Best Rated Robot Vacuum and Mop

Eufy's top-rated robot vacuum and mop takes a bit of the burden of keeping your floors clean. It is able to replenish its own water tank as well as empty its tower bin. It also has the ability to change its dust bag.

Advanced models can map your home and note furniture positioning. They also can detect dangers and help you avoid them, like loose charging cables or loose socks.

Object Avoidance

Object avoidance functions allow your robot to avoid crashing into things like power cords, toys and even clothes that could be caught in the vacuum. This is especially important if you have children or pets who may be inclined to leave objects on the floor, which your robot can discover them.

Based on the model you select the robot you choose may come with various sensors to aid in navigating around obstacles. A few popular ones include crossed IR sensors that beam focused beams of infrared lights across the room to identify things like furniture legs and door frames. This technology is widely used by numerous robots that are available, and you can also find it in flagship models that cost more than others.

Other technology for avoiding objects are typically found in more expensive robots are 3D Structured Light, which utilizes cameras and crossed IR sensors to map the environment and detect obstacles. Also, Time of Flight (ToF) sensors that emit and measure the time it takes for light to reflect off of objects to determine the distance between them. These are less common but could be a great option to add to your robot should you want to have more peace of mind.

remote hoover of the top-rated robots can also clean your floors. Some robots have their very own water tanks that allow them to clean up messes and spills. You will need to empty the dust bin and clean its sensors and cameras between cleaning sessions.

Mapping

Mapping capabilities are crucial in robot vacuums as they enable them to recognize your home's layout, and prevent them from bumping into objects like walls. Without mapping, they may be tripped by furniture, cords or pet toys, and end up taking less space from your space. With sensors, the majority of robots map out your space to identify any obstacles and assist them to navigate around them. They can clean your floors in fewer passes and make it easier for you to save time. Many of the top-rated robot vacuums can also use this feature to create no-go zones allowing you to set specific areas that you do not want the robot to enter.

Robots with built-in LIDAR system use this technology to map your home quickly and efficiently. During our tests with the Eufy Clean robot used this feature to divide my room into different areas and clean each one independently this was a significant improvement over the lesser models we tested that just utilized an in-front bump sensor. This was a much more precise way to navigate my home, and it was easy to control using the app on the device.

While no robot vacuum can climb stairs yet, most of the best rated models have good obstacle avoidance and mapping capabilities. These tools assist them to pick up debris from hard floors and low-pile carpets and also to keep them from 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 keep them away from certain areas.

Some robots have an enormous base tower that can collect dirt. This helps reduce the amount of dust or allergens that are released in your home. These bases can be kept for weeks or months without being emptied which is particularly beneficial if you suffer from allergies. Some models have self-emptying dust bins which you can empty without opening or closing them manually.

Wi-Fi enabled

Some robot vacuums communicate via Wi-Fi with their apps. best cheap robot vacuum allows you to control them with your smartphone instead (or in addition) to an actual remote. best cheap robot vacuum are more expensive however, they can save time because you can schedule cleaning sessions daily, weekly or even monthly. They also often allow users to edit and save floor maps, and provide alternative cleaning schedules.

The most advanced robot vacuums use dual sensors, combining the LIDAR system to map your space using a structured light sensor that can see objects and avoid them, even if they're buried under furniture or power cords. These features allow your robot to reach tight spaces, such as the space under your kitchen cabinets or under sofas. Other robots struggle with these areas. They are also more efficient in getting around obstacles and have longer run times with larger dust bins, which makes them better suited for large homes than the entry-level 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 mess. They are also quite quiet, which makes them a great choice for homes with pets as well as young children. The majority of robot vacuum owners we've interviewed report that they enjoy the ease of keeping their floors spotless with minimal effort, especially 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 ensure that your robot is running smoothly.

Larger Dust Bags

While a robotic vacuum might not clean as well as a canister or upright model, it is excellent in removing dust and debris that regular vacuuming leaves behind. It is also a great tool for quick repairs to floors and can navigate around cords and other household obstacles. You can employ robotics to sweep your floors according to a schedule if you don't have time to do it yourself.


The top-rated robot vacuums come with large dust bags that can store more dirt than a room. This can save time and money through bags that are replaced. A number of the models on our list feature this feature, including the top pick, the Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo. This robovac all-in-one is a high-performance robovac and includes a self-emptying bin. It also comes with mopping capabilities and efficient navigation. It's a close contest between the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ and this one, which uses smart mapping and avoidance technologies. The robovac is more expensive but has more capacity.

Another significant difference between these two models is how they handle hair that is long and human which can get caught in the rollers of some robots. The best-performing models, the Roborock Q5 Max+ and SwitchBot K10S Plus, both have excellent hair pickup and tangle avoidance scores with fantastic path planning and close to perfect auto empty results. The Shark Matrix Plus and eufy are also excellent options, with respectable hair pick-up and tangle avoidance but not as much path planning or auto empty.

The most recent robots are outfitted with sensors that detect dirt and debris on carpets, and they're better at picking up pet hair. Some robots come with mopping mode, where they can use the reservoir of water to get rid of stuck-on messes and spills. This feature is essential for families with children and pets.

Maintenance

Having a robot vacuum can be a great aid in keeping up with your home. The best models can remove more dirt pet hair, and lint than a broom on low-pile or hard flooring. They also come with navigation features that ensure they don't get stuck on rug fringe or power cords and are able to slide easily under furniture.

According to the model, you can set up a robot vacuum to run multiple times per day, or watch it perform its duties using an app. However, these handy machines are also susceptible to clogging and require frequent maintenance like emptying the onboard bin (or the base's larger dust bin in certain cases) and checking the brushes for tangled hair, and regularly rinsing and letting the filters dry as suggested by the manufacturer.

Emily Rairdin is a vacuum expert and store owner apprentice from University Vacuum + Sewing. She says that a robot vacuum can last from three to five years with proper maintenance. She recommends regularly emptying the bin and brush roll, cutting out any hair that is tangled in the brushes, and regularly washing and drying the filter if your robot also acts as a mop. It's also recommended to wipe down the charging contacts and sensors on the dock or the robot often with a soft, clean cloth. You can then recharge and refill your robot prior to the next clean-up session.