Best Rated Robot Vacuum and Mop

Eufy's top-rated robotic mop and vacuum takes a lot of the hands-off work out of keeping your floors clean. It can refill its own water tank as well as empty its tower bin. It also has the ability to change the dust bag it uses.

Advanced models can map your home and record furniture placement. They can also spot obstacles and avoid hazards like charging cables that are loose and loose socks.

Object Avoidance

Object avoidance features enable your robot to avoid hitting things like power cords, toys and clothes that be caught in the vacuum. These are particularly important if you have children or pets that are prone to leaving objects on the floor where your robot can discover them.

Based on the model you select depending on the model you choose, you may have an array of different sensor options available to aid your robot in navigating through obstacles. Some of the most popular are crossed IR sensors that beam focused beams of infrared light throughout the room to detect things like furniture legs and door frames. This technology has been widely adopted by a variety of robots available, and you can also find it in flagship models that cost more than other models.

Other object avoidance technologies that can be found in more expensive robots include 3D Structured Light, which makes use of cameras and crossed IR sensors to map the environment and identify obstacles; and 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. While these are less common but they could be beneficial to your robot if you want additional security knowing that it won't get stuck on power cords or socks when cleaning.

The majority of the top-rated robots can also mop your floors. Some come with their own water tanks, which allow them to remove the stains and spills that are wet. You'll need to empty your robot's onboard dust bin and wipe down the cameras and sensors in between cleaning sessions, but these tasks should not take a lot of time.

Mapping

Robot vacuums must include mapping capabilities. This lets them navigate your home and avoid getting caught up against walls. Without mapping, they could get tripped up by furniture, cords, or pet toys and end up removing less of your space. Using sensors, most robots map your home to track any obstacles and help navigate around them. They can clean the floor in fewer passes and save you time. Many of the top rated robot vacuums can also use this feature to create no-go zones allowing you to set specific rooms that you don't want the robot to enter.

Robots that have a built-in LIDAR system use this technology to map your home quickly and efficiently. In our tests, the Eufy Clean robot used this feature to divide my room into different areas and clean each independently, which was a huge improvement over the less expensive models we tested that just used the front bump sensor. This was a more precise way to navigate my home and was easy to control via the app that came with the device.

Although there aren't any robot vacuums that can climb stairs, top models do come with mapping and obstacle avoidance features. These tools allow them to remove dirt from carpets with low pile and hard floors and also to keep them from falling down the steps. Some tools are equipped with sensors to prevent them falling over the edge of stairs. Some have boundaries to keep them out.

Some robots come with a massive tower base that holds their dirt and debris, reducing the amount of dust and allergens emitted into your home. These bases can go several months or even weeks between emptying and are especially beneficial if you have allergies. Some models come with self-emptying dust bins which you can empty without opening and closing them manually.

Wi-Fi enabled

Some robot vacuums communicate via Wi-Fi with their applications. This lets you control them with your smartphone instead (or in addition) to an actual remote. These models are more expensive, but they can help you save time by letting you plan cleaning time on a weekly, daily or even a monthly basis. They also permit you to modify and save floor maps as well as offer different cleaning patterns.

Dual sensors are utilized by the most modern robot vacuums. They combine a LIDAR mapping system with a structured-light sensor that can detect and block out objects, even if they are hidden beneath furniture or power cables. These features allow your robot to access tight areas, like the kitchen's nook under cabinets or underneath sofas. Other robots struggle with these kinds of spaces. They're also quicker to get around obstacles and have longer run times with bigger dust bins, making them ideal for larger homes than entry-level robotics.

The top rated robot vacuums are quick, efficient and effective cleaning up all kinds of floor debris, including pet hair, cat litter, and other mess. They can also be quiet which makes them a great option for homes with young children and pets. Many of the robot vacuum reviews vacuum owners we've talked to have reported that they appreciate the convenience of keeping their floors clean without much effort, particularly when they are used often. And with proper maintenance (cleaning the rotating brushes and keeping track on replacement parts) robots can last longer than a traditional full-size vacuum cleaner. PCWorld offers a useful guide that provides tips to keep yours running in good shape for the long time to come.

Larger Dust Bags

A robotic automatic vacuum and mop robot isn't as effective in cleaning as a canister or upright vacuum, but it's excellent at removing dust and dirt that regular vacuuming leaves behind. It can be used to do quick touch-ups of bare floors, and can navigate around cords or other obstacles in your home. If you don't want to perform the deep cleaning yourself, a robotic cleaner can be sent out to sweep your floors on a regular schedule.

Some of the top-rated robot vacuums have large dust bags which can hold more dirt than one room. This can save time and money through replacement bags. This feature is available on a variety of models, including our top pick which is the Ecovacs T30S Combo. This robovac all-in-one has an excellent performance score and includes self-emptying bin. It also comes with mopping capabilities and efficient navigation. It's a close contest between this and the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+, which comes with intelligent mapping and avoidance technology. The robovac is more expensive, however it has a bigger capacity.

Another big difference between these two models is the way they handle hair that is long and human, which can tangle in the rollers of some robots. The Roborock Q5 Max+, SwitchBot K10S Plus and Roborock Q5 Max+ are the best automatic vacuum and mop 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 latest robots are equipped with sensors that can identify dirt and debris on carpets, and they are more adept at removing pet hair. Some robots have mopping modes that makes use of the reservoir of water to clean up stuck-on debris and spills. This feature is a must for families with pets and children.

Maintenance

A robot vacuum will help you keep up with your home. While no robot is able to substitute an upright or canister vacuum for deep cleaning, the best rated models pick up pet hair, lint and other surface dirt on carpets with low pile and hard floors and pick up more than you could with the broom. They also have navigation capabilities that prevent them from getting caught on power cords or rug fringe and are able to glide effortlessly under furniture.

Based on the model, a highly rated robot vacuum can also be scheduled to run multiple times a day or allow you to view it in action using 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 larger dust bin in some cases), checking brushes for hair that is tangled, and periodically rinsing and letting the filters dry according to the manufacturer.

Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin, a store owner apprentice at University Vacuum + Sewing, says a high-quality robot vacuum can last from three to five years or more with regular maintenance and care. She suggests emptying the bin and the brush roll regularly and cutting off any hair tangled in the brushes, and frequently rinsing and drying the filter if your machine is a mop as well. It's also recommended to clean the charging contacts and sensors on the robot or dock often with a soft, clean cloth. You can then recharge and refill your robot vacuum cleaner uk prior to the next cleaning session.