Best Rated Robot Vacuum and Mop
Eufy's top-rated robot vacuum and mop takes a bit of the work of keeping your floors tidy. It can replenish its own water tank as well as empty its tower bin. It also has the capability to change the dust bag.
Advanced models can map your house and record furniture positioning. They also can detect dangers and navigate around them, such as loose charging cables or unintentional socks.
Object Avoidance
Object avoidance allows your robot to avoid hitting objects like toys, cords, and clothes that could get caught in the vacuum. These features are particularly important if your family has pets or children who may leave items on the floor for your robot to search.
Depending on which model you pick, your robot may have several sensor options to aid in navigating around obstacles. Some of the most well-known include crossed IR sensor beams that are focused infrared lights that scan across the room looking for things like furniture legs or door frames. This technology is used by a variety of robots that are available, and you can also find it in flagship models that are priced higher than other models.
Other technology for avoiding objects 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. Also, Time of Flight (ToF) sensors that emit light 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 are a great option for your robot in case you're looking to add security.
Most of the top-rated robotics can also mop your floors. Some robots have their own water tanks which let them clean up messes and spills. You'll need to empty your robot's dust bin and clean its cameras and sensors between cleaning sessions, but these tasks shouldn't take much of your time.
Mapping
Robot vacuums need to be able to map. This lets them navigate your home and avoid getting caught up against walls. They could be tripped by cords, pet toys, or furniture without mapping. This results in them cleaning less space. Using sensors, most robots map your home to identify any obstacles and help them navigate around them. They can clean the floor in fewer passes, and help you save time. Many of the top robotic vacuums also have this feature, which enables you to designate areas that are not accessible.
Robots equipped with LIDAR make use of this technology to map your home quickly and effectively. During our tests with the Eufy Clean robot used this feature to divide my room into different areas and clean each independently, which was a huge improvement over the less expensive models we tested that just used an in-front bump sensor. This was a much more precise way to navigate my home, and it was easy to control via the on-device app.
Although no robot vacuum has the ability to climb stairs, the majority of the top-rated models come with obstacle avoidance and mapping features. These tools help to remove debris from carpets and hard floors, and to avoid falling down the steps. Some tools have sensors that make sure they don't fall over the edge of stairs. Others have boundaries to keep them from getting in.
Some robots come with a massive tower base which holds the dirt they collect, minimizing the amount of dust and allergens released into your home. They can last for several weeks or even months without emptying, which is especially beneficial if you have allergies. Some models come with self-emptying dust bins which you can empty without opening and closing them manually.
Wi-Fi Enabled
Some robot vacuums communicate via Wi-Fi to their apps. This lets you control them using your smartphone instead (or in addition) to a physical remote. These models are more expensive but can save you time by allowing you to plan cleaning time on a daily, weekly or even a monthly basis. These models also allow you to edit floor maps and save them, as well as provide alternate cleaning patterns.
The most advanced robot vacuums employ dual sensors, which combine a LIDAR system to map your area with a structured light sensor that can see objects and avoid them even if they're hidden under furniture or power cords. These features allow your robot to access tight areas, such as the space under your kitchen cabinets or underneath sofas. Other robots struggle to reach these spaces. They are also more efficient in getting around obstacles and have longer run times with larger dust bins, which makes them ideal for larger homes than the entry-level robots.
The top rated robot vacuums tend to be swift, intelligent and powerful, picking up most kinds of floor debris such as pet hair, cat litter and other messes. They can also be quite quiet, making them an ideal option for homes with young kids and pets. The majority of robot vacuum users have told us that they love the convenience of having their floors cleaned with minimal effort. This is especially true if they are used frequently. 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 offers some useful tips to keep yours running smoothly.
Larger Dust Bags
A robotic vacuum may not be as good at cleaning as an upright or canister vacuum, but it is great at picking up the dust and debris that regular vacuuming has left behind. It can be used to perform quick touch-ups of bare floors and is able to traverse around cords or other obstacles in your home. It is possible to use robotics to sweep your floors on a schedule when you don't have the time to do it yourself.
A few of the top-rated robotic vacuums come with large, easy to empty dust bags that can hold more dirt than a room. This will save you time and money on replacement bags. Several of the models on our list have this feature, including our top pick, the Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo. automated vacuum cleaner -in one robovac is a high-performance robovac that has a self-emptying bin. It also has a mopping function and efficient navigation. It's a close contest between this and the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+, that has intelligent mapping and avoidance technology. The robovac is more expensive, however it has a bigger capacity.
The two models differ in the way they handle long hair, which can get caught in the rollers of a few robots. The Roborock Q5 Max+, SwitchBot K10S Plus and Roborock Q5 Max+ are the most efficient models. They both have excellent hair pickup and tangle avoidance scores, together with excellent auto empty results and excellent path planning. The Shark Matrix Plus and eufy are also good options with decent hair pick-up and tangle avoidance, but not as much path planing or auto empty.
The newest robots have sensors that detect dirt and other debris in the carpet, and they're better at removing loose pet hair. Some robots feature a mopping mode that makes use of the reservoir of water to get rid of stuck-on messes and spills. This feature is a must for families with pets as well as children.
Maintenance
A robot vacuum will help you keep up with your home. The best models can pick up more dirt from the surface, pet hair and lint than a broom on low pile or hard floors. They come with navigational features that help them avoid getting stuck on power cords, rug fringes or furniture.
According to the model, you can set up a robot vacuum to run multiple times per day, or watch it perform its duties using an app. These devices are convenient however they can be clogged and require regular maintenance. This means emptying the dust bin onboard (or in some cases, the base's bigger bin), checking brushes for fur that is tangled, and a regular cleaning of the filters and allowing them to dry according to 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 if it receives regular care and attention. She recommends regularly emptying the brush roll and bin, cutting out any hair that is tangled 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 clean the sensors and charging contacts of the dock or robot with an easy clean cloth every now and again. You can refill and recharge your robot prior to the next cleaning session.
