Robot Vacuum and Mop - Hands-Free Cleaning Made Easy

Think about this two-in-one cleaner if you want one that can do it all. It can mop hard floors and vacuums low and medium-pile carpet, and its app lets you design no-mop zones and adjust cleaning schedules and modes.

Find models that detect the type of flooring they're using, take out their own water tanks and dirt and avoid obstacles like socks, phone chargers and pet hair. Also, discover how easy it is to set up.

Self-Emptying

As the world gets busier and more chaotic, people are always looking for ways to minimize their work load. Robot vacuums and mop are some of the best tools that are available to assist you. They can remove dirt, pet hair and crumbs while also cleaning floors. You can use your smartphone or voice assistants to control these machines with pre-programmed routines as well as specific room designations.

One of the biggest time-savers both for users and machines is self-emptying models that don't require you to empty out the dustbin after each cleaning session. This can save you a lot of effort and lets your robot clean your whole house more often, and not have to worry about running out of space in the bin before it's time for refills.

If you are considering an auto-emptying model make sure you check the size of the trash bin because it could quickly overflow if frequently used. Additionally, you'll need to ensure that the system does not overfill and cause a clog that will prevent the robot from being able to empty it fully.

The self-emptying feature requires taking the dustbin out of the machine, and placing it into a larger storage container. Imagine it as a bag that fits on a vacuum cleaner. It is empty every two or three cycles. These robots are worth the extra cost since they come with this feature that is top-of-the-line.

To mop Some models wash and dry their own soiled pads after every use. Others have a dock that does the job for you and you only need empty it once or twice a year.

Take a look at this Roborock robot which is highly rated for its ability to complete both tasks. The RockDock-S7 MaxV Ultra can both mop and vacuum, thanks to a the best robot mop dock that can do all the maintenance for you. You don't have to empty the tanks manually and you can program the unit or even start it with on-device controls and voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. It even has boundary strips to keep it out of specific areas if you don't want it to wander around your entire home.

Object Avoidance

The best robot vacuums feature object avoidance, which helps the device navigate through furniture legs and toys for children. This is a must-have for families with children and pets, because if the robot bumps into these items they'll likely stop or break it.

The technology is typically based around a single sensor or a pair of sensors that are situated close to the bumpers of the vacuum cleaner that absorb shock. When these sensors detect a danger the robot will then change direction and turn until it finds an easy path. Certain models utilize lidar technology, which uses lasers to determine the distance between the robots and surrounding objects. This allows the device to create a live map of its surroundings, and helps it move through your living space with more effectiveness.

Other robovacs, that do not utilize lidar technology, are designed to recognize obstacles with cameras using monocular or binocular sight. These systems are most efficient in bright lighting however they don't perform as well in low-light conditions or with objects that have the same color as the surrounding environment. For example, a robot that has monocular vision will have trouble recognising shoes or cables.

Some of the most advanced robot vacs do more than just avoid obstacles, which is why they're also called smart vacuums. They can create a virtual plan for your home, and you can send them to specific areas or rooms by using an app. They can even remember where they've already cleaned. This can reduce cleaning time and ensure that your home is thoroughly cleaned.

The most advanced robotic vacuums and mops are able to switch between various kinds of flooring. Some can automatically detect what type of flooring is in a room and adjust their suction and brush functions to match. Some can even switch from hard flooring to carpet without losing suction power.

Whatever the flooring any smart vacuums and mops must be equipped with a form of obstacle avoidance. These features ensure that the appliances don't ensnare themselves in a web of wires, which can cause them to lose suction. Certain models have a list of items they know about like socks, shoes and pet waste. The most effective models can recognize these objects, calculate their size and distance and evade them without running into them.

Floor Mapping

Most robot vacuums come with sensors that allow them to detect objects. If something, like furniture legs or a toy being thrown in a random way or gets in the the vacuum's path, the sensor will signal it to turn away and move to a cleaner area of the floor. However they aren't 100% reliable. For example the Roomba 900 Series was able to stay clear of our shoelaces and wired headphones, but it inadvertently sucked up a USB cord. This is why we recommend putting objects out of the robot's path before running through your home's rooms.

Many of the vacuum and mopping robots we've tested in The Spruce come with an app that you can use to save maps, set schedules, select cleaning options and monitor your robot's progress. The most efficient apps are easy to set up and intuitive to use, and some include various features that make your robot more efficient.

App integration also helps you keep track of your robot's water tank as well as dirty pads. Look for models that allow you to see how full the tank is, how much the pad is soaked and when it's time to change the cloth. You can set up a routine that automatically changes the pad when wet, to prevent mildewy odors from building up.

The mapping feature is essential for robot vacuums that operate on multiple floors. It lets the robot create a virtual map of your home which it can use to navigate between rooms and clean various areas more thoroughly. Certain robots make use of a combination of sensors and artificial intelligence to create these maps. For example, iRobot’s Vacuuming Mapping makes use of multiple sensors to scan a space that includes walls and corners, to determine how far the robot can travel before it hits furniture or bumps into obstacles.

Other robots, like the Ecovacs Deebot X1-OMNI and the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra, utilize optical sensors to determine where the walls are. They can then follow the edges of furniture or use an algorithm for mapping to determine the best path for each room.

Mopping Settings

Robot vacuums work automatically and you do nothing more than pressing the button on a remote or an app to have them clean a room. You can also make use of voice commands to set schedules which is a great feature for busy families that would like their robot to do its chores at the same time every day.

Most robot mops have microfibre pads, which are soaked with water tanks within their base. Many can be used several times before needing to clean or replace the pad. You should look for models that adjust the amount of water dispersed to accommodate different floor types. Also, consider the size of your tank, its ability to switch between wet mopping and dry mopping, and the length of time that a robotic mop can last on a single charge.

The best robot mops can quickly and efficiently clean hard floors, and get under tables and around obstacles that you'd have difficulty doing manually. Although they're not perfect, they do struggle to climb stairs or navigating ledges between rooms. They can leave streaks on timber or tiles especially in bright sunlight.

A high-quality robot vacuum and mop must also come with sensors that can recognize and avoid carpet. This is crucial in homes with different types of flooring because the robot will not be sucked into or over carpets. It will also be able detect other objects that could interfere with cleaning, such as cords or tassels, and permit you to designate areas that are not accessible to the robot from entering these areas.

The majority of the robots that we test in the Choice lab have a smart app integration, which allows you to save maps of your home, set cleaning schedules and select cleaning modes. You can also create virtual barriers that keep your robot out of certain areas and receive (sometimes humorous) warnings of errors when the device has a problem. Some applications are more user-friendly than others, and some have a webcam that allows live monitoring of your robot.