Best Rated Robot Vacuum and Mop

Eufy's top-rated robot vacuum and mop takes some of the hands-off work out of keeping your floors tidy. It is able to refill its own water tank, empty its tower bin that is larger and then change the dust bag.

More advanced models are able to trace your home's layout and note the location of furniture. They can also detect obstacles and avoid hazards such as loose charging cables and loose socks.

Object Avoidance

Object avoidance features enable your robot to avoid hitting things like toys, power cords and even clothes that could get caught up in the vacuum. These are particularly important if you have kids or pets that are inclined to leave objects on the floor where your robot can discover them.

Depending on the model you choose, your robot may have various sensors to aid in navigating around obstacles. Some of the most popular include crossed IR sensors that send focused beams of infrared light across the room to detect things like furniture legs and door frames. This technology is used by many robots on the market and you can see it in the top models that cost more than other models.

Other technologies for avoiding objects that are typically found in more expensive robots are 3D Structured Light, which makes use of cameras and crossed IR sensors to map the surrounding area and detect obstacles. Also, Time of Flight (ToF) sensors that emit light and measure the time it takes for light to reflect off of objects, to determine the distance between them. While these are less common however, they are a great addition to your robot if you need additional security knowing that it won't get hung up on cords or socks when cleaning.

In addition to collecting dust and debris on floors that are hard The majority of the top-rated robots can also mop your floors as well. Some robots come with own water tanks which enable them to clean up spills and messes. It is necessary to empty the robot's dust bin and clean its cameras and sensors between cleaning sessions.

Mapping

Robot vacuums must be able to map. This lets them navigate your home without hitting things like walls. Without mapping, they could be tripped by furniture, cords or pet toys, and end up cleaning less of your space. With sensors, the majority of robots map your home to keep track of any obstacles and help navigate around them. This way, they're able to sweep the entire floor using fewer passes, which saves you time. A lot of the top-rated robot vacuums can also utilize this feature to create no-go zones permitting you to define rooms that you don't want the robot to enter.

Robots that have built-in LIDAR utilize this technology to map your home efficiently and quickly. The Eufy Clean robot divided my room into separate areas and cleaned each independently during our tests. This was a huge improvement over cheaper models that only had the front bumper sensor. This was a more precise method of navigating my home and was also easy to control via the on-device app.

Although no robot vacuum has the ability to climb stairs yet, the majority of the top-rated models have good obstacles avoidance and mapping features. These tools help them to pick up debris from carpets with low pile and hard floors, and to avoid falling down the steps. Some have cliff sensors that stop them from crossing over the edge of stairs and some also have boundary strips that can prevent them from certain areas.

Some robots have large towers on the base that collects dirt. This decreases the amount of dust or allergens that are released within your home. These bases can be left for weeks or months without being emptied which is particularly beneficial for those who suffer from allergies. Some models come with self-emptying dust bins that you can empty without opening or closing them manually.

Wi-Fi enabled

Some robot vacuums communicate via Wi-Fi with their apps. This lets you control them with your smartphone instead (or in addition) to the physical remote. These models are more expensive, however they can save you time because you can schedule cleaning sessions daily, weekly or monthly. These models also allow you to modify floor maps and save them, as well as provide alternative cleaning patterns.

The most advanced robot vacuums use dual sensors, which combine a LIDAR system to map your space with a structured light sensor that can see objects and avoid them even if they're buried under furniture or power cords. robotic hoovers allow your robot to reach into tight areas, like the kitchen's nook under cabinets or under your sofas. Some robots have difficulty in these areas. They are also faster to maneuver around obstacles, have longer runtimes, and bigger dust bins. This makes them more suitable for homes with large spaces compared to basic robots.

The top-rated robot vacuums are quick, efficient and effective, picking up most kinds of floor debris, including pet hair, cat litter and other dirt. They are also quiet, making them an ideal choice for homes with children and pets. The majority of robot vacuum users have told us that they appreciate the ease of having their floors cleaned with little effort. This is especially true when used regularly. With proper maintenance (cleaning the rotating brushes and keeping tabs on the replacement parts) robots can last longer than a traditional full-size vacuum cleaner. PCWorld offers a guide with helpful tips to keep yours running smoothly.

Dust Bags Larger

Although a robot vacuum may not be as efficient as a canister or upright model, it is excellent in picking up dust and other debris that regular vacuuming leaves behind. It is also a great tool for quick touch-ups on floors and can maneuver through cords and other obstacles in the home. You can use robots to clean your floors according to a schedule if you don't have time to do it yourself.

Some of the top-rated robot vacuums have large, easy to empty dust bags that can hold more dirt than a room. This can help you save time and money on replacement bags. Several of the models we've listed feature this feature, including the most popular one, the Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo. This all-in-one robovac has an excellent performance rating and includes self-emptying bin. It also has a mopping feature and an efficient navigation. It's a close contest between this and the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+, that has smart mapping and avoidance technology. This model is more expensive but has a larger capacity.


The two models differ in how they handle long hair, which could get tangled up in the rollers of some robots. The top-performing models are the Roborock Q5 Max+ and SwitchBot K10S Plus, both have excellent hair pickup and tangle avoidance scores, along with fantastic path planning and near perfect auto empty results. The Shark Matrix Plus and eufy are also excellent options, with decent hair pickup and tangle avoidance but they don't have as much path planning or auto empty.

The most recent robots have sensors that can spot dirt and other debris in the carpet, and are better at removing hairs that have fallen off of pets. Some models even have a mopping mode that uses the reservoir of water to wash away spills and stuck-on mess. This feature is essential for families with children and pets.

Maintenance

A robot vacuum can help you keep up with your home. While no robot is able to replace an upright or canister vacuum for deep cleaning, the top rated models pick up pet hair, lint and other surface dirt on carpets and floors with low pile, picking up much more than you can using the broom. They come with navigational features that help them avoid getting stuck on power cords, rug fringe, or furniture.

According to the model, you can schedule the robot vacuum to run multiple times per day, or observe it in action with an app. However, these convenient vacuums are also prone to clogging and require frequent maintenance like emptying the onboard bin (or the base's bigger dust bin in some cases) as well as checking the brushes for hair that is tangled, and periodically rinsing and allowing the filters to dry as recommended by the manufacturer.

Emily Rairdin is a vacuum expert and store owner apprentice at University Vacuum + Sewing. She believes that a robotic vacuum can last for three to five years with proper maintenance. She recommends emptying the bin and brush roll often cutting out hairs that get caught in the brushes, and then regularly rinsing and drying the filter, especially if it is a mop as well. It's also a good idea to clean the sensors and charging contacts on the robot or dock occasionally with a soft cloth. Then, simply recharge and refill the robot as needed for the next time you clean.