Vacuuming With a Robot Hoover is the Best Hands-Off Model We've Tested

This high-end Eufy bot is the top hands-off model we've tested so far. It vacuums, mops, and self-empties its bin, washes and dry mop pads without your intervention.

It lacks advanced cleaning modes and a bigger docking station, but it delivers outstanding performance for less than half the cost of premium robot vacuums. It's compact and robotvacuummops can reach under furniture.

Vacuuming

Vacuuming with a robot is a fast, simple way to keep your floors looking and feeling clean. Many of the robots that we have selected are designed to operate without your intervention So you can schedule them to work while you're out or start cleaning sessions using your smartphone. You'll need to select an excellent robot that can navigate and object detection to avoid getting stuck in furniture or on the stairs.

Certain 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. Look for a robot with an enormous dust bin that can hold plenty of dirt between emptyings, and a nozzle which does not lose suction when it rotates.

Most robots require little to any maintenance, other than removing tangled hair from the rotating brush (and wiping down its cameras or sensors as needed) after each cleaning session and regularly emptying the dust bin or using an automatic emptying base if the robot has one. If you follow these easy upkeep steps, your robot vacuum should last as long as a regular vacuum cleaner and keep your home cleaner for longer.

While robot mops are generally less flexible than their vacuum counterparts Some have the capability of absorbing spills and puddles while they're at it. The iLife V3s Pro is an example of a machine which is a good choice for people with wood floors or a mix of carpets and rugs. It is quiet and has good navigation capabilities, which allowed it to overcome obstacles during tests. The charging dock can also double as a trash bin.

To get the best results, pick the robot that is capable of both vacuuming and mopping simultaneously. Karcher's RCV 5 is able to do that, and also has other useful features, such as live cameras that broadcasts a grainy picture to your app, so that you can monitor your kids or pet as well as remote controls that are easily programmable. The navigation isn't as robust as other models in our collection 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 vacuum and mop are relatively new to the market. They are more expensive than standalone robots and require an additional water tank but the extra cost may be worth it for a lot of people, particularly those who have difficult-to-clean stains or lots of pets.

The best robots that vacuum and mop also do an excellent job cleaning floors with no carpets. Several brands now offer all-in-one robotics that perform both jobs extremely well. The Combo J9+ is one of the most efficient mopping robots that we have tested. It uses a dock that can store up to 60 days worth of debris. This is a huge improvement over the Qrevo Pro, which ran out of water after mopping just 30 days' worth of dirt during our tests.

The Tapo RV30 plus from networking giant TP-Link is another very excellent two-in-one. It's quiet and compact and has a clean, fuss-free appearance. In our test rooms, it cleaned 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 system performs well, avoiding bumps into furniture or tripping over power cords.

It's a bit sluggish on the stairs, but that's expected from a compact robot that is designed to work around obstacles. The only issue is its mopping pad attachment, that was difficult to use to hold in place during our tests. It also has a problem dealing with dried-on dust and dust, which makes it more like an ordinary vacuum cleaner than a robot mop.

It's still an excellent choice for those who prefer a hands-free experience and want to clean low-pile or bare carpets equally well. It offers a decent amount of suction, which helped it to pick up fine dust and pet hair from carpets. Automatic carpet recognition is a fantastic feature since it boosts the suction power to better tackle embedded dirt. It is simple to use and the charging dock automatically emptyes the trash bin when it's full. This is an excellent feature for apartment dwellers.

Cleaning apps

Most robot vacuums, mops and sweepers come with an app that allows you to alter the cleaning routines. You can also choose rooms to be cleaned, plan cleaning sessions and adjust settings like suction as well as scrub strength and water levels. Some robots also have intelligent dirt detection, which utilizes past cleaning data and map data to prioritize dirty areas and optimize cleaning mode.

The app allows you to set up virtual barriers and no-go zones to protect your robot from potentially dangerous objects like cords, pet water bowls, and sharp objects. Some models allow you to create these virtual barriers using laser navigation sensors, and others feature small physical boundaries or barriers that which you can put wherever you'd like to block off your floor area.

There are still hazards to be aware of, even though the best robot vacuums are able to detect and avoid obstacles. For instance, the main brush can become stuck on long cords or curtains, which can stop the machine dead in its tracks. To avoid this, you can clear the area of cords and tie up any long curtains.

Some robots automatically update their software which controls the navigation and obstacle avoidance algorithm. This enhances performance and reduces wear and tear on the robot's internal components. It is a good idea to regularly check the website of the manufacturer or the app on your robot for updates to the firmware.

If you have a huge home, look for models that offer multiple cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max, for example, can mop and vacuum carpeted floors as well as hard floor rooms that have different suction levels. It can also automatically switch the power setting to the highest level when cleaning carpets and increase the strength of its scrubbing with SmartScrub.

If you want to be completely hands-free, a robotic device with an assistant that can be activated by voice is an excellent choice. 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 powerful cleaning motor that leaves your floors sparkling.