Self-Emptying Robot Vacuums: Buyer's Guide
Introduction To Owning a Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum
Having a robot vacuum to take over the daily cleaning can give you extra time that you need for other things, but you would still need to empty the debris bin each cleaning — sometimes multiple times, depending on the size of your home.
However, with auto emptying robot vacuums that isn't necessary.
You can schedule it to clean when and where you want without needing to do anything else.
It will sit docked until the time comes, then the device will turn itself on, start sweeping across the carpets and hardwood floors of your home, and whenever necessary, it will return to the docking station to get the bin emptied out.
They are amazing little devices that make chores so much easier.
The Benefits of Having a Self Emptying Robot Vacuum
There are some pretty significant benefits to owning an auto emptying robot vacuum device.
You save on time, energy, and hassle by letting the robot take care of cleaning its own bin when it gets full during vacuum sessions.
Some robot devices have smaller debris containers than others, and if you have children or pets, it may need to be emptied out multiple times during a single sweep of the house.
Having a robot vacuum that can self empty means you don't have to worry about any of that.
You can relax while knowing that your floors are getting taken care of by an intelligent, technologically advanced cleaning device.
These are also excellent devices for anyone with mobility issues such as elderly or chronically ill individuals.
The robot does all the difficult work with little need for maintenance or outside interference.
It's also great for those who have lifestyles or work needs that keep them away from home throughout the week since the robot can be controlled and scheduled remotely.
What To Expect From Your Self Emptying Robot Vacuum
If you have never bought a robot vacuum before or this is your first time upgrading from a basic model to one with auto empty capabilities, then we've got you covered.
You will want to know everything about expected maintenance cleaning, features, and what kind of technology might be included.
Below is everything you will want to know about what to expect from your new cleaning machine.
Common Device Features for Robot Vacuums
Here are some of the standard features you may find in your auto empty robot vacuum.
Some brands have additional features that will be listed within their product information for our comparison guide, but these are pretty much universal.
- Dirt Detection Technology
- Auto-Adjust Cleaning Head
- Edge-Sweeping Brush
- Anti-Collision Technology
- Anti-Fall Technology
Maintenance Requirements for Self Emptying Vacuums
There will be the occasional maintenance required for your robot vacuum.
If something gets caught inside and the machine clogs, you will get an alert through your app and need to fix it before it can resume cleaning.
It addition, you will want to make sure that you routinely wipe down the charging ports to keep the battery life healthy.
Storage and Docking Station
The docking station is going to be rather large for self-emptying vacuums than other robot vacuums because there needs to be ample space for the debris holding bag to take in significant amounts of material before needing to be emptied.
They can usually hold a month to two months of floor debris before the docking station will need to be cleaned.
This is great for saving time on chores, but you want to check the product dimensions before buying to make sure that it fits into whatever area you plan to store it.
Coverage Area and Multi-Floor Homes
You will want to check the robot vacuum coverage area before purchasing to make sure that it can cover all of the space you want to be cleaned daily.
Most current models have an auto-recharge and resume setting in case their battery begins to run low before they are done with all of the scheduled floor cleanings.
No-Go Zones and Mapping Technology
You will be able to use the app or controller that comes with your vacuum to map out which areas of your home need to be cleaned and which ones should be avoided.
The no-go or "keep out" zones will ensure that your robot doesn't wander into a room or space that is likely to have a lot of obstacles that will be difficult to maneuver around.
You can make no-go zones of places like your pet's corner so that the food and water dishes aren't disturbed or the coat closet so that the robot doesn't get caught on any shoes left out.
Common Smart Technology Features
The robots that we will be discussing in this article have some advanced smart technology features that include the following.
- Smart maps that learn your home and patterns
- Ability to remember multiple floor plans
- Smart charge so that your robot knows when to recharge
- Video recording capabilities
Self-Emptying Robot Vacuums Comparison Guide
These are the top three self-emptying robot vacuums with everything you need to keep your floor looking perfect.
All information was taken directly from the manufacturer's website to ensure accuracy.
iRobot Roomba i7+ (7550)
Price: $699.99
Apps: iRobot HOME app, Alexa, Google Assistant
Size: 7.44 pounds
Power: Rechargeable battery
Features:
- Able to work in synchrony with a robot mop
- Powerful suction with ten times the air power compared to similar models
- iAdapt 3.0 Navigation
- vSlam technology
- 3 stage cleaning system
- A filter system that captures 99% of all pollen, mold, allergens, and dust
- Maintenance videos remain accessible through your app
Pros:
- Easy to set up and use
- There is a long run time between charges
- Very effective cleaner for all spaces including under furniture
- Great for high traffic rooms and cleaning up after pets
- Connects to WiFi
Cons:
- Small bin size
- Noticeable noise level
- Doesn't charge quickly
Product Summary:
The custom Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal with AllergenLock bag where this vacuum empties out the bin as it cleans is able to hold up to two months worth of dust, dirt, and debris before needing to be emptied.
