What Makes a Good Robot Vacuum?
A good robot vacuum can save you time and effort when it is time to clean your home regularly. What is a good one?
Mopping systems like the ones we have here and real-time hazard avoidance technology tend to be more expensive but they can help make your cleaner last longer. We'll discuss the most effective maintenance and cleaning practices, such as emptying the dust bin after each use and cleaning off any debris frequently.
Object Detection
A high-quality robot vacuum should be able to detect and navigate obstacles. The best ones use sensors, cameras and lasers to make to navigate through your living spaces and suck up pet hair, crumbs and dirt from floors made of tiles and wood as well as low-pile carpets and area carpets. Some of the best models include mopping capabilities that allow them to sweep mop pads across floorboards to eliminate dried coffee spills as well as pet pee. Find a model that's Wi-Fi-enabled, so you can control it using your smartphone and set schedules for cleaning. If you suffer from allergies look for a model that empties its dust bin on board into a larger bin in the base and cleans and dry its own filter after each cleaning.
If you're willing to pay more than $500 the top robots come with advanced features like home mapping and improved obstacle detection. For instance, the top iRobot j7 series uses sensors to track your home's location while it cleans and lets you define certain rooms or areas to be cleaned. The series also comes with fall detection sensors to stop the robot from falling down the steps. Other high-end features are self-emptying charging docks and the capability to clean your robot's mop pads.
Other models, like the Eufy X10 have smart mapping that can recognize your furniture and walls. auto vacuum can differentiate between hard and softer surfaces and prevent it from scratching or damaging your flooring. It can even detect changes in height, such as stairs or a sofa. It also uses lidar to create a map of its environment in real-time, even in the dark.
The size of the bin as well as the battery's life and the time to charge are a few aspects to take into consideration when choosing a robot mop or vacuum. A larger bin will need less trips to empty, while a longer battery life and faster charging times will enable more cleaning sessions. The suction power of a robotic vacuum is measured in Pascal (Pa) and higher numbers indicate more powerful machines. Find a model that has an impressive Pa rating that is compatible with your floor type.
Self-Emptying Base
A self-emptying vacuum base can be a great option to add value and efficiency to any compatible robot vacuum. It is a great way to not have to empty the onboard bin with every run, and the dust is transferred to a larger bin in the base instead. This helps reduce the chance of reintroduction to the environment that houses dust and allergens. It is particularly beneficial for those with sensitive family members.
This feature allows you to use the robot cleaner more frequently since you won't be afraid to use it over and over again, knowing that you don't have to empty it multiple times during each cleaning session. If you are interested in the robot cleaner that has this feature, you should look for one with a large-sized dustbin -- at least 400ml.
Robot vacuums can be a game changer for those who have large homes and want to simplify their cleaning routine. They're perfect for everyday vacuuming and, increasingly mopping too. A robot in your home will free up lots of time so you can focus on other chores, and many owners tell us they're shocked at how clean their floors are after using a robotic vacuum regularly.
The initial cost of a robot vacuum could be expensive however, the investment is worthwhile for those with the money to do so. The best robot vacuums are simple to use and can be set up to clean while you're at work or away. Some robot vacuums can be programmed to run on autopilot.
Robot vacuums are great additions to any home however, they're not ideal. They still need some manual maintenance. If you don't clean them regularly they can get clogged up with hair and other particles. This could affect their performance.
Keeping up with maintenance isn't a problem however it takes some time and effort. Many manufacturers provide instructions on how to care for their products, and you must adhere to them closely. Outside of scheduled maintenance, you should also regularly check your robot vacuum's brushroll, making sure it's not blocked by pet hair or other debris.
Lidar Navigation
Lidar makes use of lasers for mapping and navigation, unlike optical sensor-based systems that depend on light sources. Robots using this technology are more adept at getting around obstacles and cleaning smaller spaces than those that do not have it.
Depending on the model, you can view the maps in the app or use the built-in feature in order to create no-go zones or rooms, like "clean living room and kitchen." The majority of robots equipped with lidar are able to map rooms in a matter of minutes, but it could take longer in larger or more complex homes. It is also important to ensure that your robot does not detect any mirrors from floor to ceiling which reflect the laser, causing it to misperceive a nonexistent room, or even hit itself. It is recommended to cover these with paper or drapes before mapping your home for the first time.
A good robot vacuum is smart enough to avoid getting caught in tangled objects or trapped objects even if they're covered by furniture. For example when the vacuum detects a wire that is loose in the route, it will turn around and try another route. If it finds a danger to trip it will stop moving and notify you via app or via chirping its alarm on the device.
While not all robots are able to do this, the top models are able to do it almost all the time. The IRobot Roomba 694, for instance was among our most reliable performers and was able to clean up all the hairs and coffee grounds it could reach on hardwood floors. It also impressed when it came to carpets cleaning, removing just a few grain of flour from the corners.
It can't quite match the performance of our top pick which is the Roborock Q5 Max+ however it's an outstanding value. It's easy to navigate and map out rooms quickly, much like the more expensive model. There are also options for creating no-go zones and selecting specific rooms. The bin is big, so it doesn't need to go back to the self-emptying base often and it can cover a larger area before needing to refill.
Mopping
The best robot vacuums offer an excellent level of performance for the money. They do a great job of cleaning floors with no carpet and removing most dirt and debris that has been pushed down into carpets by furniture or toys, as well as other obstacles. However, they lack the power to clean up dirt buried in carpets and rugs. They also tend to leave dust close to baseboards and other edges. Because of this, many people choose to supplement their main robot vacuum with a dedicated robot mop to do more thorough midweek clean-ups.
There are a variety of robot mop on the market, ranging from dedicated mops that only mop to hybrid models that have both a dustbin and an water tank. If you're in the market for a robot mop make sure you choose one with an auto-emptying base that dumps the dirty water into a clean bin following every cleaning cycle. This makes them simpler to maintain than robo-vacs which require you to empty dustbins yourself into a larger container after each use.
You'll also want mops with pads that can detect the carpet, and raise them enough to stop the floor from getting wet. Choose a mop which can be programmed so that it can make an outline map and pinpoint areas that require extra attention such as the kitchen or stairs. Many vacuum and mop robots have side brushes that clean edges and corners more thoroughly.
Another aspect to look out for is the amount of suction power that a robot mop has. Many manufacturers offer Pascal (Pa) and the more powerful the Pa, the stronger suction. Some models have a Max setting for stubborn dirt.
The iRobot Braava Jet X8 Hybrid, our top pick in terms of ease-of-use is a mop and vacuum combination. This machine quickly maps out our test homes and creates no-go zones for hardwood floors and carpets. It also automatically empties the clean and dirty bins in its self-emptying Dock following each mopping session. Its only drawback is that it couldn't quite reach all the way under our kitchen baseboards, which is a problem that many robotic vacuums and mops also have.