A good robotic vacuum can help you stay on top of pet hair, lint and dust on a daily basis. Many of them use apps to allow you to schedule cleaning sessions and create virtual boundaries, or "walls" to keep them from areas you don't want cleaned.
This smart vac-mop creates a map of your home using its first run. It then stores the area for future cleaning jobs. It has a self-cleaning brush roll and an large dust bin that is empty automatically.
Object Detection
When choosing a robot vacuum cleaner, choose one that can pick-up big items such as lamps and toys and dust particles of fine size. This will ensure that they don't get stuck in the roller brush or strewn across your floor. This is particularly important if your robot will be cleaned frequently by pets or children.
A model that has an efficient engine and plenty of suction is a good choice. This will make it more efficient at getting up pet hair, lint and dust off your carpets and hardwood floors.
The size of your house is another important consideration. If you have an apartment it is possible to choose a model that has multiple cleaning zones so you can clean your entire home in one go. Some models also have mopping capabilities that can be used to keep your floors looking fresh and clean.
Robot vacuums can last a long time, but they'll need to be maintained regularly and in a proper manner. Cleaning the rotating brushes, emptying the dust bin and wiping the sensors clean regularly will ensure that your robot is running smoothly for years to come. Many of the owners of robot vacuums who we talk to have owned their machines for ten years or more (and have replaced brushes, motors, and batteries with time).
A basic robot is less expensive than a large vacuum cleaner. They'll still be able to do a fantastic job of cleaning the surface of dirt as well as pet fur and lint. You can use them to clean your floor several times a day. The drawback is that they don't have as smart technology, and can be susceptible to becoming stuck or needing human intervention.
Object Avoidance
The best robot vacs use sensors, lasers, or cameras to help them navigate your home without getting stuck or falling down the staircase. Some models can return to their base or dock when their batteries are low. They can also 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 therefore spend less time bumping against walls.
You don't have to spend a lot of money on the most expensive robotic vacuums. There are models that do a fantastic job of removing pet hair and dirt from hard surfaces like tiles, wood, and low-pile rugs. They also be capable of handling larger objects such as metal screws, rusty staples or discarded toys. Some models come with a base that automatically empties itself, which is ideal if you do not want to empty it every cleaning session.
Certain robotic vacuums come with smart features, which make the look of a stick vacuum outdated. They include zones-targeting, schedules, and the ability for you to control them via an app or voice assistant, like Alexa. You can also set up cleaning zones and 'virtual walls' to block off areas where you don't want the robot to go.
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 cords or furniture. Others, like the iRobot Roomba j7+, have more advanced AI obstacle avoidance, which uses a camera and processor-powered smarts to identify and avoid items like lamp cords, shoes, socks, and pet waste. It's a bit more expensive than other bots that I've tested, but it does an excellent job of avoiding obstacles and rarely is stuck or tripped while working on my floor.
While the iRobot j7+ was a good obstacle avoidance bot however, it wasn't always doing an excellent job of avoiding dirt and crumbs off my rugs. It also had a tendency to over-vacuum certain areas, which resulted in dust accumulation in the filters, and a less tidy house.
Smart Mapping
Some of the best robot vacuums come with an app that can help you set up cleaning modes set schedules, and view an outline of the area of floor that the machine covers. This is a handy feature that a few competitors do not have. This allows you to create profiles that will automatically start the robot at specific times and continue to run regularly. For example, it could be cleaning the living room each morning or prior to dinner.
A good app can 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 with voice commands.
To have a hands-free experience, look for models with a large dust bin that can withstand several cleaning sessions before having to be empty. You can find models that self-empty, eliminating the requirement to empty the robot after every time you vacuum.
If you're looking to purchase a robot that does more than vacuum, consider one that has mopping functions. 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.
The most advanced robots can create their own maps of your home. They can even remember the layout between cleanings, which helps them avoid getting lost or trapped in corners. This can make a big difference in the speed at which your robot vacuums because it won't need to spend time returning to the beginning of the room whenever it encounters furniture or walls.
mop robot vacuum found that robots with this feature were very efficient. They could sit and watch television or perform other tasks while the robot cleaned. Some models use laser navigation to create a map of your home. You can program them to clean your bedroom after dinner, or all rooms when you're at work.
App Control
If you want to customize the frequency at which the robot cleans your house and select a cleaning mode, it's best to get one that works with an app that can be downloaded on mobile. Through the app, you can check the status of your vacuum and its dust bin. Some of the top vacuums that are robotic can be controlled by Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri Shortcuts.
It is simple to maintain a robot with the ability to wash the filter and a self-emptying container, particularly if the filter can be easily cleaned and washed. A powerful brush is another great feature that can reach into corners and along baseboards to get rid of dirt and hair. Certain robots are better in avoiding chair legs than others. Some have an automatic cleaning system that cleans brushes to avoid the clogging.
Some robo-vacs have navigation tools to aid them in navigating obstacles and learn your home. High-end models have sensors and cameras that detect obstacles like furniture, stairs and cords. On the other hand, less expensive models may use boundary strips you place on the floor to mark areas where you don't want it to go. Avoidance of objects can be particularly useful for families with young kids who throw socks and toys all over the house. This allows your robot collect these items instead of scattering.
Robots are increasingly equipped with mops. This is beneficial for those with floors that are hard and need to clean regularly. These robots come with an integrated water tank into the chassis or a separate piece which you can change out when you're ready to mop. These robots may require refilling frequently however, they are perfect for homes that have hard floors that aren't easily cleaned by a vacuum.
We've seen some amazing technology in these small robots, and they're a lot cheaper than you think. In fact, you can get a decent one for less than $200 that does a decent job of cleaning pet hair and crumbs off hard floors, and also navigating the edges of lightweight carpets or area rug. The robot can be programmed to vacuum the room at regular intervals. It can be controlled remotely through an app or by pressing buttons.
