Kareem Pelsaert

Best Rated Robot Vacuum and Mop

Eufy's top-rated robotic vacuum and mop takes a bit of the hands-off work out of keeping your floors tidy. It is able to refill its own water tank, self-empty its larger tower bin and then change the dust bag.

Advanced models are able to trace your home's layout and note furniture placement. They can also spot obstacles and avoid hazards such as loose charging cables and stray socks.

Object Avoidance

Object avoidance helps your robot to avoid hitting objects like cords, toys, and clothing that could be caught in the vacuum. These are particularly important if you have kids or pets that are inclined to leave objects on the floor where your robot will discover them.

Depending on which model you choose depending on the model you select, your robot could have several sensor options to aid in navigating around obstacles. Some of the most well-known include crossed IR sensor beams, which are focused infrared lights which scan the room for things like furniture legs or door frames. This technology is used by numerous robots on the market, and you can also get it in top models that cost more than other models.

Other technologies for avoiding objects that are typically found in more expensive robots include 3D Structured Light, which uses cameras and crossed IR sensors to map the surroundings and identify obstacles; and Time of Flight (ToF) sensors that emit light and measure the time it takes for light to reflect off objects, to determine the distance to them. They aren't as common, but can be an excellent option for your robot should you want to have more security.

Most of the top-rated robots can also mop your floors. Some robots have their very own water tanks that let them clean up spills and messes. You will need to empty the dust bin onboard and clean its sensors and cameras in between cleaning sessions.

Mapping

The ability to map is essential in robot vacuums as they allow them to remember your home's layout and avoid hitting things like walls. They may be tripped by pet toys, cords or furniture that are not marked. This results in them cleaning less space. Most robots use sensors to map your home and navigate around obstacles. This way, they're able to clean the entire floor in fewer passes, thereby saving you time. Many of the top robotic vacuums also come with this feature, which allows you to designate areas that are not accessible.

Robots that have a built-in LIDAR system make use of this technology to map out your home quickly and efficiently. The Eufy Clean robot divided my room into distinct areas and cleaned each one in a separate manner during our tests. This was an enormous improvement over cheaper models that only used sensors on the front of the vehicle. This was a more accurate method to navigate my home and was simple for me to control with the app on the device.

While no robot vacuum can climb stairs yet, the majority of the best rated models come with good obstacle avoidance and mapping capabilities. These tools allow them to remove dirt from hard floors and low-pile carpets and also to prevent falling down the stairs. Certain tools come with sensors that prevent them falling over the edge of the stairs. Others come with boundary strips 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 that are released into your home. These bases can be left for weeks or months without having to be cleaned which is particularly beneficial if you suffer from allergies. Alternatively, some models have self-emptying systems that allow you to take out the dust bins without having to manually open or close them.

Wi-Fi Enabled

Some robot vacuums make use of Wi-Fi to communicate with their apps, allowing users to control them with your smartphone rather than (or in addition to) a physical remote. These models are more expensive, but they help you save time by letting you plan cleaning time on a daily, weekly or even monthly basis. They can also allow you to modify and save floor maps as well as offer different cleaning patterns.

The most advanced robot vacuums utilize dual sensors, combining a LIDAR system to map your space using a structured light sensor that is able to see objects and avoid them even if they're buried under furniture or power cords. These features allow your robot to reach tight spaces, such as the space under your kitchen cabinets or under sofas. Other robots struggle to reach these areas. They also have a faster speed to maneuver around obstacles, and have longer runtimes and larger dust bins. This makes them more suitable for homes with large spaces compared to the smallest robots.

The best robot vacuum robot vacuums are swift efficient, smart and powerful. They can pick up an array of floor debris including pet hair, kitty-litter and other dirt. They also are quiet, which makes them an excellent choice for homes with pets and young children. Most robot vacuum mop cleaner robot owners we've interviewed report that they enjoy the convenience of keeping their floors spotless with minimal effort, especially when used regularly. With proper maintenance (cleaning the rotating brushes and keeping an eye on the replacement parts) robots can last longer than a traditional full-size vacuum cleaner. PCWorld offers a useful guide that covers some important tips to help you keep your robot running efficiently for many long time to come.

Dust Bags Larger

While a robotic vacuum may not clean as well as an upright or canister model, it's great in removing dust and other debris that regular vacuuming leaves behind. It is a great tool for quick touch-ups of bare floors, and can traverse around cords or other household obstacles. You can employ robots to clean your floors on a schedule when you don't have the time to do it yourself.

The top rated robot vacuums come with large dust bags that are easy to empty and can hold more than one room's worth of dirt. This can save you time and money on replacement bags. This feature is available on many models which includes our top model, the Ecovacs T30S Combo. This all-in one robovac is a top-performing robovac that has a self-emptying bin. It also has a mopping function and efficient navigation. This is a close race between the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ and this model, which utilizes intelligent mapping and avoidance technology. The robovac is more expensive, but it has a bigger capacity.

Another big difference between these two models is the way they deal with hair that is long and human that can 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 all have top hair pickup and tangle avoidance scores, along with great auto empty performance and great path planning. The Eufy and Shark Matrix Plus are also good choices with respectable hair pickup and tangle avoiding, but not as much planning for paths or auto empty.

The latest robots come with sensors that detect dirt and other debris in the carpet, and they're better at picking up hairs that have fallen off of pets. Some robots have mopping modes where they can use the reservoir of water to get rid of stuck-on messes and spills. This feature is a must for families with pets as well as children.

Maintenance

Having a robot vacuum can be a great aid in keeping a close eye on your home. The top models can pick up more dirt pet hair and lint, than the broom that is used on low-pile or hard floors. They come with navigational features that help them avoid getting stuck on power cords, rug fringe, or furniture.

Depending on the model, a highly rated robot vacuum can also be scheduled to run multiple times a day or allow users to observe it at work via an app. They are convenient however they can clog and require regular maintenance. This includes emptying the onboard dust bin (or in certain cases, the base's larger bin), checking brushes for tangled fur and regularly washing the filters and drying them according to the specifications of the manufacturer.

Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin, a store owner apprentice at University Vacuum + Sewing, says that a quality robot automatic vacuum and mop should last three to five years or more with regular care and attention. She recommends emptying the bin and brush roll frequently cutting out any hair tangled in the brushes, and frequently washing and drying the filter if your machine is a mop as well. It's also an excellent idea to wipe down the sensors and charging contacts on the dock or the robot every now and then with a soft cloth. You can then recharge and refill your robot before the next clean-up session.