What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum
A good robotic vacuum can help you stay on top of pet hair, lint, and dust on a regular basis. Many work with apps to let you schedule cleaning sessions and create virtual boundaries, or ‘walls’ to keep them out of areas you don’t want cleaned.
This smart vac-mop will create a map of your home using its first run. It then stores the area to be used for cleaning tasks in the future. It comes with a huge dust bin that automatically empties and self-cleaning, self-cleaning brush roll.
Object Detection
When you are choosing a robotic vacuum cleaner, pick one that can clean up large objects like toys and lamp cords and fine dust. This will help ensure they don’t get caught by the roller brush and aren’t left behind on your floors. This feature is particularly important if you 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 an ideal choice. This will allow it to be more effective in removing dust, pet hair and lint from carpets as well as hardwood flooring.
The size of your home is a different factor to consider. If you have a large house it is possible to pick models that have multiple cleaning zones so that you can clean your entire home in one go. Some models come with mopping capabilities that can be used to keep floors looking fresh and clean.
Robot vacuums are long-lasting, but they need to be maintained and cleaned regularly. Cleaning the rotating brushes and emptying the dust container and wiping the sensors clean regularly will keep your machine running smoothly for years to come. Many of the owners of robot vacuums that we have spoken with have owned the same model for a decade or more (and have replaced motors, brushes and batteries in the process).
A basic robot is much less expensive than a large vacuum cleaner. They’ll perform a great job of cleaning dirt from surfaces as well as pet fur and lint. They’re an excellent maintenance tool that you can distribute every week to keep your floor clean. They don’t have as much technology and are more prone to becoming jammed or requiring manual intervention.
Object Avoidance
The best robot mop vacuum combo robot vacuums use sensors, cameras or lasers to navigate your home and prevent getting stuck or falling on 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 base or dock when they run low on power. Some of the more expensive models have mapping capabilities, vacuum & Mop in one which allow them to memorize your home’s layout and therefore spend less time bouncing off walls.
You don’t need to spend lots of money on the most expensive robotic vacuums. There are models that do a fantastic job at picking up pet hair and dirt from hard surfaces like wood, tile and low-pile rug. They can also take care of bigger debris like nails with rusty screws, metal screws or even toys that have been discarded. Some have a base that automatically empties itself, which is great if you do not want to empty it every cleaning session.
Certain robotic vacuums come with smart features, which make the traditional stick vacuum look old-fashioned. They include schedules, zone-targeting, and the capability to control them through an app or a voice assistant, such as Alexa. You can also create cleaning zones and virtual walls to block off areas where you do not want the robot to go.
Some robotic vacs, such as the Eufy 11S and my former top pick Roborock S8 Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that prevents them from crashing into furniture or getting caught in cords. Other models, like the iRobot Roomba j7+, have more advanced AI obstacle avoidance that uses sensors powered by processors to see and avoid items like shoe cords, lamp cords socks, and pet waste. It is a little bit more expensive than other bots that I’ve tried, however it does a fantastic job of avoiding obstacles and never is stuck or derails while working on my floor.
The J7+ from iRobot was a great obstacle-avoiding robot however it didn’t always do a good job in avoiding crumbs or dirt on my rugs. It also was prone to over-automatic vacuum and mop robot specific areas, leading to dust accumulation in the filters, and a less clean house.
Smart Mapping
The best robot vacuum mop hybrid robot vacuums have an app that helps you to customize cleaning settings, set schedules and see the floor area that the machine covers. This is an excellent feature that some competitors lack altogether. This allows you to create profiles that automatically start the robot at specified times, and keep it running continuously. For example, cleaning the living room every day or before dinner.
A good app will also let you control your robot via voice commands. Some models are compatible with Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant, which allows you to control your robot using voice commands.
Look for models with a large dustbin. This will allow you to perform many cleaning sessions without having to empty it. You can also find models that self-empty that take some of the work out of emptying the machine after each vacuuming run.
If you’re looking to purchase a robot that can do more than vacuum, consider a model with mopping capabilities. These are usually larger than robotic vacuums and have a water tank that can store multiple cleaning sessions’ worth of dust and dirt before it needs to be empty.
The most advanced robots can create their own maps of your house and can even remember the arrangement from one cleaning to another which can help them avoid getting lost or stuck in corners. This can make a huge difference in the efficiency of your robot vacuums because it won’t be spending time returning to the beginning of the room whenever it comes into contact with walls or furniture.
Our testers found that robots with this feature were extremely efficient. They could watch TV or do other things while the robot was cleaning. Certain models utilize laser navigation to create an outline of your home. You can then program them to clean your bedroom after dinner, or throughout the house when you’re at work.
App Control
If you’re looking to change the frequency at which the robot cleans your home and choose a cleaning mode you should choose one that works with an app for mobile devices. Through the app, you can also monitor the condition of your vacuum as well as its dust bin. Some of the best robot vacuums can even be operated by voice using Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri Shortcuts.
A robot that has a self-emptying bin and washable filters is easy to keep hygienic, especially when you are able to easily access the filter and then remove it to wash it. A high-powered brush is a fantastic feature that allows you to reach into corners and along baseboards for removal of dirt and hair. Certain robots are better in avoiding chair leg splinters than others. Others come with sensors that automatically clean brushes to prevent obstruction.
Some robo-vacs use navigation tools that help them understand your home and overcome obstacles. High-end models have sensors and cameras that can detect obstacles like furniture, stairs and cords, while cheaper models may use boundary strips you place on the floor to mark areas you don’t want to enter. Avoidance of objects is particularly beneficial for families with children who scatter toys and socks around the home. This can help your robot collect these items, instead of scattering them.
We’re beginning to see more robots with mops, which are great for people who have hard floors and need to mop them regularly. These robots have a water reservoir built into their chassis or as a separate piece you can swap in when ready to mop. They may need to be refilled frequently but they’re ideal for homes with hard floors that aren’t easily cleaned by a vacuum.
We’ve seen some impressive technology incorporated into these tiny robots and they’re cheaper than you imagine. You can find a quality one under $200, which does a decent cleaning job on hard floors and can be scoured around the edges of carpets and area rug. The robot can be programmed to clean a particular room on a regular schedule. It can also be controlled remotely using an app or by pressing buttons.