Whether you live alone, or have a house full of family and furry friends, trying to keep your floors looking shiny and clean can be a never-ending battle. No matter how many times you break out that broom set and mop, your floors have a tendency to accumulate dirt and grime at lightning speed, leaving you constantly on the hunt for a more effective solution that’s less work, and less time-consuming. Thankfully, the days of having to manually sweep and mop may finally be able to come to an end, and instead of trying to tackle this despised chore on your own, you can now leave the hard work to the robots. Fast, efficient, and incredibly easy, robot vacuums are here to turn your cleaning woes into a thing of the past, and these self-sufficient devices have the power to keep your floors looking spotless, every day of the week. Using sophisticated technology to map out and navigate each room, a robot vacuum will revolutionize the way you maintain your living space, and it’s a worthwhile purchase that can bring significant value to your life. 

However, before you run out and purchase your brand new cleaning companion, you’ll first want to do some in-depth research, as the range of models available is quite vast. With both higher-end and lower-end robot vacuums to choose between, and numerous different features and capabilities to navigate, it's essential you understand what’s available so you can make an informed choice. Thankfully, this buyer's guide was created to help you successfully tackle the complex world of robot vacuums, and if you want to walk away from your shopping experience completely in love with the model you chose, then this guide is for you.

Consider Your Flooring

One of the great things about robot vacuums is that they are capable of tackling all types of flooring, and whether you have fancy hardwood or plush carpets, there are multiple brands and options available that can leave your floors looking spotless. However, not all models are best suited to all types of flooring, and it’s important that you narrow down your search initially to the ones that are rated for what you have. For example, if your home has a solid, hard floor that runs throughout the entirety of your property, then you may be able to explore some of the more budget-friendly devices, as this type of flooring is one of the easiest to clean and doesn’t require as much suction power or aggressive brush action. Solid flooring can also make you a great candidate for 2-in-1 robot vacuums, which offer both impressive sweeping and vacuuming capabilities, as well as the capacity to mop afterwards.

For houses with carpeting, however, some of the lower-powered models may not be quite as effective, and in this case you’re going to need a robot vacuum that has been specially designed to get down into the fibers to pick up all of that dust, dirt, and debris. Whether you have wall-to-wall carpeting, or just a few decorative rugs scattered throughout your home, a robot vacuum with strong suction power and a specialized brush roll is essential, and you’ll also want to look for models with adjustable settings that can be tailored to the precise thickness of your carpeting. On the other hand, if your home happens to contain a mixture of both hardwood and carpet then this could require you to purchase a robot vacuum that is capable of switching automatically between the two, and these will utilize built-in sensors that can detect flooring changes with ease. To help make this simpler for you, almost all available models will specify precisely what type of flooring they are optimized for, so as long as you read through the descriptions, you should be able to find the right option for your home. 

How Big Is Your House?

Another critical factor you’ll need to consider when you purchase a robot vacuum is how big your home is, as a 1-bedroom apartment is going to have significantly different requirements than a 5-bedroom house. For those with small living space, most of the devices you’ll find on the market should be more than capable of cleaning the entirety of your flooring on a single charge, and a standard runtime of around 120 minutes is likely going to be more than sufficient for getting the job done. If your home is on the larger side, however, then an expanded runtime may be necessary, and in this case you should find you require a minimum of 180 minutes in order to actually make some progress on your floors. You may also want to explore a more advanced model that can recharge during a cleaning cycle, which is where it will automatically return itself to its charging dock and then resume its activities once it has sufficient battery power. 

In addition to the size, whether or not you live in a 1 or 2 story house is also going to be important, as some robot vacuums include built-in sensors that are capable of detecting ledges and navigating away from them. If your house has stairs, and you don’t want to risk your robot vacuum plummeting to its demise, then seeking out a model with anti-fall sensors is crucial. Likewise, even if you do live in a 1-story property and aren’t concerned about stairs, you should also take into consideration how much furniture you have and whether or not it could impede the cleaning capabilities of your robot vacuum. Super low-to-the-ground couches or bed frames may require you to select a thinner shaped unit, while an excessive amount of obstacles or corners might lead you towards a D-shaped vacuum. Your layout, obstacles, and size will all impact how well your robot vacuum is able to do its job, so make sure you take the time to ponder these vacuums before you make a final decision.

Additional Features

At their core, almost all robot vacuums have the same basic capabilities, and no matter which model you ultimately opt for, it should at the very least be able to sweep and loosen debris, suction up dirt, and complete a cleaning cycle without any assistance from you. But what robot vacuums are capable of doesn’t just end there, and beyond the basics there are some additional features that you may want to consider in order to truly get the most out of the model you select. 

Robot vacuums tend to be quite compact in size, and their slim build is an intentional design choice that allows them to get into tight spaces or underneath furniture without any hassle. While effective for cleaning, their small size also prevents them from being able to accumulate a lot of dust, dirt, and debris, and for some models this may mean that you need to manually empty them on a near-daily basis. Not only is this an annoying task to complete, it can also be a bit messy, which is why many shoppers tend to gravitate towards options that include a self-emptying base. With this more advanced feature, your robot vacuum will be able to return to its docking station automatically after it completes a cleaning cycle, and will then be able to empty its contents into a larger, sealed container that is housed inside the dock. Holding up to 60 days worth of rubbish, these self-emptying models require a lot less work from you, and once they do need to be manually emptied, everything is ready to go inside of a pre-sealed bag for a mess-free experience. 

Sweeping and vacuuming your floors is a necessary task for helping to keep them clean, but that isn’t the only chore that is required if you want floors that sparkle. Instead, going over your freshly swept floors with a mop is the only way to ensure that they are actually completely clean, and not all robot vacuums are designed to assist with this extra chore. Thankfully, there are a number of 2-in-1 models that do exist on the market, and if you want to fully automate the task of keeping your floors spotless, then choosing a device that is capable of doing both is essential. 

Most robot vacuums will come equipped with an included app that will pair seamlessly to your device and offer you varying levels of control over its cleaning cycle, schedule, and other important aspects. However, not all apps are created equally, and depending on how involved you like to be, you will want to explore the available options before you settle on a specific model. If all you’re hoping to achieve is the ability to set a schedule or start/pause a cycle remotely, then almost all apps are going to be sufficient for your needs. But if you like to tap into in-depth cleaning reports, or want to customize your experience with various modes, or specified zones, then a more advanced app is important. You can also find robot vacuums that can be synced up with your Google Home or Alexa, allowing you to control its cycle using nothing more than voice commands. 

Bottom Line

Although there is a lot to consider when it comes to purchasing a robot vacuum it shouldn’t be an overly complicated decision, and the best way to ensure you end up with the right model for your needs is to simply take a look at your living space. What type of flooring you have, how big your house is, and what type of furniture you have scattered about will all affect how a robot vacuum performs, so selecting the model that fits in with your home and environment is critical. You’ll also want to take the time to really dive into the various features available, as this will ensure you can get the most out of your choice, and that you’re happy with the capabilities it offers. By doing a bit of research, and keeping your preferences and budget in mind, you can easily find a robot vacuum that will work for you, and that will help keep your floors looking spotless, without any extra effort required.