5 Things to Know Before Buying a Robot Vacuum

Hard floors are ideal A robot vacuum works best on hard floors with minimal clutter. It can save you about twenty minutes of daily cleaning.

Thick carpet and clutter cause problems If you have thick carpet, pets, or kids leaving socks around, you will likely spend more time rescuing the vacuum than it saves you.

Mid-range models with lidar are the sweet spot Choose a robot vacuum with lidar mapping for reliable navigation. Avoid the cheapest models, which bump into everything.

Skip the self-emptying base at first Do not pay extra for a self-emptying base until you confirm you will use the vacuum regularly. It adds cost without benefit if the vacuum sits unused.

Expect to clear the floor before each run You still need to pick up cords, toys, and small objects. A robot vacuum cannot handle obstacles that a regular vacuum can.