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 to date. It vacuums, mops, self-empties its bin, washes and dries mop pads without your intervention.
It's not equipped with the latest cleaning techniques and a larger docking station, but provides stellar performance at a fraction of the cost of high-end robotic vacuums. It is compact in design and can be positioned to reach under furniture.
Vacuuming
A robot vacuum is a simple and quick method of keeping your floors tidy. Many of the robots we've picked are built to operate without the involvement of you You can set them up to clean your floors while you're away, or even trigger a session from your smartphone. But, you should select a model that has superior navigation and obstacle detection to ensure it will not get stuck on the stairs or underneath furniture.
robot cleaner are better at picking up pet hair from rugs than others, which is why it's also important to choose the right model that will efficiently and effectively vacuum all types of flooring. Choose a model with a large dust bin that will hold a lot of dirt between emptyings and a nozzle that does not lose suction when it turns.
Most robots require minimal to no maintenance, aside from cleaning the tangled fur off the rotating brush after each cleaning session (and wiping its sensors or camera as required) and periodically emptying the bin or using a 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 will help keep your home looking cleaner for longer.
Robot mops aren't as flexible than vacuums, but they can also clean up spills and puddles. The iLife V3s Pro is an example of a machine which is a solid option for those with hardwood floors or a combination of carpets and rugs. It's quiet and has excellent navigation capabilities that have helped it avoid obstacles during testing, and the charging dock doubles as a trash bin.
Select a robotic vacuum cleaner that can also mop simultaneously. Karcher's RCV 5 does that, and has other features that are beneficial like live cameras, which sends a blurry image to your app, so that you can keep an eye on your kids or pet as well as remote controls that are easily programmable. The navigation isn't as robust as the other models we've reviewed, but it can lift its own thresholds to a certain level and has a generous 500ml dustbin that doesn't have to be emptying 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 difficult-to-clean stains, or lots of pets.
The best robots can clean floors and carpets as well as vacuum. There are many brands that offer robots that can do both jobs exceptionally efficiently. The Combo J9+, as an instance, is among the top mopping robots we've tested. It comes with an impressively large dock that can accommodate up to 60 days of debris. This is an enormous improvement over the Qrevo Pro which ran out water after mopping only 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 scrubbed the floors thoroughly and precisely and efficiently. It was particularly effective on rugs, however it took multiple runs to fully remove soiled areas from wood. Its LIDAR navigation system performs well, avoiding crashing into furniture or tripping over power cords.
It's a bit sluggish on the stairs however that's to expected from a compact robot that's designed to overcome obstacles. The only drawback is its mopping pad attachment that was difficult to use and wouldn't stay in place during our tests. It is also not capable of dealing with dust that has dried on and dust, which makes it more like an ordinary vacuum cleaner than a robot mop.
It's still a great choice for those who prefer a hands-free experience and want to clean low-pile or unfinished carpets equally. It has a decent amount of suction, which has helped to remove dust and pet hair from carpets. One of the most appealing features is its automatic carpet recognition which boosts the power of the vacuuming to take on dirt that is embedded. It's also user-friendly and comes with a convenient charging dock that automatically empties the dust bin once it's filled, which is a great benefit for flat dwellers.
Cleaning apps
Nearly every robot vacuum mop, sweeper, and vacuum has an app that lets you customize cleaning routines, pick rooms to clean, plan cleaning sessions, and adjust settings such as suction, water level and scrubbing power. Some robots also have intelligent dirt detection, which utilizes the data from previous cleaning sessions and maps data to identify areas that are dirty and optimize cleaning mode.
You can also make use of an app to create virtual barriers and no-go zones to shield your robot away from dangerous objects, such as cords and pet water bowls. Some models allow you to create these virtual barriers with laser navigation sensors, and others have small physical boundaries or barriers which you can put wherever you'd like to keep off your floor area.
The most effective robot vacuums and mops are smart enough to spot obstacles and avoid them, but there are still certain risks to be aware for. For instance, a robot's main brush could get stuck in long cords or curtains, which can stop the machine from moving. You can prevent this from happening by clearing the area of all cords and tying off any curtains that are long before operating your robot.
Certain robots automatically update their software that regulates navigation and obstacle avoidance algorithm. This enhances performance and reduces wear and tear of the robot's internal parts. It's recommended to check the firmware periodically to check the manufacturer's site or your robot's app for firmware updates.
If you have a huge home, look for a model with multiple cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max can sweep and vacuum carpeted and hard floors with different suction settings. It also has the ability to automatically change to the highest power setting on carpets and boost its scrubbing power with SmartScrub.
A robot that has a voice assistant is a great option for those who want to be hands off. The iRobot Roomba 980 can be controlled by Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant. It is equipped with a compact self-emptying docking system and a powerful cleaning motor that will leave your floors sparkling.