Best Rated Robot Vacuum and Mop
Eufy's robot mop and vacuum is the best-rated in its class. It takes a lot of the chore of cleaning your floors. It has the ability to refill its own water tank as well as empty its tower bin. It also has the ability to change its dust bag.
The most advanced models are smart enough to trace your home's layout and note the furniture's position. They can also identify hazards and help you avoid them, such as loose charging cables or unintentional socks.
Object Avoidance
Object avoidance features enable your robot to avoid running into things such as power cords, toys and even clothes that could get caught up in the vacuum. These are particularly important if you have kids or pets that are inclined to leave objects on the floor where your robot could find them.
Based on the model you select, your robot may have a variety of sensor options to help it navigate around obstacles. Some of the most popular are crossed IR sensors that beam focused beams of infrared lights across the room to identify things like doors and furniture legs. This technology is used by numerous robots on the market, and you can also get it in top models that are priced higher than others.
Other technology for avoiding objects can be found in more expensive robots include 3D Structured Light, which uses cameras and crossed IR sensors to map the surrounding area and identify obstacles; and 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 to them. These aren't very common but can be an excellent option to add to your robot if you're looking for extra peace of mind.
Most of the top-rated robots are also able to mop your floors. Some even come with their own water tanks, which allow them to wash away the stains and spills that are wet. You will need to clean the robot's dust bin and clean its cameras and sensors in between cleaning sessions.
Mapping
Robot vacuums must be able to map. This lets them navigate your home and avoid bumping against things like walls. They could be tripped by cords, pet toys, or furniture without mapping. This will result in them removing less space. By using sensors, many robots map your home to identify any obstacles and help them navigate around them. This way, they're able to sweep the entire floor in fewer passes, thereby saving your time. Many of the top robotic vacuums also have this feature, which allows you to designate areas that are not accessible.
Robots with a built-in LIDAR system use this technology to map out your home quickly and efficiently. The Eufy Clean robot divided my room into separate areas and cleaned each one separately during our tests. This was a vast improvement over other models that only used the front bumper sensor. This was a more accurate way of navigating my home and was also easy to control via the on-device application.
While no robot vacuum is able to climb stairs yet, the majority of the best rated models have good obstacle avoidance and mapping capabilities. These tools allow them to remove dirt from carpets with low pile and hard floors and also to prevent falling down the stairs. Some tools are equipped with sensors to stop them from falling over the edge of the stairs. Others come with boundary strips to keep them away.
Some robots have a large tower base that houses the dirt they collect, minimizing the amount of dust and allergens that are released into your home. They can last for weeks or even months between emptying, which is especially beneficial for those with allergies. Alternatively, some models have self-emptying systems that let you dump out their onboard dust bins without needing to open and close them.
Wi-Fi enabled
Some robot vacuums make use of Wi-Fi to connect with their apps, allowing you to control them using 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 sessions daily, weekly or even monthly. These models also let you edit floor maps and save them for later use. They also offer different cleaning schedules.
Dual sensors are utilized by the most modern robot vacuums. They combine with a LIDAR mapping system with a structured-light sensor which can detect and block out objects, even when they are hidden beneath furniture or power cables. These features let your robot reach into tight spaces, such as the kitchen's nook under cabinets or under your sofas. Other robots struggle with these spaces. They also are faster to navigate around obstacles, have longer run times and larger dust bins. This makes them more suitable for homes with large spaces compared to basic robots.
The best robot vacuums are fast and efficient. They are also intelligent and powerful. They are able to pick up many kinds of floor debris including pet hair, kitty litter and other dirt. They can also be quite quiet, making them an ideal option for homes with young kids and pets. Most robot vacuum owners we've talked to say they appreciate the convenience of keeping their floors clean without much effort, especially when used frequently. Robots can last just as long as traditional vacuum cleaners with the right maintenance (cleaning rotating brushes and keeping the track of spare parts). PCWorld offers a useful guide that provides tips to keep your machine running in good shape for the long time to come.
Larger Dust Bags
A robotic vacuum may not be as effective in cleaning as an upright or canister vacuum, but it's fantastic at picking up dust and dirt that regular vacuuming has left behind. It is also a great tool for quick touch-ups on floors, and it can also navigate through cords and other obstacles in the home. If you don't want to do the deep cleaning yourself, a robot cleaner can be sent out to scour your floors on a regular basis.
A few of the top-rated robotic vacuums come with big easy to empty dust bags that can hold more dirt than a room. This will save you time and money on bags that need to be replaced. Many of the models we've listed feature this feature, including the most popular one, the Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo. This all-in-one robovac is a top-performing robovac that comes with a self emptying bin. It also comes with a mopping function and efficient navigation. It's a close contest between this and the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+, that has the ability to avoidance and smart mapping. This robovac has more capacity, but is slightly more expensive.
Another big difference between these two models is how well they deal with long human hair that can get caught in the rollers of certain robots. The Roborock Q5 Max+, SwitchBot K10S Plus and Roborock Q5 Max+ are the most efficient models. They all have outstanding hair pickup and tangle-avoidance scores, as well as excellent auto empty performance and great path planning. The Shark Matrix Plus and eufy are also excellent options, with decent hair pickup and tangle avoidance, but not as much path planing or auto empty.
The newest robots have sensors that detect dirt and debris in the carpet, and they're better at picking up loose pet hair. Some models even have a mopping mode that makes use of the reservoir of water to wash away the stains and spills. This feature is a must for families with pets as well as children.
Maintenance
A robot vacuum is a great help in keeping up with your home. The best models can remove more dirt from the surface pet hair and lint than a broom on low pile or hard floors. They also have navigation capabilities that prevent them from getting stuck on power cords or rug fringe and are able to slide easily under 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 in action via an app. These machines are useful but they also clog and require regular maintenance. This includes emptying the onboard dust bin (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.
Emily Rairdin is a vacuum expert and store owner apprentice from University Vacuum + Sewing. She believes that a robotic vacuum can last from three to five years if it is properly maintenance. She suggests emptying the bin and brush roll frequently and cutting off hairs that get caught in the brushes, and frequently cleaning and drying the filter, especially if it is a mop as well. It's also a good idea to wipe down the charging contacts and sensors on the dock or the robot occasionally with a soft cloth. Then, vacuum bot and refill your robot prior to the next cleaning session.