Buying a Robotic Carpet Vacuum Cleaner

Robot vacuums are great at keeping floors spotless, but they're not the perfect solution. Some people opt to keep a regular upright vacuum cleaner around for cleaning up messes that the robot isn't able to reach.

When buying a robot carpet cleaner, make sure you choose one with a powerful suction and the ability to deep-clean rugs. Also, think about setting virtual barriers to protect yourself from the possibility of damage caused by suction.

Powerful Suction

The top robot vacuums are equipped with powerful suction, and are able to deal with carpets and different floor surfaces. The best robot vacuums include a brush roll that digs into various piles to capture dirt, hair and other debris. They also come equipped with automatic suction adjustment for an individualized cleaning, which allows you to alter the power setting depending on the floor you're using. Many of our top picks also have a self emptying dock, which reduces the frequency at which you must empty your trash.

Most of our picks have smart mapping features that assist them in learning the layout of your home so that they can tidy up areas and rooms at the push of a button. Some, like our best option is the iRobot Roomba S9+ can detect carpets and increase suction automatically to better remove dirt and other particles that are embedded. This isn't a necessity but it could be useful, especially if your home has a variety of flooring kinds.

Some robotic cleaners are capable of cleaning. One of our top picks, the Ecovacs DEEBOT T8AIV, is particularly effective at cleaning carpets. The mop pad is designed to raise when the cleaner comes into contact with carpet. This prevents the pad from damaging it by getting soaked. Some also have a sensor for the material that will stop the mop if it comes into contact with a wet object and sound an alarm.

Before you begin your cleaning schedule, clean your floors of toys, clothing, cords, and other things that could get caught in the brush or impede the robot's movement. This will allow your robot to have an easier, more thorough clean. Make sure to determine whether your floors require further maintenance, such as refinishing and sanding before you begin a cleaning session. Then, turn the robot to the mode that suits you best--vacuuming or mopping, and let it do its do its work. It's worth noting that even the best robot cleaners can only accomplish a certain amount. They can't remove every last dust speck from crevices, corners, and baseboards.

Virtual Barrier Function

A robotic vacuum cleaner could be a great tool to keep your home clean for those who are busy and have limited time. But before you buy one, think about your lifestyle and the design of your house. For instance, do you have a Victorian-style house with high-pile carpets? You'll need a robot that has a powerful suction so it can pick up threads and pet hairs that are trapped in carpets. You'll want a robot that can detect different flooring materials and switch to the proper cleaning mode.

Most robot vacuums and mop are intelligent. Equipped with cameras or lasers, they are able to "see" their way around your home and, upon their first run, draw an impressively detailed map of your area. This mapping feature lets them move from room to room without hitting furniture or walls. The robot's application lets you make use of the mapping feature to create virtual barriers or no-go zones.

If you'd like to be more hands-off you can purchase an entry-level robot that has basic navigation features. These robots tend to have less powerful suction, and are typically designed to divert hair and other debris into the side brushes rather than through the main suction opening. These models are a little more noisy than the more sophisticated models, but work well in minimalist homes with bare floors or a few rugs.

Many older or cheap robot vacuums provide either manual or hardware options to prevent a specific area from being cleaned. This type of barrier is typically a magnetic strip that you can put around the areas that you don't want your machine to clean. The strips are compatible with all robots, so long as the sensor can detect magnetism. For example, the top-rated robot vacuum that is gyroscopic, the Lubluelu L20, has a Compass sensor that is able to recognize magnetic strips.

You can also make use of smart home apps to establish boundaries and then adjust them with your tablet or smartphone. These apps can be used to establish virtual boundaries, or no-go zones, and some can work with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. These apps can be a great way to manage your robot's schedule and settings from any place with an internet connection.

Wool and Silk Rugs

While all robot vacuums will do a great job of cleaning hardwood floors or tile of the debris and dust that blows across them as tumbleweeds, it requires more power and concentrated airflow to uproot debris embedded in the carpet. Fortunately, the most recent generation of robot vacuums can do exactly that. Some models even have the ability to create virtual barriers that block the machine from entering areas that you don't want it to clean. This feature can be particularly beneficial in large spaces with carpets that are high-pile.

A rug made of silk or wool will need special attention so that the fibers don't break down, become stained or discolored. By regularly cleaning and maintaining a silk or a wool rug, you can prolong its life by keeping it clean and free of dust, dirt, and other contaminants. This will also help to preserve its beautiful luster. In addition, it's an excellent idea to regularly rotate the rug to ensure that all areas are exposed sunlight and air.

Silk or wool rug should be professionally cleaned by a certified rug cleaning professional who employs special methods to avoid damage and to restore its sheen, color and texture. A professional rug cleaner should use a dry cleaning method, since excessive moisture can be harmful to both silk and wool. It's also a good idea to test cleaning products in a non-public area of the rug prior to applying them.

If you are concerned about the effects of buying wool or silk rugs on the environment, select one that has a base made from cotton. These rugs will not disintegrate as quickly as fake or synthetic silk. They're typically made from Jute, which is an absorbent plant fiber that can take in and hold grime hair, pet dander, hair and other contaminants until it's washed.

A cotton and silk rug is another alternative. These are usually less expensive than pure silk rugs, however they retain the appeal and luxury of the more expensive materials. If you want to make sure that the rug is a silk and cotton mix, make sure you look for a label from the maker with details on its fiber content. You can tell whether the rug is a silk and cotton mix by looking at how it reflects light or by rubbing its fibers. The real thing will feel soft and smooth to the touch, while synthetic silk and fake silk will have a coarser texture.

Pet Hair

The filtration system of a robot vacuum helps get rid of pet hair and dust However, the best models have motors and filters that can handle pet hair and dander. These machines have a powerful suction and utilize powerful brushes to remove hair and dander, and then draw it through the form of a filter. These machines also come with an anti-allergen filter and a special nozzle that can sweep up the fur or dander without spreading it throughout your home.

A good robot carpet vacuum cleaner for carpet washing cleaner will be able to be used on all floors of your home including tile and hardwood, as well as carpets that are low-pile. Some models also have the added benefit of mopping, which is especially beneficial if you've got a lot of spills and wet mess.

Experts believe that robot vacuums when used correctly and under supervision, will not damage your carpets or rug. However, you might prefer to use a regular vacuum cleaner to protect yourself in areas with lots of dirt. The best robot vacuum good for carpet vacuums are able to get rid of even hard-to-reach debris, such as food crumbs and Lego pieces from your furniture, chairs, sofas and other furniture.

In our tests, we found that the iRobot Roomba J9 did a great job of picking up hair from dogs, as well as other messes, both on carpet cleaning machine and hardwood floors. It removed about 99%. It also has an integrated dirt sensor that informs the robot which messes are most important. It is also programmed to return to the charger when its battery runs low.

Roborock S8+ is another excellent option. It's both an automated vacuum cleaner and a mop robot. It detects your flooring type, then removes and reconnects its mop pad to ensure your floors are properly cleaned. It can also pause cleaning to prevent the over-wetting of area rugs, and also set no-go zones for areas you do not want your robot in.

Consider your budget and the features that you need when choosing a robot vacuum cleaner robot carpet or mop. The latest models come with app connectivity that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, alter vacuum settings and set no-go zones from your phone. They also automatically empty their trash bins and clean their charging bases. A good robot is a good investment especially when they are on sale during events like Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day.