An Introduction to: Robot Vacuums
Keeping your house clean and tidy as you age can become more and more of a chore. You still want to take pride in your home, but It’s time consuming, vacuum cleaners can be heavy and cumbersome and you may be at risk of falling. A number of manufacturers have developed robot vacuums to address this. In this article we look at 6 of the best robot vacuums.
There are lots of other reasons you might consider investing in one: –
- Free up time typically spent using a traditional vacuum to go and enjoy yourself
- Maybe you pay for cleaning services and want to reduce your household spend
- This might give your carer more time to help with more important tasks
- Increases cleanliness – vacuuming every day is an option at no extra effort
So why are these great for seniors?
- The weight of a robot vacuum can be significantly lighter than the traditional upright devices you might be familiar with. It can can be tiresome to vacuum your home on a regular basis.
- Maybe you’re not as mobile as you used to be – tasks that involve a lot of walking, like vacuuming, can put you under unnecessary stain.
- There are a number of household dangers that can be avoided, such as the risk of falling down stairs – or even just falling on the floor, maybe tripping on the cord of a traditional vacuum cleaner.
- Some of the more expensive models also include mopping features to keep hard floors spotless.
These devices are clever – they have a variety of sensors and learning capabilities so they can complete the task efficiently and without knocking into any obstacles / furniture.
Robot Vacuums: MeemawTech Key Criteria
Well-being
Using a robot vacuum regularly can reduce the risk of some common household dangers, such as falling down stairs, tripping over electrical cords. And anyone with poor dexterity or mobility issues will not put themselves under any unnecessary strain. The advantages of frequent vacuuming mean much less dust and debris which improves the air quality you breathe.
Independence
Household chores reduce your available free time – so any device that can give you some of this time back to do the things you enjoy must be worth considering. Maybe you rely on a carer, friend or family member to vacuum your home – a robot vacuum will reduce or remove this reliance, making you much more independant.
Consider other smart devices that could compliment your robot vacuum – for example, home automation tasks that can be achieved using Smart Plugs or a Smart Thermostat.
The Shortlist: Robot Vacuums
Our selection of Robot Vacuums include a wide range of features such as wet mopping features & remote controls. All units have an automatic return to base feature – ensuring they recharge before they’re next used. You may have specific needs or requirements – the comparison summary table will help you narrow down which is the right one for you. For reference vacuum suction power is measured in Pascals (Pa) – the higher the better.
eufy by Anker, BoostIQ RoboVac 11S (Slim)
eufy by Anker, BoostIQ RoboVac 11S (Slim): Key Features
The eufy by Anker, BoostIQ RoboVac 11S (Slim) is from Anker who are probably most well known for their rechargeable battery packs. Eufy is a division of Anker that creates smart appliances, such as robot vacuums, smart plugs, security systems and smart health devices.
They have a great selection of robot vacuums (17 at the last count!) – we’ve selected what is probably there best selling – the BoostIQ RoboVac 11S.
Once you’ve unpacked the device you’ll notice the inclusion of a dedicated remote control – unlike many other robot vacuums, there is no companion smartphone app. This will appeal to those who just want a simple no fuss vacuum cleaner – not a device that requires network connectivity or smartphone app configuration / account registration. The 10 clearly labeled buttons are all that is required to control and schedule the unit.
There are 5 cleaning modes are: –
- Auto cleaning – probably the simplest and most common mode, the unit will automatically select different cleaning modes until cleaning is complete.
- Spot cleaning – cleans a specific area in a concentrated spiral pattern.
- Edge cleaning – follows a wall or border.
- Single Room cleaning – cleans one room for 30 minutes.
- Manual cleaning – you can use the directional buttons on the remote control to choose where you clean.
The eufy has a BoostIQ feature that will automatically adjust the power and suction when it detects carpet or rugs in Auto or Single Room cleaning modes.
There are a couple of standout features worth mentioning: –
- It includes a large dustbox, reducing the frequency you need to empty it.
- It’s very quiet.
- The low profile means it can get under more obstacles and furniture to ensure the cleaning extends as far as possible.
