What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum
A robot vacuum can keep you on top of pet hair and lint on a daily bases. Many of them use apps to allow you to schedule cleaning times and create virtual boundaries, or 'walls' to keep them out of areas that you don't want to be cleaned.
This smart vac-mop will create a map of your home with its initial run. It then stores the space to help you with future cleaning tasks. It has self-cleaning brush rolls and an extra-large dust bin that empties automatically.
Object Detection
When choosing a robot vacuum, look for one that is able to pick up big items, such as toys and lamp cords, and also dust particles. This will ensure they don't get caught in the roller brush, and don't end up on your floors. This feature is especially important if your robot will be cleaned regularly by pets or children.
A model that has an efficient engine and plenty of suction is also an ideal option. This will help it be more effective 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 live in a big home, you may choose a model with multiple cleaning zones that can clean your entire house in one session. Some models also come with mopping functions, which can be used to keep your floors looking fresh and clean.
Robot vacuums are tough but they need to be maintained in a timely and efficient manner. Regularly cleaning the rotating brushes and emptying the dust bin, and wiping the sensors will ensure that your robot is working efficiently for many years. Many of the robot vacuum owners who we talk to have been using their machines for 10 years or longer (and have replaced motors, brushes, and batteries along with time).
A basic robot will cost less than a large-sized vacuum cleaner, however they'll still do an excellent job of keeping up with surface dirt, pet hair, and lint. They're an excellent maintenance tool that you can use often throughout the week to keep your floors clean. However, they don't come with as technological innovation, and may be susceptible to becoming stuck or needing human intervention.
Object Avoidance
The most effective robot vacuums make use of sensors, lasers, or cameras to help them navigate your home without falling off or getting stuck on the staircase. Some models can return to their base or dock when their battery is depleted. They also can avoid obstacles such as furniture legs and cords. The more expensive ones often come with mapping capabilities that permit them to learn the layout of your home and lessen the time you spend hitting walls.
There is no need to spend a lot of money on the most expensive robotic vacuums. There are models that do an excellent job at picking up pet hair and dirt from hard surfaces, such as wood, tile, and low-pile rugs. They can also do a good job of handling larger debris like metal screws, rusty staples or abandoned toys. Some models come with a base that automatically empties itself, which is ideal for those who don't want to empty it every cleaning session.
Many robotic vacuums also come with advanced features that make your standard stick vacuum seem prehistoric with features like zones, schedules, and the capability to control them using an app or a voice assistant such as Alexa. You can also design cleaning zones and virtual walls to block off areas you don't wish the robot to enter.
Certain robotic vacuums, such as the Eufy 11S or my former top pick, Roborock S8, come equipped with obstacle avoidance technology to keep them from tripping over cords or furniture. Some robot vacuums, like the iRobot Roomba j7+ have more sophisticated AI obstacle-avoidance technology which uses sensors, cameras and smarts to avoid items like lamp cords and pet waste. It's a little more expensive than other bots I've tried, but it did an impressive job of avoiding obstacles within my home and rarely got stuck or derailment while working on my flooring.
While the iRobot's j7+ was a good obstacle avoidance bot but it wasn't always able to do well in removing dust and crumbs from my rugs. It also had a tendency to over-vacuum areas, which resulted in lots of dust in the filter, and a less clean house.
Smart Mapping
The best budget robot vacuum with mop robot vacuums include an app that lets you customize cleaning modes, create schedules, and see an image of the area covered by the machine. This is an extremely useful feature that some competitors don't have. This makes it easy to create profiles that will automatically start your robot at specified times and keep it running on a regular basis, like cleaning the living area prior to dinner or every other day.
A good app will also allow you to control your robot with voice commands. Certain models can be controlled by Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant and can work completely hands-free, so you can say "start a clean" or "change cleaning mode" without the need for an app.
To enjoy a hands-free and effortless experience, opt for a model with a large dust bin that can withstand several cleaning sessions before having to be emptied. There are models that self-empty. This eliminates the need to empty the machine after every vacuuming session.
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 typically larger than the robotic vacuums and come with an internal water tank which can store many cleaning sessions of dirt and other debris prior to needing to be cleaned.
The most advanced robots create their own maps of your home. They can even remember the arrangement from one cleaning to the next and help them avoid getting lost or stuck in corners. This can make a big difference in the speed at which your robot vacuums, as it won't need to spend time going back to the beginning of the room whenever it comes into contact with walls or furniture.
Our test participants found that the robots that had this feature were extremely efficient. They could watch television or perform other tasks while the robot was cleaning. Some of these models use laser navigation and can make an exact map of your entire house, which means you can program them to clean just the bedroom after dinner, or each room of the house while you're at work.
App Control
It's best to choose a robot that has an app that is mobile in case you wish to alter the frequency of cleaning and choose cleaning mode. Through the app, you can also examine the status of your vacuum and its dust bin. Some of the top robotic vacuums can be controlled using Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri Shortcuts.
A robot that has a self-emptying bin and washable filters is easy to keep clean, especially if you can easily access the filter and take it off it to rinse it. Another feature that is great is a powerful brush that gets into corners and along baseboards making it much easier to remove dirt and hair. Certain robots are better in avoiding chair legs than others. Others come with sensors that automatically clean brushes to prevent clogging.
Certain robo-vacs utilize navigation tools to help them understand your home and navigate around obstacles. High-end models are equipped with sensors and cameras that detect obstacles such as furniture, stairs and cords. On the other hand, less expensive models may use boundary strips that you put on the floor to mark areas where you don't want it to go. Avoidance of objects is particularly important for families with children who throw socks and toys scattered across the house, as it helps your robot nab these objects instead of scattering them.
More robots are coming with mop attachments. This is useful for those with hard floors who require to mop frequently. These robots have a water reservoir that is built into their chassis or as a separate component that you can swap in when ready to mop. They may need to be refilled more frequently than other types of robots, however they're great for homes with floors made of wood that can't be easily cleaned with a vacuum.
We've seen some amazing technology packed into these little robots and they're cheaper than you expect. In fact, you can get an affordable model for less than $200 that does a good job of cleaning pet hair and crumbs from hard floors while also navigating the edges of lightweight carpets or area rug. You can schedule the robot to sweep the room regularly, and it can be controlled remotely with the app or by pressing buttons on its side.