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 seen so far. It vacuums, mops and self-empties and dry mop pads without your intervention.
It's not equipped with the latest cleaning techniques and a larger docking station, but provides stellar performance for less than half the price of top-end robot vacuums. It's compact and can reach under furniture.
Vacuuming
Vacuuming with a robot hoover is a fast, simple way to keep your floors looking and feeling clean. Many of the robots we've chosen are designed to run on their own without the involvement of you You can set them up to sweep while you're out or start an appointment from your phone. However, you'll want to look for a model with excellent navigation and obstacle detection to ensure it will not get stuck on the stairs or under furniture.
Some models are better at removing pet hair from rugs than others, so it's crucial to select an item that is able to efficiently and effectively clean all flooring types. Choose a model that has a a dustbin that can hold plenty of dirt between emptying and a nozzle that does not lose suction as it rotates to remove debris.
The majority of robots require little or no maintenance, aside from removing tangled fur from the rotating brush after each cleaning session (and wiping its camera or sensors as required) and periodically emptying the bin or using the robot's self-emptying base. If you follow these simple maintenance steps, your robot vacuum should last the same amount of time as a traditional vacuum and help keep your home looking cleaner for longer.
While robot mops are generally less versatile than their vacuuming counterparts they do have the capability of absorbing spills and puddles while doing their thing. The iLife V3s Pro, a good example of this type of machine, is a fantastic option for those who have carpets and rugs or wood floors. 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.
For the best results, pick the robot that is capable of both vacuuming and mopping at the same time. That's what the Karcher RCV 5 can handle, and it also offers other handy features like a live camera that broadcasts an unreliable image to your smartphone so you can check on your pet or kids and also a remote control that is easily programmed. Its navigation may not be as precise as some of the other models in this selection however, its 500ml dustbin is big enough and doesn't require frequent emptying.
Mopping
robot vacuum cleaner robotvacuummops that vacuum and mop are relatively new to the market. They're more expensive than standalone robots and require an additional water tank, but the extra expense may be worth it for some people, especially those with hard-to-clean stains or pets.
Some of the top robots that mop and vacuum also do a great job in cleaning floors that are not clean and carpets. Several brands now offer all-in-one robots that do both jobs extremely well. The Combo J9+ is among the most effective mopping robots that we've test. It has docks that can hold up to 60 days' worth of dirt. This is a huge improvement over the Qrevo Pro, which ran out of water after mopping only 30 days of dirt in 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 cleaned the floors efficiently 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 is effective as well. It avoids bumping into furniture and running over power cables.
It's a little slow on the stairs however that's to expected in a compact robot that's designed to overcome obstacles. Its only downside is its mopping pad attachment which was difficult and wouldn't stay in place during our tests. It also has a problem dealing with dust that has dried on which makes it more of a vacuum than a robot mop.
Despite these issues, it's still a solid choice for those who want an easy-to-clean experience. It can handle carpets that are bare or low-pile with equal ease. It was able to provide a lot of suction, which helped it remove fine dust from carpets and pet hair. Automatic carpet recognition is a great feature, because it boosts the vacuuming power 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 an excellent feature for apartment dwellers.
Cleaning apps
Almost every robot vacuum, mop, and sweeper has an application that lets you modify cleaning routines, choose rooms to clean, schedule cleaning sessions, and alter settings like suction, water level, and scrubbing power. Some robots also offer intelligent dirt detection, which makes use of the data from previous cleaning sessions and maps data to prioritize dirty areas and optimize cleaning mode.
The app allows you to create virtual barriers and no-go zones to shield your robot from potentially dangerous objects like cords or pet water bowls and sharp objects. Certain models have laser navigation sensors that permit you to create virtual barriers while others have small physical boundaries and barriers that can be placed wherever you want to block your floor space.
The best robot vacuums and mops are intelligent enough to spot obstacles and navigate around them, but there are still some hazards to watch out for. For instance, the main brush can become stuck on long cords or curtains and stop the machine from moving. You can prevent this from happening by clearing the area of any cords and tying off any curtains that are long before operating your robot.
Some robots automatically update their software which controls the navigation and obstacle avoidance algorithm. This improves performance and reduces the wear and tear of the robot's internal parts. It's a good idea regularly to check the website of the manufacturer or your robot app for firmware updates.
If you live in a large home, select one that comes with multiple cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max, for instance, can be used to vacuum and mop on both hard floors and carpeted rooms that have different suction levels. It also has the ability to automatically switch the power setting to the highest level when cleaning carpets and increase its scrubbing strength with SmartScrub.
A robot with a voice assistant is a great option when you want to keep your hands off. The iRobot Roomba 980 can be controlled by Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant. It has a small self-emptying docking device and a powerful cleaning motor that will leave your floors sparkling.