- It has a drop sensor that prevents it falling down stairs or steps.
eufy by Anker, BoostIQ RoboVac 11S (Slim): What’s in the Box
- RoboVac 11S
- Charging Base
- Remote Control
- 2 x AAA Batteries
- Power Adapter
- Cleaning Tool
- Side Brushes
- Additional High Performance Filter
- Additional Foam Filter
- Owner’s Manual
eufy by Anker, BoostIQ RoboVac 11S (Slim): Pros and Cons
Pros
- Low profile at just 2.85″ tall
- Affordable
- Remote control included
- Deep clean on all surfaces
- Infrared-sensor for avoiding furniture / obstacles
- Drop sensing technology to avoid falling down stairs
- Triple filter system
- A large capacity dust box (600ml)
- Quiet operation
- No smartphone required
- BoostIQ power management
Cons
- No companion app (not necessarily a disadvantage for everyone)
- Random bounce technology not intelligent floor mapping
- Not as fast as others on review
eufy by Anker, BoostIQ RoboVac 11S (Slim): MeemawTech Key Criteria
Ease of use
The eufy by Anker, BoostIQ RoboVac 11S (Slim) is one of the few robot vacuums that doesn’t have an available smartphone companion app. Operation is carried out using the included simple remote control (with built in LCD display). For many people using the auto feature will be all they need. Other cleaning options available on the remote are Spot cleaning, Edge cleaning & Single Room cleaning – these all have dedicated buttons making it so simple to operate. Setting the time and creating a schedule was straightforward – the 25 page owner’s manual guides you easily through the process – for me having a dedicated remote control makes it more convenient than having yet another app on my smartphone and having to deal with potential connection issues.
Emptying the dust box and removing the brushes for cleaning should cause no difficulties – all components were easy to access.
If you do run into difficulties, eufy customer support can be contacted by phone and email.
- What You Get: RoboVac 11S, remote control (2 AAA batteries included), charging base, AC power adapter, cleaning tool, 1 side brush, user manual, and our worry-free 12-month warranty.
iRobot Roomba 675 Robot Vacuum-Wi-Fi Connectivity
iRobot Roomba 675 Robot Vacuum-Wi-Fi Connectivity: Key Features
The iRobot Roomba 675 Robot Vacuum-Wi-Fi Connectivity is from iRobot who were originally founded in 1990 by Massachusetts Institute of Technology roboticists. They are considered by many as the world leaders in robot vacuums – having been at the forefront of their development 2 decades ago. Their portfolio includes a huge range of robot vacuums, robot mops and combination vacuum/mops. We’ve selected one of their best selling Roombas – the 675.
This uses similar sensor technology to the eufy – in that it will clean the floor in a random fashion – as opposed to intelligent floor mapping – but the outcome is still the same – just takes a little longer. It also has the ability to vacuum around a specific area – but to do this you’ll need to purchase Virtual Wall Barriers separately (quite expensive). It has built-in “Cliff Detection” – to prevent it from falling down stairs or steps.
To get the most out of the Roomba 675 you’ll need to create an account and install app on your smartphone – although one thing we loved about the 675 was the 3 main functions were available via large buttons on top of the unit CLEAN, Spot Clean and Return to Dock – so you have the option straight out of the box (once the battery is charged) to start vacuuming immediately.
Once you have the app installed and registered – all free of charge – you can then go through the simple setup process and start to create daily/weekly cleaning schedules using the very intuitive interface. You can even review the cleaning history. And if you have an Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant – you can give the Roomba 675 voice instructions to start cleaning.
It’s quite a tall unit – which could be a disadvantage for many – as it won’t fit under low objects/furniture. It’s also quite a loud device – this could be a problem for some – but vacuuming has never been a particularly quiet pursuit! The small dust box means you might have to empty the unit after each clean. Charging the unit was speedy – at about 2 hours charge time from an empty battery – certainly the quickest from all the devices on test.
