What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum
A robot vacuum will help keep you on top of pet hair and lint on daily bases. Many robot vacuums have applications that let you schedule cleaning times. You can also set virtual boundaries or "walls," to ensure that the vacuum stays away from areas you don't wish to be cleaned.
This smart vacuum and mop creates a home map with its first run, storing your home's layout for future tasks. It has a self-cleaning brush roll and an extra-large dust bin that empty automatically.
robotic shark vacuum
When choosing a robot vacuum cleaner, choose one that can clean up large objects like lamps and toys and dust particles that are fine. This will ensure that they don't get snarled in the roller brush, and don't end up on your floors. This is especially important when you have pets or children and need to clean the robot on a regular basis.
A model that has a powerful engine and lots of suction is also an ideal option. This will make it more effective at getting up pet hair, lint, and dust from your carpets and hardwood floors.
The size of your home is a different factor to consider. If you have a huge home, you may want to opt for models with multiple cleaning zones that cover the entire house in a single session. Some models also come with mopping capabilities that can be used to keep your floors looking fresh and clean.
Robot vacuums can last a long time however they'll need to be cleaned regularly and properly. Regularly cleaning the rotating brushes and emptying your dust bin, and wiping your sensors will keep your machine running smoothly for a long time. Many robot vacuum owners we speak to have owned their machines for ten years or more (and have replaced brushes, motors, and batteries along with time).
A basic robot will cost you less than a full-sized vacuum cleaner, but they'll do a fantastic job at removing surface dirt, pet hair, and dust. They're an excellent maintenance tool that you can send out several times a week to keep your floors tidy. They aren't as technologically advanced and are more prone to getting jammed or needing manual intervention.
Object Avoidance
The most effective robot vacuums make use of sensors, lasers, or cameras to help them navigate your home without falling off or getting stuck on the staircase. Certain models are able to return to their dock or base when the battery is low. They can also avoid obstacles like furniture cords and legs. Some of the most expensive models come with mapping capabilities that allow them to remember your home's layout and therefore spend less time bouncing against walls.
You don't have to spend a lot of money on the most expensive robotic vacuums. You can still find models that do a great job of picking up pet hair and dirt from hard surfaces like wood, tile and low-pile rug. They also do a good job of removing larger debris such as metal screws or staples that have rust, or discarded toys. Some even come with a self-emptying base which is helpful if you don't want to empty the dustbin after every clean-up.
Many robotic vacuums also come with advanced features that make your ordinary stick vacuum appear old-fashioned with features like schedules, zone targeting and the ability to control them via an app or a voice assistant such as Alexa. You can also set up cleaning zones and 'virtual walls' to block off areas where you do not want the robot to venture.
Certain robotic vacuums like the Eufy 11S and my former top choice the Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that prevents them from crashing into furniture or getting caught in cords. 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 I've tried, however it does a fantastic job of avoiding obstacles and rarely gets stuck or derailed when I'm working on my floor.
The J7+ from iRobot was a great obstacle-avoiding robot, but it did not always do a great job at avoiding dirt or crumbs on my rugs. It also was prone to over-vacuum certain areas, leading to dust accumulation in the filters and a less tidy house.
Smart Mapping
A few of the top robot vacuums come with an app that lets you customize cleaning modes set schedules, and view a map of your flooring area that the machine covers. This is a handy feature that a few competitors do not have. It allows you to create profiles that will automatically start the robot at specific times, and keep it running regularly. For example, it could be cleaning the living room every morning or prior to dinner.
A good app will also let you 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 with a clean" or "change cleaning mode" without having to use the app.
For a truly hands-free experience, look for a model with a large dust bin that can withstand several cleaning sessions before having to be emptied. There are models that are self-emptying which takes a portion of the work out of emptying the machine after each run of vacuuming.
If you're looking for a robot that is more than just vacuum, you'll want to look into a model that can mop your floors. They are usually larger than robotic vacuums and come with an internal water tank that can hold many cleaning sessions of dirt and debris before needing to be emptied.
Robots that are more sophisticated can create their own maps and keep track of the plan of your house from one cleaning session to the next, which prevents them from getting lost or stuck. This can make a significant difference in the speed at which your robot vacuums, as it won't be spending time going back to the beginning of the room whenever it comes into contact with walls or furniture.
Our test subjects found that robots with this feature were extremely efficient. They could sit and watch TV or do other things while the robot was cleaning. Some models employ laser navigation to create an outline of your home. You can program them to clean your bedroom after dinner, or throughout the house when you're at work.
App Control
It is recommended to select one that comes with an app that is mobile if you want to customize the frequency of cleaning and select cleaning mode. 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 using Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri Shortcuts.
A robot that self-empties a bin and washable filters makes it easy to keep clean, especially when you are able to access the filter and then remove it to wash it. Another excellent feature is a high-powered brush that is able to reach into corners and along baseboards making it much easier to remove hair and dirt. Some robots are better at avoiding chair legs than others, and some even have self-cleaning sensors that can prevent the clogging of brushes that can be a problem in other machines.
Certain robo-vacs utilize navigation tools that allow them to discover your home and overcome obstacles. The most expensive models employ sensors and cameras to identify obstacles such as furniture, stairs, and cords. The cheaper models could utilize boundary strips to mark off areas where you don't want to see it go. Object avoidance is especially important for families with young children who have socks and toys scattered around the house, because it assists your robot in capturing these items instead of scattering them.
Robots are increasingly equipped with mop heads. This is useful for those with hard floors who need to mop frequently. These robots have a water reservoir that is built into their chassis or as a separate piece that can be swapped in when ready to mop. They may need to be refilled frequently, but are ideal for homes that have hard floors and can't be cleaned with vacuums.
We've seen some incredible technology incorporated into these tiny robots, and they're a lot less expensive than you might imagine. You can get a good one for under $200. It does a decent job cleaning on hard floors and can be scoured around the edges of carpets and area carpets. The robot can be programmed to clean the room on a regular basis. It can also be controlled remotely via an app or by pressing buttons.