Best Rated Robot Vacuum and Mop

Eufy's top-rated robotic mop and vacuum takes a lot of the work of keeping your floors clean. It can refill its own water tank, and self-empty its tower bin that is larger and swap the dust bag.

More advanced models are able to draw a map of your home and take note of furniture placement. They also can detect dangers and navigate around them, like loose charging cables or loose socks.

Object Avoidance

Object avoidance allows your robot to avoid hitting objects like toys, cords, and clothing that could be caught in the vacuum. This is especially important if you have kids or pets who may be inclined to leave objects on the floor, where your robot can find them.

Based on the model you choose You may have an array of different sensors to assist your robot in its journey around obstacles. Some of the most sought-after include crossed IR sensor beams, which are focused infrared lights that scan across the room for things like furniture legs or door frames. Many robots have embraced this technology, and you can find it in the most expensive models that are more expensive.

Other technology for avoiding objects you might find in more expensive robots are 3D Structured Light, which makes use of cameras and crossed IR sensors to map the environment and detect obstacles; and 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. These aren't very common but are a great option for your robot should you want to have more security.

Apart from picking up dust and debris on hard floors Most of the top-rated robots can mop your floor as well. Some come with their own water tanks, which allow them to remove water-based spills and messes. You'll need to empty the robot's dust bin and clean its cameras and sensors between cleaning sessions.

Mapping

robot vacuum and mop vacuums need to have mapping capabilities. This lets them navigate your home without 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 them navigate around them. This way, they're able to clean the entire floor in fewer passes, thereby saving your time. A lot of the top-rated robot vacuums also have this feature to create zones that are not allowed, which allows you to designate areas that you do not want the robot to enter.

Robots equipped with LIDAR utilize this technology to map your home quickly and effectively. In our tests with the Eufy Clean robot used this feature to divide my home into different areas and clean each independently this was a significant improvement over the cheaper models we tested, which had a front bump sensor. This was a more accurate way of navigating my home, and it was easy to control with the on-device application.

While no robot vacuum can climb stairs yet, most of the top-rated models have good obstacles avoidance and mapping features. These tools allow to remove debris from carpets and hard floors and also to keep them from falling down the stairs. Some tools have sensors that stop them from falling over the edge of stairs. Some have boundary strips to keep them out.

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

Wi-Fi enabled

Some robot vacuums make use of Wi-Fi to communicate with their apps, allowing you to control them with your smartphone instead of (or in addition to) the physical remote. These models are more expensive, but they save you time by letting you plan cleaning time on a weekly, daily or even monthly basis. They also often allow you to modify and save floor maps and provide alternative cleaning schedules.

Dual sensors are used by the most advanced robot vacuums. They combine a LIDAR mapping system with a structured-light sensor that can detect and block out objects, even when they're hidden beneath furniture or power cables. These features allow your robot to maneuver into narrow spaces like the nook under the kitchen cabinets or beneath sofas, areas where other robots have difficulty. They also are faster to maneuver around obstacles, have longer runtimes, and bigger dust bins. This makes them ideal for homes with large spaces compared to entry-level robots.

The best rated robot vacuums tend to be fast, smart and powerful, picking up most kinds of floor debris, including pet hair, kitty litter, and other messes. They're also quiet, which makes them an ideal choice for homes with pets as well as young children. Most robot automatic vacuum cleaner owners we've interviewed report that they enjoy the convenience of keeping their floors spotless with minimal effort, particularly when they are used often. Robots can last as long as traditional vacuum cleaners with the right maintenance (cleaning rotating brushes and keeping an eye on replacement parts). PCWorld provides a guide that includes some helpful tips to keep yours running smoothly.

Dust Bags Larger

A robotic vacuum isn't as good robot vacuum at cleaning as an upright or canister vacuum, but it's excellent at removing dust and other debris that regular vacuuming leaves behind. It can also be used for quick touch-ups on bare floors and can navigate through cords and other obstacles in the home. You can use robotics to sweep your floors on a regular basis when you don't have the time to do it yourself.

The top-rated robot vacuums come with large, easy-to-empty dust bags that hold more than a single room's worth of dirt. This will save time and money in the form of bags that can be replaced. This feature is available on a variety of models including our top model which is the Ecovacs T30S Combo. This robovac all-in-one is a top-performing robovac that has a self-emptying bin. It also has mopping functions and effective navigation. It 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 a larger capacity, but it is a bit more expensive.

The two models differ in how they handle long hair, which may get caught in the rollers of certain robots. The Roborock Q5 Max+, SwitchBot K10S Plus and Roborock Q5 Max+ are the top performing models. They both have excellent hair pickup and tangle avoidance scores, as well as excellent auto empty results and great path planning. The eufy and Shark Matrix Plus are also excellent options with respectable hair pickup and tangle avoidance, but not as much path planning or auto empty.

The newest robots have sensors that can spot dirt and debris on the carpet, and are better at picking up loose pet hair. Some robots have mopping mode, where they can use the reservoir of water to remove stuck-on mess and spills. This feature is essential for families with pets and children.

Maintenance

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

Based on the model, a highly rated robot vacuum is also able to run multiple times per day or allow you to view it in action via an app. However, these convenient vacuums are also prone to clogging and require frequent maintenance, such as 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 regularly rinsing and letting the filters dry as suggested 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 from three to five years if it is properly care. She recommends regularly emptying the bin and brush roll and cutting out any hair that has gotten caught in the brushes, and frequently washing and drying the filter in the event that your robot acts as a mop. It is a good idea to wipe the charging contacts and sensors on the dock or the robot with a soft, clean cloth every now and again. Then, simply refill and recharge the robot whenever you need to for the next time you clean.