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, 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 bigger docking system, but it offers amazing performance for less than half the cost of the most expensive robotic vacuums. It's compact and can reach under furniture.
Vacuuming
A robot vacuum is a simple and quick way to keep your floors clean. A majority of the robots featured that we have selected are designed to operate without your involvement, so you can schedule them to work while you're away or initiate cleaning sessions from your smartphone. You'll want to select one that has excellent navigation and object detection to avoid getting stuck under furniture or falling down the staircase.
It is essential to choose a robot vacuum that can effectively and efficiently clean all types of flooring. Look for a model with a dustbin that is able to hold plenty of dirt between emptying and a nozzle that does not lose suction when it rotates to remove debris.
The majority of robots require little or any maintenance, other than taking out tangled fur from the rotating brush after each cleaning session (and wiping its sensors or camera as needed) and periodically emptying the bin or using a robot's self-emptying base. If you follow these simple maintenance tips, your robot vacuum will last as long as regular vacuums and help keep your home tidy for longer.
While robot mops tend to be less flexible than their vacuum counterparts they do have the capability of absorbing spills and puddles while working. The iLife V3s Pro, a good example of this type of machine, is an excellent choice for those with carpets, rugs, or wood flooring. It's quiet and has excellent navigation capabilities that allowed it to avoid obstacles during testing and the charging dock doubles as a trash can.
Choose a robot vacuum cleaner that has the ability to mop at the same time. Karcher's RCV 5 does that, and has other features that are beneficial, such as a live camera, which broadcasts a grainy picture to your app so you can monitor your pet or kids as well as remote controls that are easily programmable. Its navigation isn't as solid as other models we've reviewed however, it can elevate itself over low thresholds and has an ample 500ml dustbin that doesn't need to be emptied often.
Mopping
Click To See More that vacuum and mop are relatively new to the market. These machines are more expensive and require a separate tank of water, unlike standalone robots. However, they could be worth the extra cost for those with staining that is difficult to clean or pets.
Some of the best robots can clean carpets and floors as well as vacuum. Several brands now offer all-in-one robots that do both jobs extremely well. The Combo J9+ is one of the most effective mopping robots that we have test. It has docks that can hold up to 60 days worth of dirt. That's a big improvement on the Qrevo Pro, which ran out of water after mopping 30 days worth of dirt in our tests.
The Tapo RV30 plus from networking giant TP Link is a great two-in-one. It's small and quiet, with an elegant, easy-to-use look. In our test rooms it cleaned the floors accurately and thoroughly - it was particularly adept at cleaning rugs, however it required several runs to scrub certain areas of wood that were stained. Its LIDAR navigation system performs well, avoiding bumps into furniture or running over power cords.
It's a bit sluggish on the stairs however, that's to be expected in a compact robot that's designed to work around obstacles. The only downside is that its mopping pads are fiddly to attach and didn't stay put during our tests. Additionally, it isn't equipped to handle dried-on dirt, which makes it more like a vacuum cleaner rather than a full-fledged robot mop.
It's a great option for those who prefer a hands-off experience and want to clean low-pile or bare carpets equally well. It had a good amount of suction which helped it remove fine dust from carpets and pet hair. One of the best features is its automatic recognition of carpets, which enhances the effectiveness of the vacuuming to better tackle embedded dirt. It's also easy to use and has a handy charging dock that automatically empties the dust bin when it's full. This is a real boon for those who live in flats.
Cleaning apps
The majority of robot vacuums, mops and sweepers come with an app that allows you to alter the cleaning routines. You can also pick rooms to be cleaned, schedule cleaning sessions, and alter settings such as suction levels, water levels and scrubbing strength. Certain robots have intelligent dirt detection, which uses maps and cleaning data to determine the most soiled areas.
You can also make use of an app to create virtual barriers and no go zones to shield your robot from dangerous objects, such as cords and pet water bowls. Some models have laser navigation sensors that allow you to create virtual barriers while others come with small physical barriers and boundary strips that can be placed wherever you'd like to limit your floor space.
The top robot vacuums and mops are intelligent enough to recognize obstacles and navigate around them However, there are certain dangers to be on the lookout for. The main brush of a robot could get 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 long curtains before running your robot.
Certain robots automatically update their software which regulates navigation and obstacle avoidance algorithm. This enhances performance and reduces wear and tear of the robot's internal components. It's a good idea periodically to check the manufacturer's site or your robot app for firmware updates.
If you live in a huge house, choose one that comes with several cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max, for instance, can mop and vacuum on both hard floors and carpeted rooms with different suction levels. It also has the ability to automatically switch to the highest power setting on carpets and increase its scrubbing power by using SmartScrub.
A robot that has a voice assistant is a great choice if you want to be hands off. The iRobot Roomba 980 can be operated by Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant. It has a small self-emptying docking system as well as a powerful cleaning motor that will leave your floors sparkling.