Best Rated Robot Vacuum and Mop

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

More advanced models are able to trace your home's layout and note furniture placement. They can also detect obstacles and avoid hazards like loose charging cables and stray socks.

Object Avoidance

Object avoidance features enable your robot to avoid running into things such as power cords, toys and clothes that can be caught in the vacuum. These features are especially important if your family has pets or children who may leave objects on the floor for your robot to discover.

Depending on the model you select, you might have a variety of sensors to aid your robot in navigating around obstacles. Some of the most popular include crossed IR sensor 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 many robots available, and you can also get it in top models that cost more than others.

Another object avoidance technology you may find in more expensive robotics includes 3D Structured Light which uses cameras and crossed IR sensor to map the surrounding area and detect obstacles. Time of Flight (ToF) sensors that measure and emit the duration that it takes for the light to reflect off an object, in order to determine its distance, is also available. These aren't very common but are a great option to add to your robot should you want to have more peace of mind.

The majority of the top-rated robots can also mop your floors. Some robots come with very own water tanks that let them clean up spills and messes. You will need to empty the robot's dust bin onboard and clean its sensors and cameras between cleaning sessions.

Mapping

Mapping capabilities are crucial in robot vacuums because they allow them to recognize your home's layout, and prevent them from bumping into objects like walls. They could be tripped by cords, pet toys, or furniture without mapping. This can result in them cleaning less space. The majority of robots utilize sensors to map your home and navigate around obstacles. They can sweep the floor in fewer passes, and help you save time. A lot of the top-rated robot vacuums also have this feature to create no-go zones, allowing you to set specific areas that you do not want the robot to enter.

Robots that have a built-in LIDAR system make use of this technology to map your home quickly and efficiently. The Eufy Clean robot separated my room into different areas and cleaned each 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 far more accurate way of navigating my home, and it was easy to control with the on-device app.

While no robot automatic vacuum cleaner is able to climb stairs, the majority of the top-rated models come with good obstacle avoidance and mapping capabilities. These tools assist to remove debris from hard floors and low-pile carpets, and to avoid falling down the steps. Some tools are equipped with sensors to prevent them falling over the edge of stairs. Others come with boundary strips to keep them out.

Some robots come with a massive tower base which holds the dirt they collect, minimizing the amount of dust and allergens emitted into your home. They can last for several weeks or even months without emptying and are especially beneficial for those with allergies. Additionally, some models come with 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 use Wi-Fi to communicate with their apps which allows you to control them with your smartphone rather than (or in addition to) the physical remote. These models are more expensive, however they can save you time since you can schedule cleaning time every day, weekly, or even monthly. These models also allow you to edit floor maps and save them, as well as provide alternate cleaning schedules.

The most advanced robot vacuums employ dual sensors, combining the 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 tight areas, like the kitchen's nook under cabinets or under sofas. Other robots struggle to reach these areas. They're also quicker to get over obstacles and have longer run times with larger dust bins, which makes them better suited for large homes than entry-level robotics.

The best rated robot vacuums are swift, intelligent and powerful cleaning up all kinds of floor debris, including pet hair, cat litter, and other mess. They can also be quiet which makes them a great choice for homes with young children and pets. 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 frequently. If you take care of maintenance (cleaning the rotating brushes and keeping track on the replacement parts) robots can last as long as a traditional full-size vacuum cleaner. PCWorld offers a useful guide that provides 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 clean as well as an upright or canister model, it is excellent in removing dust and debris that regular vacuuming leaves behind. It can also be used for quick repairs to floors and can navigate around cords and other obstacles that are common to household use. You can 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 big, easy to empty dust bags which can hold more dirt than a single room. This will save time and money in the form of replacement bags. This feature is available on several models including our top pick, the Ecovacs T30S Combo. This all-in-one robovac boasts an excellent performance rating and has an auto-emptying bin. It has a mopping feature and a streamlined navigation. It is a close race between the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ and this one, which uses smart mapping and avoidance technologies. This robovac has a larger capacity, but it is a bit more expensive.

Another big difference between these two models is how well they handle hair that is long which can get caught in the rollers of some robots. The top-performing models are the Roborock Q5 Max+ and SwitchBot K10S Plus, both have outstanding hair pickup and tangle avoidance scores along with great path planning and close to perfect auto empty results. The eufy and Shark Matrix Plus are also good choices with good 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 are better at removing hairs that have fallen off of pets. Some have a mopping mode that can use the reservoir of water to eliminate the stains and spills. This feature is essential for families with children and pets.

Maintenance

A robot vacuum can be a huge help in keeping up with your home. While no robot can substitute an upright or canister vacuum for deep cleaning, the best models are rated to remove pet hair, lint, and other surface dirt on carpets with low pile and hard floors and pick up more than you could with a Broom. They also have navigation capabilities that ensure they don't get caught on rug fringe or power cords and are able to glide effortlessly under furniture.

Depending on the model, a highly rated robot vacuums best vacuum can also be scheduled to run several times per day or allow you to watch it at work via an app. They are convenient however they can be clogged and require regular maintenance. This includes emptying the dust bin onboard (or in certain cases, the base's larger bin) as well as checking the brushes for tangled fur and periodically rinsing 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 a good robot vacuum will last for three to five years or more with regular maintenance and care. She recommends regularly emptying the bin and brush roll, cutting out any hair that has gotten caught in the brushes, and frequently washing and drying the filter in the event that your robot acts as mop. It is a good idea to clean the sensors and charging contacts of the robot or dock with an easy, clean cloth every now and again. You can refill and recharge your robot prior to the next cleaning session.