Best of · Cleaning
Best smart home cleaning gadgets (besides the robot)
Mops, sensors, and the unsexy gadgets that keep a robot from becoming a crumb museum.
Maya ChenUpdated September 12, 20268 min read
Our pick: The dock, then a leak sensor, then maybe a second robot
Smart home cleaning gadgets are a category Amazon invented to sell lint rollers with Bluetooth. The useful list is short. We already covered flagship robots; this is the rest of the closet.
Buy
- A self-empty / self-wash dock matched to the robot you already like
- Threshold ramps and magnetic strips so maps stay true
- A leak sensor by the dock and the dishwasher
- A decent handheld for stairs the robot will never love
Skip
App-connected spray bottles. UV wands with a subscription. Any gadget whose only smart feature is a push notification that you still have to mop.
Questions we get
Do I need smart cleaning gadgets if I already have a robot vacuum?
You need a dock that actually empties, a leak sensor near the mop tank if you have hard floors, and furniture that does not eat the robot. Another Wi-Fi mop pad warmer is optional.