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, self-empties its bin and washes and dry mop pads without you having to do anything.
It's not equipped with the latest cleaning techniques and a larger docking station, but it delivers stellar performance for less than half the cost of premium robot vacuums. It also has a compact design that can reach under furniture.
Vacuuming
A robot vacuum is a simple and quick method of keeping your floors clean. The majority of the robots we've selected are designed to run without the involvement of you and you can set them up to clean while you're out or start an appointment from your phone. But, you should look for a model with superior navigation and obstacle detection to ensure it will not be stuck on the stairs or beneath furniture.
Certain models are better at removing pet hairs from rugs than others, which is why it's important to select a robot that can effectively and efficiently clean all flooring types. Find a model with a an empty bin that is able to hold plenty of dirt in between emptying and an nozzle that doesn't lose suction as it rotates to get rid of debris.
The majority of robots require little or no maintenance other than taking hair that has become tangled off the rotating brush (and wiping its sensors or cameras, as required) after every cleaning session, and then emptying the trash bin or an auto-emptying base, when the robot is equipped with one. If you follow these simple maintenance steps, your robot vacuum should last as long as larger vacuums and help keep your home tidy for longer.
Robot mops are less versatile than vacuums, however some also remove puddles and spills. The iLife V3s Pro is an example of such a machine, which is a solid option for those who have wood floors or a mix of carpets and rugs. It's quiet and has solid navigation capabilities that have helped it avoid obstacles during testing and the charging dock doubles as a trash bin.
To get the best results, choose a robot that can handle mopping and vacuuming simultaneously. That's what the Karcher RCV 5 can do, and it also offers other handy features like a live camera that broadcasts an unreliable image to your app so you can check on your pets or children, as well as an easily-programmable remote control. Its navigation isn't as reliable as other models in our selection, but it can lift its own thresholds to a certain level and comes with a large 500ml dustbin that doesn't need to be cleaned frequently.
Mopping
Robots that mop and vacuum are a fairly new addition to the market. They're more expensive than standalone robots and require an additional water tank but the extra cost may be worth it for some people, particularly those with difficult-to-clean stains, or pets.
Some of the best robots can clean floors and carpets as well as vacuuming. Many brands are now offering all-in-one robotics that perform both tasks with ease. The Combo j9+, for example, is one of the top mopping machines we've tested. It has an impressively large dock that can accommodate up to 60 days of debris. This is an enormous improvement over the Qrevo Pro which ran out water after mopping only 30 days of dirt during 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 clean, fuss-free appearance. In our test rooms, it cleaned the floors efficiently and thoroughly. It was particularly adept at cleaning rugs, however it required several runs to scrub certain areas of soiled wooden. Its LIDAR navigation system performs well too, avoiding bumping into furniture or running over power cords.
It's a little slow on the stairs, but that's expected from a compact robot that is designed to work around obstacles. The only downside is that the mopping pads are fiddly to attach and didn't stay put during our tests, and it isn't equipped to deal with dried-on dirt that makes it more of a vacuum cleaner than a full-fledged robot mop.
smart vacuum cleaner 's still a great choice for those who prefer a hands-free experience and want to clean low-pile or unfinished carpets equally. It has a decent amount of suction, which helped it to pick up fine dust and pet hair from carpets. Automatic carpet recognition is a great feature, since it boosts the vacuuming power to take on dirt that is embedded. It's also easy to use and comes with a convenient charging dock that automatically empty the dust bin once it's filled, which is a huge benefit for flat dwellers.
Cleaning apps
Most robot vacuums mop, sweeper, and vacuum comes with an application that lets you personalize cleaning routines, choose rooms to clean, schedule cleaning sessions, and alter settings like suction, water level, and scrubbing power. Some robots provide intelligent dirt detection, which uses map data and past cleaning data to identify dirty areas.
A smartphone app can also allow you to set up virtual barriers and no-go zones to protect your robot from potentially dangerous objects, such as cords, pet water bowls, and sharp objects. Certain models have laser navigation sensors that allow you to create virtual barriers while others come with small physical barriers and boundary strips you can place anywhere you wish to restrict the floor area.
The best robot vacuums and mops have the capability of being smart enough to detect obstacles and maneuver around them, but there are still some hazards to watch out for. The primary brush of a robot can become stuck in long cords or curtains and stop it in its tracks. You can prevent this by clearing the area of all cords and tie up any curtains that are long prior to running your robot.
Some robots automatically update their software, which controls navigation and obstacle avoidance algorithm. This improves performance and decreases the wear and tear of the robot's internal parts. It is a good idea to check regularly the manufacturer's website or the app on your robot for updates to the firmware.
If you have a large house, consider models that offer multiple cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max, for instance, can vacuum and mop on carpeted floors as well as hard floor rooms with different suction levels. It can also switch automatically to the highest power setting when cleaning carpets, and also boost its scrubbing strength by using SmartScrub.
A robot with an integrated voice assistant is a fantastic option when you want to keep your hands off. The iRobot Roomba 980, for example, can be operated with a simple command from Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant. It is equipped with a compact self-emptying docking system as well as a powerful cleaning motor that will leave your floors sparkling.