Alissa Loyau

Vacuuming With a Robot Hoover is the Best Hands-Off Model We've Tested

This top-of-the-line Eufy bot is the most hands off model we have tested so far. It vacuums, mops, self-empties, and washes and dry mop pads without your intervention.

It lacks advanced cleaning modes and a bigger docking station but delivers a impressive performance for less than half the price of top-end robot vacuums. It's compact and can be positioned to reach under furniture.

Vacuuming

A robot vacuum is a simple and quick method of keeping your floors tidy. A majority of the robots featured that we recommend are designed to operate without your intervention You can set them to run when you're away or initiate cleaning sessions from your smartphone. But, you must look for a model with excellent navigation and obstacle detection to ensure that it won't get stuck down the stairs or beneath furniture.

Some models are better at removing pet hairs from rugs than others, so it's crucial to select an item that is able to efficiently and effectively clean all types of flooring. Choose a model with a large dustbin that will hold a large amount of dirt between emptyings and a nozzle that does not lose suction as it rotates.

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, when needed) after every cleaning session, and then emptying the trash bin or a self-emptying base if the robot has one. If you follow these simple steps to maintain your robot, the robotic vacuum cleaners should last as long as full-size Vacuums Robot and keep your home cleaner for longer.

Robot mops are less versatile than vacuums but some can also clean up puddles and spills. The iLife V3s Pro is an example of a machine which is a great option for those with hardwood floors or a mix of rugs and carpets. It is quiet and has good navigation capabilities, which allowed it to avoid obstacles during testing. The charging dock also doubles as trash bin.

To get the best results, pick the robot that is capable of both vacuuming and mopping simultaneously. That's what the Karcher RCV 5 can do, and it also offers other handy features like a live camera that broadcasts an image that is grainy to your app so that you can check on your children or pets, as well as an easily-programmable remote control. Its navigation isn't as reliable as the other models we've reviewed however it is able to lift itself over low thresholds and has a generous 500ml trash bin that doesn't have to be cleaned frequently.

Mopping

Robots that mop and vacuum are relatively new to the market. They are more expensive than standalone robots and require a separate water tank, but the extra cost may be worth it for a lot of people, especially those with difficult-to-clean stains, or lots of pets.

Some of the best robots that mop and vacuum also be very effective cleaning floors with no carpets. There are a number of brands that offer all-in-one robotics that perform both jobs extremely well. The Combo J9+, for instance, is among the best amazon vacuum mopping robots we've tested and uses an impressively large dock that can hold up to 60 days worth of debris. This is a significant improvement over the Qrevo Pro which ran out water after only 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 quiet and compact and has a neat, easy-to-clean appearance. In our test rooms, it was able to clean the floors thoroughly and accurately and efficiently. It was particularly effective on rugs, but it required multiple runs to fully remove soiled areas from wood. Its LIDAR navigation system performs well too, avoiding bumping into furniture or tripping over power cords.

It's a bit sluggish on the stairs, but that's expected from a compact robot that is designed to work around obstacles. The only drawback is its mopping pad attachment that was difficult to use and wouldn't stay in place during our tests. It also lacks the ability of dealing with dried-on dust which makes it more of the vacuum rather than a mop.

Despite these shortcomings, it's still a solid option for those looking for an effortless cleaning experience that can take care of bare and low-pile carpets with equal competence. It has a decent amount of suction, which has helped to remove dust and pet hair from carpets. One of the best features is its automatic floor cleaner carpet recognition which enhances the effectiveness of the robotic vacuum cleaner reviews to take on dirt that is embedded. It is simple to use and the charging dock automatically empty the bin when it's full. This is a great feature for those who live in apartments.

Cleaning Apps

Most robot vacuums, mop and sweepers have an app that allows you to alter the cleaning routines. You can also choose rooms to be cleaned, schedule cleaning sessions and change settings like suction, the amount of water and scrubbing power. Certain robots also provide intelligent dirt detection, which makes use of past cleaning data and map data to prioritize dirty areas and optimize cleaning mode.

A smartphone app can also allow you to set up virtual barriers and no-go zones to keep your robot away from potentially dangerous objects such as cords and pet water bowls and sharp objects. Some models come with laser navigation sensors that allow you to create virtual barriers, while others feature small physical boundaries and barriers that you can place anywhere you wish to restrict your floor space.

The best robot vacuums and mops are intelligent enough to detect obstacles and maneuver around them, but there are still certain dangers to be on the lookout for. The main brush of a robot could be caught in long cords or curtains, and stop it dead in its tracks. You can prevent this from happening by clearing the area of any cords and tying up any curtains that are long prior to running your robot.

Certain robots automatically update their software which controls 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 regularly to check the website of the manufacturer or the app for updates to firmware.

If you have a large home, look for models that have multiple cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max, for instance, can mop and vacuum on both hard floors and carpeted rooms that have different suction levels. It can also automatically change to the highest rated robot vacuum power setting on carpets and boost its scrubbing capabilities with SmartScrub.

A robot with an integrated voice assistant is a great choice when you want to keep your hands off. The iRobot Roomba 980 can be operated by Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant. It has a small self-emptying docking system and a powerful cleaning motor that makes your floors sparkling.