Best Rated Robot Vacuum and Mop

Eufy's top-rated robotic vacuum and mop takes a bit of the burden of keeping your floors clean. It is able to refill its own water tank, and self-empty its tower bin, and then change out 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 navigate around hazards like loose charging cables and loose socks.

Object Avoidance

Object avoidance features allow your robot to avoid running into things like toys, power cords and clothes that get caught up in the vacuum. These are particularly important if you have kids or pets who are inclined to leave objects on the floor where your robot will be able to locate them.

Based on the model you choose, you might have an array of different sensors that can aid your robot in navigating through obstacles. Some of the most sought-after include crossed IR sensor beams that are a focused infrared light which scan the room for things like furniture legs or door frames. Many robots have adopted this technology, and you'll see it in the most expensive models that cost more.

Other object avoidance technologies that are typically found in more expensive robots are 3D Structured Light, which uses cameras and crossed IR sensors to map the surroundings 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 to them. These aren't very common but are a great option to add to your robot in case you're looking to add security.

Besides cleaning up dust and other debris on hard floors Most of the top-rated robots can mop your floor as well. Some robots have their very own water tanks that allow them to clean up messes and spills. It is necessary to clean the robot's dust bin onboard and clean its sensors and cameras in between cleaning sessions.

Mapping

Mapping capabilities are crucial in robot vacuums since they help them recognize your home's layout, and prevent them from bumping into objects like walls. Without mapping, they might be tripped over by cords, furniture or pet toys, and end up cleaning less of your space. By using sensors, many robots map out your space to keep track of any obstacles and assist them to navigate around them. They can clean the floor in fewer passes and save you time. Many 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 vacuums with mop to enter.

Robots with a built-in LIDAR system use this technology to create a map of your home quickly and efficiently. During our tests, the Eufy Clean robot made use of this feature to separate my room into various areas and clean each independently, which was a huge improvement over the cheaper models we tested that had the front bump sensor. This was a more precise method of navigating my home, and it was easy to control using the on-device application.

While there are no robot vacuums that can scale stairs, the best automatic vacuum models do have obstacles avoidance and mapping features. These tools let them collect dirt from low-pile or hard floors, and prevent falling down the stairs. Certain tools come with sensors that prevent them falling over the edge of stairs. Others have boundaries to keep them out.

Certain robots have large towers on the base that can collect dirt. This decreases the amount of dust or allergens that are released within your home. These bases can go weeks or even months between emptying and are especially useful if you suffer from allergies. Some models come with self-emptying dust bins that can empty without opening and closing them manually.

Wi-Fi enabled

Some robot vacuums communicate via Wi-Fi with their applications. This allows you to operate them with your smartphone instead of (or in addition) to an actual remote. These models are more expensive, but they can save you time by letting you schedule cleaning sessions on a weekly, daily or even a monthly basis. They also often allow you to edit and save floor maps as well as offer different cleaning routines.

The most advanced robot vacuums utilize dual sensors, combining a LIDAR system to map your space with a structured light sensor that is able to see objects and avoid them even if they're buried under furniture or power cords. Those features make it easier for your robot to get into tight spaces such as the nook underneath the kitchen cabinets or beneath sofas, where many other robots have difficulty. They're also faster to get over obstacles and have longer running times thanks to bigger dust bins, making them more suitable for large homes than entry-level robots.

The best robot hoover rated robot vacuums tend to be swift, intelligent and powerful cleaning up all kinds of floor debris such as pet hair, cat litter, and other dirt. They also are quiet, making them a great choice for homes that have pets as well as young children. Most robot vacuum users we've spoken to report that they appreciate the ease of having their floor cleaned with minimal effort. This is particularly true when they are used regularly. Robots can last as long as traditional vacuum cleaners, provided they have the right maintenance (cleaning rotating brushes and keeping the track of spare parts). PCWorld offers a helpful guide that provides tips to help you keep your machine running smoothly for years to come.

Dust Bags Larger

Although a robot vacuum may not be as efficient as an upright or canister model, it is excellent at picking up dirt and dust that regular vacuuming leaves behind. It can be used to do quick touch-ups of bare floors and can also navigate around cords or other obstacles in your home. You can employ robots to clean your floors on a schedule if you don't have time to do it yourself.

The top-rated robot vacuums come with big, easy to empty dust bags that can store more dirt than a single room. This will save time and money through replacement bags. A number of the models we've listed have this feature, including our top choice, the Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo. This all-in-one robovac is a high-performance robovac that has a self-emptying bin. It comes with a mopping function and efficient navigation. It's a close contest between this and the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+, which has intelligent mapping and avoidance technology. This model is more expensive, however it has a bigger capacity.

The two models differ in their handling of long hair, which could get caught in the rollers of a few 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 as well as excellent auto empty results and excellent path planning. The Shark Matrix Plus and eufy are also excellent options, with respectable hair pick-up and tangle avoidance, however they don't have as much path planning or auto empty.

The latest robots come with sensors that detect dirt and debris in the carpet, and are better at picking up loose pet hair. Some robots feature mopping mode, that makes use of the reservoir of water to remove stuck-on mess and spills. This feature is crucial for families with children and pets.

Maintenance

A robot vacuum will help you keep up with your home. While no robot can replace an upright or canister vacuum for deep cleaning, the highest rated models pick up pet hair, lint, and other dirt on hard floors and low-pile carpets which can pick up more than you would find with a Broom. They also have navigation capabilities that prevent them from getting caught on cords for power or rug fringe and are able to slide easily under furniture.

Based on the model, a highly rated robot vacuum can also be scheduled to run several times per day, or permit users to observe it in action using an app. These machines are useful, but they can also get clogged and require regular maintenance. This means emptying the dust bin that is onboard (or in certain cases, the base's bigger bin) as well as checking the brushes for fur that is tangled, and periodically rinsing the filters and drying them according to the manufacturer.

Emily Rairdin is a vacuum expert and store owner apprentice from University Vacuum + Sewing. She says that a robot vacuum can last for three to five years if it is properly care. She recommends regularly emptying the bin and brush roll, cutting out any hair that is tangled in the brushes, and regularly cleaning and drying the filter, in the event that your robot acts as mop. It's a good idea clean the sensors and charging contacts on the robot or dock with a soft, clean cloth every now and then. Then, simply recharge and refill the robot whenever you need to for the next time you clean.