Vacuuming With a Robot Hoover is the Best Hands-Off Model We've Tested
This top-quality bot from Eufy is the best hands-off model we've seen so far. It vacuums, mops and self-empties its bin and washes and dries mop pads with no intervention from you.
It doesn't feature advanced cleaning options or a larger docking system, but it delivers outstanding performance for less than half the price of top-end robotic vacuums. It has a compact design and can reach under furniture.
Vacuuming
Vacuuming with a robot is a quick, easy method to keep your floors looking and feeling clean. Many of the robots in our top picks are designed to work without your involvement So you can schedule them to work while you're out or trigger cleaning sessions from your phone. You'll want to select a robot with excellent navigation and object detection to avoid it getting stuck in furniture or on the stairs.
Some models are better at picking up pet hair from rugs than others, which is why it's crucial to select the right model that will efficiently and effectively vacuum all types of flooring. Find a robot that has an enormous dust bin that can hold a large amount of dirt between emptyings, and a nozzle which does not lose suction as it turns.
Most robots need little to any maintenance, other than taking hair that has become tangled off the rotating brush (and wiping down its cameras or sensors, as required) after every cleaning session, and then emptying the dustbin or using an automatic emptying base when the robot is equipped with one. If you follow these easy maintenance steps, your robot vacuum should last as long as regular vacuums and keep your home cleaner for longer.
Robot mops aren't as flexible than vacuums but some can also clean up spills and puddles. The iLife V3s Pro, a good example of this type of machine, is a great choice for people with carpets and rugs or wood flooring. It's quiet and has solid navigation capabilities that allowed it to overcome obstacles during testing, and the charging dock can also double as a trash bin.
Choose a robot vacuum cleaner that is able to mop simultaneously. That's what the Karcher RCV 5 does, and it also offers other handy features like live cameras that stream a grainy image to your app so you can check on your pets or children, as well as a remote control that is easily programmed. Its navigation may not be as good as some of the other models in this collection but its 500ml trash bin is big enough and doesn't require frequent emptying.
Mopping
Robots that mop and vacuum are a relatively new addition to the market. These machines are more expensive and require a separate tank of water than standalone robots. However, they may be worth the extra expense for those with stains that are difficult to clean or pets.
Some of the best robots that mop and vacuum also be very effective cleaning floors with no carpets. Many brands are now offering all-in-one robotics that perform both tasks extremely well. The Combo J9+ is among the most efficient mopping machines that we've tested. automatic vacuum comes with docks that can hold up to 60 days worth of debris. This is an enormous improvement over the Qrevo Pro which ran out water after just mopping 30 days worth of dirt in our tests.
The Tapo RV30 plus from networking giant TP-Link is a excellent two-in-one. It's quiet and compact and has a neat, easy-to-clean appearance. In our test rooms, it cleaned the floors accurately and thoroughly - it was particularly good at cleaning rugs, however it took several runs to clean certain areas of wood that were stained. Its LIDAR navigation system functions well too, avoiding bumping into furniture or running over power cords.
It's a bit slow on the stairs, but that's expected from a compact robot that's designed to overcome obstacles. Its only downside is the mopping pad attachment, which was difficult to hold in its place during our tests. It also has a problem handling dust that has dried, making it more like the vacuum rather than a mop.
It's still a great choice for those who prefer a hands-off experience and want to clean low-pile or bare carpets equally well. It has a decent amount of suction that allowed it to remove fine dust from pet hair and carpets. Automatic carpet recognition is a great feature, since it boosts the vacuuming power to better tackle embedded dirt. It's also easy to use and comes with a convenient charging dock that automatically empties the dust bin once it's full, which is a great benefit for those who live in flats.
Cleaning Apps
Most robot vacuums mop, sweeper, and vacuum has an application that lets you personalize cleaning routines, choose rooms to clean, plan cleaning sessions, and alter settings such as suction, water level, and scrubbing power. Some robots also offer intelligent dirt detection, which utilizes the data from previous cleaning sessions and maps data to identify areas that are dirty and optimize cleaning mode.
A smartphone app can also allow you to set up virtual barriers and no-go zones to keep your robot away from potentially dangerous objects, such as cords, pet water bowls, and sharp objects. Some models let you create these virtual barriers with laser navigation sensors, and others have small physical boundaries or barriers that to place wherever you'd like to block the floor space.
The most effective robot vacuums and mops are intelligent enough to detect obstacles and avoid them however there are some hazards to watch out for. The main brush of a robot could get stuck in long cords or curtains, and stop it from moving. To prevent this from happening it is possible to remove the cords and tie up any curtains that are long.
Certain robots automatically update their software, which regulates navigation and obstacle avoidance algorithm. This improves performance and reduces the wear and tear of the robot's internal parts. It is a good idea to check regularly the manufacturer's website or your robot's app for updates to the firmware.
If you live in a large house, choose a model that has multiple cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max, for instance, can be used to vacuum and mop on both hard floors and carpeted rooms with different suction levels. It can also automatically switch the highest power setting when cleaning carpets, and boost its scrubbing power with SmartScrub.
A robot that has the ability to speak is a great option for those who want to be hands off. The iRobot Roomba 980, for example, can be operated with a simple command from Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant. It has a small self-emptying docking system and a powerful cleaning motor that makes your floors sparkling.