Vacuuming With a Robot Hoover is the Best Hands-Off Model We've Tested
This premium Eufy bot is the most hands-off model we've tested so far. It vacuums, mop, self-empties, and washes and dry mop pads without your involvement.
It doesn't feature advanced cleaning modes or a bigger docking system, but it offers outstanding performance for less than half the price of the most expensive robotic vacuums. It's compact and can reach under furniture.
Vacuuming
A robot vac uum is an easy and quick method of keeping your floors clean. A lot of the models we've selected are designed to run on their own without your involvement, so you can set them up to clean while you're away or trigger a session from your smartphone. However, you'll want to look for a model with superior navigation and obstacle detection to ensure that it won't get stuck down the stairs or underneath furniture.
Some models are better at picking up pet hairs from rugs than others, which is why it's crucial to select a robot that can efficiently and effectively vacuum all types of flooring. Find a model with a a dustbin that can 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 cleaning the tangled fur off the rotating brush after every cleaning session (and wiping its sensors or camera as needed) and regularly emptying the bin or using a robot's self-emptying base. If you follow these easy maintenance steps, your robot vacuum should last the same amount of time as a traditional vacuum and help keep your home clean for longer.
While robot mops tend to be less versatile than their vacuuming counterparts they do have the ability to suck up the puddles and spills while they're at it. The iLife V3s Pro is an example of such a device, which is a solid option for those with wood floors or a mix of rugs and carpets. It is quiet and has good navigation capabilities, which allowed it to avoid obstacles when tested. The charging dock can also double as a trash bin.
For the best results, choose an appliance that can do mopping and vacuuming at the same time. This is what the Karcher RCV 5 does, and it also offers additional useful features, such as live cameras that stream a grainy image to your smartphone so you can monitor your pets or children as well as an easily-programmable remote control. Its navigation may not be as good as the other models in this collection but its 500ml trash bin is large and doesn't require frequent emptying.
Mopping
Robots 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 many people, particularly those who have difficult-to-clean stains or pets.
Some of the top robots that vacuum and mop can also do an excellent job at cleaning bare floors and carpets. Many manufacturers offer machines capable of doing both exceptionally effectively. The Combo J9+ is among the most efficient mopping machines that we've tested. It uses docks that can hold up to 60 days worth of debris. This is a huge improvement over 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 another very excellent two-in-one. It's quiet, compact, and has a clean, fuss-free appearance. In our test rooms, it scrubbed the floors thoroughly and precisely - it did particularly well on rugs, however it took multiple runs to fully clean certain areas of soiled wood. Its LIDAR navigation system functions well, avoiding crashing into furniture or tripping over power cords.
It's a little slow on the stairs, but that's to be expected from a compact robot that's designed to overcome obstacles. The only issue is that its mopping pads can be difficult to attach and didn't stay in place during our tests, and it isn't equipped to deal with dirt that has dried, which makes it more like a vacuum cleaner rather than a full-fledged robot mop.
Despite these shortcomings however, it's a great option for those seeking an easy-to-clean experience that can take care of carpets with equal ease. It was able to provide a lot of suction which helped it pick up fine dust from carpets and pet hair. Automatic carpet recognition is a fantastic feature since it boosts the power of vacuuming to tackle dirt that has been embedded. It's also simple to use and has a handy charging dock that automatically empties the dust bin once it's filled, which is a huge benefit for flat dwellers.
Cleaning apps
Almost every robot vacuum mop, sweeper, or mop has an app that lets you customize cleaning routines, choose rooms to clean, plan cleaning sessions, and change settings such as suction, water level, and the power of scrubbing. Some robots also have intelligent dirt detection, which utilizes past cleaning data and map data to prioritize dirty areas and optimize cleaning mode.
You can also use an app to create virtual barriers and no-go zones to shield your robot away from dangerous objects, like cords and pet water bowls. Some models allow you to create these virtual barriers with laser navigation sensors, and others come with small physical barriers or boundary strips you can place wherever you'd like to keep your floor.
There are still risks to be aware of, even though the most effective robot vacuums can recognize and navigate around obstacles. For instance, a robot's main brush can become stuck in long cords or curtains and stop the machine from running. To prevent this from happening, you can clear the area of cords and tie up any curtains that are long.
Some robots will automatically update the software that governs their navigation and obstacle avoidance techniques, which enhances performance and reduces wear and tear on the robot's internal components. It's recommended to check the firmware periodically to check the website of the manufacturer or your robot's application for updates to the firmware.
If you own a large home, you should consider models that have multiple cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max can sweep and vacuum hard and carpeted floors using different suction settings. It can also automatically change to the highest power setting on carpets and increase its scrubbing capabilities with SmartScrub.
If you're looking to be completely hands-free, a robotic device with the ability to speak to a voice-activated assistant is a great option. The iRobot Roomba 980 can be operated by Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant. It comes with a compact self-emptying docking station as well as powerful cleaning motor that leaves your floors sparkling.