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 can refill its own water tank, self-empty its tower bin that is larger and change the dust bag.

Advanced models can map your house and take note of furniture arrangement. They can also spot obstructions and avoid dangers like charging cables that are loose and stray socks.

Object Avoidance

Object avoidance features enable your robot to avoid running into things such as power cords, toys and clothes that be caught in the vacuum. These are especially important if you have kids or pets that are inclined to leave objects on the floor, which your robot will discover them.

Depending on the model you pick, your robot may have several sensor options to help it navigate around obstacles. Some of the most sought-after include crossed IR sensor beams that are a focused infrared light that scan across the room for things like furniture legs or door frames. This technology is widely used by numerous robots on the market, and you can also find it in flagship models that cost more than others.

Other technologies for avoiding objects that you might find in more expensive robots include 3D Structured Light, which uses cameras and crossed IR sensors to map the environment and detect 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. These aren't very common but can be an excellent option to add to your robot if you're looking for extra security.

Besides collecting dust and debris on hard floors The majority of the top-rated robots can sweep your floors as well. Some even come with their own water tanks that allow them to clean up wet spills and messes. You'll need to clean the robot's dust bin and clean its sensors and cameras between cleaning sessions.

Mapping

Mapping capabilities are essential in robot vacuums because they help them keep track of your home's layout and avoid hitting things like walls. They can be tripped up by pet toys, cords or furniture that are not marked. This can result in them removing less space. With sensors, the majority of robots map out your home to keep track of any obstacles and assist them to navigate around them. This way, they're able to clean the entire floor in fewer passes, thereby saving you time. Many of the top-rated robot vacuums can also use this feature to create zones that are not allowed, allowing you to set specific rooms that you don't want the robot to get into.

Robots that have a built-in LIDAR system use this technology to map your home quickly and efficiently. During our tests with the Eufy Clean robot made use of this feature to divide my room into distinct areas and clean each independently this was a significant improvement over the less expensive models we tested that just used an in-front bump sensor. This was a more precise way to navigate my home and was easy for me to control using the app that came with the device.

While there aren't any robotic vacuums that can climb stairs, the best models do have obstacles avoidance and mapping features. These tools allow them to collect dirt from low-pile or hard floors, and to avoid falling down stairs. Some tools are equipped with sensors to prevent them falling over the edge of stairs. Others come with boundaries to keep them away.

Some robots have a large base tower that collects dirt. This helps reduce the amount of dust or allergens released in your home. They can be kept for weeks or months without emptying and are particularly helpful for those who suffer from allergies. Alternatively, some models have self-emptying mechanisms that let you take out the dust bins without having to manually open and close them.

Wi-Fi enabled

Some robot vacuums use Wi-Fi to connect with their apps and allow you to control them with your smartphone rather than (or in addition to) a physical remote. These models are more expensive, however, they can save time as they can schedule cleaning times every day, weekly, or monthly. They also often allow you to edit and save floor maps as well as provide alternative cleaning patterns.

The most advanced robot vacuums employ dual sensors, combining with 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 hidden under furniture or power cords. These features let your robot reach into tight areas, like the nook beneath your kitchen cabinets or under your sofas. Some robots have difficulty in these areas. They are also faster to get around obstacles, have longer runtimes, and bigger dust bins. This makes them ideal for large homes compared to basic robots.

The best rated robot vacuums are quick, efficient and effective, picking up most kinds of floor debris, such as pet hair, cat litter and other mess. They are also quite quiet, which makes them an excellent choice for homes that have pets or young children. Many of the robot vacuum owners we've interviewed say they appreciate the ease of keeping their floors cleaned with little effort, especially when used often. Robots can last as long as traditional vacuum cleaners if they are given the right maintenance (cleaning rotating brushes and keeping the track of spare parts). PCWorld offers a guide that includes some helpful suggestions to ensure your machine is running smoothly.

Larger Dust Bags

While a robotic automatic vacuum cleaner and mop may not be as efficient as a canister or upright model, it is excellent in removing dirt and dust that regular vacuuming leaves behind. It can also be used to provide quick touch-ups on floors and can maneuver through cords and other obstacles that are common to household use. 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.

The top-rated robot vacuums come with large 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. Several of the models on our list feature this feature, including our most popular model, the Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo. This all-in one robovac is a top-performing robovac that comes with a self emptying bin. It also has a mopping function and efficient navigation. It is a close call between this and the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+, that has smart mapping and avoidance technology. This robovac has a larger capacity, but is slightly more expensive.

Another major difference between the two models is how they handle hair that is long and human which can get caught in the rollers on some robots. The best-performing models are the Roborock Q5 Max+ and SwitchBot K10S Plus, both have superb hair pickup and tangle avoidance scores with great path planning and near perfect auto vacuum and mop empty results. The Eufy and Shark Matrix Plus are also excellent options with decent hair pickup and tangle avoiding, but not as much path planning or auto empty.

The latest robots come with sensors that detect dirt and debris on the carpet, and are better at picking up loose pet hair. Some robots feature mopping modes where they can use the reservoir of water to remove stuck-on mess and spills. This feature is crucial for families with children and pets.

Maintenance

A robot vacuum can help you keep up with your home. While no robot 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 on carpets with low pile and hard floors which can pick up more than you can with a Broom. They also come with navigation features that ensure they don't get caught on rug fringe or power cords and are able to glide effortlessly under furniture.

According to the model, you can schedule a robot vacuum to run multiple times per day or even watch it in action using an app. However, these handy machines are also susceptible to clogging and require frequent maintenance, such as emptying the onboard bin (or the base's bigger dust bin in some instances) as well as checking the brushes for hair that is tangled, and periodically rinsing and letting the filters dry as recommended by the manufacturer.

Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin, a store owner apprentice at University Vacuum + Sewing, says a high-quality robot vacuum will last for three to five years or more with regular maintenance and care. She recommends emptying the bin and the brush roll regularly and cutting off hairs that get caught in the brushes, and frequently rinsing and drying the filter, especially if it is a mop as well. It's a good idea to clean the sensors and charging contacts of the robot or dock with a soft, clean cloth every now and again. Then, simply recharge and refill the robot whenever you need to for your next cleaning session.