iRobot Roomba 675 Robot Vacuum-Wi-Fi Connectivity: What’s in the Box
- iRobot Roomba 675
- Home Base® Charging Station
- Power Cord
- Owner’s Guide
- Documentation Package
iRobot Roomba 675 Robot Vacuum-Wi-Fi Connectivity: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Wi-Fi enabled
- Companion app for scheduling
- Simple functions can be used without smartphone app
- Voice control – compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
- Learns your cleaning habits
- Cleans carpet, rugs and hard floors effectively
- Multiple sensors for avoiding furniture / obstacles
- Cliff detection
- Quick
- Convenient carry handle should you need it
Cons
- Low suction power
- Quite tall
- No virtual wall barriers included (sold seperately)
- No intelligent floor mapping
- Quite loud
- Small dust box
iRobot Roomba 675 Robot Vacuum-Wi-Fi Connectivity: MeemawTech Key Criteria
Ease of use
The iRobot Roomba 675 Robot Vacuum-Wi-Fi Connectivity comes with a companion smartphone app that you install and then register to use (free of charge). It is simple and intuitive – and lets you easily create cleaning schedules, and even look at the cleaning history – it also includes a video tutorial on how to set your device up. A feature we liked was the inclusion of 3 large buttons on top of the Roomba 675 that let you control all the basic tasks without the need for a smartphone – simply press “CLEAN” and you’re off – it will automatically start cleaning. You can also get it to do a spot clean (focus on a specific area) and have it return to the dock.
Removing the dust box, and cleaning the brushes was straightforward.
iRobot have a dedicated Customer Care team that will be happy to answer any questions you may have – they are available 7 days a week by phone or email.
- Capacity volume - .6 liter. Works with Alexa for voice control (Alexa device sold separately)
- Clean and schedule from anywhere with the iRobot HOME App; compatible with Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant
- Patented 3-Stage Cleaning System and Dual Multi-Surface Brushes pick up everything from small particles to large debris
GOOVI by ONSON F007C Robotic Vacuum Cleaner
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GOOVI by ONSON F007C Robotic Vacuum Cleaner: Key Features
The No products found. is a collaboration between GOOVI & Onson.
The F007C is really targeting first time robot vacuum buyers – and does it very well. The product comes with some of the most impressive statistics such as 2,000 Pascals of suction power, 500ml dust bin, quiet at 55 decibels, 2.81″ high – so on paper beats a lot of the competition hands down – add to this list the fact that it’s about 25% cheaper than the next cheapest model in our review – and you might think it’s a no brainer!
It lacks intelligent floor mapping – and adopts the same approach as the other low to mid range vacuums we reviewed – but again this is quite effective, and for the price more than acceptable. It has sensors to detect obstacles and avoid steps. Using the included remote control (no smartphone app available) was intuitive and simple – I do like the dedicated handset, rather than having to rely on a smartphone or network connection. Keep it simple.
One of the additional accessories that others have not included as standard is the inclusion of boundary strips. It comes complete with 2 x 6.6 feet magnetic strips that you can lay across doorways or around an object that you want to prevent the F007C from crossing.
You have a choice of 4 cleaning modes to choose from: –
- Auto Cleaning – navigate around an entire floor
- Spot Cleaning – intensely cleans a localized area
- Max Vacuuming Cleaning – increases its power to provide a deeper clean (off by default)
- Edge Cleaning – follows a wall to ensure the edges are vacuumed
You have the option to manually start these programmes, or you can schedule the F007C to do this on a regular basis.
A complete package at this price seems too good to be true – but ultimately, you get what you pay for – and you do get a lot with the GOOVI by ONSON F007C – but it maybe wasn’t quite as effective at cleaning and getting all the debris it was faced with, but with the spot cleaning function it was more than capable.
GOOVI by ONSON F007C Robotic Vacuum Cleaner: What’s in the Box
No products found.- GOOVI by ONSON F007C
- Charging dock
- 2 x 6.6ft magnetic boundary strips
- 4 x side brushes
- 1 x extra filter
- Remote control (2 x AAA batteries included)
- AC power adapter
- Cleaning tool
GOOVI by ONSON F007C Robotic Vacuum Cleaner: Pros and Cons
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- Fantastic value
- Low profile – 2.81″ high
- A whopping 2,000 Pascals of suction power
- Includes 2 x 6.6 ft boundary strips
- Simple remote control
- Easy to use
- Large dust box
- Cleans medium pile carpets and hard surfaces effectively
- Anti-drop technology
- Smart suction control
- 4 cleaning modes
- Infrared sensors to avoid obstacles
- Quiet
Cons
- No companion app – remote control only
- Random bounce technology not intelligent floor mapping
- No voice control or smart device integration
GOOVI by ONSON F007C Robotic Vacuum Cleaner: MeemawTech Key Criteria
Ease of use
The No products found. is the second vacuum in our showdown that comes complete with an LCD remote control and does not have a companion smartphone app – this simple approach removes the complexity of registering an app or connecting the device to your home network – the remote control provides quick access to all the functions. For many the Automatic Cleaning feature will be all that is required, but you can quickly task the GOOVI with Edge Cleaning, Spot Cleaning, Small-space cleaning and intensive cleaning. Adjusting the time and programming a schedule was straightforward – the 14 page owner’s manual clearly explains how to use all the features.
