Vacuuming With a Robot Hoover is the Best Hands-Off Model We've Tested
This high-end bot from Eufy is the most hands-free model we've tested to date. It vacuums, mops, and self-empties its bin and washes and dry mop pads with no intervention from you.
It doesn't have advanced cleaning options or a more powerful docking system, but it provides amazing performance for less than half the cost of top-end robotic vacuums. It's compact and can reach under furniture.
Vacuuming
Vacuuming with a robot hoover is a fast, simple method to keep your floors clean and tidy. Many of the robots we've chosen are designed to run on their own without any involvement from you, so you can set them up to clean your floors while you're away or trigger an appointment from your phone. You'll need to choose one that has excellent navigation and object detection to avoid it getting stuck in furniture or on the stairs.
Certain models are better at removing pet hair from rugs than others, so it's important to select an item that is able to efficiently and effectively clean all flooring types. Look for a robot with a large dustbin that will hold a large amount of dirt in between emptyings and a nozzle that doesn't lose suction when it rotates.
Most robots require little to no maintenance, aside from removing tangled fur from the rotating brush after every cleaning session (and wiping its sensors or camera as needed) and then periodically emptying the bin, or using the robot's self-emptying base. If you follow these simple upkeep steps, your robot vac should last just as long as a full-size vacuum, and will help keep your home cleaner for longer.
While robot mops tend to be less versatile than vacuums, some have the added ability to clean up spills and puddles while doing their thing. The iLife V3s Pro, a good example of this type of machine, is a great option for those who have carpets, rugs, or wood floors. It is quiet and has excellent navigation capabilities, which allowed it to avoid obstacles when tested. The charging dock also doubles as trash bin.
For the best results, choose an appliance that can do both vacuuming and mopping at the same time. Karcher's RCV 5 is able to do that, and has other features that are useful, such as live cameras, which sends a blurry image to your app so you can monitor your pet or kids and remote controls that are easily programmable. The navigation might not be as precise as the other models on this list however, its 500ml dustbin is big enough and doesn't require frequent emptying.
Mopping
Robots that vacuum and mop are relatively new to the market. These robots are more expensive and require an additional tank of water, unlike standalone robots. However, they could be worth the extra expense for those who have hard-to-clean stains clean or pets.
Some of the best robots that mop and vacuum also do an excellent job cleaning floors with no carpets. There are a number of brands that offer all-in-one robots that do both jobs extremely well. The Combo J9+ is one of the most efficient mopping robots that we have test. It has a dock that can store up to 60 days' worth of debris. This is a significant improvement over the Qrevo Pro which ran out water after just mopping 30 days of dirt in our tests.
The Tapo RV30 Plus from networking giant TP Link is a fantastic two-in-one. It's small and quiet, with an attractive, clutter-free appearance. In our test rooms, it scrubbed the floors thoroughly and precisely - it did particularly well on rugs, however it took several runs to completely clean certain areas of soiled wood. Its LIDAR navigation is very effective as well. It prevents hitting furniture and running over power cables.
It's a bit slow on the stairs, but that's to be expected in a compact robot that's designed to tackle obstacles. The only drawback is that the mopping pads can be difficult to attach and didn't stay put during our tests. Additionally, it does not have the capability to deal with dried-on dirt and makes it more of a vacuum cleaner than a full-fledged mop.
It's a great option for those who prefer a hands-free experience and want to clean low-pile or unfinished carpets equally. It was able to provide a lot of suction, which helped it pick up fine dust from carpets and pet hair. Automatic carpet recognition is a wonderful feature as it increases the suction power to tackle dirt that has been embedded. It's also easy to use and has a handy charging dock that automatically empty the dust bin once it's filled, which is a huge benefit for flat dwellers.
Cleaning Apps
The majority of robot vacuums, mop and sweepers have an application that lets you modify cleaning routines. You can also select rooms to be cleaned, schedule cleaning sessions and adjust settings such as suction, water levels and scrubbing strength. Certain robots also provide intelligent dirt detection, which makes use of the data from previous cleaning sessions and maps information to prioritize areas of dirt and optimize cleaning mode.
Having an app also allows you to create virtual barriers and no-go zones to keep your robot away from dangerous items, such as cords, pet water bowls, and sharp objects. Some models have laser navigation sensors that allow you to create virtual barriers, while others have small physical boundaries and barriers that you can place anywhere you'd like to limit the floor area.
The best robot vacuums and mops are intelligent enough to detect obstacles and navigate around them, but there are still certain dangers to be on the lookout for. For instance, a robot's main brush could get stuck on long curtains or cords and stop the machine from running. You can prevent this from happening by clearing the area of any cords and tying off any curtains that are long prior to running your robot.
Certain robots automatically update the software that controls their navigation and obstacle avoidance techniques, which improves performance and reduces wear and tear on the robot's internal components. It's recommended to check the firmware periodically to check the website of the manufacturer or your robot's app for updates to firmware.
If robotic hoovers own a large house, consider models that have multiple cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max, for instance, can vacuum and mop on carpeted and hard flooring rooms with different suction levels. It also has the ability to automatically switch the power setting to the highest level when cleaning carpets, and also boost the strength of its scrubbing by using SmartScrub.
If you want to be completely hands-free, a robotic device with an assistant that can be activated by voice is a fantastic option. The iRobot Roomba 980, for instance, can be controlled with a simple command from Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant. It has a small self-emptying docking station as well as a powerful cleaning engine that will leave your floors sparkling.