Customer Rating: 4.4 out of 5 from 769 reviews
iRobot Roomba s9+ (9550)
Price: $999.99
Apps: iRobot HOME app, Alexa, Google Assistant
Size: 8.15 pounds
Power: Rechargeable battery
Features:
- Able to work in synchrony with a robot mop
- Powerful suction with 40 times the air power compared to similar models
- iAdapt 3.0 Navigation
- vSlam technology
- Gathers 230,400 points of data about surroundings per millisecond
- 3 stage cleaning system
- A filter system that captures 99% of all pollen, mold, allergens, and dust
- Maintenance videos remain accessible through your app
Pros:
- Large debris bin
- Easy to set up and use
- There is a long run time between charges
- Very effective cleaner for all spaces including under furniture
- Great for high traffic rooms and cleaning up after pets
- Connects to WiFi
- Good for large rooms
Cons:
- Noticeable noise level
Product Summary:
A step up from the Roomba i7+ in terms of size, this model has a more significant dust bin, so there will be less battery time spent powering the device back and forth to the charging station to empty itself.
It also has Power Boost, which means that the already powerful suction increases for carpets to ensure that all pet hair and other debris are picked up.
Using PerfectEdge technology, it's able to get into all the tightest corners.
This really is a fantastic robot in terms of features.
Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars from 376 reviews
Shark IQ Robot XL Vacuum RV1001AEW With Self-Empty Base
Price: $549.60
Apps: SharkClean app
Size: 5.87 pounds
Power: Rechargeable battery
Features:
- IQ smart navigation
- The brush roller is self-cleaning
- BotBoundary strips for set apart no-go zones
- 90-day money-back guarantee
- The cleaning path is 5.63 inches wide
Pros:
- The dust bin can hold up to a months worth of debris before needing to be emptied
Cons:
- Non-washable filter
Product Summary:
This is a great basic robot cleaner.
It has an easy setup and can be fully controlled through the SharkClean app.
While it may not have as many features as other robot vacuums, it has everything you need to keep your house clean with the minimum amount of monitoring.
The 90-day money-back guarantee also makes it an attractive option for anyone who wants to dip their toe in the water and try their first robot cleaner without any strings attached.
Customer Rating: 3.7 out of 5 stars from 1,775 reviews
Our Top Pick
The trio of self-emptying robot vacuums we have listed above are among the top models on the market today, but they each have their own unique strengths.
We have ranked them based on our personal preference for what features they have to offer, their cost-effectiveness, and overall efficiency.
No matter what your lifestyle and cleaning needs, one of these will have everything you need in a robot vacuum cleaner.
Best Price
The Shark IQ Robot is the best price coming in at just under $550, and you will be hard-pressed to find a better self-emptying vacuum option for a similar price.
This device has everything you could want, including a wide cleaning path, no-go boundary strips to keep it out of areas you want to be avoided, and a docking station dust bin that can go 30 days without needing to be cleaned.
It gives you the freedom you need to save time on the daily chore of cleaning your floors without breaking the bank.
The Shark IQ Robot also comes with a nifty little controller option, or you can use your smartphone to give it directions and schedule cleanings, making it convenient to use whether you are at home or away.
Best Overall Value
Our personal favorite as far as overall bang for your buck value goes to the iRobot Roomba i7+, which has some truly amazing things to offer.
This sleek little machine can be controlled through the iRobot app, Alexa, or Google Assistant, which means it has hands free, voice-activated controls for your convenience.
One of our favorite things about it is the filter, which ensures that 99% of all possible allergens are sucked up and removed from the environment.
It's an excellent option for anyone who likes to have guests over but has pets that tend to shed a lot.
Two little rubber bristles work together to trap any fur.
Premium Pick
The iRobot Roomba s9+ is the gold standard of auto emptying robot vacuums.
It has a 30% wider set of rubber brushes to make sure that it gets more picked up in the initial floor sweep.
You can also use the Imprint Link technology to set it up with a Braava jet m6 robot mop so that your hardwood floors are vacuumed and mopped simultaneously.
This device is a workhorse that will keep your floors looking sparkling clean.
Conclusion
Technology has made it easy to give yourself back some of the free time that used to be spent repeating the same daily chores week in and week out.
With a self-emptying robot vacuum in your home, there is now a cost-effective, efficient way to make sure the cleaning gets done with a bare minimum of work.
You will be able to customize and control your device fully from anywhere by using apps on your smartphone, and you can even use the built-in cameras to check on your home while you are out of town.
There is a robot vacuum that is just right for your family, even if you have an active household with children, animals, and a lot of extra foot traffic.
These cleaning machines also make great gifts for elderly loved ones or anyone with chronic issues that make the bending, sweeping motion of vacuuming painful.
With a self-emptying vacuum, all they need to do is the initial set up and then a monthly or bi-monthly emptying of the docking station debris bin.
The advantages of owning one of these machines are well worth the price.
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