Removing and emptying the dust bin and cleaning the side brushes and roller was simple.
If you do run into difficulties then Onson can be contacted by phone and email.
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Shark ION Robot Vacuum AV751 Wi-Fi Connected
Shark ION Robot Vacuum AV751 Wi-Fi Connected: Key Features
The Shark ION Robot Vacuum AV751 Wi-Fi Connected is from SharkNinja – a company that focuses on two primary product categories: Shark: Vacuum Cleaners & Mops, Ninja: Kitchen devices and utensils.
The Shark ION is one of 6 robot vacuum cleaners in their current range.
It shares many common features with the similarly specced Roomba 675 – but the cost of adding a manual boundary around a piece of furniture or floor area much more reasonable. This is achieved using their BotBoundary™ Strip (sold seperately) – its a 13 foot magnetic strip that you can lay on the floor or across a doorway to create no go zones for your Shark ION.
It’s another device without any intelligent floor mapping – but for an entry level device, this approach is more than sufficient.
Suction power and dust box capacity are by no means class leading, but again for the price they are more than adequate and clean effectively. It’s the loudest device on test – but that shouldn’t be a great problem – no vacuums are silent.
The convenience of voice control offered by Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant speakers is an added benefit – you’ll not need your smartphone to get the Shark ION to start cleaning – a voice request, or by pressing the “CLEAN” button on top of the device will be all you need.
The built in sensors prevent the ION from falling down stairs or bumping into furniture.
Shark ION Robot Vacuum AV751 Wi-Fi Connected: What’s in the Box
- Shark ION Robot Vacuum
- Extra side brushes
- Extra filter
- Lithium-ion battery
- Charging dock
- User manual
- Quick start guide
Shark ION Robot Vacuum AV751 Wi-Fi Connected: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Compatible with BotBoundry Strips
- Available in Black, White & Grey
- Cliff detection
- 2 hour run time
- Good cleaning ability on carpet & hard floors
- Multiple sensors for avoiding furniture / obstacles
- Wi-Fi enabled
- Companion app for scheduling
- Simple functions can be used without smartphone app
- Compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
Cons
- BotBoundry Strips are not included
- Quite a tall unit
- Loud
Shark ION Robot Vacuum AV751 Wi-Fi Connected: MeemawTech Key Criteria
Ease of use
In terms of setup and ease of use the Shark ION Robot Vacuum AV751 Wi-Fi Connected is very similar to the iRobot Roomba 675 – it includes a simple to use companion smartphone app – and has the advantage of the two main features being accessible using buttons on top of the unit – CLEAN & DOCK. Once you have the smartphone app configured you have the option to use Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to give it voice commands.
Taking the dust box out for emptying and cleaning the brushes was simple; much easier than traditional upright vacuums.
Any problems? Shark Support Center is available 7 days a week by phone or email. They also have a comprehensive support portal where you will find answer to frequently asked questions, troubleshooting guides and user guides.
- THREE BRUSH TYPES. ONE POWERFUL CLEAN: Tri-Brush System combines side brushes, channel brushes, and a multi-surface brushroll to handle debris on all surfaces.
- COMPLETELY INTEGRATED IN YOUR HOME: Shark ION Robot senses ledges and stairs, avoids damaging furniture and walls, and maneuvers around potential stuck situations, truly knowing your home.
- CLEAN FROM YOUR PHONE: SharkClean app lets you start and stop cleaning and schedule your robot to clean whenever you want.
