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 robot vacuums have 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 want to be cleaned.

This smart vac-mop creates the map of your home's layout with its first run. It then remembers the area for future cleaning jobs. It comes with a huge dust bin that automatically empties and self-cleaning, self-cleaning brush roll.

Object Detection

When picking a robot vacuum, make sure you choose one that can pick up big items, such as lamp cords and toys, and also dust particles. This will help ensure they don't get caught in the roller brush and don't end up on your floors. This feature is especially crucial if the robot will be cleaned regularly by children or pets.

It's also a good idea to choose a model with strong motors and plenty of suction power. This will make it more efficient in removing pet hair, lint and dust off your carpets and hardwood floors.

The size of your home is a different factor to consider. If you have an area that is large, you may want to select a model that has multiple cleaning zones so you can clean your entire house in one session. Certain models have a mopping feature that can be used to keep floors clean and fresh.

Robot vacuums are long-lasting however, they must be maintained and cleaned regularly. Cleaning the rotating brushes regularly and emptying your dust bin, and wiping the sensors will keep your machine working efficiently for many years. Many of the owners of robot vacuums that we have spoken with have owned the same machine for a period of 10 years or more (and changed motors, brushes and batteries along the way).

A basic robot will cost you less than a full-sized vacuum cleaner, however they'll still do an excellent job at keeping up with dirt on the surface, pet hair, and lint. You can use them to scrub your floors several times per day. They don't have as much technology and are more prone to getting jammed or needing manual intervention.

Object Avoidance

The most effective robot vacuums make use of sensors, lasers or cameras to guide them around your home without 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 like furniture cords and legs. Some of the most expensive models come with mapping capabilities, which allow them to remember your home's layout and therefore spend less time bouncing off walls.

If you don't want splurge on the most advanced robotic vacuums, you could locate a model that is capable of picking up pet hair, dirt, dust and dust from floors made of tiles and wood, as well as low-pile carpets. They also do a good job of handling larger debris like metal screws or staples that have rust, or discarded toys. Some come with an auto-emptying base that is handy in the event that you don't wish to empty your trash bin after every cleaning session.

Most robotic vacs also offer advanced features that make your regular stick vacuum appear ancient, including schedules, zone targeting and the capability to control them using an app or voice assistant such as Alexa. You can also set up cleaning zones and 'virtual walls to block off areas you do not want the robots to venture.

Some robotic vacs like the Eufy 11S and my former top choice the Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that prevents them from getting sucked into furniture or getting caught in cords. Some robot vacuums, such as the iRobot Roomba j7+ have more sophisticated AI obstacle-avoidance technology that uses sensors, cameras and intelligent algorithms to avoid objects such as lamp cords and pet waste. It's a little more expensive than the other bots I've tried, however, it did a great job of avoiding obstacles in my home. It was also very rarely derailed or trapped when I was cleaning my floors.

Although the iRobot J7+ was a good obstacle avoidance tool, it didn't always do well in removing dirt and crumbs off my rugs. It also had a tendency to over-vacuum certain areas, resulting in a lot of dust in the filters and an unclean home.

Smart Mapping

A few of the top robot vacuums have an app that lets you customize cleaning modes set schedules, and view an outline of the flooring area that the machine covers. This is a useful feature that many competitors don't have. This allows you to create profiles that automatically start your robot at specified times and continue to run on an ongoing basis, such as cleaning your living room prior to dinner or on a regular basis.

A good app will also allow you to 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 with a clean" or "change cleaning mode" without the need for an app.

To have a hands-free experience, choose a model with a large dust bin that can accommodate many cleaning sessions before needing to be emptied. You can find models that self-empty. This eliminates the need to empty the robot after each vacuuming session.

If you're looking for a robot that can do more than just vacuum, you'll want to look at a model which can mop your floors. They're usually bigger than robotic vacuums and come with a water tank that can hold multiple cleaning sessions worth of dust and dirt before needing to emptied.

Robots that are more advanced can develop their own maps, and can remember the layout 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 vacuum because it won't need to return to where it started when it encounters furniture or walls.

Our test participants who utilized robots with this feature found it to be extremely efficient, and they could comfortably sit back and watch TV or perform other chores while the robot was cleaning. Some models employ laser navigation to create the map of your home. You can then program them to clean your bedroom after dinner, or in all rooms while you're working.

App Control

It is best 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. You can also check the status of the vacuum as well as the condition of its dust bin within the app. Some of the top robot vacuums are controlled via voice with Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri Shortcuts.

A robot that has a self-emptying bin and washable filters is easy to keep clean, particularly when you are able to easily access the filter and take it off it to rinse it. Another feature that is great is a powerful brush that can be found in corners and along baseboards making it much easier to clean up dirt and hair. Certain robots are better at avoiding chair leg than others. Some have sensors that automatically clean brushes to avoid obstruction.

Some robo-vacs use navigation tools that allow them to learn your home and overcome obstacles. High-end models are equipped with sensors and cameras that can detect obstacles like stairs, furniture and cords, while cheaper models sometimes use boundary strips you place on the floor to mark areas you don't want to leave. Avoidance of objects is crucial for families with young children who leave socks and toys scattered around the house, because it helps your robot nab the items instead of scattering them.

We're beginning to see more robots with mops, which are useful for those who have hard floors and need to clean them regularly. These robots come with water tanks built into the chassis or an extra piece which you can change out when you're ready to mop. These robots may require frequent refills but they're ideal for homes with hard floors and can't be easily cleaned by vacuums.

We've seen some incredible technology in these small robots, and they're a lot cheaper than you think. You can find a decent one under $200, which can do a decent job of cleaning on hard floors and can be scoured 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.