Clarice Meyers

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 that we have tested so far. It vacuums, mops, self-empties its bin, washes and dries mop pads with no intervention from you.

It isn't equipped with advanced cleaning modes and a bigger docking station, but it delivers stellar performance for less than half the cost of premium robot vacuums. It also boasts the ability to reach under furniture.

Vacuuming

A robot vacuum is an easy and quick method of keeping your floors tidy. A lot of the models we've picked are built to run without any involvement from you, so you can set them up to clean while you're away or trigger a session 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 stairs.

It's important to select 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 an nozzle that doesn't lose suction as it rotates to take debris.

Most robots need little to no maintenance other than getting rid of hair that is tangled from the rotating brush (and wiping its cameras or sensors as needed) after every cleaning session, and then emptying the trash bin or using an automatic floor cleaners emptying base when the robot is equipped with one. If you follow these easy upkeep steps, your robot vacuum should last the same amount of time as a traditional vacuum and help keep your home looking cleaner for longer.

Robotic mops aren't as versatile than vacuums, however some also pick up puddles and spills. The iLife V3s Pro is an example of such a device, which is a great option for those with hardwood floors or a mix of carpets and rugs. It is quiet and has excellent navigation capabilities, which helped it avoid obstacles during testing. The charging dock can also function as a trash bin.

For the best results, select an appliance that can do mopping and vacuuming simultaneously. This is what the Karcher RCV 5 does, and it also offers other useful features such as live cameras that send an unreliable image to your app so you can check on your pets or children and also a remote vacuum control that is easily programmed. Its navigation isn't as reliable as other models in our collection however it is able to lift its own thresholds to a certain level and has a generous 500ml dustbin that doesn't need to be emptying often.

Mopping

Robots that vacuum and mops are relatively new to the market. These machines are more expensive and require a separate tank of water, unlike standalone robots. However, they might be worth the extra cost for those who have hard-to-clean stains clean or pets.

Some of the top robots can clean floors and carpets as well as vacuum. Several brands now offer all-in-one machines that can do both jobs extremely well. The Combo J9+ is among the most effective mopping robots that we have 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 water after only mopping 30 days of dirt in our tests.

The Tapo RV30 plus from networking giant TP Link is a excellent two-in-one. It is compact, quiet and has a neat, fuss-free look. In our test rooms it cleaned the floors accurately and thoroughly. It was particularly good at cleaning rugs, but it took several runs to clean certain areas of soiled wooden. 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 it's to be expected from a small robot that is designed to work around obstacles. The only issue is the mopping pad attachment, which was difficult and didn't stay in the right position during our tests. It also lacks the ability of handling dust that has dried which makes it more of a vacuum than a robot mop.

Despite these shortcomings, it's still a solid option for those seeking an easy-to-clean experience. It can handle carpets with equal competence. It has a decent amount of suction, which has helped to clean fine dust and pet hair from carpets. Automatic carpet recognition is a wonderful feature since it boosts the power of vacuuming to tackle dirt that has been embedded. It's also user-friendly and comes with a convenient charging dock that automatically empty the bin once it's full, which is a great benefit for flat dwellers.

Cleaning apps

The majority of robot vacuums, mop and sweepers come with an application that lets you modify cleaning routines. You can also choose rooms to be cleaned, plan cleaning sessions, and alter settings such as suction as well as the amount of water and scrubbing power. Certain robots have intelligent dirt detection that uses maps and cleaning data to prioritize dirty areas.

You can also make use of an app to create virtual barriers and no go zones to shield your robot safe from potentially dangerous objects, like cords and pet water bowls. Some models let you create these virtual barriers using laser navigation sensors, while others feature small physical boundaries or barriers to place wherever you'd like to keep your floor.

There are still dangers to be aware of, even though the top robot vacuums can detect and avoid obstacles. The primary brush of a robot can be caught in long cords or curtains, and stop it dead in its tracks. To prevent this, you can remove the cords and tie up any curtains that are long.

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

If you live in a big home, you should choose a model that has multiple cleaning robot price modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max can clean and mop hard and carpeted floors with different suction settings. It also has the ability to automatically switch to the highest power setting on carpets and increase its scrubbing capabilities with SmartScrub.

A robot with a voice assistant is a fantastic option when you want to keep your hands off. The iRobot Roomba 980 can be controlled by Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant. It comes with a compact self cleaning vacuum-emptying docking system and a powerful cleaning motor that leaves your floors sparkling.