Roborock S6 Pure Robot Vacuum and Mop
Roborock S6 Pure Robot Vacuum and Mop: Key Features
The Roborock S6 Pure Robot Vacuum and Mop is from Roborock, a Beijing headquartered company, founded in 2014, that specializes in the research, development and manufacturing of robot vacuums and cordless stick vacuums.
This is the first of two devices in this article that have a built in mop function. Both these products are significantly more expensive than the low to mid-range vacuums we’ve looked at so far. You need to decide whether the premium is worth it.
You’ll see form the comparison table the Roborock S6 Pure has some impressive features – great suction power at 2,000 Pascals, 3 hours of battery run time, a good sized dust box and compatible with all the popular smart assistance devices: Apple Siri, Google Assistant & Amazon Alexa.
Let’s look at some of the other standout features of the S6 Pure: –
- Spot cleaning – intensive cleaning of 1.5m x 1.5m area.
- Selective room cleaning – once it has mapped out your house, you can select specific rooms to vacuum, mop or both.
- Zone cleaning – you can also chose a specific area of a room to clean.
- Do not Disturb mode – it will not operate between chosen times, ensuring you are not disturbed during sleep. By default DND is activated between 22:00 to 08:00 daily.
- Virtual no-go zones and virtual walls – you can draw areas that you don’t want the S6 Pure to enter.
- Other app functions include: Realtime map updates, carpet boost, robot location, change cleaning mode, part replacement schedule, view cleaning history, remote control, firmware update, change robot voice and view status.
The mopping feature is good – but not something that will replace the mop and bucket for major spillages!
It really is an impressive piece of kit – and if you feel you can benefit from all the various vacuum, mopping and smart features then definitely worthy of consideration. But if you’re after a basic model to give the house a quick vacuum – you may feel some of the features are necessary and/or too expensive.
Roborock S6 Pure Robot Vacuum and Mop: What’s in the Box
- Roborock S6 Pure Robot Vacuum and Mop
- Charging dock
- Moisture proof mat
- Power cable
- Adjustable water tank
- Mop cloth
- User Manual
Roborock S6 Pure Robot Vacuum and Mop: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Includes a wet mopping function
- Large dustbox
- LiDAR laser Navigation
- Intelligent home mapping
- Create no-go zones
- 3 hour battery life
- 2,000 Pa Suction power
- Multi-floor mapping
- Available in Black and White
- Disposable mop pads
- Selective room cleaning
- Amazon Alexa, Siri & Google Assistant compatible
Cons
- At 3.78″ it’s the tallest vacuum in this article
- Expensive
- Noisey
Roborock S6 Pure Robot Vacuum and Mop: MeemawTech Key Criteria
Ease of use
The Roborock S6 Pure Robot Vacuum and Mop has a vast array of settings and intelligent features. All of which are controlled by the companion smartphone app – or by your voice using your compatible smart home assistant. You also have the option to use the Auto & Spot clean buttons on top of the device itself if you don’t have your smartphone to hand. With the app installed, and the S6 Pure connected, navigating the various vacuum and mopping options felt intuitive. Changing the disposable mop and cleaning the vacuum parts was simple. All in all, no real complications. Creating no-go zones and selecting individual rooms/areas to clean was simple. But you might get a little overwhelmed with the sheer number of features and options it has.
Roborock really excelled with the creation of various video tutorials to help you get the most out of your product – everything from emptying the dust box, general maintenance and creating no-go zones + many, many more are available on their support portal. If all else fails, you can contact their customer support online for assistance.
- Precision LiDAR Navigation & Z-shape Cleaning Route: Effective, detailed home-mapping and comprehensive cleaning.
Ecovacs Deebot OZMO T5 2-in-1 Vacuuming and Mopping Robot
Ecovacs Deebot OZMO T5 2-in-1 Vacuuming and Mopping Robot: Key Features
The Ecovacs Deebot OZMO T5 2-in-1 Vacuuming and Mopping Robot is from Evovacs a company founded more than 20 years ago who specialize in home robotics – and have a range of robot vacuums and smart window cleaning devices.
