Best Rated Robot Vacuum and Mop
Eufy's robotic mop and vacuum is the top-rated product in its class. It takes a lot of the work out of cleaning your floors. It can refill its own water tank as well as empty its tower bin. It can also change the dust bag.
More advanced models are smart enough to draw a map of your home and take note of the location of furniture. 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 like power cords, toys and clothes that can get caught up in the vacuum. This is especially important if you have kids or pets who may be 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 a variety of sensor options to help it navigate around obstacles. Some of the most popular are crossed IR sensors that focus beams of infrared light across the room to detect things like furniture legs and door frames. This technology is used by numerous robots on the market, and you can also get it in top models that cost more than others.
Other object avoidance technologies that you might find in more expensive robots include 3D Structured Light, which makes use of cameras and crossed IR sensors to map the surrounding area and detect obstacles; and 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. While these are less common, they can be an excellent addition to your robot if it needs extra peace of mind that it will avoid getting caught up in power cords or socks when cleaning.
Most of the top-rated robots can also mop your floors. Some even have their own water tanks that allow them to wash away water-based spills and messes. You'll have to empty the robot's onboard dust bin and clean the cameras and sensors in between cleaning sessions, but these tasks will not take a lot of your time.
Mapping
Robot vacuums need to include mapping capabilities. This allows them to navigate your home and avoid hitting things like walls. Without mapping, they might be tripped over by furniture, cords, or pet toys, and end up removing less of your space. Most robots use sensors to map your home and navigate around obstacles. This way, they're able to sweep your floors using fewer passes, which saves your time. A lot of the top robot vacuums also have this feature, which allows you to create areas of no-go.
Robots that have a built-in LIDAR system make use of this technology to map out your home quickly and efficiently. The Eufy Clean robot divided my room into separate areas and cleaned each independently during our tests. This was a vast improvement over the cheaper models that only had sensors on the front of the vehicle. This was a much more precise method of navigating my home, and it was simple for me to control using the app that came with the device.
Although no robot vacuum has the ability to climb stairs, the majority of the best rated models come with good obstacle avoidance and mapping features. These tools allow to remove debris from carpets and hard floors and also to keep them from falling down the stairs. Some tools are equipped with sensors to stop them from falling over the edge of the stairs. Some have boundary strips to keep them out.
Some robots have a large tower base that holds the dirt they collect, minimizing the amount of dust and allergens emitted into your home. These bases can go several weeks or even months without emptying, and are particularly useful if you suffer from allergies. Some models also have self-emptying systems 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 communicate with their apps which allows you to control them with your smartphone instead of (or in addition to) an actual remote. These models are more expensive, however they can save you time as you can schedule cleaning time each week, daily or even monthly. They also permit you to edit and save floor maps and provide alternative cleaning routines.
The most advanced robot vacuums use dual sensors, which combine 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 allow your robot to reach into tight areas, such as the space under your kitchen cabinets or underneath sofas. Other robots struggle with these spaces. They're also faster to get around obstacles and have longer run times with bigger dust bins, making them ideal for larger homes than the entry-level robots.
The top-rated robot vacuums are fast, smart and powerful and can clean up all kinds of floor debris such as pet hair, cat litter and other mess. They are also quite quiet, making them an excellent choice for homes with pets as well as young children. The majority of robot vacuum owners we've spoken to have reported that they appreciate the convenience of having their floors cleaned with little effort, especially when used frequently. Robots can last just 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 useful guide that covers some important tips to keep your machine running in good shape for the years to come.
Larger Dust Bags
While a robotic vacuum might not be as efficient as an upright or canister model, it's great at picking up dirt and dust that regular vacuuming leaves behind. It can be used to perform quick retouching of floors and is able to maneuver around cords and other obstacles in your home. If you don't want to do the deep cleaning yourself, a robot vacuum can be sent out to scour your floors on a regular basis.
The top-rated robot vacuums come with large dust bags that can hold more dirt than a single room. This will save you time and money on new bags. Several of the models we've listed include this feature, including the top pick one, the Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo. This all-in-one robovac has an excellent performance score and includes an auto-emptying bin. It also has a mopping feature and a streamlined navigation. It's a close contest between this and the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+, that has smart mapping and avoidance technology. This model has a greater capacity but is slightly more expensive.
robot vacuums reviews between the two models is how well they handle hair that is long and human that can get caught in the rollers of certain robots. The Roborock Q5 Max+, SwitchBot K10S Plus and Roborock Q5 Max+ are the best performing models. They both have excellent hair pickup and tangle avoidance scores, together with excellent auto empty performance and great path planning. The eufy and Shark Matrix Plus are also excellent options with good hair pickup and tangle avoidance, 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 they're better at picking up loose pet hair. Some even have a dedicated mopping mode that can use the water reservoir to remove the stains and spills. This feature is a must-have for families with pets and children.
Maintenance
A robot vacuum can be a huge aid in keeping up with your home. While no robot is able to substitute an upright or canister vacuum for deep cleaning, the best models are rated to remove 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 also come with navigation features which prevent them from getting stuck on rug fringe or power cords and are able to slide easily under furniture.
According to the model, you can set up the robot vacuum to run several times per day, or watch it perform its duties using an app. These devices are convenient but they also get clogged and require regular maintenance. This includes emptying the dust bin onboard (or in some cases, the base's larger bin) as well as checking the brushes for tangled fur and a regular cleaning of 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 that a quality robot vacuum should last three to five years or more if it receives regular maintenance and care. She recommends regularly emptying the bin and brush roll and cutting off 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 mop. It's a good idea to wipe the sensors and charging contacts of the dock or the robot 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.
