What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum
A robot vacuum can help keep you on the top of pet hair and lint on a regular basis. Many work with apps to let you schedule cleaning sessions and create virtual boundaries, or “walls” to keep them out of areas you don’t want cleaned.
This mop and vac creates a home map with its first run, storing your space for future use. It comes with a huge dust bin that automatically emptys and self-cleaning, self-cleaning brush roll.
Object Detection
When selecting a robot vacuum cleaner, select one that can clean up big items such as toys and lamp cords as well as dust particles that are fine. This will ensure that the items don’t get stuck in the roller brush or strewn across your floor. This is especially important if you have children or pets and you may have to clean the robot regularly.
It’s an excellent idea to select a model that has strong motors and plenty of suction power. This will help it to be more effective in getting rid of dust, pet hair and lint from carpets as well as hardwood flooring.
The size of your house is a different factor to consider. If you live in an area that is large, you may want to choose one that has multiple cleaning zones so that you can clean your entire house in one go. Some models also come with mopping capabilities, which can be used to keep your floors looking fresh and clean.
Robot vacuums can last for a long time however, they must be cleaned regularly and properly. Cleaning the rotating brushes regularly and emptying your dust bin, and wiping your sensors will keep your robot functioning efficiently for many years. Many owners of robot vacuums we chat with have owned the same machine for 10 years or more (and have replaced motors, brushes and batteries as they went along).
A basic robot will cost you less than a full-size vacuum cleaner, however they’ll still do a great job at removing dirt and pet hair and lint. They’re an excellent maintenance cleaner that you can use every week to keep your floors tidy. The downside is they don’t offer as much smart technology, and can be prone to becoming stuck or requiring human intervention.
Object Avoidance
The most effective robot vacuums utilize sensors, lasers or cameras to guide them around your home without falling off or getting stuck on the staircase. Some models will return to their dock or base when their battery is depleted. They can also avoid obstacles like furniture legs and cords. Some of the most expensive models come with the ability to map, which allows them to learn your home’s layout and therefore spend less time bumping against walls.
If you don’t want to spend the money on the most sophisticated robotic vacuums, you can still find a model that is capable of removing pet hair, dirt, dust and debris from floors that are hard like tile and wood as well as carpets with a low pile. They also be capable of removing larger debris such as metal screws, rusty staples or the remains of toys. Some models come with a base that automatically empties itself, which is a great feature for those who don’t want to empty it at the end of each cleaning session.
The majority of robotic vacuums have innovative features that make a regular stick vacuum appear ancient with features like scheduling, zone targeting, and the ability to control them with an app or a voice assistant like Alexa. You can also design cleaning zones and virtual walls to block off areas you don’t wish robots to access.
Some robotic vacs like the Eufy 11S and my former top pick the Roborock S8, have obstacle avoidance technology that keeps them from crashing into furniture or tangling cords. Others, like the iRobot Roomba j7+, have more sophisticated AI obstacle avoidance that utilizes cameras and processor-powered smarts to identify and avoid items like shoes, lamp cords, socks and pet waste. It’s a little more expensive than other bots that I’ve tested, but it does a great job of avoiding obstacles and rarely is stuck or derails when I’m working on my floor.
The iRobot J7+ was an excellent obstacle avoidance robot however, it didn’t always do a good job in avoiding crumbs or dirt on my rugs. It also tends to over-vacuum some areas, which resulted in a lot of extra dust in the filter and an unclean home.
Smart Mapping
The best robot vacuums have an app that lets you modify cleaning modes, make schedules, Lefant Robot Vacuum and look at a map of the area covered by the machine. This is a great feature that many competitors do not have. It allows you to create profiles which will automatically start the robot at specific times and continue to run regularly. For example, cleaning the living area every morning or prior to dinner.
A good app will also allow you to control your robot via voice commands. Some models are compatible with Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant, which allows you to control your robot vacuum for pets using voice commands.
To enjoy a hands-free and effortless experience, choose a model with a large dust bin that can hold several cleaning sessions before having to be emptied. There are also models that self-empty that take some of the work out of emptying the machine after each vacuuming run.
If you’re looking for a machine that is more than simply vacuum, you’ll need to look into a model that can mop floors. These are usually larger than robotic vacuums, and come with a water tank which can hold several cleaning sessions’ worth of dirt and dust before needing to emptied.
The most advanced robots can create their own maps of your home. They can even keep track of the layout between cleanings, which helps them avoid getting lost or trapped in corners. This can make a big difference in the effectiveness of your robot vacuum since it won’t have to go back to where it was when it comes across furniture or walls.
Our test participants found that the robots with this feature were very efficient. They could watch TV or do other tasks while the robot cleaned. Some models employ laser navigation to create a map of your home. You can program them to clean your bedroom after dinner, or in all rooms while you’re working.
App Control
It is recommended to select the vacuum that comes with a mobile application if you want to customize the frequency of cleaning and select cleaning mode. You can also view the status of the vacuum as well as the state of its dust bin using the app. Some of the most effective robot vacuums can be operated by voice using Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri Shortcuts.
It is easy to maintain a robot equipped with a washable filter and a self-emptying bin, particularly when the filter is easily cleaned and washed. A powerful brush is another fantastic feature that allows you to reach into corners and along baseboards to remove dirt and hair. Certain robots are better in avoiding chair legs than others. Others come with an automatic cleaning system that cleans brushes to prevent obstruction.
Some robo-vacs use navigation tools that help them learn your home and get around obstacles. High-end models are equipped with sensors and cameras that can detect obstacles like stairs, furniture and cords, while cheaper models sometimes use boundary strips that you put on the floor to mark areas you don’t want it to go. Object avoidance can be especially useful for families with children who throw socks and toys around the house. This allows your lefant Robot vacuum to collect these items, instead of scattering them.
We’re starting to see more robots equipped with mops which are useful for those who have hard floors and need to clean them regularly. They have a water reservoir built into their chassis or as a separate piece that you can swap in when ready to mop. They may require to be filled more frequently than other kinds of robots, but they’re great for homes with floors made of wood which aren’t easy to clean with a vacuum.
These robots are packed with impressive technology, and they are priced much less than you would expect. You can find a decent one for under $200. It does a decent job cleaning on hard floors and can be scoured around the edges of carpets and area rugs. You can program the robot to vacuum the room on a regular basis and it can be controlled remotely with the app or by pressing buttons on its side.