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 a daily bases. Many robot vacuums are compatible with applications 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 map of your home with its first trip, and then it will remember your space for future jobs. It comes with a huge dust bin that automatically emptys and a self-cleaning, brush roll.

Object Detection

When you are choosing a robotic vacuum, choose one that is able to pick up big items, such as lamp cords and toys, as well as dust particles. This will ensure that the items don't get stuck in the roller brushes or strewn across your floor. This is especially important for those who have pets or children, and you may have to clean the robot regularly.

It's also a good idea to select a model that has an efficient motor and lots of suction power. This will allow it to be more efficient in removing pet hair, dust and lint off carpets and hardwood flooring.

The size of your home is another crucial factor to consider. If you live in an area that is large you might want to select a model that has multiple cleaning zones so that you can clean the entire house in one session. Some models also have a mopping function, 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 and emptying the dust bin and wiping down the sensors regularly will ensure that your robot is running smoothly for the years to be. Many of the robot vacuum owners we have spoken to have owned their machines for ten years or longer (and have replaced brushes, motors, and batteries with time).

A basic robot will cost you less than a full-size vacuum cleaner, but 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 aren't as technologically advanced and are more prone to get stuck or require manual intervention.

Object Avoidance

The most effective robot vacuums utilize sensors, cameras or lasers to navigate your home and prevent getting stuck or falling down the stairs. They are also able to avoid obstacles like cords and furniture legs, and some models automatically return to their base or dock when they run low on energy. The most expensive models usually come with mapping capabilities that permit them to learn the design of your home and reduce the amount of time you're hitting walls.

There is no need to spend an enormous amount of money on the most expensive robotic vacuums. There are models that do an excellent job of picking up pet hair and dirt from hard surfaces like tiles, wood, and low-pile rugs. They can also take care of bigger debris like metal screws, rusty nails or discarded toys. Some even come with self-emptying bases that is handy for those who don't want to empty the dustbin after every cleaning session.

Some robotic vacuums have clever features, which make the traditional stick vacuum look quaint. They include schedules, zone-targeting, and the ability for you to control them via an app or a voice assistant, like Alexa. You can also create cleaning zones and 'virtual walls to block off areas you don't want the robot to go.

Certain robotic vacuums, such as the Eufy 11S and my former favorite, the Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that keeps them from crashing into furniture or getting caught in cords. Others, like the iRobot Roomba j7+, are more sophisticated. AI obstacle avoidance, which uses a camera and processor-powered smarts to identify and avoid items like shoes, lamp cords, socks and pet waste. It's a bit more expensive than other bots I've tested, but it does a great job of avoiding obstacles and rarely is stuck or derails while working on my floor.

Although the iRobot J7+ was a good obstacle avoidance bot but it wasn't always able to do well in removing dirt and crumbs from my carpets. It also was prone to over-vacuum certain areas leading to dust accumulation in the filters and a less clean house.

Smart Mapping

A few of the top robot vacuums have an app that can help you set up cleaning modes and schedules, as well as view a map of your floor area that the machine covers. This is a very useful feature that many competitors do not have. It allows you to create profiles that automatically start the robot at specific times and continue to run regularly. For example, cleaning the living room every morning or prior to dinner.

A good app will allow you to control your robot using voice commands. Some models are compatible with Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant, which allows you to control your robot through voice commands.

Look for a model that has a large dustbin. This will allow you to do many cleaning sessions without having to empty it. You can find models that self-empty. This eliminates the need to empty the machine after every vacuuming session.

If you're looking for a robotic that is more than a vacuum, you should consider the models that have mopping functions. These are typically larger than the robotic vacuums and have a water tank in the interior that can hold many cleaning sessions of dirt and debris prior to needing to be cleaned.

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 huge difference in the effectiveness of your robot vacuum, because it won't need to go back to the beginning when it comes across furniture or walls.

Our testers found that robots that had this feature were extremely 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 then program them to clean your bedroom after dinner, or throughout the house while you're working.

App Control

If you'd like to alter how often the robot cleans your home and choose the cleaning mode, it's best affordable robot vacuum to get one that works with an app that can be downloaded on mobile. Within the app, you can also check the status of your vacuum and its dust bin. Some of the best vacuums that are robotic can be controlled by Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri Shortcuts.

It is easy to maintain a robot that has an washable filter and self-emptying bin, particularly when the filter can be easily removed and rinsed. Another feature that is great is a high-powered brush that is able to reach into corners and along baseboards, making it easier to remove dirt and hair. Some robots are more adept in avoiding chair leg splinters than others. Others come with a sensor that automatically cleans brushes to prevent obstruction.

Certain robo-vacs utilize navigation tools that help them learn your home and navigate around obstacles. The top models utilize sensors and cameras to identify obstacles such as stairs, furniture and cords. Cheaper models may utilize boundaries to mark areas you don't want it to go. Avoidance of objects is particularly important for families with children who throw socks and toys scattered around the house, since it allows your robot to grab those objects instead of scattering them.

We're starting to see more robots that have mops, which are great for people who have hard floors and require to mop them regularly. They come with an integrated water tank into the chassis, or an extra piece you can put in when it's time to mop. They may require to be refilled more often than other kinds of robots, however they're ideal for homes with hard floors that can't be easily cleaned using a vacuum.

These robots are packed with impressive technology, and cost significantly less than you would expect. In fact, you can get an affordable model for less than $200 that can do a decent job of removing pet hair and crumbs off hard floors while also traversing the edges of lightweight carpets or area rug. It is possible to schedule the robot to clean the room regularly and it can be controlled remotely using the app or by pressing buttons on its side.