the money on the most sophisticated robotic vacuums, you can still find a model that does a great job of picking up pet hair dirt, dust, and dust from floors made of tile and wood as well as carpets with low pile. They also can handle bigger debris like nails that are rusty, metal screws or even toys that have been discarded. Some models even have self-emptying bases which is helpful if you don't want to empty the dustbin after every clean-up.
Many robotic vacuums also come with smart features that make your standard stick vacuum seem prehistoric such as schedules, zone targeting and the capability to control them using an app or a voice assistant such as 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 cleaner and mop vacuums, such as the Eufy 11S or my former top pick, Roborock S8, come with obstacle avoidance technology to prevent them from tripping over furniture or cords. Certain robot vacuums, such as the iRobot Roomba j7+ have more sophisticated AI obstacle-avoidance technology that uses cameras, processors and intelligent algorithms to avoid objects such as lamp cords and pet waste. It's a bit more expensive than other bots I've tested, but it did an impressive job of avoiding obstacles around my home. It was also very rarely stuck or tangled when I was cleaning my floors.
The J7+ from iRobot was a fantastic obstacle avoidance robot however, it didn't always do a good job at avoiding dirt or crumbs on my rugs. It also was known to over-vacuum specific areas, which resulted in dust accumulation in the filters and a less clean house.
Smart Mapping
Some of the top robot vacuums have an app that allows you to alter cleaning modes, create schedules, and view the floor area that is covered by the machine. This is an excellent feature, and one that a few competitors do not have. This allows you to create profiles that will automatically start the robot at specified times and run it continuously. For example, it could be cleaning the living room each day, or just before dinner.
A good app can allow you to control your robot with 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 an option with a big dust bin that can withstand numerous cleaning sessions before needing to be emptied. You can find models that self-empty, which eliminates the need to empty the robot after every vacuuming session.
If you're looking for a machine that is more than just vacuum, you'll want to consider the possibility of a model that can mop your floors. These are usually bigger than robotic vacuums and have a water tank inside that can hold many cleaning sessions of dirt and other debris prior to needing to be emptied.
Robots that are more advanced can make their own maps and remember the arrangement of your home from one cleaning session to the next, preventing them from getting lost or stuck. This can make a big difference in the efficiency of your robot vacuums, as it won't have to spend time going back to the beginning of the room whenever it comes across walls or furniture.
Our test participants who utilized a robot with this capability found it to be extremely efficient. They could easily sit back and watch TV or perform other chores while the robot cleaned. Some models use laser navigation to create an outline of your home. You can program them to clean your bedroom after dinner, or all rooms while you're working.
App Control
It is best to select the vacuum that comes with an app that is mobile in case you wish to alter the frequency of cleaning and select a cleaning mode. You can also see the status of the vacuum as well as the condition of its dust bin using the app. Some of the best robot vacuums can even be controlled via voice with Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri Shortcuts.
A robot with a self-emptying bin and washable filters is easy to keep clean, especially when you are able to access the filter and then remove it to wash it. Another great feature is a high-powered brush that is able to reach into corners and along baseboards which makes it easier to clean up dirt and hair. Certain robots are better at avoiding chair leg than others. Others come with an automatic cleaning system that cleans brushes to prevent obstruction.
Certain robo-vacs utilize navigation tools that help them discover your home and overcome obstacles. High-end models have sensors and cameras that detect obstacles like furniture, stairs and cords, while cheaper models sometimes use boundary strips that you put on the floor to mark areas you don't want to leave. Object avoidance can be especially beneficial for families with young kids who throw socks and toys all over the home. This helps your robot to gather these items instead of scattering.
More robots are coming with mop heads. This is great for those with hard floors who need to mop frequently. These robots come with a water reservoir that is built into their chassis or as a separate piece that you swap in when they're ready to mop. They may require to be refilled more often than other types of robots, however they're perfect for homes with floors made of wood that aren't easily cleaned by vacuum.
We've seen some impressive technology in these small robots and they're less expensive than you might expect. You can find a quality one under $200, which does a decent job cleaning on hard floors while navigating around the edges of carpets and area carpets. The robot can be programmed to vacuum a particular room at regular intervals. It can be controlled remotely through an app or by pressing buttons.