What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum

A good robot vacuum can assist you in keeping track of pet hair, lint and dust on a daily basis. Many of them use apps to let you schedule cleaning sessions and set virtual boundaries or "walls" to keep them from areas you don't want cleaned.

This mop and vac creates a home map after its first trip, and then it will remember your home's layout for future tasks. It comes with a large dust bin that automatically emptys and self-cleaning, self-cleaning brush roll.

Object Detection

When choosing a robot vacuum, make sure you choose one that can pick up large objects, such as toys and lamp cords, as well as dust particles. This will ensure they don't become entangled in the roller brush and aren't left behind on your floors. This is especially important if you have pets or children and need to clean the robot regularly.

A model with a powerful engine and lots of suction is a good choice. This will allow it to be more efficient in removing pet hair, dust and lint off carpets and hardwood floors.

Another important consideration is the size of your space. If you have an area that is large you might want to choose one that has multiple cleaning zones so you can clean the entire house in a single session. Certain models also include mopping capabilities, which can be used to keep your floors looking fresh and clean.

Robot vacuums last 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 on a regular basis will keep your machine running efficiently for long time to be. Many owners of robot vacuums we speak with have had the same machine for a decade or more (and replaced brushes, motors and batteries as they went along).

A basic robot will cost less than a full-size vacuum cleaner, but they'll still do a great job of keeping up with dirt and pet hair and lint. You can use them to sweep your floor several times a day. They don't have as much technology and are more prone to becoming jammed or requiring manual intervention.

Object Avoidance

The best robot vacs use sensors, lasers or cameras to guide them around your home without getting stuck or falling down the staircase. Some models can return to their dock or base when their batteries are low. They can also avoid obstacles like furniture cords and legs. Some of the more expensive models have mapping capabilities that allow them to memorize the layout of your home and spend less time bouncing against walls.

There is no need to spend a lot of money on the most expensive robotic vacuums. You can still find models that do a fantastic job of removing pet hair and dirt from hard surfaces such as wood, tile and low-pile rugs. They can also do a decent job of handling larger objects such as metal screws and staples that are rusty or even abandoned toys. Some come with an automatic base that drains itself, which is great when you don't need to empty it at the end of each cleaning session.

The majority of robotic vacuums have advanced features that make your regular stick vacuum appear ancient such as scheduling, zone targeting, and the ability to control them via an app or a voice assistant like Alexa. You can also set up cleaning zones and 'virtual walls to block off areas where you don't want the robot to go.

Some robotic vacs such as the Eufy 11S and my former top choice Roborock S8 Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that prevents them from getting sucked into furniture or tangling with cords. Other models, like the iRobot Roomba j7+, have more sophisticated AI obstacle avoidance that utilizes cameras and processor-powered smarts to detect and avoid objects like shoes, lamp cords, socks, and pet waste. It's a little more expensive than other bots I've tested, but it did an impressive job of avoiding obstacles in my home and rarely got stuck or derailment while working on my floors.

While the iRobot's j7+ was a great obstacle avoidance bot however, it wasn't always doing an excellent job of removing dust and crumbs from my rugs. It also tended to over-vacuum some areas, which led to an abundance of dust in the filter and a less clean house.

Smart Mapping

The best robot vacuum and mop combo robot vacuums include an app that allows you to alter cleaning modes, create schedules, and view the area covered by the machine. This is an excellent feature that a few competitors do not have. This allows you to create profiles that will automatically start your robot at certain times and continue to run on regularly, for example, cleaning the living room before dinner or on a regular basis.

A good app will allow you to control your robot with 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 cleaning" or "change cleaning mode" without using the app.

Find a model that has a large dustbin. This will allow you to perform many cleaning sessions without having to empty it. There are also models that are self-emptying that take some of the burden of emptying the machine after each run of vacuuming.

If you're looking for a robotic that is more than a vacuum, consider a model with mopping functions. They're usually bigger than robotic vacuums and include a tank of water that can store multiple cleaning sessions worth of dust and dirt before it needs to be empty.

Robots that are more advanced can develop their own maps and keep track of the plan of your house from one cleaning session to the next, preventing them from getting lost or stuck. This can make a big difference in the speed at which your robot vacuums, since it won't be spending time returning to the beginning of the room whenever it encounters furniture or walls.

Our test subjects found that robots with this feature were extremely efficient. They could sit and watch TV or do other tasks while the robot was cleaning. Some models use laser navigation to create the map of your home. You can program them to clean your bedroom after dinner, or all rooms while you're working.

App Control

It is recommended to select a robot that has an app for mobile devices for those who want to modify the frequency of cleaning and choose the cleaning mode. In the app, you can examine the status of your vacuum as well as its dust bin. Some of the best robotic vacuums can be controlled using Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri Shortcuts.

A robot that has a self-emptying bin and washable filters is simple to keep clean, especially if you can easily access the filter and remove it to wash it. Another feature that is great is a powerful brush that is able to reach into corners and along baseboards making it much easier to get rid of hair and dirt. Certain robots are better in avoiding chair legs than others. Others come with a sensor that automatically cleans brushes to prevent clogging.

Certain robo-vacs utilize navigation tools that allow them to learn your home and get around obstacles. The top models utilize sensors and cameras to identify obstacles like furniture, stairs, and cords. The cheaper models could utilize boundary strips to mark areas you don't want it to go. Avoidance of objects is particularly beneficial for families with children who throw socks and toys all over the house. This helps your robot to gather these items, instead of scattering them.

We're seeing more robots that have mops, which are great for people who have hard floors and need to regularly clean them. These robots have water tanks built into the chassis, or an extra piece you can swap in when it's time to mop. They may need to be refilled frequently but they're ideal for homes that have hard floors and can't be cleaned easily with vacuum cleaners.

These robots are loaded with impressive technology, and they cost a lot less than you'd expect. In fact, you can find an affordable model for less than $200 that does a good job of getting rid of pet hair and robot crumbs from hard floors, and also navigating the edges of lightweight carpets or area rugs. You can program the robot to sweep the room on a regular basis, and it can be controlled remotely via the app or by pressing buttons on its side.