Best Rated Robot Vacuum and Mop

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

Advanced models can map your home and record furniture positioning. They also can detect obstructions and avoid dangers like loose charging cables and unintentional socks.

Object Avoidance

Object avoidance helps your robot to avoid hitting objects like toys, cords, and clothes that could get caught in the vacuum. These are particularly important if you have children or pets that are likely to leave items on the floor, where your robot could be able to locate them.


Based on the model you select the robot you choose may come with a variety of sensor options to aid in navigating around obstacles. Some of the most popular are crossed IR sensors that beam focused beams of infrared lights across the room to detect things like doors and furniture legs. Many robots have embraced this technology, and you'll find it in the most expensive models that cost more.

Other object avoidance technology that you may find in higher-end robotics is 3D Structured Light which uses cameras and crossed IR sensor to map the surrounding area and detect obstacles. Time of Flight (ToF) sensors that measure and emit the amount of time that it takes for the light to reflect off an object, to determine its distance, is also available. These are less common but could be a great option for your robot if you're looking for extra security.

Most of the top-rated robots can also mop your floors. Some even have their own water tanks, allowing them to remove water-based spills and messes. You'll have to empty your robot's onboard dust bin and wipe down its cameras and sensors between cleaning sessions, but these tasks shouldn't take much of your time.

Mapping

Robot vacuums need to be able to map. This allows them to navigate your home and avoid bumping against things like walls. Without mapping, they may get tripped up by furniture, cords, or pet toys, and end up cleaning less of your space. Using sensors, most robots map your home to identify any obstacles and help navigate around them. robot vacuums uk Links to an external site. can clean your floors in fewer passes, and save you time. Many of the best robot vacuums also have this feature, which enables you to create no-go areas.

Robots with built-in LIDAR system make use of this technology to map out your home quickly and efficiently. In our tests, the Eufy Clean robot made use of this feature to divide my home into various areas and clean each independently this was a significant improvement over the less expensive models we tested that just used a front bump sensor. This was a more precise way to navigate my home and was simple to control using the app on the device.

Although there aren't any robot vacuums that can scale stairs, the best models do have mapping and obstacle avoidance features. These tools let them collect dirt from low-pile or hard floors, and prevent falling down the stairs. Some have cliff sensors that stop them from crossing over the edge of the stairs and others have boundary strips that prevent them from certain areas.

Some robots have a large base tower that is able to collect dirt. This helps reduce the amount of dust or allergens that are released in your home. robot vacuum uk Links to an external site. can go several months or even weeks between emptying, and are particularly beneficial for those with allergies. Alternatively, some models have self-emptying systems that let you empty their dust bins without having to manually open or close them.

Wi-Fi enabled

Some robot vacuums utilize Wi-Fi to communicate with their apps and allow users to control them with your smartphone rather than (or in addition to) an actual remote. These models are more expensive but they can save you time since they can schedule cleaning times daily, weekly or monthly. These models also let you modify floor maps, save them and offer alternative cleaning patterns.

Dual sensors are used by the most advanced robot vacuums. They combine with a LIDAR mapping system with a structured-light sensor which can detect and block out objects, even if they're hidden beneath furniture or power cables. These features allow your robot to reach tight areas, such as the kitchen's nook under cabinets or underneath sofas. Other robots struggle with these areas. They also have a faster speed to maneuver around obstacles, have longer runtimes and larger dust bins. This makes them ideal for large homes compared to entry-level robots.

The top-rated robot vacuums tend to be fast, smart and powerful and can clean up all kinds of floor debris such as pet hair, cat litter and other mess. They can also be quiet which makes them a great choice for homes with young children and pets. Many of the robot vacuum owners have told us that they appreciate the ease of having their floor cleaned with little effort. This is especially true when used regularly. And with proper maintenance (cleaning the rotating brushes and keeping an eye on the replacement parts) robots can last longer than a traditional full-size vacuum cleaner. PCWorld provides a guide that offers some useful tips to keep yours running smoothly.

Dust Bags Larger

While a robotic vacuum may not be as efficient as a canister or upright model, it's great in picking up dust and debris that regular vacuuming leaves behind. It can also be used to provide quick touch-ups on bare floors and can maneuver around cords and other obstacles that are common to household use. If you don't wish to do the deep cleaning yourself, a robot cleaner Links to an external site. can be sent out to scour your floors on a regular basis.

The top-rated robot vacuums come with big dust bags that can hold more dirt than a single room. This can save time and money in the form of bags that are replaced. A number of the models we've listed have this feature, including the most popular, the Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo. This all-in-one robovac boasts an impressive performance score and has self-emptying bin. It also comes with mopping capabilities and efficient navigation. This is a close race between the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ and this one, which uses the latest technology for avoidance and smart mapping. This robovac has more capacity, but is slightly more expensive.

The two models differ in their handling of long hair, which could get tangled up in the rollers of some robots. The Roborock Q5 Max+, SwitchBot K10S Plus and Roborock Q5 Max+ are the best performing models. They all have top hair pickup and tangle-avoidance scores together with excellent auto empty results and excellent path planning. The Eufy and Shark Matrix Plus are also good choices with good hair pickup and tangle avoiding, but not as much path-planning or auto empty.

The latest robots are equipped with sensors that can identify dirt and debris on carpets and they are more adept at removing pet hair. Some models even have a mopping mode that can use 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. The best models can collect more dirt pet hair and lint, than a broom on low pile or hard floors. They also have navigational features to prevent them from getting stuck on power cords, rug fringes or furniture.

According to the model, you can set up the robot vacuum to run multiple times per day or even watch it perform its duties using an app. These machines are useful but they also get clogged and require regular maintenance. This involves emptying the onboard dust bin (or in certain cases, the base's larger bin) as well as checking the brushes for tangled fur, and a regular cleaning of the filters and allowing them to dry in accordance with the manufacturer.

Emily Rairdin is a vacuum expert and store owner apprentice from 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 the brush roll regularly cutting out hairs that get caught in the brushes, and frequently rinsing and drying the filter if your machine is also a mop. It's also an excellent idea to clean the charging contacts and sensors on the dock or robot occasionally with a soft cloth. Then, recharge and refill the robot as needed for your next cleaning session.