Vacuuming With a Robot Hoover is the Best Hands-Off Model We've Tested
This top-of-the-line bot from Eufy is the most hands-free model we've tested so far. It vacuums, mops, self-empties, and washes and dry mop pads without you having to do anything.
It doesn't come with advanced cleaning modes or a bigger docking system, but it delivers stellar performance at less than half the cost of the top robotic vacuums. It's compact and is able to reach under furniture.
Vacuuming
A robot vacuum is an easy and quick method of keeping your floors spotless. The majority of the robots we've included that we have selected are built to function without your intervention, so you can schedule them to work while you're out or trigger a cleaning session from your smartphone. You'll want to select a robot with excellent navigation and object detection to avoid it getting stuck under furniture or falling down the staircase.
Some models are better at removing pet hairs from rugs than others, which is why it's also important to choose a robot that can effectively and efficiently clean all types of flooring. Choose a model with a large dust bin that will hold plenty of dirt between emptyings, and a nozzle which does not lose suction when it turns.
The majority of robots require little or no maintenance, other than taking out tangled fur from the rotating brush after every cleaning session (and wiping its camera or sensors when needed) and regularly emptying the bin, or using a robot's self-emptying base. If you follow these simple routine maintenance steps, your robotic vac should last just as long as a full-size vacuum, and will help keep your home looking cleaner for longer.
Robot mops are less versatile than vacuums, but they can also pick up puddles and spills. The iLife V3s Pro, a good example of this type of machine, is a great choice for people with carpets and rugs as well as wood flooring. It's quiet and has solid navigation capabilities that helped it overcome obstacles during testing, and the charging dock can also double as a trash bin.
For the best results, choose an appliance that can do mopping and vacuuming simultaneously. Karcher's RCV 5 does that, and also has other useful features including a live camera, which broadcasts a grainy picture to your app, so that you can keep an eye on your kids or pet as well as remote controls that are easily programmed. Its navigation isn't as solid as other models we've reviewed however it is able to lift it over low thresholds and has an ample 500ml dustbin that doesn't need to be cleaned frequently.
Mopping
Robots that mop and vacuum are relatively new to the market. They are more expensive and require an additional tank of water than standalone robots. However, they may be worth the extra expense for those who have stains that are difficult to clean or pets.
The best robots that vacuum and mop also do an excellent job at cleaning bare floors and carpets. Many manufacturers offer machines capable of doing both extremely effectively. The Combo j9+, for example, is one of the top mopping robots we've tested and uses an impressively large dock that can hold up to 60 days worth of debris. This is a huge improvement over the Qrevo Pro which ran out water after just mopping 30 days worth of dirt during our tests.
The Tapo RV30 plus from networking giant TP Link is a good two-in-one. It's quiet, compact, and has a neat, easy-to-clean appearance. In our test rooms, it was able to clean the floors thoroughly and precisely - it did particularly well on rugs but it took several runs to completely remove soiled areas from wood. Its LIDAR navigation is very effective, too. It avoids bumping into furniture or running over power cables.
It's a bit sluggish on the stairs but it's to be expected from a small robot that is designed to work around obstacles. The only drawback is that its mopping pads are fiddly to attach and didn't stay in place during our tests, and it lacks the ability to deal with dried-on dirt, which makes it more of a vacuum cleaner instead of a full-fledged mop.
Despite these issues, it's still a solid choice for those who want an easy-to-clean experience that can handle carpets that are bare or low-pile with equal competence. It has decent suction, which has helped to remove dust and pet hair from carpets. vacuum robot is its automatic carpet recognition which increases the strength of the vacuum to take on dirt that is embedded. It's easy to use, and the charging dock automatically empty the bin when it's full. This is a fantastic feature for apartment dwellers.
Cleaning apps
Nearly every robot vacuum mop, sweeper, and vacuum comes with an app that lets you customize cleaning routines, pick rooms to clean, schedule cleaning sessions, and alter settings such as suction, water level and the power of scrubbing. Some robots also offer 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.
A smartphone app can also allow you to create virtual barriers and no-go zones to shield your robot from potentially hazardous items, such as cords and pet water bowls and sharp objects. Certain models have laser navigation sensors that permit you to create virtual barriers while others come with small physical barriers and boundary strips that you can place anywhere you'd like to limit your floor area.
There are still dangers to be aware of even though the top robot vacuum s can detect and navigate around obstacles. For instance, the main brush could get stuck in long curtains or cords and stop the machine from moving. To avoid this, you can clear the area of cords and tie up any curtains that are long.
Some robots will automatically update the software that controls their navigation and obstacle avoidance algorithms which enhances performance and reduces wear and tear on the robot's internal components. It is a good idea to check regularly the manufacturer's website or your robot's app for firmware updates.
If you live in a big house, choose a model with multiple cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max can mop and vacuum on hard and carpeted floors with different suction settings. It can also automatically switch to the highest power setting for carpets and boost its scrubbing power with SmartScrub.
If you want to be hands-off, a robot with an assistant that can be activated by voice is a great option. The iRobot Roomba 980 can be controlled by Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant. It comes with a compact self-emptying docking system as well as a powerful cleaning motor that makes your floors sparkling.