Nobody really enjoys vacuuming, and that’s why the idea of a vacuum cleaning robot is a dream to many people.
Not having to drag out your old, clunky vacuum all the time will make your life a lot easier, and a lot less stressful!
Although there’s an increasing number of these robotic vacuum cleaners being released each year, it’s still important that you learn how to choose the best robotic vacuum for your budget and your home/floor type.
This article is going to be teaching you about the most important features to look at while shopping for an automatic vacuum robot.
Choosing The Right Cleaner
When it comes to robot vs regular vacuums, these automatic vacuum cleaners are not as powerful as standard cylinder types, but they are designed to be used much more often, and with little to no input from you.
As a result, they can keep your home very clean and tidy without you even lifting a finger for the most part.
The first thing you want to do is to make sure that you only look at the models that have an actual vacuum. Watch out for cheap “automated room sweepers” designed to look like expensive models. These might work decently on tile and hardwood floors (and make a nice addition to your standard hardwood floor vacuum), but they are not the best choice for carpets.
Brand
The most well-known robot vacuum brands currently in this industry are iRobot and Neato Robotics. The iRobot Roomba range has the most robot cleaners regarded by many as being the best (Read: Reasons Why I Love My iRobot Vacuum Cleaner).
With that being said, just recently, many more traditional vacuum cleaner brands have started producing their own range of robot vacuums for sale. This might be worth taking a look at if you’re interested in getting a good deal without paying too much.
Self Charging
When your objective is just to find the best robotic vacuum cleaner around, it might be easy to ignore the importance of self charging, or assume that it’s just a gimmick. However, the ability for a floor vacuum robot to automatically return to its docking station for charging, is essential. This will keep your robot charged up and running on its own for a long time without requiring any human intervention, which is one of the biggest perks of using this type of cleaner.
It simply does its chores and then returns home for a good charge. Not all models have this ability, so it is worth checking out before purchasing.
This feature is totally priceless if you are looking for that “hands-off” approach to keeping your floors well maintained.
Intelligence
You might think that vacuuming a floor is something anyone can do, so it doesn’t require that much intelligence. However, you should know that machines struggle to do even basic tasks, so good artificial intelligence is required.
There are several different methods which can be used to clean a floor, from going up and down, to circling around the perimeter, to random cleaning patterns. The most efficient are typically the ones that go up and down the floor.
Some even learn the layout of your house as they go along. This means that as you use them, they will speed up and create more efficient routes to clean your floors quicker.
Hazard Avoidance
Ideally, you’ll want a machine that you can leave unsupervised for long periods of time without worrying that it’s fallen down the stairs. The best automatic vacuums usually feature several hazard avoidance mechanisms to prevent them from crashing into walls and causing damage, or falling down stairs.
Most of the high quality robotic cleaners available also come with virtual walls. These are small little devices which can be placed on either side of a doorway, or in any part of the room, to prevent it from entering. This is a great way to stop it from going into your office and eating up important paperwork.
Bagged or Bagless
Virtually all robot vacuums are bagless and use cyclone technology to pick things up. This will save you money from having to constantly buy replacement bags. However, you might still need to buy filters depending on the model of cleaner you are purchasing.
They also have smaller storage bins than most other cleaners due to their size. This means that they will need to be emptied more often. You should avoid cheap models that don’t have any kind of indicator to let you know when it’s nearing its capacity.
HEPA Filtration
If you have pets or have anyone in your family who has allergies, then look for a model with a HEPA filter. These very fine filters help to remove tiny dust particles and allergens from the air. These filters are also commonly found in many standard pet vacuums because they are ideal when dealing with pet hair.
Recommendation
When it comes to getting the best robot vacuum for the money, iRobot is still the number one choice, both in terms of quality and customer satisfaction.
Read as many reviews as you can before making your purchasing decision. Below is a comparison chart of the top rated robot vacuums currently available to help you get started:
Top 5 Robot Vacuum (Classic & New) Comparison Chart 2023:
| Top 5 Robot Vacuums | (1 - 10) | Price | Power | Performance | Weight | Features | Customer Feedback | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Neato Botvac D80 Robot Vacuum | |||||||
 | iRobot Roomba 880 Pets and Allergies | |||||||
 | iRobot Roomba 650 Vacuum Robot | |||||||
 | Neato XV-21 Pet & Allergy | |||||||
 | iRobot Roomba 770 Pets and Allergies | |||||||
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