Get a robot vacuum with rubber rollers if you have fringe.

Models like the Roborock S7 MaxV or iRobot Roomba j7+ handle thick rugs and fringe better than most. The key is rubber brushes instead of bristle ones — bristles grab and pull fringe like a cat with a loose thread.

Fringe is basically a trap for any spinning brush. The side brush on many bots can also snag and whip fringe around, sometimes tangling the whole machine. Rubber rollers are gentler and less likely to eat the fringe.

If your rug has long loose fringe, honestly the best robot vac is one you keep away from that edge. No model is truly safe if the fringe is hanging free. Trim or tack the fringe down, or accept that you’ll be doing some manual untangling after every run.

The Roomba j7+ also has smarter object detection that might avoid a fringe situation. But it’s not magic. The safest bet: rubber rollers, minimal side brush contact, and realistic expectations.