What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum
A robot vacuum can help keep you on top of pet hair and lint on daily bases. Many use apps that allow you to schedule cleaning times and set virtual boundaries or 'walls' to keep them out of areas you don't want cleaned.
This smart vac-mop creates a map of your home's layout with its initial run. It then saves the area to be used for cleaning tasks in the future. It has self-cleaning brush rolls as well as an extra-large dust bin that empties automatically.
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When picking a robot vacuum, look for one that can take in big items, such as lamp cords and toys, and also fine dirt. This will help ensure they don't get caught in the roller brush, and aren't left on your floors. This feature is particularly important for those who have pets or children, and you may have to clean the robot on a regular basis.
A model with an engine that is powerful and lots of suction is an excellent choice. This will enable it to be more effective in eliminating dust, pet hair, and lint from carpets and hardwood floors.
Another factor to consider is the size of your space. If you have a large home, you might choose models with multiple cleaning zones that can clean your entire house in one session. Certain models also include mopping functions that can be used to keep your floors fresh and clean.
Robot vacuums are tough however, they must be maintained in a timely and efficient manner. Cleaning the rotating brushes and emptying the dust bin and wiping down the sensors on a regular basis will ensure that your robot is running smoothly for the years to be. Many owners of robot vacuums that we have spoken with have owned the same model for a period of 10 years or more (and changed motors, brushes and batteries along the way).
A basic robot is much less expensive than a full size vacuum cleaner. They'll still do an excellent job of cleaning the surface of dirt pet fur, lint and other debris. They're a great maintenance cleaner that you can use often throughout the week to keep your floors tidy. They aren't as technologically advanced and are more susceptible to get stuck or require manual intervention.
Object Avoidance
The most effective robot vacuums utilize sensors, cameras or lasers to navigate your home, avoiding getting stuck or falling down 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 low on energy. Some of the more expensive models have the ability to map, which allows them to learn the layout of your home and spend less time bouncing against walls.
There is no need to spend a lot of money on the most expensive robotic vacuums. There are 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 also can handle bigger debris like nails with rusty screws, metal screws or even toys that have been discarded. Some have an automatic base that drains itself, which is ideal for those who don't want to empty it every cleaning session.
Some robotic vacuums have smart features that make the look of a stick vacuum outdated. They include zones-targeting, schedules, and the ability for you to control them using an app or voice assistant, such as Alexa. You can also create cleaning zones as well as 'virtual walls' to block off areas you do not want the robot to venture.
Some robotic vacuums, such as the Eufy 11S or my former favorite, Roborock S8, come with obstacle avoidance technology that will stop them from falling over cords or furniture. Some robot vacuums, such as the iRobot Roomba j7+ have more sophisticated AI obstacle-avoidance technology that uses a camera, processors and algorithms to stay clear of items such as lamp cords and pet waste. It's a little more expensive than other bots I've tested, but it does an excellent job of avoiding obstacles and rarely gets stuck or derailed while working on my floor.
The iRobot J7+ was a fantastic obstacle avoidance robot, but it did not always do a great job at avoiding dirt or crumbs on my rugs. It also had a tendency to over-vacuum certain areas leading to a lot of dust in the filters and an unclean home.
Smart Mapping
Some of the top robot vacuums have an app that lets you customize cleaning modes, create schedules, and look at an image of the floor area that is covered by the machine. This is a useful feature that some competitors lack altogether. It is easy to create profiles that automatically start your robot at specified times and continue to run on an ongoing basis, such as cleaning your living room prior to dinner or on a regular basis.
A good app can allow you to control your robot using voice commands. Certain models can be controlled by Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant and can work completely hands-free. You can say "start cleaning" or "change cleaning mode" without the need for an app.
For a truly hands-free experience, look for an option with a big dust bin that can hold many cleaning sessions before needing to be empty. You can find models that self-empty. This eliminates the need to empty the robot after every time you vacuum.
If you're looking for a machine capable of doing more than just vacuum, you'll want to consider the possibility of a model which can mop your floors. They are usually larger than the robotic vacuums and include a water tank in the interior that holds many cleaning sessions of dirt and debris before needing to be emptied.
Robots that are more advanced can create their own maps, and can 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 speed at which your robot vacuums because it won't need to spend time returning to the beginning of the room if it comes into contact with walls or furniture.
Our test participants who utilized a robot with this feature found it to be very efficient, and could comfortably watch TV or do other chores while the robot was cleaning. Some of these models utilize laser navigation and can make an exact map of your entire house, which means you can program them to clean just the bedroom after dinner, or every room in your home when you're at work.
App Control
It's best to choose one that comes with an app for mobile devices for those who want to modify the frequency of cleaning and choose the cleaning mode. In the app, you can examine the status of your vacuum as well as its dust bin. Some of the most effective robot vacuums can even be controlled via voice with Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri Shortcuts.
It is simple to maintain a robot that has the ability to wash the filter and a self-emptying container, particularly when the filter can be easily cleaned and washed. A powerful brush is another fantastic feature that allows you to reach into corners and along baseboards for removal of dirt and hair. Some robots are better at avoiding chair legs than others, and some have a self-cleaning sensor that prevents the blockage of brushes that could be a problem in other robots.
Some robot vacuums come with navigation tools to aid them in navigating obstacles and to learn about your home. The top models come with sensors and cameras that can detect obstacles such as furniture, stairs and cords, whereas cheaper models often use boundary strips you place on the floor to mark areas you don't want it to leave. Avoidance of objects is crucial for families with children who throw socks and toys scattered across the house, because it assists your robot in capturing these items instead of scattering them.
We're seeing more robots equipped with mops which are great for people who have hard floors and require to clean them regularly. They have a water reservoir built into their chassis or as a separate piece that can be swapped in when ready to mop. They might need to be refilled more frequently than other types of robots, however they're great for homes with hard floors that can't be easily cleaned by vacuum.
These robots come with some amazing technology, and they cost a lot less than you'd expect. In fact, you can get a good one for under $200 that does a decent job of cleaning pet hair and crumbs from hard floors, and also moving around the edges of light carpets or area rug. The robot can be programmed to vacuum a particular room at regular intervals. It can also be controlled remotely using an app or by pressing buttons.