What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum
A robot vacuum can keep you on top of pet hair and lint on a regular basis. vacuum and mop combo 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 you don't wish to be cleaned.
This smart vacuum and mop creates a home map after its first run, memorizing your space for future use. It comes with a large dust bin that automatically empties and self-cleaning, self-cleaning brush roll.
Object Detection
When choosing a robot vacuum, look for one that can pick up big items, such as lamps and toys as well as fine dirt. This will ensure that the items don't get stuck in the roller brush or left on your floor. This is particularly crucial if the robot will be cleaned regularly by pets or children.
A model that has an engine that is powerful and lots of suction is also an ideal option. This will make it more effective at getting up pet hair, lint, and dust from your hardwood and carpet floors.
The size of your house is another crucial factor to consider. If you have a huge house, you may want to opt for one with multiple cleaning zones that can cover the entire home in a single session. Some models come with a mopping feature that can be utilized to keep floors fresh and clean.
Robot vacuums are tough but they need to be maintained and cleaned regularly. Regularly cleaning the rotating brushes, emptying your dust bin, and wiping the sensors will keep your robot working efficiently for many years. Many robot vacuum owners we have spoken to have been using their machines for 10 years or more (and have replaced motors, brushes, and batteries with time).
A basic robot is much less expensive than a large vacuum cleaner. They'll still be able to do a fantastic job of cleaning surface dirt pet fur, lint and other debris. They're an excellent maintenance tool that you can distribute every week to keep your floor tidy. However, they don't come with as advanced technology, and could be susceptible to becoming stuck or requiring human intervention.
Object Avoidance
The most effective robot vacuums make use of sensors, lasers or cameras to help them navigate your home without getting stuck or falling down the stairs. They also can avoid obstacles like furniture legs and cords, and some models can automatically return to their dock or base when they run out of energy. The most expensive models usually come with mapping capabilities that permit them to remember the arrangement of your home, and spend less time hitting walls.
You don't need to spend lots of money on the most expensive robotic vacuums. There are models that do a great job of removing pet hair and dirt from hard surfaces such as tile, wood and low-pile rug. They can also be capable of handling larger objects such as metal screws or staples that have rust, or the remains of toys. Some have a base that automatically empties itself, which is ideal for those who don't want to empty it at the end of each cleaning session.
Many robotic vacuums also come with smart features that make your regular stick vacuum appear ancient with features like zones, schedules, and the capability to control them using an app or a voice assistant like Alexa. You can also design cleaning zones and virtual walls to block off areas you don't want the robot to enter.
Some robotic vacuums, such as the Eufy 11S or my former favorite, Roborock S8, come with obstacle avoidance technology that will prevent them from tripping over furniture or cords. Some robot vacuums, such as the iRobot Roomba j7+ have more sophisticated AI obstacle avoidance technology that makes use of cameras, processors and algorithms to stay clear of items like lamp cords as well as pet waste. It's a little more expensive than other bots that I've tested, but it does a great job of avoiding obstacles and rarely is stuck or tripped when I'm working on my floor.
While the iRobot j7+ was a great obstacle avoidance robot however, it wasn't always doing well in removing dirt and crumbs from my rugs. It also had a tendency to over-vacuum specific areas, which resulted in dust accumulation in the filters and a less tidy house.
Smart Mapping
Some of the best robot vacuums come with an app that helps you to customize cleaning settings, set schedules and see the area of floor that the machine covers. This is an extremely useful feature that other models don't have. This allows you to create profiles that will automatically start the robot at certain times, and keep it running regularly. For example, it could be cleaning the living area every day or before dinner.
A good app will 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 with a clean" or "change cleaning mode" without having to use the app.
For a truly hands-free experience, choose a model with a large dust bin that can hold several cleaning sessions before having to be empty. There are models that self-empty, eliminating the requirement to empty the machine after every time you vacuum.
If you're looking to purchase a robot that can do more than vacuum, you should consider the models that have mopping functions. These are usually larger than robotic vacuums, and have a water tank that can hold multiple cleaning sessions worth of dirt and dust before it needs to be empty.
Robots that are more advanced can create 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 speed at which your robot vacuums because it won't be spending time going back to the beginning of the room whenever it encounters furniture or walls.
Our test subjects who tested a robot with this capability found it to be very efficient, and could sit back and watch TV or perform other chores while the robot cleaned. Some of these models use laser navigation, and can create an exact map of your home, which means that you can program them to clean just the bedroom after dinner, or each room of the house while you're working.
App Control
It's best to choose one that comes with an app that is mobile for those who want to modify the frequency of cleaning and select a cleaning mode. You can also view the status of the vacuum as well as the condition of its dust bin in the app. Some of the best vacuums that are robotic can be controlled using Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri Shortcuts.
It is easy to maintain a robot that has a washable filter and a self-emptying bin, particularly if the filter can be easily cleaned and washed. A high-powered brush is another great feature that can reach into corners and along baseboards to remove dirt and hair. Some robots are better in avoiding chairs' legs than others, and some also have self-cleaning sensors that can prevent the obstruction of brushes that may occur in other robots.
Certain robo-vacs come with navigational tools to aid them in navigating obstacles and to learn about your home. The top models come with sensors and cameras that detect obstacles such as furniture, stairs and cords, while cheaper models often use boundary strips you place on the floor to mark areas where you don't want it to enter. Object avoidance can be especially useful for families with young children who scatter socks and toys around the house. This helps your robot to gather these items, instead of scattering them.
We're starting to see more robots that have mops, which are beneficial for those who have hard floors and need to clean them regularly. These robots have a water reservoir that is built into their chassis or as a separate component that can be swapped in when ready to mop. They may require to be refilled more often than other types of robots, but they're perfect for homes with floors made of wood that aren't easily cleaned using a vacuum.
We've seen some impressive technology in these small robots, and they're a lot cheaper than you think. In fact, you can find a good one for under $200 that does a decent job of cleaning pet hair and crumbs off hard floors, and also traversing the edges of lightweight carpets or area rug. The robot can be programmed to vacuum the room on a regular basis. It can also be controlled remotely via an app or by pressing buttons.