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 regular basis. Many of them use apps to allow you to schedule cleaning sessions and create virtual boundaries, or "walls" to keep them from areas you don't want cleaned.
This smart vacuum and mop creates a home map with 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, look for one that can take in large items, like toys and lamp cords, and also fine dirt. This will ensure that the items don't get stuck in the roller brush or strewn across your floor. This is especially important for those who have children or pets and may need to clean the robot regularly.
A model that has an engine that is powerful and lots of suction is a good option. This will help it to be more effective in getting rid of pet hair, dust and lint from carpets and hardwood flooring.
The size of your home is another crucial factor to consider. If you live in an apartment it is possible to pick models that have multiple cleaning zones so you can clean your entire house in one go. Certain models also include mopping capabilities that can be used to keep your floors fresh and clean.
Robot vacuums can last for a long time however, they must be cleaned regularly and properly. Cleaning the rotating brushes and emptying the dust container and wiping down the sensors regularly will keep your machine running efficiently for years to come. Many robot vacuum owners we have spoken to have been using their machines for 10 years or longer (and have replaced motors, brushes and batteries as time went by).
A basic robot is much less costly than a larger vacuum cleaner. They'll be able to do a fantastic job of cleaning surface dirt pet fur, lint and other debris. They're a great maintenance cleaner that you can send out several times a week to keep your floors free of dirt. The drawback is that they don't come with as technological innovation, and may be prone to getting stuck or needing human intervention.
Object Avoidance
The most effective robot vacuums utilize sensors, cameras or lasers to help you navigate your home and prevent getting stuck or falling on the stairs. They also can stay clear of obstacles such as cords and furniture legs, and some models will automatically return to their base or dock when they run low on energy. The most expensive models usually feature mapping capabilities that allow them to remember the design of your home and lessen the time you spend running into walls.
If you're not looking to spend the money on the most sophisticated robotic vacuums, you can still locate a model that does an excellent job of removing pet hair dirt, dust, and crumbs from hard floors like tile and wood as well as low-pile carpets. They also do a decent job of handling larger debris like metal screws, rusty staples or discarded toys. Some models come with a base that automatically empty itself, which is ideal if you do not want to empty it after each cleaning session.
The majority of robotic vacuums have smart features that make your regular stick vacuum appear ancient such as scheduling, zone targeting, and the capability to control them using an app or voice assistant like Alexa. You can also design cleaning zones and virtual walls to block off areas that you don't wish the robot to enter.
Certain robotic vacuums, such as the Eufy 11S and my former top pick, the Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that keeps them from crashing into furniture or tangling with cords. Others, such as the iRobot Roomba j7+, have more advanced 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 bit more expensive than other bots that I've tested, but it does an excellent job of avoiding obstacles and rarely gets stuck or derailed when working on my floor.
The J7+ from iRobot was a fantastic obstacle avoidance robot, but it did not always do a good job in avoiding crumbs or dirt on my carpets. It also was known to over-vacuum certain areas which resulted in dust accumulating in the filters, and a less clean home.
Smart Mapping
The best robot vacuums come with an app that lets you set up cleaning modes and schedules, as well as view a map of your area of floor that the machine covers. This is a very useful feature that other models don't have. This allows you to create profiles that automatically start your robot at specific times and continue to run on regularly, for example, cleaning your living room prior to dinner or every other day.
A good app will also 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.
Look for a model that has a large dustbin. This allows you to complete many cleaning sessions without having to empty it. You can find models that self-empty. This eliminates the need to empty the robot after each vacuuming session.
If best robot vacuum for hardwood floors looking to purchase a robot that does more than vacuum, think about one that has mopping capabilities. They're usually bigger than robotic vacuums and have a water tank which can hold several cleaning sessions' worth of dirt and dust before needing to emptied.
Robots that are more sophisticated can create their own maps and keep track of the layout of your home from one cleaning session to the next, preventing them from getting lost or stuck. This can make a significant 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 very efficient. They could watch television or perform other tasks while the robot was cleaning. Some models employ laser navigation and can create an exact map of your home, which means that you can program them to clean only the bedroom after dinner, or every room in the house when you're at work.
App Control
If you'd like to alter how often the robot cleans your home and choose a cleaning mode you should choose one that is compatible with a mobile app. You can also see the status of the vacuum and the state of its dust bin in the app. Some of the best robot vacuums are controlled by voice with Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri Shortcuts.
A robot with a self-emptying bin and washable filters is simple to keep clean, particularly when you are able to easily access the filter and then remove it to rinse it. Another great feature is a powerful brush that gets into corners and along baseboards making it much easier to get rid of dirt and hair. Certain robots are better in avoiding chair legs than others. Others have sensors that automatically clean brushes to avoid obstruction.
Some robot vacuums come with navigation tools to assist them in navigating around obstacles and help you understand your home. The most expensive models employ sensors and cameras to detect obstacles like furniture, stairs and cords. Cheaper models may use boundary strips to mark off areas you don't want to see it go. Avoidance of objects is particularly beneficial for families with young kids who scatter socks and toys around the home. This allows your robot to gather these items instead of scattering.
We're starting to see more robots equipped with mops which are useful for those who have hard floors and need to regularly clean them. They have a reservoir of water built into their chassis or as a separate piece that can be swapped in when ready to mop. They might need to be refilled more frequently than other kinds of robots, however they're great for homes with floors made of wood that aren't easily cleaned with a vacuum.
These robots are loaded with some amazing technology, and they are priced a lot less than you'd think. You can find a decent one for under $200. It does a decent job cleaning on hard floors, while also navigating around the edges of carpets and area carpets. The robot can be programmed to clean specific rooms on a regular schedule. It can be controlled remotely through an app or by pressing buttons.