Vacuuming With a Robot Hoover is the Best Hands-Off Model We've Tested
This top-quality bot from Eufy is the most hands-free model we've tested so far. It vacuums, mops, and self-empties its bin, washes and dry mop pads without your intervention.
It's not equipped with the latest cleaning techniques and a bigger docking station but delivers a stellar performance for less than half the cost of high-end robotic vacuums. It also has an incredibly compact design that can be able to reach under furniture.
Vacuuming
Vacuuming using a robot hoover is a simple, quick way to keep your floors clean and tidy. The majority of the robots we've selected are designed to operate without any involvement from you, so you can set them up to clean your floors while you're away, or even trigger a session from your smartphone. You'll want to select an excellent robot that can navigate and object detection in order to avoid getting stuck in furniture or on the stairs.
Some models are better at removing pet hair from rugs than others, so 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 the nozzle does not lose suction as it rotates to remove debris.
The majority of robots require little or any maintenance, other than removing tangled fur from the rotating brush after each cleaning session (and wiping its camera or sensors when needed) and then periodically emptying the bin or using a robot's self-emptying base. If you follow these simple steps to maintain your robot, the vacuum will last as long as regular vacuums and help keep your home tidy for longer.
Robotic mops aren't as versatile than vacuums, however some also remove spills and puddles. The iLife V3s Pro, a great example of machine, is a great choice for those with carpets, rugs, or wood floors. It is quiet and has excellent navigation capabilities, which helped it overcome obstacles during tests. The charging dock can also function as a trash bin.
Select a robotic vacuum cleaner that has the ability to mop at the same time. Karcher's RCV 5 can do that, and also has other features that are useful like live cameras, which transmits a blurry picture to your app, so you can keep an eye on your pet or kids and a remote control that is easily programmable. The navigation isn't as robust as other models we've reviewed however it is able to lift it over low thresholds and comes with a large 500ml trash bin that doesn't have to be emptied often.
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, however, the additional cost could be worth it for many people, especially those with hard-to-clean stains or lots of pets.
The best robots can clean floors and carpets as well as vacuuming. There are a number of brands that offer all-in-one robotics that perform both jobs extremely well. The Combo J9+ is among the most effective mopping robots that we have test. 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 water after only mopping 30 days of dirt in our tests.
The Tapo RV30 Plus from networking giant TP Link is a great two-in-one. It's compact, quiet and has an elegant, easy-to-use look. In our test rooms, it cleaned the floors thoroughly and precisely - it did particularly well on rugs, however it took several runs to completely remove soiled areas from wood. Its LIDAR navigation is very effective, too. It prevents hitting furniture or running over power cables.
It's a bit slow on the stairs but that's expected from a compact robot that is designed to work around obstacles. The only downside is that the mopping pads are fiddly to attach and didn't remain in place during our tests, and it does not have the capability to deal with dried-on dirt that makes it more like a vacuum cleaner rather instead of a full-fledged mop.
Despite these shortcomings however, it's a great option for those looking for an effortless cleaning experience that can handle bare and low-pile carpets with equal ease. It offers a decent amount of suction, which has helped to pick up fine dust and pet hair from carpets. Automatic carpet recognition is a great feature, since it boosts the power of vacuuming to better tackle embedded dirt. It's also user-friendly and has a handy charging dock that automatically empty the dust bin once it's full. This is a huge benefit for those who live in flats.
Cleaning apps
Almost every robot vacuum, mop, and sweeper has an app that lets you customize cleaning routines, pick rooms to clean, plan cleaning sessions, and change settings such as suction, water level and scrubbing power. Certain robots also provide intelligent dirt detection, which uses past cleaning data and map information to prioritize areas of dirt and optimize cleaning mode.
Having an app also allows you to set up virtual barriers and no-go zones to shield your robot from potentially dangerous objects such as cords and pet water bowls and sharp objects. Certain models let you create these virtual barriers with laser navigation sensors, while others have small physical barriers or boundary strips you can place wherever you'd like to block your floor.
The most effective robot vacuums and mops are smart enough to spot obstacles and maneuver around them However, there are certain risks to be aware for. The principal brush of a robot can become stuck in long cords or curtains and stop it dead in its tracks. You can prevent this by clearing the area of all cords and tying up any curtains that are long prior to running your robot.
Certain robots automatically update their software that regulates the algorithm for navigation and obstacle avoidance. This improves performance and reduces the 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 own a large house, consider 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 also has the ability to automatically change to the highest power setting on carpets and increase its scrubbing power by using SmartScrub.
A robot that has an integrated voice assistant is a great choice if you want to be hands off. The iRobot Roomba 980, for example, can be operated with a simple command from Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant. It has a compact self-emptying docking station as well as powerful cleaning motor that will leave your floors sparkling.