10 Tips For Getting The Most Value From Good Robot Vacuum

What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum

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

This smart vacuum and mop creates a home map after its first run, memorizing your home's layout for future tasks. It comes with a large dust bin that automatically emptys and self-cleaning, self-cleaning brush roll.

Object Detection

When you are choosing a robotic vacuum cleaner, select one that can pick-up large objects like lamp cords and toys as well as dust particles that are fine. This will ensure they don't get snarled by the roller brush and aren't left on your floors. This feature is especially crucial if the robot will be cleaned regularly by children or pets.

A model that has a powerful engine and lots of suction is an excellent option. This will make it more efficient in removing pet hair, lint and dust from your hardwood and carpet floors.

The size of your house is a different factor to consider. If you live in a large house you might want to pick models that have multiple cleaning zones, so you can clean the entire house in one go. Some models come with mopping features that can be used to keep floors clean and fresh.

Robot vacuums are long-lasting, but they need to be maintained and cleaned regularly. 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 long time to come. Many of the owners of robot vacuums we speak with have had the same machine for a period of 10 years or more (and changed motors, brushes and batteries along the way).

A basic robot is less expensive than a large vacuum cleaner. They will still be able to do a fantastic job of cleaning surface dirt as well as pet fur and lint. You can use them to sweep your floors multiple times per day. They don't have as much technology and are more susceptible to getting jammed or needing manual intervention.

Object Avoidance

The best robot vacuum cleaner with mop robot vacuums use cameras, sensors or lasers to guide you around your home, avoiding getting stuck or falling on the stairs. Certain models are able to return to their dock or base when their batteries are low. They also can avoid obstacles such as furniture legs and cords. Some of the more expensive models come with mapping capabilities that allow them to memorize your home's layout and therefore 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 an excellent job of picking up pet hair and dirt from hard surfaces, such as tiles, wood and low-pile rugs. They also can handle larger particles like nails with rusty screws, metal screws or discarded toys. Some even come with a self-emptying base that is handy if you don't want to empty your trash bin after every cleaning run.

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 through an app or a voice assistants, such as Alexa. You can also set up cleaning zones and virtual walls to block off areas you don't want robots to access.

Some robotic vacs like the Eufy 11S and my former top choice Roborock S8 Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that stops them from getting sucked into furniture or getting caught in cords. Other models, like the iRobot Roomba j7+, have more sophisticated AI obstacle avoidance that uses cameras and processor-powered smarts to see and avoid items like shoe cords, lamp cords socks, and pet waste. It's a little more expensive than the other bots I've tried, however it does a fantastic job of avoiding obstacles and rarely is stuck or tripped while working on my floor.

While the iRobot's j7+ was a good obstacle avoidance bot, it didn't always do an excellent job of avoiding dust and crumbs from my rugs. It also was known to over-vacuum specific areas, which resulted in dust accumulation in the filters and a less clean home.

Smart Mapping

Some of the top robot vacuums come with an app that lets you alter cleaning modes, create schedules, and view an image of the floor area covered by the machine. This is a handy feature, and one that many competitors don't have. It is easy to create profiles that automatically start your robot at specific times and continue to run on a regular basis, like cleaning the living room before dinner or every other day.

A good app will 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 with voice commands.

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

If you want a robot capable of doing more than simply vacuum, you'll need to consider a model which can mop your floors. They're usually bigger than robotic vacuums, and include a tank of water which can hold several cleaning sessions' worth of dust and dirt before it needs to be empty.

The most advanced robots can create their own maps of your home and can even keep track of the arrangement from one cleaning to another, which helps them avoid getting lost or stuck in corners. 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 if it encounters furniture or walls.

Our test participants found that the robots that had this feature were extremely efficient. They could sit and watch TV or do other tasks while the robot was cleaning. Certain models utilize 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

It is best to select one that comes with an app for mobile devices if you want to customize the frequency of cleaning and choose the cleaning mode. You can also see the status of the vacuum as well as the condition of its dust bin within the app. Some of the best vacuum and mop cleaner vacuums that are robotic can be controlled with Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri Shortcuts.

A robot that has a self-emptying bin and washable filters is easy to keep hygienic, especially when you are able to access the filter and then remove it to wash it. Another feature that is great is a powerful 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 an auto-cleaning sensor that helps prevent the blockage of brushes that could happen in other machines.

Certain robo-vacs utilize navigation tools that help them learn your home and overcome obstacles. High-end models have sensors and cameras that detect obstacles like furniture, stairs and cords, whereas cheaper models often use boundary strips you place on the floor to mark off areas you don't want it to go. Avoidance of objects can be particularly beneficial for families with young children who scatter toys and socks all over the house. This can help your robot to collect these items, automated Cleaning Robot instead of scattering them.

We're beginning to see more robots equipped with mops which are useful for those who have hard floors and require to clean them regularly. They have a water reservoir built into their chassis or as a separate component that you swap in when they're ready to mop. These robots may need to be refilled frequently but they're ideal for homes that have hard floors that aren't cleaned with a vacuum.

We've seen some incredible technology packed into these little robots and they're cheaper than you expect. In fact, you can find a decent one for less than $200 that can do a decent job of cleaning pet hair and crumbs from hard floors, and also moving around the edges of light carpets or area rugs. You can program the robot to vacuum the room regularly and can be controlled remotely using the app or by pressing buttons on its side.