What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum
A robot vacuum will help keep you on the top of pet hair and lint on a regular basis. Many robot vacuums are compatible with apps that allow you to schedule cleaning times. You can also set virtual boundaries or 'walls,' to keep the vacuum away from areas you don't want to be cleaned.
This smart vac 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 large dust bin that automatically emptys, as well as self-cleaning brush roll.
Object Detection
When choosing a robot vacuum cleaner, select one that is able to pick up large items like lamps and toys and dust particles that are fine. This will ensure that they do not get caught in the roller brush or end up on your floor. This is especially crucial if the robot will be regularly cleaned by pets or children.
A model with a powerful engine and lots of suction is also a good option. This will enable it to be more effective in eliminating pet hair, dust and lint off carpets and hardwood flooring.
Another factor to consider is the size of your room. If you have a large home, you might prefer models with multiple cleaning zones that can clean the entire home in one go. Some models also have a mopping function that can be used to keep your floors fresh and clean.
Robot vacuums last a long time, but they'll need to be maintained and cleaned regularly. Cleaning the rotating brushes regularly and emptying the dust bin, and wiping your sensors will keep your machine running smoothly for a long time. Many robot vacuum owners we speak to have owned their machines for ten years or longer (and have replaced brushes, motors, and batteries with time).
A basic robot will cost less than a large-sized vacuum cleaner, but they'll do a fantastic job at keeping up with dirt and pet hair, and lint. They're an excellent maintenance tool that you can send out every week to keep your floors free of dirt. They aren't as technologically advanced and are more susceptible to get stuck or require 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. They are also able to stay clear of obstacles such as cords and furniture legs and some models can automatically return to their dock or base when they run low on power. The ones that are more expensive usually have mapping capabilities that allow them to remember the arrangement of your home, and spend less time bumping into walls.
You don't 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 tile, wood and low-pile rug. They also do a decent job of removing larger debris such as metal screws and staples that are rusty or even discarded toys. Some models even have an auto-emptying base, which is useful in the event that you don't wish to empty the dustbin after every cleaning session.
The majority of robotic vacuums have innovative features that make a ordinary stick vacuum appear old-fashioned, including schedules, zone targeting and the capability to control them using an app or a voice assistant such as Alexa. You can also set up cleaning zones and virtual walls' to block off areas you do not want the robot to enter.
Some robotic vacs like the Eufy 11S and my former top choice, the Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that prevents them from crashing into furniture or getting caught in cords. Some robot vacuums, like the iRobot Roomba j7+ have more advanced AI obstacle-avoidance technology which uses sensors, cameras and intelligent algorithms to avoid objects like lamp cords as well as pet waste. It's more expensive than the other bots I've tested but it did an impressive job of avoiding obstacles in my home and rarely got stuck or tangled while working on my floors.
While the iRobot j7+ was a solid obstacle avoidance robot however, it wasn't always doing well in removing dirt and crumbs from my carpets. It also tended to over-vacuum certain areas, which led to a lot of extra dust in the filter and an unclean home.
Smart Mapping
Some of the best robot vacuums have an app that lets you set up cleaning modes and schedules, as well as view an outline of the flooring area that the machine covers. This is a very useful feature that many competitors don't have. This lets you create profiles that will automatically start the robot at specific times and continue to run regularly. For example, it could be cleaning the living room every morning or prior to dinner.
A good app will also allow you to control your robot via voice commands. Certain models are compatible with Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant, which allows you to control your robot using voice commands.
To enjoy a hands-free and effortless experience, opt for a model with a large dust bin that can accommodate several cleaning sessions before having to be empty. There are models that self-empty which takes a portion of the burden of emptying the robot after each run of vacuuming.
If you want a robot that is more than simply vacuum, you'll need to look at one which can mop your floors. 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 needing to emptied.
The most advanced robots create their own maps of your home. They can even remember the arrangement from one cleaning to the next which can help them avoid getting lost or stuck in corners. This can make a huge difference in how efficiently your robot vacuums because it won't be spending time returning to the beginning of the room whenever it comes across walls or furniture.
Our testers found that robots that had this feature were very efficient. They could sit and watch television or perform other things while the robot cleaned. Some models employ laser navigation to create an outline of your home. You can then program them to clean the bedroom after dinner, or throughout the house while you're working.
App Control
If you'd like to alter the frequency with which the robot cleans your home and choose a cleaning mode, it's best robot vacuum mop combo to get one that is compatible with an app that can be downloaded on mobile. Within the app, you can also examine the status of your vacuum as well as its dust bin. Some of the most effective robot vacuums can even be controlled by voice with Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri Shortcuts.
A robot that has a self-emptying bin and washable filters is simple to keep hygienic, especially if you can easily access the filter and remove it to rinse it. Another excellent feature is a high-powered brush that can be found in corners and along baseboards making it much easier to get rid of hair and dirt. Some robots are more adept in avoiding chair legs than others. Others have a sensor that automatically cleans brushes to avoid obstruction.
Some robot vacuums come with navigation tools that aid them in navigating obstacles and learn your home. High-end models use sensors and cameras to recognize obstacles like stairs, furniture and cords. The cheaper models could utilize boundary strips to mark areas you don't want it to enter. Avoidance of objects is crucial for families with children who leave socks and toys scattered around the house, as it helps your robot nab these items instead of scattering them.
We're seeing more robots that have mops, which are beneficial for those who have hard floors and need to regularly clean them. These robots come with a water reservoir that is built into their chassis or as a separate component that you swap in when they're ready to mop. They may need to be refilled frequently, but are ideal for homes with hard floors and can't be cleaned easily with a vacuum.
We've seen some amazing technology incorporated into these tiny robots, and they're a lot cheaper than you imagine. You can find a quality one for less than $200, and it does a decent cleaning job on hard floors, while also navigating around the edges of carpets and area rugs. The robot can be programmed to clean specific rooms at regular intervals. It can also be controlled remotely using an app or by pressing buttons.