The Ecovacs Deebot OZMO T5 2-in-1 is the second (and last) robot vacuum we explore that also has a wet mopping facility. It’s significantly cheaper than the Roborock S6 Pure – but still about twice the price of many of the mid-range vacuums we considered at the start.
The standout features can be summarized as follows: –
- Outstanding battery life, with a claimed run time of more than 3 hours.
- Easily create no-go zones and virtual barriers.
- Voice control if you have a compatible Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant
- Smart laser navigation and floor mapping – enabling you to select rooms or draw areas you want included or excluded from either vacuuming or mopping.
- Mops and vacuums simultaneously.
- Choose brush vacuuming or brushless – great for hard floors and reducing any hair tangles.
Compared to the S6 Pure you get very similar features, but the cleaning can take a little longer and it’s just not as effective – but still a great option if you don’t want to invest in the more expensive Roborock.
Ecovacs Deebot OZMO T5 2-in-1 Vacuuming and Mopping Robot: What’s in the Box
- Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T5
- Docking station
- Instruction Manual
- Quick Start Guide
- 4 x Side Brushes
- Main brush option (pre-installed)
- Direct Suction Option
- Reservoir
- Washable/reusable microfiber cleaning cloth
- Disposal Cleaning Cloth
- Cleaning Cloth Plate
- 1 x mopping cloth and 5 x disposable cloths
- Washable High Efficiency Filter and Spoge Filter
Ecovacs Deebot OZMO T5 2-in-1 Vacuuming and Mopping Robot: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Includes a wet mopping function
- Reasonably sized dust bin
- Smart Navi 3.0 laser Navigation
- Intelligent home mapping
- Brushless vacuuming option
- 3+ hours battery life
- Create no-go zones & virtual boundaries
- Maps up to 2 floors
- Disposable mop pads
- Selective room cleaning
- Voice control using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant
Cons
- Loud
- Expensive
- Tall
Ecovacs Deebot OZMO T5 2-in-1 Vacuuming and Mopping Robot: MeemawTech Key Criteria
Ease of use
The Ecovacs Deebot OZMO T5 2-in-1 Vacuuming and Mopping Robot is another unit with various intelligent features and settings. To control the majority of these you’ll need to install companion smartphone app – you’ll then also have the option to use voice control via your Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant (sold separately). You can start automatic cleaning using the on/off button on top of the T5. With the app installed, and the T5 setup, selecting the required cleaning programme was straightforward as was setting up no-go zones and choosing which rooms you want cleaned – the menu was self explanatory and uncluttered. Cleaning the vacuum parts and replacing the disposable mops was easy – clear instructions are included.
Evovacs have a pretty good help portal with lots of FAQ’s answered, as well as a service video. Should you need to, you can also contact their customer care by phone or email 7 days a week.
- Simultaneous vacuuming and mopping in-1-go: DEEBOT 920 efficiently cleans your home by vacuuming and mopping simultaneously. With a 240ml water tank, its capacity could handle the whole house cleaning. You can switch the water amount by mobile APP according to different needs. The ECOVACS Home APP enables you to adjust the water level of the mopping.
- Smart laser navigation & multi-floor mapping: Smart Navi 3. 0 enables DEEBOT robot vacuum cleaner to efficiently navigate through your home and map your floorplan to your smartphone using laser technology. So you can select specific areas you don’t want the vacuum to clean, and where you want it to clean. DEEBOT can store up to 2 different maps – perfect for multi-level homes and multiple cleaning spaces.
- No-Go zones & carpet detection: Virtual boundary for not only vacuum, but also for mopping now. By using the ECOVACS Home App you can create unlimited virtual boundaries, restricting the robot from cleaning certain areas. 2 times suction power up automatically, when the robot reach to carpet. A new generation of carpet detection technology can automatically identify carpets and floors, and actively avoid carpets and mats when mopping the floor.
Conclusion
The two that stood out for us were both “non-smart” models, i.e. neither required smartphones or a Wi-Fi network connection – our favorite was the eufy by Anker, BoostIQ RoboVac 11S (Slim) – a solid all rounder. The No products found. was a close second, the combination of price and impressive capabilities makes it a great contender.
If you’re willing to invest in a 2-in-1 vacuum and mopping device – then we’d recommend Roborock S6 Pure Robot Vacuum and Mop.