Choosing well
A practical robot vacuum buying guide
Use these checks before narrowing the shortlist.
Separate vacuuming from mopping
Choose whether routine dust pickup is enough. A vacuum-only robot avoids mop washing and water tanks, while a combination robot can reduce a separate wet-cleaning task. Neither removes all floor preparation or maintenance.
Measure the difficult part of the route
Check the lowest furniture, narrow entrances and the shape of thresholds. Body height and climbing figures describe different constraints. A maximum conditional threshold claim is not stair-climbing capability.
Make a rug plan
Detachable pads, lifting mechanisms and carpet covers are different approaches. Match the exact model’s modes to the rugs you have, and use boundaries where handling is unclear. Do not assume a suction specification proves deep-carpet results.
Give the dock working space
Allow access to bags, tanks and wash trays. Automated emptying and pad care reduce some handling but leave recurring cleaning and consumables. Check connection requirements and camera preferences before installing.