bObsweep PetHair

This bObsweep vac did an excellent job at cleaning our bare floors but was subpar in most other tests. It was not as strong as others at picking up fine embedded carpet dust. It also didn't cover as much of the lab as most of the other tested models and would not travel over a square of matte black carpet in the lab. It started out in a circular pattern and then alternated between zig-zag and perimeter modes. It has one flimsy side brush that was better at sweeping up the debris on our bare floor edges but did not perform quite as well on our carpeted edges. One drawback is that with a 4.75 inch profile, the bot became wedged under some of our test furniture. It would dislodge itself from under the furniture and then wedge itself again. Even when it didn't get wedged, it bumped into a few pieces of furniture forcefully enough to move them. It also dragged its charging station to a different location and scattered debris all over the floor. It pushed our tasseled rug around at first and then eventually got tangled and it occasionally got hung up on the test cords but passed over them most of the time. The Lithium-ion battery seemed to stop charging after some time when the vacuum sat on the docking station unused. We plugged the adapter directly into the vac to facilitate the charge and it worked. To remove the brushroll for cleaning, you have to use the provided screwdriver which adds an extra step to the process. It has one of the biggest dirt bins of all of the robotic vacs tested allowing for less trips to the trashcan. It avoided our test stairs. This model is not connected. We tested the mop pad by spilling some juice on the floor. Although it mopped up the juice, the small mopping pad raised a few concerns: it would have to be replaced often if used, may not be big enough to clean an entire floor or it can only clean so much before it needs to be washed (a process which requires stopping the vac, removing and cleaning the pad, replacing the pad, and then starting the vac again). The remote is essential when using the mop for spills because if the robot is cleaning randomly it may not get to the mess if not directed to it (at least for some time). Features: Modes: circular, perimeter, or zig-zag patterns. The UV light (not tested) claims to sanitize the floor. Battery: Li-ion Battery (14.8V, 2200 mAh, 32.56Wh). A new battery is available for purchase on the website. Includes: Remote control, 1 extra edge brush, brushroll, bumper stickers, filter replacement, 2 micro fiber cloths for mop, screw driver, cleaning tool, extra screw, docking station. Warranty claims are one year limited, two-year limited on the battery, five years subsidized replacement, and a lifetime of support.

The bObsweep PetHair is part of the Vacuum Cleaners test program at Consumer Reports. In our lab tests, Robotic Vacuums models like the PetHair are rated on multiple criteria, such as those listed below.

Carpet: Shows how much surface litter (cereal, rice, and peas) and embedded dust the vacuum picked up from a medium-pile carpet.

Bare floors: Indicates the vacuum's ability to remove surface debris from a bare laminate floor.

Navigation: A composite score that includes combined coverage over multiple runs, clearance under furniture and obstacle and entrapment avoidance.