Best Rated Robot Vacuum and Mop

Eufy's top-rated robotic mop and vacuum takes a lot of the hands-off work out of keeping your floors spotless. It can replenish its own water tank as well as empty its tower bin. It can also change the dust bag it uses.

Advanced models can map your home and note furniture positioning. They can also detect obstacles and best rated robot vacuum avoid hazards like loose charging cables and unintentional socks.

Object Avoidance

Object avoidance allows your robot to avoid hitting objects like cords, toys, and clothing that could be caught in the vacuum. These are especially important if you have kids or pets who are likely to leave items on the floor, where your robot can discover them.

Based on the model you pick, you might have an array of different sensors that can aid your robot in navigating around obstacles. Some of the most sought-after include crossed IR sensor Best Rated Robot Vacuum beams that are a focused infrared light which scan the room looking for things like furniture legs or door frames. This technology is widely used by numerous robots available, and you can also get it in top models that are priced higher than other models.

Other technology for avoiding objects that can be found in more expensive robotics includes 3D Structured Light which uses cameras and a crossed IR sensors to map the environment, and detect obstacles. Time of Flight (ToF), sensors that measure and emit the time it takes for the light to reflect off of an object, to determine its distance, are available. While they are not as popular, they can be a great addition to your robot if you want additional security knowing that it won't get hung up on cables or socks while cleaning.

In addition to cleaning up dust and other debris on floors that are hard, most of the best-rated robots can mop your floor as well. Some come with their own water tanks, allowing them to wash away the stains and spills that are wet. You will need to empty the robot's dust bin onboard and clean its sensors and cameras between cleaning sessions.

Mapping

The ability to map is essential in robot vacuums since they allow them to keep track of your home's layout and prevent them from bumping into objects like walls. They can be tripped up by cords, pet toys, or furniture without mapping. This results in them cleaning less space. With sensors, the majority of robots map your home to identify any obstacles and assist them to navigate around them. This way, they're able to sweep the entire floor with fewer passes, saving you time. A lot of the top robot vacuums also come with this feature, which enables you to create no-go areas.

Robots that have a built-in LIDAR system use this technology to map out your home quickly and efficiently. In our tests, the Eufy Clean robot made use of this feature to divide my home into different areas and clean each independently, which was a huge improvement over the lesser models we tested that just used a front bump sensor. This was a more accurate method to navigate my home and was simple for me to control with the app that came with the device.

Although there aren't any robot vacuums that can climb stairs, the most effective models have mapping and obstacle avoidance features. These tools let them collect dirt from low-pile or hard floors, and avoid falling down the stairs. Some have cliff sensors that prevent them from going over the edge of the stairs and others have boundary strips that can stop them from entering certain areas.

Some robots come with large towers on the base that is able to collect dirt. This helps reduce the amount of dust or allergens that are released in your home. These bases can be left for weeks or even months without emptying, which is especially helpful for those who suffer from allergies. Some models also have self-emptying mechanisms that let you dump out their onboard dust bins without having to manually 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, however, they can save time since you can schedule cleaning sessions each week, daily or monthly. They can also allow you to modify and save floor maps and offer alternative cleaning routines.

The most advanced robot vacuums utilize dual sensors, which combine the LIDAR system to map your space using a structured light sensor that can detect objects and avoid them, even if they're under furniture or power cords. These features allow your robot to reach tight areas, like the space under your kitchen cabinets or underneath sofas. Other robots struggle to reach these spaces. They're also faster to get over obstacles and have longer running times thanks to bigger dust bins, making them more suitable for large homes than the entry-level robots.

The most effective robot vacuums are quick, intelligent and powerful. They can remove an array of floor debris including pet hair, kitty-litter and other messes. They also are quiet, which makes them an ideal choice for homes that have pets or young children. Many of the robot vacuum owners have told us that they enjoy the convenience of having their floor cleaned without much effort. This is especially true when used regularly. 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 vacuum might not be as efficient as an upright or canister model, it's great in picking up dust and debris that regular vacuuming leaves behind. It is a great tool for quick touch-ups of bare floors and can also navigate around cords or other household obstacles. If you don't wish to do the deep cleaning yourself, a robot cleaner will let you send it out to sweep your floors on a regular schedule.

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 bags that need to be replaced. Several of the models on our list feature this feature, including the top pick one, the Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo. This all-in-one robovac is a top-performing robovac that includes a self-emptying bin. It also comes with mopping capabilities and efficient navigation. This is a close race between the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ and this model, which utilizes intelligent mapping and avoidance technology. This model has a greater capacity, but it is a bit more expensive.

The two models differ in how they handle long hair, which could get caught in the rollers of a few robots. The Best robot vacuum cleaner UK-performing models, 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 Shark Matrix Plus and eufy are also great options with decent hair pickup and tangle avoidance, but not as much path planing or auto empty.

The latest robots are fitted with sensors that can detect dirt and debris on carpets, and they're better at picking up pet hair. Some robots have mopping mode, which allows them to use the reservoir of water to get rid of stuck-on messes and spills. This feature is essential for families with children and pets.

Maintenance

Having a robot vacuum can be a great aid in keeping up with your home. While no robot cleaner can replace an upright or canister vacuum for deep cleaning, the top rated models pick up pet hair, lint and other dirt that accumulates on hard floors and low-pile carpets, picking up much more than you can using a Broom. They come with navigational features that prevent them from getting stuck on power cords, rug fringe or furniture.

Depending on the model, a top-rated robotic vacuum can also be scheduled to run several times per day or may allow you to watch it at work via an app. They are convenient however they can clog and require regular maintenance. This means emptying the onboard dust bin (or in some 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 manufacturer.

Emily Rairdin is a automatic vacuum and mop expert and store owner apprentice from University Vacuum + Sewing. She says that a robot vacuum can last up to five years if it is properly maintenance. She suggests regularly emptying the bin and brush roll, cutting out any hair that has gotten caught up in the brushes and regularly washing and drying the filter in the event that your robot acts as a mop. It's also a good idea to wipe down the sensors and charging contacts on the dock or robot every now and then with a soft cloth. Then simply recharge and refill the robot whenever you need to for the next time you clean.