What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum
A robot vacuum can help keep you on top of pet hair and lint on a daily bases. Many robot vacuums have applications that let you schedule cleaning sessions. You can also set virtual boundaries or "walls," to keep the vacuum away from areas you don't wish to be cleaned.
This smart vac-mop will create the map of your home's layout with its initial run. It then saves the area 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 you are choosing a robotic vacuum cleaner, choose one that is able to pick up large objects like lamp cords and toys and dust particles that are fine. This will ensure that the items don't get stuck in the roller brushes or end up on your floor. This is especially important if you have pets or children and you may have to clean the robot regularly.
It's an excellent idea to choose a model with an efficient motor and lots of suction power. This will make it more efficient in removing pet hair, lint, and dust off your carpets and hardwood floors.
The size of your home is another crucial factor to consider. If you live in a big home, you may choose a model with multiple cleaning zones that can cover the entire house in one session. Some models have mopping capabilities that can be used to keep floors looking fresh and clean.
Robot vacuums are durable however, they must be maintained and cleaned regularly. Cleaning the rotating brushes regularly and emptying your dust bin, and wiping your sensors will ensure that your robot is working efficiently for many years. Many robot vacuum owners we speak to have owned their machines for ten years or more (and have replaced motors, brushes, and batteries as time went by).
A basic robot will cost less than a full-sized vacuum cleaner, but they'll do a fantastic job of keeping up with surface dirt, pet hair and dust. You can use them to clean your floor several times a day. However, they don't come with as technological innovation, and may be susceptible to becoming stuck or require human intervention.
Object Avoidance
The best robot vacuums use cameras, sensors or lasers to navigate your home and prevent getting stuck or falling on the stairs. Some models can return to their dock or base when their battery is depleted. They also can avoid obstacles like furniture legs and cords. Some of the more expensive models have the ability to map, which allows them to remember your home's layout and spend less time bumping against walls.
You don't need to spend lots 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 can also do a decent job of removing larger debris such as metal screws, rusty staples or abandoned toys. Some models even have an auto-emptying base that is handy for those who don't want to empty the trash bin after every clean-up.
Certain robotic vacuums come with smart features, making the look of a stick vacuum quaint. They include scheduling, zone-targeting and the ability 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 venture.
Certain robotic vacuums, such as the Eufy 11S or my former top pick, Roborock S8, come with obstacle avoidance technology to stop them from falling over furniture or cords. Some robot vacuums, such as the iRobot Roomba j7+ have more sophisticated AI obstacle-avoidance technology that uses cameras, processors and algorithms to stay clear of items like lamp cords and pet waste. It is a little bit more expensive than other bots that I've tried, but it does a fantastic job of avoiding obstacles, and never is stuck or tripped when working on my floor.
The J7+ from iRobot was a fantastic 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 certain areas resulting in a lot of dust in the filters, and a less tidy house.
Smart Mapping
Some of the top robot vacuums include an application that lets you modify cleaning modes, make schedules, and look at a map of the area covered by the machine. This is a great feature that some competitors don't have. It is easy to create profiles that will automatically start your robot at specified times and keep it running on an ongoing basis, such as cleaning the living room before dinner or on a regular basis.
A good app will also allow you to control your robot via voice commands. Some models support Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant and can work completely hands-free. You can say "start a clean" or "change cleaning mode" without having to use the app.
To have a hands-free experience, look for an option with a big dust bin that can hold many cleaning sessions before needing to be emptied. There are also models that self-empty which takes a portion of the burden of emptying the machine after each cleaning run.
If you're looking for a robot capable of doing more than just vacuum, you'll want to consider a model that can mop your floors. They're usually bigger than robotic vacuums, and have a water tank that can store multiple cleaning sessions worth of dust and dirt before having to be emptied.
Robots that are more sophisticated can develop their own maps and remember the layout of your home from one cleaning session to the next, which prevents them from getting lost or stuck. This can make a huge difference in the effectiveness of your robot vacuum because it won't need to return to the beginning when it encounters walls or furniture.
Our testers found that robots with this feature were very efficient. They could watch TV or do other things while the robot was cleaning. Some models employ laser navigation to create the map of your home. You can program them to clean your bedroom after dinner, or in all rooms while you're working.
App Control
If you're looking to change the frequency with which the robot cleans your house and select a cleaning mode you should choose one that works with an app that can be downloaded on mobile. You can also view the status of the vacuum and the condition of its dust bin in the app. Some of the best robot vacuum and mop amazon robot vacuums are controlled via 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 take it off it to wash it. A powerful brush is another excellent feature that can reach into corners and along baseboards to get rid of dirt and hair. Some robots are more adept in avoiding chair legs than others. Others come with sensors that automatically clean brushes to avoid the clogging.
Certain robo-vacs utilize navigation tools that allow them to discover your home and navigate around obstacles. The most expensive models employ sensors and cameras to detect obstacles such as furniture, stairs, and cords. Less expensive models might use boundary strips to mark off areas you don't want it to go. Avoidance of objects is crucial for families with children who leave socks and toys scattered around the house, as it helps your robot nab the items instead of scattering them.
We're beginning to see more robots equipped with mops which are great for people who have hard floors and require to clean them regularly. These robots have a water reservoir that is built into their chassis or as a separate piece you can swap in when ready to mop. They may require to be refilled more often than other types of robots, but they're perfect for homes with hard floors that can't be easily cleaned using a vacuum.
We've seen some impressive technology in these small robots and they're cheaper than you think. You can get a good one for under $200. It can do a decent job of cleaning on hard floors, while also navigating around the edges of carpets and area carpets. You can schedule the robot to sweep the room every day, and it can be controlled remotely using the app or by pressing buttons on its side.