15 Top Pinterest Boards Of All Time About Good Robot Vacuum

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 of them use apps to allow you to schedule cleaning sessions and set virtual boundaries or “walls” to keep them from areas that you don’t want to be cleaned.

This smart vac and mop creates a map of your home with its first trip, and then it will remember your space for future use. It comes with self-cleaning brush rolls and an extra-large dust bin that empties automatically.

Object Detection

When selecting a robot vacuum cleaner, select one that can clean up large items like toys and lamp cords and fine dust. This will help ensure they don’t get snarled in the roller brush, and aren’t left on your floors. This is particularly important if your robot will be regularly cleaned by children or pets.

A model with a powerful engine and lots of suction is also an ideal option. This will help it to be more effective in removing pet hair, dust and lint from carpets and hardwood flooring.

Another factor to consider is the size of your space. If you live in a large house it is possible to select a model that has multiple cleaning zones, so you can clean the entire house in one go. Some models have a mopping feature that can be used to keep floors looking clean and fresh.

Robot vacuums are long-lasting, but they need to be cleaned properly and regularly. Cleaning the rotating brushes regularly and emptying your dust bin, and wiping your sensors will ensure that your robot is running smoothly for a long time. Many of the owners of robot vacuums we have spoken to have owned their machines for ten years or more (and have replaced brushes, motors, and batteries with time).

A basic robot will cost you less than a large-sized vacuum cleaner, but they’ll still do an excellent job at removing surface dirt, pet hair, and lint. You can use them to scrub your floors several times per day. They don’t have as much technology and are more prone to getting jammed or needing manual intervention.

Object Avoidance

The best robot vacuums use sensors, cameras or lasers to guide you around your home and avoid getting stuck or falling on the stairs. They also can avoid obstacles such as furniture legs and cords, and some models automatically return to their base or dock when they are running low on power. Some of the more expensive models come with the ability to map, which allows them to memorize your home’s layout and therefore spend less time bumping against walls.

There is no need to spend an enormous amount of money on the most expensive robotic vacuums. You can still find models that do an excellent job of removing pet hair and dirt from hard surfaces, such as wood, tile, and low-pile rugs. They can also take care of larger debris such as nails with rusty screws, metal screws or discarded toys. Some have a base that automatically empties itself, which is great when you don’t need to empty it at the end of each cleaning session.

Some robotic vacuums have smart features, which make the standard stick vacuum look old-fashioned. These include zones-targeting, schedules, and the ability to control them using an app or a voice assistants, such as Alexa. You can also set up cleaning zones and ‘virtual walls to block off areas you do not want the robot to venture.

Some robotic vacs like the Eufy 11S and my former top choice the Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that stops them from getting sucked into furniture or tangling cords. Some robot vacuums, such as the iRobot Roomba j7+ have more advanced AI obstacle-avoidance technology that uses cameras, processors and algorithms to stay clear of items such as lamp cords and pet waste. It’s a little more expensive than the other bots I’ve tried, but it does a great job of avoiding obstacles and never is stuck or tripped while working on my floor.

The J7+ from iRobot was a fantastic obstacle avoidance robot however it didn’t always succeed at avoiding dirt or crumbs on my rugs. It also tends to over-vacuum certain areas, resulting in an abundance of dust in the filter, and an unclean home.

Smart Mapping

The best robot mop combo robot vacuums have an app that helps you customize cleaning modes and schedules, as well as view a map of your flooring area that the machine covers. This is a great feature that some competitors don’t have. It is easy to create profiles that will automatically start your robot at certain times and keep it running on an ongoing basis, such as cleaning the living room before dinner or every other day.

A good app will also allow you to control your robot using voice commands. Some models are compatible with Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant, which allows you to control your robot using voice commands.

Find the model with an enormous dust bin. This will allow you to perform numerous cleaning sessions without having to empty it. You can find models that self-empty. This eliminates the requirement to empty the machine after every vacuuming session.

If you’re looking to purchase a robot that can do more than vacuum, think about the models that have a mopping function. These are usually bigger than robotic vacuums and include a water tank in the interior that holds several cleaning sessions worth of dirt and debris prior to needing to be emptied.

The most advanced robots can create their own maps of your home and can even keep track of the layout from one cleaning to the next, which helps them avoid getting lost or stuck in corners. This can make a significant difference in the efficiency of your robot vacuums because it won’t have to spend time returning to the beginning of the room if it comes into contact with walls or furniture.

Our test participants who utilized robots with this capability found it to be extremely efficient, and could watch TV or complete other chores while the robot cleaned. Some models employ laser navigation and can make an exact map of your home, meaning you can program them to clean just the bedroom after dinner or every room in the house when you’re at work.

App Control

It is recommended to select 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 best robot vacuums are controlled via voice with Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri Shortcuts.

A robot that self-empties a bin and washable filters is simple to keep clean, particularly if you can easily access the filter and remove it to wash it. Another feature that is great is a high-powered brush that can be found in corners and along baseboards which makes it easier to remove hair and dirt. Certain robots are more adept in avoiding chairs’ legs than others, and some have a self-cleaning sensor that prevents the blockage of brushes that could happen in other machines.

Some robo-vacs use navigation tools to help them discover your home and navigate around obstacles. High-end models are equipped with sensors and cameras that detect obstacles like stairs, furniture and cords, while cheaper models may use boundary strips you place on the floor to mark areas where you don’t want it to leave. Avoidance of objects can be particularly beneficial for families with young kids who scatter socks and toys around the house. This helps your robot to gather these items instead of scattering.

More robots are equipped with mops. This is great for those with hard floors who need to mop regularly. These robots have a water tank built into the chassis, or a separate piece you can swap in when it’s time to clean. These robots may require frequent refills but they’re ideal for homes with hard floors that can’t be easily cleaned by vacuums.

We’ve seen some amazing technology incorporated into these tiny robots and they’re less expensive than you might imagine. In fact, you can get a good one for under $200 that does a good job of getting rid of pet hair and crumbs off hard floors, while moving around the edges of light carpets or area rugs. You can program the robot to sweep rooms every day and can be controlled remotely via the app or by pressing buttons on its side.