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 have applications that allow you to schedule cleaning times. You can also set virtual boundaries or 'walls,' to ensure that the vacuum is kept away from areas you don't wish to be cleaned.
This smart vac and mop creates a map of your home with its first run, memorizing your space for future use. It has an extra-large dustbin that automatically emptys and a self-cleaning, brush roll.
Object Detection
When choosing a robot vacuum cleaner, select one that can pick-up large items like lamps and toys as well as fine dust. This will ensure they don't get caught in the roller brush and aren't left behind on your floors. This feature is particularly important for those who have pets or children, and may need to clean the robot regularly.
A model that has an efficient engine and plenty of suction is an excellent option. This will make it more efficient in removing pet hair, lint, and dust from your hardwood and carpet floors.
Another factor to consider is the size of your space. If you have a huge home, you might want to opt for models with multiple cleaning zones that can cover your entire house in one session. Certain models also include mopping functions, which can be used to keep your floors fresh and clean.
Robot vacuums are tough, but they need to be cleaned properly and regularly. Regularly cleaning the rotating brushes, emptying your dust bin, and wiping the sensors will keep your machine 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 with time).
A basic robot will cost you less than a full-sized vacuum cleaner, however they'll still do an excellent job at removing dirt and pet hair, and lint. They're a great maintenance cleaner that you can use several times a week to keep your floor free of dirt. They do not have as much technology and are more prone to becoming jammed or requiring manual intervention.
Object Avoidance
The most effective robot vacuums make use of sensors, lasers or cameras to help them navigate your home without getting stuck or falling down the stairs. They are also able to stay clear of obstacles such as furniture legs and cords, and some models automatically return to their base or dock when they are running low on power. The more expensive ones often feature mapping capabilities that allow them to remember the arrangement of your home, and spend less time hitting walls.
You don't need to spend an enormous amount of money on the most expensive robotic vacuums. You can still find models that do a great job of picking up pet hair and dirt from hard surfaces, such as tiles, wood and low-pile rugs. They can also handle larger debris such as nails that are rusty, metal screws or even toys that have been discarded. Some come with a base that automatically empty itself, which is great when you don't need to empty it after each cleaning session.
Some robotic vacuums have clever features, making the traditional stick vacuum look quaint. These include scheduling, zone-targeting and the ability for you 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 don't want robots to access.
Certain robotic vacuums like the Eufy 11S and my former top choice, the Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that keeps them from derailing by running into furniture or tangling cords. Some robot vacuums, such as the iRobot Roomba j7+ have more sophisticated AI obstacle-avoidance technology which uses sensors, cameras and intelligent algorithms to avoid objects like lamp cords and pet waste. It's more expensive than the other bots I've tried, but it did an impressive job of avoiding obstacles in my home and rarely got stuck or tangled when I was working on my flooring.
Although the iRobot J7+ was a solid obstacle avoidance bot however, it wasn't always doing an excellent job of avoiding dust and crumbs from my rugs. It also was known to over-vacuum specific areas, resulting in dust accumulation in the filters and a less clean home.
Smart Mapping
A few of the top robot vacuums have an app that lets you customize cleaning modes set schedules, and view an outline of the floor area that the machine covers. best shark robot vacuum is a handy feature, and one that many competitors don't have. This lets you create profiles that will automatically start the robot at specified times, and keep it running continuously. For example, it could be cleaning the living area every day or before dinner.
A good app will also let you control your robot with voice commands. Some models are compatible with Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant and can work entirely hands-free, meaning you can say "start cleaning" or "change cleaning mode" without using the app.
Choose the model with a large dustbin. This will allow you to do many cleaning sessions without having empty it. There are models that self-empty. This eliminates the need to empty the robot after each vacuuming session.
If you're looking for a robot that can do more than just vacuum, you'll want to look into one that can mop floors. These are usually bigger than the robotic vacuums and include a water tank in the interior that can hold multiple cleaning sessions worth of dirt and debris prior to needing to be cleaned.
The most advanced robots can create their own maps of your house and can even keep track of the arrangement from one cleaning to another and help them avoid getting lost or stuck in corners. This can make a big difference in the efficiency of your robot vacuum since it won't have to return to the beginning when it comes across furniture or walls.
Our test subjects who tested a robot with this capability found it to be very efficient, and could comfortably watch TV or do other chores 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 in all rooms while you're working.
App Control
It's best to choose the vacuum that comes with an app for mobile devices in case you wish to alter the frequency of cleaning and choose cleaning mode. Through the app, you can examine the status of your vacuum and its dust bin. Some of the top robot vacuums are controlled via voice with Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri Shortcuts.
It is easy to maintain a robot with an washable filter and self-emptying bin, particularly if the filter can be easily removed and rinsed. A powerful brush is another fantastic feature that allows you to reach into corners and along baseboards to remove dirt and hair. Some robots are more adept in avoiding chair legs than others. Others have an automatic cleaning system that cleans brushes to prevent clogging.
Certain robo-vacs come with navigational tools to aid them in navigating obstacles and help you understand your home. The most expensive models employ sensors and cameras to detect obstacles such as furniture, stairs, and cords. Less expensive models might utilize boundary strips to mark areas you don't want it to enter. Avoidance of objects is particularly beneficial for families with young kids who scatter socks and toys around the home. This can help your robot to gather these items, instead of scattering them.
More robots are equipped with mops. This is useful for those with hard floors who require to mop regularly. These robots come with a water reservoir built into their chassis or as a separate piece that you can swap in when ready to mop. They might need to be refilled more often than other types of robots, but they're ideal for homes with hard floors that aren't easily cleaned using a vacuum.
We've seen some amazing technology incorporated into these tiny robots and they're cheaper than you imagine. In fact, you can find a good one for under $200 that does a decent job of removing pet hair and crumbs from hard floors while also moving around the edges of light carpets or area carpets. You can schedule the robot to vacuum the room regularly, and it can be controlled remotely via the app or by pressing buttons on its side.