We also check how loud each vacuum is, whether or not debris or pet hair gets trapped anywhere and how simple the dust bin is to remove, empty and replace. Robots can be more complicated to set up and operate than regular vacuums, so we look at how intuitive the controls are and how easy they are to program even for someone who is less tech-savvy. And when it comes to robot vacuums, there are more of them than ever, and they have come a long way from the very first iRobot Roomba we tested way back in 2002.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, we test a lot of different types of vacuums to produce our constantly-updated hand-picked lists of the best vacuums, the best vacuums for pet hair and even brand- and retailer-specific lists like the best vacuums from Bissell and the best vacuums at Walmart.
