Best Rated Robot Vacuum and Mop

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

Advanced models are able to trace your home's layout and note the location of furniture. They also can detect dangers and help you avoid them, like loose charging cables or unintentional socks.

Object Avoidance

Object avoidance helps your robot to avoid hitting things such as cords, toys and even clothes that might get caught in the vacuum. These features are especially important if your family has children or pets that may leave objects on the floor for your robot to discover.

Depending on the model you pick depending on the model you choose, you may have a variety of sensors that can assist your robot in its journey around obstacles. A few popular ones include crossed IR sensors that send focused beams of infrared lights across the room to identify things like furniture legs and door frames. This technology is widely used by a variety of robots available, and you can also see it in the top models that are priced higher than other models.

Other technology for avoiding objects you might find in more expensive robots are 3D Structured Light, which makes use of cameras and crossed IR sensors to map the surrounding area and detect obstacles. Also, Time of Flight (ToF) sensors that emit and measure the time it takes for light to reflect off objects, to determine the distance between them. These aren't very common but could be a great addition to your robot, if you're looking for extra security.

Most of the top-rated robots are also able to mop your floors. Some even have their own water tanks, allowing them to wash away the stains and spills that are wet. It is necessary to empty the dust bin onboard and clean its sensors and cameras between cleaning sessions.

Mapping

Mapping capabilities are essential in robot vacuums as they allow them to recognize your home's layout, and avoid bumping into things like walls. Without mapping, they could be tripped by furniture, cords or pet toys, and end up removing less of your space. The majority of robots utilize sensors to map your home and navigate around obstacles. This way, they're able to sweep your floors in fewer passes, thereby saving you time. Many of the top rated robot hoover vacuums can also use this feature to create no-go zones, which allows you to designate rooms that you don't want the robot to get into.

Robots that have built-in LIDAR utilize this technology to map your home quickly and efficiently. In our tests of the Eufy Clean robot vacuum that mops used this feature to separate my room into distinct areas and clean each independently, which was a huge improvement over the cheaper models we tested, which had an in-front bump sensor. This was a much more precise method to navigate my home and it was easy for me to control with the app that came with the device.

Although no robot vacuum has the ability to climb stairs, the majority of the top-rated models come with good obstacles avoidance and mapping features. These tools allow to remove debris from hard floors and low-pile carpets and also to prevent falling down the stairs. Some tools are equipped with sensors to make sure they don't fall over the edge of the stairs. Others come with boundary strips to keep them away.

Certain robots have large towers on the base that is able to collect dirt. This decreases the amount of dust or allergens released in your home. These bases can be left for weeks or months without being emptied, which is especially helpful when you suffer from allergies. Some models also have self-emptying mechanisms that let you dump out their onboard dust bins without needing to open and close them.

Wi-Fi enabled

Some robot vacuums utilize Wi-Fi to connect with their apps, allowing users to control them with your smartphone rather than (or in addition to) the physical remote. These models are more expensive, but they can help you save time by letting you schedule cleaning sessions on a daily, weekly or even a monthly basis. These models also let you modify floor maps and save them, as well as provide alternate cleaning schedules.

Dual sensors are used by the most advanced robot vacuums. They combine the LIDAR mapping system with a structured-light sensor which can detect and avoid objects, even if they're hidden beneath furniture or power cables. Those features make it easier for your robot to get into small spaces, like the nook under your kitchen cabinets and beneath sofas, areas where other robots have trouble. They are also more efficient in getting over obstacles and have longer run times due to bigger dust bins, making them ideal for larger homes than the entry-level robots.

The top rated robot vacuums tend to be quick, efficient and effective and can clean up all kinds of floor debris, including pet hair, kitty litter and other mess. They are also quite quiet, which makes them a great option for homes with pets and young children. Many of the robot vacuum owners we've spoken with say that they enjoy the convenience of having their floor cleaned without much effort. This is especially true if they are used frequently. And with proper maintenance (cleaning the rotating brushes and keeping an eye on the parts that need replacement) robots can last as long as a conventional full-size vacuum cleaner. PCWorld offers a useful guide that outlines some essential techniques to keep your robot running smoothly for years to come.

Dust Bags Larger

A robotic vacuum may not be as effective in cleaning as a canister or upright vacuum, but it's fantastic at picking up dust and other debris that regular vacuuming has left behind. It is a great tool for quick retouching of floors, and can maneuver around cords and other household obstacles. It is possible to use robotics to sweep your floors on a regular basis when you don't have the time to do it yourself.

Some of the top-rated robot vacuums come with large easy to empty dust bags that can hold more dirt than a room. This can help save time and money by providing bags that can be replaced. A number of the models on our list have this feature, including the top pick, the Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo. This all-in-one robovac has an excellent performance score and comes with a self-emptying bin. It also has mopping capabilities and efficient navigation. It's a close match between this and the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+, that has the ability to avoidance and smart mapping. This robovac has more capacity, but it is a bit more expensive.

The two models also differ in their handling of long hair, which may get tangled up in the rollers of some robots. The best-performing models are the Roborock Q5 Max+ and SwitchBot K10S Plus, both have superb hair pickup and tangle avoidance scores, along with excellent path planning and close to perfect auto empty results. The eufy and Shark Matrix Plus are also excellent options with respectable hair pickup and tangle avoidance but not as much planning for paths or auto vacuum and mop empty.

The latest robots are equipped with sensors that can identify dirt and debris on carpets, and they're better at removing pet hair. Some robots come with mopping mode, which allows them to use the reservoir of water to get rid of stuck-on messes and spills. This feature is a must for families with pets and children.

Maintenance

A robot vacuum can help keep up with your home. The most effective models collect more dirt from the surface pet hair and lint than the broom that is used on low-pile or hard flooring. 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 the robot vacuum to run several times a day or watch it in action using an app. However, these useful vacuums are also prone to clogging, and require regular maintenance like emptying the bin onboard (or the base's larger dust bin in some cases), checking brushes for hair that is tangled, and periodically rinsing and allowing the filters to dry as suggested by the manufacturer.

Emily Rairdin is a vacuum expert and store owner apprentice from University Vacuum + Sewing. She believes that a robotic hoovers vacuum can last up to five years if it is properly maintenance. She recommends emptying the bin and brush roll frequently, cutting free any hair tangled in the brushes, and frequently cleaning and drying the filter, especially if it is also a mop. It's also an excellent idea to wipe down the charging contacts and sensors on the dock or the robot often with a soft, clean cloth. You can recharge and refill your robot before the next clean-up session.