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 robot vacuums work with applications 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 cleaned.

This smart vac-mop robot vacuum makes the map of your home with its first run. It then saves the space to help you with future cleaning tasks. It comes with self-cleaning brush rolls as well as an extra-large dust bin that empty automatically.

Object Detection

When choosing a robot vacuum cleaner, select one that is able to pick up large items like lamps and toys as well as dust particles that are fine. This will ensure that they don't get stuck in the roller brushes or strewn across your floor. This feature is particularly important when you have pets or children and may need to clean the robot on a regular basis.

A model that has an efficient engine and plenty of suction is a good option. This will help it to be more efficient in eliminating dust, pet hair and lint from carpets as well as hardwood flooring.

The size of your home is another important consideration. If you have a large house, you may prefer one with multiple cleaning zones that can cover your entire house in one go. Some models have mopping capabilities that can be used to keep floors looking clean and fresh.

Robot vacuums can last for a long time however, they must be maintained and cleaned regularly. Cleaning the rotating brushes regularly and emptying your dust bin, and wiping the sensors will keep your robot running smoothly for a long time. Many of the robot vacuum owners we speak 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 will cost you less than a full-sized vacuum cleaner, but they'll still do an excellent job of keeping up with dirt and pet hair, and lint. You can use them to sweep and mop robot your floors several times per day. The drawback is that they don't offer as much advanced technology, and could be susceptible to becoming stuck or needing human intervention.

Object Avoidance

The most effective robot vacuums utilize sensors, lasers, or cameras to help them navigate your home without getting stuck or falling down the stairs. Some models can return to their base or dock when their battery is depleted. They can also stay clear of obstacles like furniture legs and cords. The ones that are more expensive usually feature mapping capabilities that allow them to learn the design of your home and reduce the amount of time you're bumping into walls.

If you don't want to splurge on the most advanced robotic vacuums, you can locate a model that is capable of removing pet hair dirt, dust, and debris from floors that are hard like tiles and wood, as well as low-pile carpets. They also can handle bigger debris like nails with rusty screws, metal screws or even toys that have been discarded. Some models even have self-emptying bases that is handy in the event that you don't wish to empty your trash bin after every cleaning run.

Some robotic vacuums have smart features that make the look of a stick vacuum old-fashioned. They include schedules, zone-targeting, and the capability 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 where you do not want the robots to enter.

Some robotic vacuums, like the Eufy 11S or my former favorite, Roborock S8, come equipped with obstacle avoidance technology to prevent them from tripping over cords or furniture. Some robot vacuums, such as the iRobot Roomba j7+ have more advanced AI obstacle avoidance technology that makes use of a camera, processors and algorithms to stay clear of items like lamp cords and pet waste. It's a little more expensive than other bots I've tested, but it does a fantastic job of avoiding obstacles and rarely gets stuck or derailed while working on my floor.

The iRobot J7+ was an excellent obstacle avoidance robot, but it did not always do a great job at avoiding dirt or crumbs on my carpets. It also had a tendency to over-vacuum areas, resulting in lots of dust in the filter and a less-clean house.

Smart Mapping

Some of the best combo vacuum and mop robot robots vacuums come with an app that allows you to modify cleaning modes, make schedules, and view the floor area covered by the machine. This is a useful feature that many competitors don't have. This allows you to create profiles that automatically start the robot at specified times and continue to run regularly. For instance, you could clean the living area every day, or just before dinner.

A good app can allow you to control your robot using voice commands. Some models are compatible with Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant and can work completely hands-free, so you can say "start with a clean" or "change cleaning mode" without having to use the app.

To have a hands-free experience, choose an option with a big dust bin that can hold several cleaning sessions before having to be empty. There are models that self-empty. This eliminates the requirement to empty the machine after every vacuuming session.

If you want a robot capable of doing more than just vacuum, you'll want to consider one that can mop floors. They are typically larger than robotic vacuums, and have a water tank that can hold multiple cleaning sessions worth of dust and dirt before it needs to be empty.

Robots that are more sophisticated can develop their own maps, and can remember the plan of your house from one cleaning session to the next, which prevents them from getting lost or stuck. This can make a significant difference in the effectiveness of your robot vacuum since it won't have to go back to the beginning when it comes across furniture or walls.

Our testers found that robots with this feature were very efficient. They could sit and watch TV or do other things while the robot cleaned. Some models employ laser navigation to create a map of your home. You can then program them to clean the bedroom after dinner, or all rooms while you are at work.

App Control

It's best value robot vacuum mop to choose a robot that has a mobile application for those who want to modify the frequency of cleaning and select cleaning mode. Within the app, you can monitor the condition of your vacuum as well as its dust bin. The best robot vacuum for large house robotic vacuums can be controlled with Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri Shortcuts.

A robot with a self-emptying bin and washable filters is easy to keep clean, especially when you are able to access The Best Vacuum And Mop Robot filter and remove it to rinse it. Another great feature is a powerful brush that gets into corners and along baseboards, making it easier to get rid of hair and dirt. Some robots are more adept at avoiding chair leg than others. Others come with a sensor that automatically cleans brushes to prevent obstruction.

Some robo-vacs use navigation tools that allow them to learn your home and overcome obstacles. The top models come with sensors and cameras that recognize obstacles like furniture, stairs and cords, while cheaper models sometimes utilize boundary strips that you place on the floor to mark areas where you don't want it to leave. Object avoidance is especially important for families with young children who leave socks and toys scattered around the house, since it helps your robot nab those items instead of scattering them.

We're beginning to see more robots with 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 piece you can swap in when ready to mop. They might need to be refilled more frequently than other kinds of robots, but they're great for homes with hard floors which aren't easy to clean using a vacuum.

These robots are loaded with some impressive technology, and they cost a lot less than you would expect. You can get a good one under $200, which does a decent cleaning job on hard floors while navigating around the edges of carpets and area rugs. You can schedule the robot to clean the room on a regular basis and it can be controlled remotely with the app or by pressing buttons on its side.