Best Rated Robot Vacuum and Mop

Eufy's top-rated robotic vacuum and mop takes some of the hands-off work out of keeping your floors spotless. It can refill its own water tank as well as empty its tower bin. It can also change the dust bag it uses.

Advanced models are able to draw a map of your home and take note of furniture placement. They can also identify hazards and help you avoid them, such as loose charging cables or unintentional socks.

Object Avoidance

Object avoidance helps your robot to avoid hitting things like cords, toys, and clothes that could get caught in the vacuum. These are especially important if you have children or pets who are prone to leaving objects on the floor, which your robot hoover and mop will be able to locate them.

Depending on the model you select, your robot may have various sensors to help it navigate around obstacles. Some of the most well-known include crossed IR sensor beams that are focused infrared lights that scan the room looking for things like furniture legs or door frames. Many robots have embraced this technology, and you'll find it in the flagship models that cost more.

Other object avoidance technology that is available in more expensive robotics includes 3D Structured Light which uses cameras and crossed IR sensors to map the environment, and Best Rated Robot Vacuum identify obstacles. Time of Flight (ToF) sensors that measure and emit the duration that it takes the light to reflect off an object, to determine its distance, is also available. These aren't very common but can be an excellent option to add to your robot if you're looking for extra security.

Most of the top-rated robots can also mop your floors. Some even come with their own water tanks, allowing them to wash away the stains and spills that are wet. You'll have to empty the robot's onboard dust bin and clean its cameras and sensors between cleaning sessions, but these chores shouldn't take much of your time.

Mapping

Mapping capabilities are crucial in robot vacuums because they allow them to keep track of your home's layout and prevent them from bumping into objects like walls. Without mapping, they might be tripped over by furniture, cords, or pet toys, and end up cleaning less of your space. By using sensors, many robots map your home to identify any obstacles and help them navigate around them. They can clean your floors in fewer passes and help you save time. Many of the top robotic vacuums also come with this feature, which enables you to create no-go areas.

Robots with built-in LIDAR system use this technology to map your home quickly and efficiently. The Eufy Clean robot divided my room into distinct areas and cleaned each one in a separate manner during our tests. This was a huge improvement over other models that rely on a front-bumper sensor. This was a more accurate way to navigate my home and it was simple for me to control via the app on the device.

Although no robot vacuum has the ability to climb stairs, the majority of the best rated models come with obstacles avoidance and mapping features. These tools help to remove debris from carpets with low pile and hard floors and also to prevent falling down the stairs. Some tools have sensors that prevent them falling over the edge of the stairs. Others come with boundary strips to keep them out.

Some robots come with a massive tower base that houses their dirt and debris, reducing the amount of dust and allergens that are released into your home. They can be left for weeks or months without being emptied and are particularly helpful when you suffer from allergies. Alternatively, some models have self-emptying systems that let you empty their dust bins without having to manually open and close them.

Wi-Fi enabled

Some robot vacuums communicate via Wi-Fi with their apps. This allows you to control them with your smartphone instead of (or in addition) to an actual remote. These models are more expensive however, they can save time since you can schedule cleaning time each week, daily or monthly. They can also allow users to edit and save floor maps, and provide alternative cleaning routines.

The most advanced robot vacuums use dual sensors, which combine the LIDAR system to map your area with a structured light sensor that can detect objects and avoid them, even if they're buried under furniture or power cords. These features allow your robot to reach into tight areas, such as the nook beneath your kitchen cabinets or underneath sofas. Other robots struggle with these areas. They're also faster to get around obstacles and have longer run times due to bigger dust bins, making them ideal for larger homes than the entry-level robots.

The most effective robot vacuums are quick and efficient. They are also intelligent and powerful. They are able to pick up an array of floor debris, including pet hair, kitty-litter and other messes. They can also be quiet making them a good choice for homes with young kids and pets. Many of the robot vacuum owners we've spoken to report that they enjoy the convenience of having their floors cleaned with minimal effort. This is especially true when used regularly. Robots can last just as long as traditional vacuum cleaners if they are given the proper maintenance (cleaning rotating brushes and keeping an eye on replacement parts). PCWorld offers a guide with helpful tips to keep yours running smoothly.

Larger Dust Bags

A robotic vacuum may not be as effective at cleaning as an upright or canister vacuum, but it's excellent at removing dust and debris that regular vacuuming has left behind. It is a great tool for quick repairs to floors that are not clean and can also navigate around cords or other household obstacles. If you don't want to do the deep cleaning yourself, a robotic cleaner can be set to send it out to sweep your floors on a regular basis.

The top rated robot vacuums have huge dust bags that are easy to empty and hold more than a single room's worth of dirt. This can save time and money through bags that are replaced. This feature is available on several models including our top pick which is the Ecovacs T30S Combo. This robovac all-in-one is a high-performance robovac that has a self-emptying bin. It also comes with mopping functions and effective navigation. This is a close race between the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ and this model, which utilizes intelligent mapping and avoidance technology. This robovac is more expensive, but it has more capacity.

The two models also differ in how they handle long hair, which could get tangled up in the rollers of some robots. The best robot vacuum and mop-performing models, the Roborock Q5 Max+ and SwitchBot K10S Plus, both have superb hair pickup and tangle avoidance scores with fantastic path planning and near perfect auto empty results. The Eufy and Shark Matrix Plus are also excellent options with respectable hair pickup and tangle avoidance, but not as much planning for paths or auto empty.

The latest robots are equipped with sensors that can identify dirt and other debris on carpets and they're better in removing pet hair. Some even have a dedicated mopping mode that uses the water reservoir to remove spills and messes that have gotten stuck. This feature is a must-have for families with pets and children.

Maintenance

A robot vacuum will help you keep up with your home. While no robot can replace an upright or a canister vacuum for deep cleaning, the highest models that are rated highly pick up pet hair, lint, Best Rated Robot Vacuum and other dirt on carpets and floors with low pile and pick up more than you can with the Broom. They also come with navigation features that prevent them from getting stuck on rug fringe or power cords and are able to glide effortlessly under furniture.

According to the model, you can program a robot vacuum to run multiple times a day or watch it in action using an app. However, these useful machines are also susceptible to clogging, and require regular maintenance like emptying the onboard bin (or the base's bigger dust bin in certain cases) and checking the brushes for tangled hair, and then periodically washing and letting the filters dry according to the manufacturer.

Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin, a store owner apprentice at University Vacuum + Sewing, says a good robot vacuum can last from three to five years or more if it receives regular maintenance and care. She recommends emptying the bin and the brush roll regularly, cutting free hairs that get caught in the brushes, and then regularly cleaning and drying the filter if your robot is also a mop. It's a good idea clean the charging contacts and sensors on the dock or robot with an easy, clean cloth every now and then. You can recharge and refill your robot for the next clean-up session.