Torri Billings

Best Rated Robot Vacuum and Mop

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

Advanced models are able to trace your home's layout and note the furniture's position. They also can detect obstructions and avoid dangers such as loose charging cables and unintentional socks.

Object Avoidance

Object avoidance features enable your robot to avoid crashing into things such as power cords, toys and even clothes that could be caught in the vacuum. This is especially important if you have children or pets that are likely to leave items 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. Some of the most popular include crossed IR sensors that send focused beams of infrared light across the room to identify things like furniture legs and door frames. A lot of robots have adopted this technology, and you'll find it in the flagship models that are more expensive.

Other object avoidance technologies that you might find in more expensive robots include 3D Structured Light, which utilizes cameras and crossed IR sensors to map the surroundings and identify obstacles; and Time of Flight (ToF) sensors which emit and measure the time it takes for light to reflect off of objects to determine the distance to them. While they are not as popular, they can be an excellent addition to your robot if you need additional security knowing that it won't get stuck on cables or socks while cleaning.

Besides collecting dust and debris on hard floors The majority of the top-rated robots can also mop your floors as well. Some robots come with own water tanks which allow them to clean up messes and spills. You'll have to empty your robot vacuum that mops's onboard dust bin and wipe down the cameras and sensors in between cleaning sessions, but these tasks will not take a lot of your time.

Mapping

Mapping capabilities are essential in robot vacuums because they enable them to remember your home's layout and avoid bumping into things like walls. Without mapping, they may be tripped by cords, furniture or pet toys, and end up removing less of your space. With sensors, the majority of robots map your home to track any obstacles and help navigate around them. They can clean your floors in fewer passes, and make it easier for you to save time. A lot of the top-rated robot vacuums can also utilize this feature to create no-go zones, which allows you to designate rooms that you don't want the robot vacuums with mop to get into.

Robots with built-in LIDAR system use this technology to map your home quickly and efficiently. During our tests, the Eufy Clean robot used this feature to divide my home into distinct areas and clean each one independently it was a major improvement over the less expensive models we tested, which used a front bump sensor. This was a much more precise method of navigating my home and was also easy to control via the on-device app.

While no robot vacuum is able to climb stairs yet, most of the top-rated models come with obstacles avoidance and mapping features. These tools allow them to remove debris from low-pile and hard floors, and avoid falling down the stairs. Some tools have sensors that make sure they don't fall over the edge of stairs. Others have boundaries to keep them from getting in.

Some robots come with an enormous base tower that can collect dirt. This reduces the amount of dust or allergens released within your home. They can be left for weeks or months without emptying and are particularly helpful for those who suffer from allergies. Some models come with self-emptying dust bins that you can empty without opening and closing them manually.

Wi-Fi Enabled

Some robot vacuums connect via Wi-Fi with their apps. This lets you control them with your smartphone instead of (or in addition) to the physical remote. These models are more expensive, but they help you save time by letting you schedule cleaning sessions on a weekly, daily or even monthly basis. These models also let you modify floor maps and save them, as well as provide different cleaning patterns.

Dual sensors are used by the most modern robot vacuums. They combine the LIDAR mapping system with a structured-light sensor that can detect and avoid objects, even when they're hidden beneath furniture or power cables. These features allow your robot to reach tight areas, such as the space under your kitchen cabinets or under your sofas. Other robots struggle to reach these kinds of spaces. They are also more efficient in getting around obstacles and have longer running times thanks to larger dust bins, which makes them better suited for large homes than the entry-level robots.

The top rated robot vacuums are swift, intelligent and powerful cleaning up all kinds of floor debris, including pet hair, cat litter and other messes. They're also quiet, which makes them a great choice for homes with pets as well as young children. The majority of robot vacuum owners we've interviewed have reported that they appreciate the ease of keeping their floors cleaned with little effort, particularly if they use it often. With proper maintenance (cleaning the rotating brushes and keeping track 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 in good shape for the years to come.

Larger Dust Bags

While a robotic vacuum may not be as efficient as an upright or canister model, it is great at picking up dirt and dust that regular vacuuming leaves behind. It is a great tool for quick repairs to floors that are not clean and is able to traverse around cords or other obstacles in your home. It is possible to use robots to clean your floors on a schedule in case you don't have the time to do it yourself.

The top-rated robot vacuums have huge dust bags that are easy to empty. They hold more than a single room's worth of dirt. This will save you time and money on replacement bags. This feature is available on a variety of models including our top model, the Ecovacs T30S Combo. This robovac all-in-one has an impressive performance score and has self-emptying bin. It comes with a mopping function and efficient navigation. It's a close contest between the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ and this model, which utilizes smart mapping and avoidance technologies. This model has a greater capacity but is slightly more expensive.

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 on some robots. The best-performing models, the Roborock Q5 Max+ and SwitchBot K10S Plus, both have excellent hair pickup and tangle avoidance scores with great path planning and near perfect auto empty results. The Shark Matrix Plus and eufy are also great options with decent hair pick-up and tangle avoidance, however not as much path planning or auto empty.

The latest robots come with sensors that can spot dirt and debris on the carpet, and they're better at removing hairs that have fallen off of pets. Some models even have a mopping mode that can use the reservoir of water to eliminate spills and stuck-on mess. This feature is a must-have for families with pets as well as children.

Maintenance

Having a robot vacuum is a great aid in keeping a close eye on your home. While no robot vacuum with mop can replace an upright or a canister vacuum for deep cleaning, the best models that are rated highly pick up pet hair, lint and other dirt that accumulates on carpets and floors with low pile and pick up more than you could using the broom. They have navigational features that prevent them from getting stuck on power cords, rug fringe, or furniture.

According to the model, you can program the robot vacuum to run several times a day or observe it in action with an app. They are convenient however they can get clogged and require regular maintenance. This involves emptying the dust bin onboard (or in certain cases, the base's larger bin) and checking the brushes for fur that is tangled, and periodically rinsing the filters and allowing them to dry according to the specifications of the manufacturer.

Emily Rairdin is a vacuum expert and store owner apprentice from University Vacuum + Sewing. She believes that a robotic vacuum can last up to five years with proper care. She suggests emptying the bin and the brush roll regularly cutting out hair that gets caught in the brushes, and then regularly washing and drying the filter, especially if it is a mop as well. It's also recommended to wipe down the charging contacts and sensors on the robot or dock every now and then with a soft cloth. Then, refill and recharge the robot as needed for your next cleaning session.