10 Signs To Watch For To Buy A Good Robot Vacuum What to Look For in a Good Robot Vacuum

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

This smart vac-mop will create an outline of your home's layout with its initial run. It then remembers the area to help you with future cleaning tasks. It has a self-cleaning brush roll and an large dust bin that is empty automatically.

Object Detection

When choosing a robot vacuum cleaner, select one that is able to pick up big items such as toys and lamp cords as well as fine dust. This will ensure that they don't become entangled in the roller brush and don't end up on your floors. This is especially important when you have children or pets and you may have to clean the robot regularly.

A model that has an efficient engine and plenty of suction is a good option. This will make it more effective at getting up pet hair, lint and dust from your hardwood and carpet floors.

The size of your house is another important consideration. If you live in a large house, you may want to pick a model that has multiple cleaning zones so that you can clean the entire house in a single session. Certain models have a mopping feature that can be utilized to keep floors fresh and clean.

Robot vacuums last a long time however they'll need to be cleaned regularly and properly. Cleaning the rotating brushes and emptying the dust container and wiping down the sensors regularly will keep your robot running smoothly for years to come. Many of the robot vacuum owners we speak to have owned their machines for ten years or longer (and have replaced motors, brushes and batteries along 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 dirt on the surface, pet hair, and dust. You can use them to sweep your floors several times per day. The downside is they don't have as advanced technology, and could be susceptible to becoming stuck or needing human intervention.

Object Avoidance

The most effective robot vacuums utilize cameras, sensors or lasers to guide you around your home and avoid getting stuck or falling down the stairs. They are also able to avoid obstacles like furniture legs and cords, and some models automatically return to their base or dock when they are running low on energy. The ones that are more expensive usually have mapping capabilities that allow them to remember the arrangement of your home, and reduce the amount of time you're hitting walls.

You don't have 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 tiles, wood and low-pile rugs. They can also take care of larger debris such as nails that are rusty, metal screws or discarded toys. Some even come with an auto-emptying base, which is useful if you don't want to empty your trash bin after every clean-up.

Some robotic vacuums have clever features that make the traditional stick vacuum look quaint. These include scheduling, zone-targeting and the capability to control them using an app or a voice assistant, such as Alexa. You can also create cleaning zones and 'virtual walls' to block off areas where you do not want the robots to venture.

Some robotic vacuums, like the Eufy 11S or my former top choice, Roborock S8, come equipped with obstacle avoidance technology to stop them from falling over furniture or cords. Some robot vacuums, such as the iRobot Roomba j7+ have more sophisticated AI obstacle avoidance technology that makes use of a camera, processors and algorithms to stay clear of items like lamp cords and pet waste. It's more expensive than other bots I've tested, however, it did a fantastic job of avoiding obstacles within my home. It was also very rarely stuck or derailment when I was cleaning my floors.

While the iRobot j7+ was a great obstacle avoidance robot but it wasn't always able to do an excellent job of avoiding dirt and crumbs off my carpets. It also tended to over-vacuum areas, which resulted in an abundance of dust in the filter and an unclean home.

Smart Mapping

The best robot vacuums come with an app that helps you to customize cleaning settings set schedules, and view the area of floor that the machine covers. This is an excellent feature, and one that a few competitors do not have. It is easy to create profiles that will automatically start your robot at specific times and continue to run on regularly, for example, cleaning your living room prior to dinner or every other day.

A good app can allow you to control your robot using voice commands. Some models are compatible with Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant and can work completely hands-free, so you can say "start a clean" or "change cleaning mode" without using the app.

To enjoy a hands-free and effortless experience, opt for an option with a big dust bin that can accommodate several cleaning sessions before having to be empty. There are also best robot vacuum for carpet that are self-emptying that take some of the work out of emptying the robot after each vacuuming run.

If you're looking for a robot that is more than a vacuum, think about a model with a mopping function. They are usually larger than the robotic vacuums, and come with an internal water tank that can hold multiple cleaning sessions worth of dirt and debris prior to having to be empty.

Robots that are more advanced can develop their own maps, and can remember the plan of your house from one cleaning session to the next, which prevents them from getting lost or stuck. This can make a huge difference in the effectiveness of your robot vacuum since it won't have to return to where it started when it encounters furniture or walls.


Our test participants who utilized robots with this capability found it to be extremely efficient. They could comfortably watch TV or complete other chores while the robot was cleaning. Some models use laser navigation to create a map of your home. You can then program them to clean your bedroom after dinner, or in all rooms while you are at work.

App Control

It is recommended to select one that comes with a mobile application if you want to customize the frequency of cleaning and select a cleaning mode. Within the app, you can monitor the condition of your vacuum and its dust bin. Some of the top vacuums that are robotic can be controlled by Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri Shortcuts.

A robot with a self-emptying bin and washable filters makes it easy to keep clean, especially when you are able to easily access the filter and take it off it to rinse it. Another great feature is a high-powered brush that is able to reach into corners and along baseboards which makes it easier to clean up hair and dirt. Certain robots are better at avoiding chair leg than others. Others come with an automatic cleaning system that cleans brushes to avoid the clogging.

Certain robo-vacs utilize navigation tools to help them learn your home and overcome obstacles. High-end models have sensors and cameras that recognize obstacles like stairs, furniture and cords. On the other hand, less expensive models sometimes use boundary strips that you put on the floor to mark areas you don't want it to enter. Avoidance of objects can be particularly beneficial for families with young children who throw socks and toys all over the home. This can help your robot to gather these items, instead of scattering them.

More robots are equipped with mops. This is useful for those with hard floors who require to clean regularly. They come with an integrated water tank into the chassis or an extra piece you can swap in when you're ready to mop. They may require frequent refills however, they are perfect for homes that have hard floors that aren't cleaned easily with a vacuum.

We've seen some impressive technology in these small robots and they're less expensive than you might think. In fact, you can get a good one for under $200 that can do a decent job of cleaning pet hair and crumbs from hard floors, while moving around the edges of light carpets or area rugs. You can schedule the robot to vacuum a room regularly and can be controlled remotely with the app or by pressing buttons on its side.