What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum

A robot vacuum can keep you on the top of pet hair and lint on daily basis. Many of them use apps to allow you to schedule cleaning times and define virtual boundaries or "walls" to keep them out of areas that you don't want to be cleaned.

This smart vac-mop creates the map of your home with its initial run. It then stores the space to be used for cleaning tasks in the future. It has a self-cleaning brush roll and an extra-large dust bin that empties automatically.

Object Detection

When choosing a robot vacuum, choose one that can pick up large items, like lamp cords and toys, as well as fine dirt. This will ensure that they don't get caught in the roller brush or left on your floor. This is especially crucial if the robot will be cleaned frequently by pets or children.

It's recommended to choose a model with an efficient motor and plenty of suction power. This will make it more effective in removing pet hair, lint, and dust from your carpets and hardwood floors.

Another factor to consider is the size of your space. If you have a huge home, you may want to opt for a model with multiple cleaning zones that can clean your entire house in one go. Some models also have mopping capabilities that can be used to keep your floors looking fresh and clean.

Robot vacuums are tough, but they need to be maintained and cleaned regularly. Cleaning the rotating brushes regularly and emptying your dust bin, and wiping the sensors will ensure that your robot is running smoothly for a long time. Many of the owners of robot vacuums we chat with have owned the same machine for a decade or more (and changed motors, brushes and batteries as they went along).

A basic robot will cost less than a full-size vacuum cleaner, but they'll still do a great job at keeping up with surface dirt, pet hair and dust. You can use them to scrub your floors multiple times per day. They aren't as technologically advanced and are more prone to get stuck or require manual intervention.

Object Avoidance

The most effective robot vacuums utilize sensors, cameras or lasers to navigate your home and avoid getting stuck or falling on the stairs. They also can avoid obstacles like cords and furniture legs and some models automatically return to their base or dock when they run out of power. Some of the most expensive models come with mapping capabilities that allow them to learn your home's layout and spend less time bumping against walls.

There is no need to spend a lot of money on the most expensive robotic vacuums. You can still find models that do a great job at picking up pet hair and dirt from hard surfaces, such as wood, tile, and low-pile rugs. They can also take care of larger particles like nails that are rusty, metal screws or even toys that have been discarded. Some come with an auto-emptying base which is helpful if you don't want to empty the dustbin after every cleaning session.

Most robotic vacs also offer advanced features that make your standard stick vacuum seem prehistoric with features like zones, schedules, and the ability 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 you do not want the robots to enter.

Certain robotic vacuums, such as the Eufy 11S or my former top choice, Roborock S8, come with obstacle avoidance technology to stop them from falling over cords or furniture. Others, such as the iRobot Roomba j7+, have more sophisticated AI obstacle avoidance, which uses a camera and processor-powered smarts to detect and avoid objects like shoes, lamp cords, socks and pet waste. It is a little bit more expensive than other bots that I've tested, but it does a great job of avoiding obstacles and never is stuck or tripped when working on my floor.

The J7+ from iRobot was a great obstacle-avoiding robot vacuum and mop best buy however it didn't always succeed in avoiding crumbs or dirt on my carpets. It also tended to over-vacuum some areas, resulting in lots of dust in the filter, and a less clean house.

Smart Mapping

The best robot vacuums have an application that lets you customize cleaning modes, create schedules, and view a map of the area covered by the machine. This is an excellent feature, and one that many competitors don't have. This allows you to create profiles which will automatically start the robot at specified times and run it regularly. For instance, you could clean the living room every day or before dinner.

A good app will allow you to control your robot with voice commands. Certain models are compatible with Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant, which allows you to control your robot through voice commands.

Find the model with a large dustbin. This allows you to complete many cleaning sessions without having to empty it. There are also models that self-empty that take some of the work out of emptying the robot after each run of vacuuming.

If you're looking to purchase a robot that is more than a vacuum, think about a model with mopping capabilities. They are typically larger than robotic vacuums, and include a tank of water which can hold several cleaning sessions worth of dust and dirt before having to be emptied.

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, preventing them from getting lost or stuck. This can make a big difference in how efficiently your robot vacuums because it won't need to spend time returning to the beginning of the room if it comes across walls or furniture.

Our testers who used robots with this capability discovered it to be extremely efficient, and could sit back and watch TV or perform other chores while the robot cleaned. Some models employ laser navigation to create the map of your home. You can program them to clean the bedroom after dinner, or in all rooms while you're working.

App Control

If you're looking to change how often the robot cleans your home and select a cleaning option, it's best to get one that is compatible with an app for mobile devices. You can also view the status of the vacuum as well as the state of its dust bin within the app. Some of the best inexpensive robot Vacuum robotic vacuums can be controlled using Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri Shortcuts.

It is easy to maintain a robot that has a washable filter and a self-emptying container, especially if the filter can be easily cleaned and washed. Another excellent feature is a powerful brush that gets into corners and along baseboards making it much easier to clean up hair and dirt. Some robots are more adept in avoiding chair legs than others. Some have a sensor that automatically cleans brushes to avoid obstruction.

Some robo-vacs have navigation tools to help them navigate around obstacles and help you understand your home. The most expensive models employ sensors and cameras to recognize obstacles like furniture, stairs, and cords. Cheaper models may utilize boundaries to mark areas you don't want it to enter. Avoidance of objects is crucial for families with young children who leave socks and toys scattered around the house, as it allows your robot to grab the objects instead of scattering them.

We're starting to see more robots equipped with mops which are beneficial for those who have hard floors and need to clean them regularly. These robots come with water tanks built into the chassis or an extra piece you can swap in when it's time to mop. They may require to be refilled more often than other types of robots, however they're perfect for homes with hard floors that aren't easily cleaned using a vacuum.

These robots are loaded with impressive technology, and they cost much less than you'd think. You can get a good one under $200, which can do a decent job of cleaning on hard floors, while also navigating around the edges of carpets and rugs. You can schedule the robot to clean a room regularly and can be controlled remotely with the app or by pressing buttons on its side.