What Makes a Good Robot Vacuum?
A quality robot vacuum can save you lots of stress when you're doing your weekly routine cleaning. What is a good one?
Mopping systems, for instance, and real-time hazard avoidance technologies tend to be more expensive however, they can make your robot cleaner last longer. We'll discuss the most effective maintenance and cleaning practices, including emptying the dust bin following each use and scrubbing the debris away frequently.
Object Detection
A good robot vacuum should be able to detect and navigate around obstacles. The best ones use sensors, cameras and lasers to work their way 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. Certain of the top models also have mopping features, which allow them to swish mop pads over the floorboards in order to remove dried coffee spills or pet pee. Look for a model that's Wi-Fi-enabled so you can control it via your smartphone and set up cleaning schedules. If you have allergies look for the model that empty its dust bin on board into a larger one at the base, and then cleans and dry its own filter after each cleaning.
If you are willing to invest more than $500 the most expensive robotics include advanced features, such as home mapping and improved obstacle detection. The most expensive iRobot j7 uses sensors to map out your home while it cleans, and you can assign specific rooms or areas for cleaning. It also includes fall-detection sensors to stop the robot from falling down the stairs. Other high-end features are self-emptying charging docks and the capability to wash your robot’s mop pads.
Other models, like the Eufy X10, have smart mapping that recognizes furniture, walls, and other objects. Its sensor system identifies the differences between hard and soft surfaces, which helps avoid scratching or damaging your flooring. It can detect even changes in height, like stairs or a sofa. It can also use lidar, which makes use of lasers to create a real-time map of its surroundings that is able to work in darkness.
Other aspects to look for in a robotic vacuum or mop include the size of the dustbin and the battery life and charging time. A large bin means less trips to empty it, while longer run times and fast charging times mean more cleaning sessions without having to wait hours for the robot to charge between sessions. The suction power of a robot vacuum is measured in Pascal (Pa) which is a measurement of suction power, with higher numbers indicate more powerful machines. Look for a model with an impressive Pa rating that is compatible with the floor type you have.
Self-Emptying Base
A self-emptying vacuum base is a great way to add value and convenience to any compatible robot vacuum. It takes away the need to empty the onboard bin each time you run, and the debris is transferred to a larger bin in the base instead. This significantly reduces dust and other allergens into the home, and is particularly beneficial for families with sensitive family members.
The added feature means that you can use the robot cleaner much more often, since you'll be less hesitant to use it over and over if you know you don't have empty it several times per cleaning session. If you're looking for a robot cleaner with this feature, look for one with a big-sized dust bin -- at minimum 400ml.
Robot vacuums are a game changer for those who have large homes and wish to make their cleaning easier. They are perfect for everyday vacuuming, and increasingly, mopping. A robot in your home can free up some time so you can focus on other chores. A lot of owners have expressed surprise at how clean their floors are after using a robot vacuum frequently.
A robot vacuum isn't expensive, but it's definitely worth it if you can afford the upfront cost. The best robot vacuums are easy to use and can be set up to clean when you're out or at work. Some models can even be set to be scheduled to run to do their job in a way that is automatic.
Robot vacuums are a great addition to any home however, they're not ideal. They still need some manual maintenance. If you don't maintain them in a timely manner, they could be clogged with hair or other debris that can impact the performance of the machine.
It's easy to maintain your equipment, however it requires some time and effort. It is important to follow the guidelines provided by most manufacturers on how to maintain their products. Outside of the scheduled maintenance, it is recommended to periodically check the robot vacuum's brushroll to be sure that it's not clogged with pet hair or other particles.
Lidar Navigation
Lidar makes use of lasers for mapping and navigation, as opposed to optical sensors that rely on light sources. That's why robots with this technology are more adept in avoiding obstacles and removing tight spaces than those that do not have it.
The app can be used to view the maps or use the built-in feature, that lets you design specific room or no-go zones, for example "clean the living room and kitchen". Larger or more complex houses may take longer. You'll also want to ensure that your robot does not detect any mirrors from floor to ceiling that reflect the laser, causing it to perceive a different space or even bump into itself. It's best to cover these with paper or drapes before mapping your home for the first time.
A robotic vacuum that is of high quality will be smart enough to avoid stuck or tangled objects, even when they're hidden behind furniture. For instance when the vacuum detects an untidy wire in its route, it will make a turn and go to a different route. If it spots a danger to trip, it will stop moving and notify you via app or by chirping its alarm on the device.
While not all robots do this, the top models can do this almost all the time. The iRobot Roomba 694, for instance, was one of the most reliable models in our tests and was able to clean up every bit of hair and coffee grounds it could reach on hardwood flooring. It also impressed when it came to carpets, removing all but one grain of flour from the corners.
It's not as powerful as our top choice Roborock Q5 Max+, but it's nevertheless a great value. Like the more expensive model it's quick to map rooms and is easily navigateable using options for creating rooms that are not allowed and a specific selection. The bin is spacious, which means it doesn't have to return to the self-emptying base as frequently and it can cover a larger area before needing a refill.
Mopping
The best robot vacuums are ones that offer high performance at a low cost. They are great at cleaning bare flooring and picking up dirt and debris that toys, furniture and other obstacles have caused to be pushed into carpets. They're not able to clean dirt from carpets and rug surfaces, and tend to leave dust on the edges of baseboards and other surfaces. A majority of people utilize a robot mop in addition to their main robot vacuum for more thorough midweek cleaning.
There are many different kinds of robot mop on the market, ranging from mop-only mops to hybrid vacuum-and-mop designs that include a dustbin and water tank. If you're shopping for a robot mop make sure you choose one with an auto-emptying base that spits the water that has been contaminated into a clean bin after every cleaning cycle. This makes them much easier to maintain than robo-vacs which require you to empty small dustbins yourself into a larger container after every use.
It is also recommended to have mop pads that can tell when it is on carpeting and then raise them enough to keep the floor from getting wet. Find a model that can be programmed to create an outline of your home and identify certain areas that need special attention, such as kitchen stairs or stairs. Many mop-and-vac models have side brushes that allow for more thorough cleaning of edges and corners.
A robot mop's suction power is another feature to consider. Many manufacturers offer Pascal (Pa) which means that the higher the Pa the stronger suction. Some even offer the Max mode for when you're dealing with particularly stubborn dirt.
The iRobot Braava Jet X8 Hybrid which is our top pick for ease of use, is a robot mop and vacuum combination. It is easy to design our test houses, and it easily creates no-go zones for carpets and hard floors and then automatically empty its bins of dirty and clean into its self-emptying dock following every mopping session. Its only drawback is that it couldn't quite reach all the way to under our kitchen's baseboards. This is a limitation that most robotic vacuums and mops have.