Best Rated Robot Vacuum and Mop

Eufy's top-rated robot vacuum and mop takes some of the burden of keeping your floors tidy. It is able to refill its own water tank and empty its tower bin. It can also change the dust bag.

Advanced models can map your home and note furniture arrangement. They also can detect dangers and avoid them, such as loose charging cables or stray socks.

Object Avoidance

Object avoidance functions allow your robot to avoid crashing into things like toys, power cords and clothes that can get caught up in the vacuum. This is especially important if you have children or pets who may be prone to leaving objects on the floor, where your robot will find them.

Based on the model you choose depending on the model you select, your robot could have several sensor options to help it navigate around obstacles. A few popular ones include crossed IR sensors that beam focused beams of infrared light throughout the room to detect things like doors and furniture legs. Many robots have adopted this technology, and you'll see it in the most expensive models that are more expensive.

Other technology for avoiding objects are typically found in more expensive robots include 3D Structured Light, which makes use of cameras and crossed IR sensors to map the surrounding area 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 to them. These aren't very common but are a great addition to your robot, if you're looking for extra security.

Most of the top-rated robotics can also mop your floors. Some come with their own water tanks, allowing them to wash away wet spills and messes. You'll have to empty your robot's onboard dust bin and wipe down the cameras and sensors in between cleaning sessions, but these chores should not take a lot of time.

Mapping

Robot vacuums should include mapping capabilities. This lets them navigate around your home and avoid bumping against things like walls. Without mapping, they could be tripped over by furniture, cords or pet toys, and end up cleaning less of your space. Using sensors, most robots map your home to track any obstacles and help navigate around them. This allows them to sweep your floors in fewer passes, thereby saving you time. Many of the top rated robot vacuums can also utilize this feature to create no-go zones permitting you to define areas that you do not want the robot to enter.

Robots equipped with LIDAR utilize this technology to map your home efficiently and quickly. In our tests of the Eufy Clean robot utilized this feature to divide my home into various areas and clean each one independently this was a significant improvement over the less expensive models we tested that had the front bump sensor. This was a more accurate method to navigate my home and it was simple for me to control via the app on the device.

While there are no robot vacuums that can scale stairs, the best models do have mapping and obstacle avoidance features. These tools allow them to remove debris from low-pile and hard floors, and to avoid falling down stairs. Some have cliff sensors to stop them from going over the edge of the stairs, and some have boundary strips that prevent them from certain areas.

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

Wi-Fi enabled

Some robot vacuums utilize Wi-Fi to connect with their apps and allow users to control them with your smartphone rather than (or in addition to) a physical remote. They are more expensive, but they save you time by allowing you to plan cleaning time on a weekly, daily or even monthly basis. These models also allow you to modify floor maps and save them for later use. They also offer alternative cleaning schedules.

The most advanced robot vacuums utilize dual sensors, combining the LIDAR system to map your space with a structured light sensor that can see objects and avoid them even if they're under furniture or power cords. These features allow your robot to get into small spaces, like the nook under your kitchen cabinets and under 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 large homes than entry-level robots.

The best automatic vacuum cleaner rated robot vacuums are swift, intelligent and powerful, picking up most kinds of floor debris, such as pet hair, cat litter, and other messes. They can also be quiet, making them an ideal option for homes with children and pets. Many of the robot vacuum owners we've spoken to report that they appreciate the ease of having their floors cleaned without much effort. This is especially true when used regularly. And with proper maintenance (cleaning the rotating brushes and keeping tabs on the parts that need replacement) robots can last as long as a conventional full-size vacuum cleaner. PCWorld offers a helpful guide that provides tips to keep your machine running in good shape for the years to come.

Larger Dust Bags

While a robotic hoovers vacuum may not clean as well as an upright or canister model, it's great in picking up dirt and dust that regular vacuuming leaves behind. It can also be used to provide quick touch-ups on floors, and it can also navigate around cords and other household obstacles. If you don't wish to do the deep cleaning yourself, a robot vacuum can be set to send it out to sweep your floors on a regular schedule.

The top rated robot vacuums have huge dust bags that are easy to empty. They can hold more than one room's worth of dirt. This can help you save time and money on bags that need to be replaced. Many of the models on our list feature this feature, including our most popular one, the Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo. This all-in-one robovac is a high-performance robovac and includes a self-emptying bin. It also comes with a mopping function and efficient navigation. It is a close race between the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ and this model, which utilizes smart mapping and avoidance technologies. The robovac is more expensive, however it has a larger capacity.

The two models also differ in the way they handle long hair, which can become tangled in the rollers of a few robots. The best automatic vacuum and mop-performing models include the Roborock Q5 Max+ and SwitchBot K10S Plus, both have outstanding hair pickup and tangle avoidance scores, along with great path planning and near perfect auto empty results. The Eufy and Shark Matrix Plus are also great options, with good hair pickup and tangle avoiding, but not as much path-planning or auto empty.

The most recent robots are outfitted with sensors that can detect dirt and debris on carpets, and they are better in removing pet hair. Some have a mopping mode that uses the reservoir of water to wash away spills and stuck-on mess. This feature is a must for families with pets and children.

Maintenance

A robot vacuum can be a great help in keeping up with your home. While no robot is able to replace an upright or canister vacuum for deep cleaning, the top models that are rated highly pick up pet hair, lint, and other surface dirt on carpets with low pile and hard floors which can pick up more than you would find with the vacuum. They come with navigational features that help them avoid getting stuck on power cords, rug fringe or furniture.

According to the model, you can schedule a robot vacuum to run several times per day or even watch it perform its duties using an app. These devices are convenient however they can be clogged and require regular maintenance. This includes emptying the dust bin that is onboard (or in some cases, the base's bigger bin), checking brushes for tangled fur, and regularly washing the filters and allowing them to dry according to the manufacturer.

Emily Rairdin is a vacuum expert and store owner apprentice at University Vacuum + Sewing. She says that a robot vacuum can last from three to five years with proper maintenance. She suggests regularly emptying the bin and brush roll and cutting off hair that's tangled in the brushes, and frequently washing and drying the filter, if your robot also acts as a mop. It is a good idea to 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 when needed for the next time you clean.