How to Find the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner With Mop Vacuum

If you can live without the benefits of smart features like mapping, and you don't mind cleaning the trash bin every 60 days or so, a basic robotic vacuum is likely to work for you. Choose a model that has a clean base and can work with voice assistants.

It is the most effective robo-vacuum we have tested in getting rid of dirt and pet hair on hardwood floors, tile, and low-pile carpeting. It also has the ability to map out and set virtual no go zones for rooms or areas.

1. Powerful Suction

A robot vacuum can keep up with the dust, pet hair and dander that accumulates on your floors on a day-to-day basis. It also can reduce the frequency at which you have to deep clean which will save your time and effort. The most effective models feature powerful suction, which can tackle most messes with ease and leave your house cleaner.

Selecting a vacuum that is also able to mop can help you achieve more coverage by using just one machine. This can be particularly beneficial in a larger home. Look for models that have water reservoirs either integrated into the chassis or as a separate piece that you can swap out when vacuuming is complete. It will need to be empty and refill it, though, so this is an additional task that will require a little extra work on your part.

In ideal world, you'd clear your floors prior to using your robot vac to keep it from hitting things. In most homes, however, this is not possible or desirable. Most robots allow you to utilize an app on your smartphone to create virtual barriers that the robot will detect. Some models include no-go areas, which you can flag areas you don't want the robot to enter. For example an area for children's play or a pile of cords in a corner.

If you're looking for a basic robot vacuum without all the bells and whistles, this model made by the networking company TP-Link is a great option. It's quiet and works on both hard floors as well as carpets with low pile and can be programmed through the app to vacuum and mop at your own convenience. It's got a long battery life that can last up to 180 minutes.

2. Easy to Operate

Robot vacuums generally require very little effort from you. They use navigation tools like sensors lasers, cameras and sensors to move around obstacles and remove food particles, dust and pet hair from hard floors, tile carpets, hardwood floors and low-pile carpets. Many models come with boundary strips to help them stay inside a room. Higher-end models can be programmed to get up at a particular time and start cleaning. Some models include fall detection technology that helps them avoid falling down a flight of stairs or becoming tangled in cords.

If you'd like to control your robot vacuum from the comfort of your couch, search for models that can work with voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also select Wi-Fi models that permit users to start a cleaning session anywhere using an app. Depending on how big your house is, you may want one that has a long battery life and a roomy dustbin that doesn't need to be emptied frequently.

Some robot vacuums can double as mops, using reservoirs of water to clean your floors. This is ideal for mopping, but not great for tough messes like pet poop or robot vacuum cleaner with mop other wet dry robot vacuum spills. You can find hybrids with a removable microfiber pad for mopping, or opt for a self-emptying model that lets you go 30 to 60 days without needing to empty the base.

3. Smart Mapping

Some robots use advanced mapping technology to create a detailed map while they clean. This makes it easier to avoid hitting furniture and getting caught on cords or legs of chairs. This feature is only available on top-of-the-line models however, it allows your robot to have a thorough understanding of the layout of your home and know where to go when the battery is out.

Most robots allow you to create virtual barriers. This can be done using an application or even physical boundary strips. You can block off areas that you don't want your robot to go into, so that it can concentrate on the rooms that need the most attention.

Many robots also have the ability to automatically navigate to different floorings depending on the surface they're cleaning, whether that's switching between hard and carpet or focusing on certain areas of your home, like corners and baseboards. In our tests it was a great feature that helped improve their performance in picking up carpeting that is low-pile and hardwood. But, it's still essential to secure furniture and cords that are loose prior to running your robot vacuum so that it doesn't get stuck or come into contact with something it shouldn't.

4. Remote Control

Almost all robot vacuums have WiFi connectivity and work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts, which enable you to control them using voice commands or from your smartphone. Many robot vacuums are connected to smart home systems and create a map of the space they clean after each cleaning session. This allows them to "learn" the way your home is laid out, and then plan more efficient routes for future cleaning sessions. There are also built-in obstacles avoidance that prevents them from bumping into furniture and causing damage or getting stuck on things like charging cables that are loose or shoe laces, as well as hair from pets.

Most robots come with a remote that you can use to pilot them around your home. The majority of robots can be operated by mobile applications which has more options. You can set up a variety of cleaning schedules, and create a list with your favorite rooms. You can also guide the robot using directional the arrows.

Certain models have no-go zones, which are virtual barriers that you can configure in the app to block the robot from entering certain areas (like toys for children or dog bowls and beds). Some apps let you create an image of your home and provide detailed information about the floors. The app that we recommend as our top choice Roborock S7+, the Roborock S7+, has many useful options to help you clean your house, but its interface isn't as polished and elegant as those from iRobot and Shark.

5. Long Battery Life

Robotic vacuums that can sweep a whole house without stopping to recharge or empty their bins of dust save you time and effort. Certain robot vacuums can work with smart home devices like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts to enable hands-free operation. They can also draw an outline of the space to allow you to program them to specific areas or rooms, and to avoid obstacles.

The majority of robot vacuums detect objects, however the iRobot j7 comes with advanced features like "home mapping" and obstacle avoidance. These can make your life easier (although one of our test bots did "eat" a few socks). If you're trying to improve your home maintenance, think about the use of a robot mop and a water container that you can fill and empty.

While none of the models we tested could compete with the dirt-picking power of a stand-up vacuum they did a great job cleaning hard floors as well as carpets with low pile. They are great at sweeping up fine dust and food crumbs, tracked-in dirt and pet hair. They are also able to tackle stray cat litter and metal screws and nuts. The top robot vacuums can remove dirt from edges and corners and work around furniture. Eufy 11S is a relatively inexpensive and basic model.

6. Convenient Self-Charging

A robot vacuum can help keep your home tidy and clean without you having to do much work. You can schedule cleanings through the app, and you can create no-go zones so that the robot won't get in the way of your favorite chair or plants. The majority of our top picks also automatically empty their dustbins and clean their docking stations for you.

The best robot vacuums can be programmed to clean your floors on a regular basis for weeks or even months at a stretch, freeing you from the time-consuming task of manually cleaning your floors on a daily or weekly basis. This allows you to take more time doing the things you enjoy and reduces the time needed to clean your floors manually.

In our tests during testing, Q Revo was able grab fine particles like baking soda and oatmeal. It also picked up heavier particles such as nails and screws made of steel, as well as fluffy hair. It's not equipped with the sophisticated mapping and object avoidance features found in our top picks, however it's adequate for most families.

The most appealing aspect of the j7 robot is that it utilizes camera and processor-powered sensors to identify and avoid obstacles such as shoes, power cords, socks and pet waste. This means that you don't need to clean up before using your robot. However, rooms that are cluttered could cause your robot to get stuck and do an inadequate job.