Vacuuming With a Robot Hoover is the Best Hands-Off Model We've Tested
This top-quality bot from Eufy is the best hands-off model we've seen so far. It vacuums, mops, self-empties, and washes and drys mop pads all without your involvement.
It isn't equipped with advanced cleaning modes and a bigger docking station, but provides impressive performance at a fraction of the price of top-end robot vacuums. It has a compact design and is able to reach under furniture.
Vacuuming
A robot vacuum is a convenient and quick method of keeping your floors clean. A lot of the models we've chosen are designed to operate without your involvement and you can set them up to sweep while you're away, or even trigger the session using your smartphone. However, you'll want to select a model that has superior navigation and obstacle detection to ensure it will not be stuck on the stairs or under furniture.
It is essential to choose a robot vacuum that can effectively and efficiently clean all kinds of flooring. Look for a model with an empty bin that is able to hold plenty of dirt in between emptying and the nozzle does not lose suction when it rotates to take debris.
The majority of robots require little or no maintenance, other than removing tangled fur from the rotating brush after each cleaning session (and wiping its sensors or camera as required) and then periodically emptying the bin, or using a robot's self-emptying base. If you follow these easy maintenance steps, your robot vacuum should last as long as a regular vacuum cleaner and keep your home cleaner for longer.
While robot mops are generally less versatile than their vacuuming counterparts they do have the ability to suck up spills and puddles while they're at it. 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 overcome obstacles during tests. The charging dock can also double as a trash bin.
To get the best results, select an appliance that can do both vacuuming and mopping at the same time. That's exactly what the Karcher RCV 5 can do and it comes with additional useful features, such as live cameras that send an unreliable image to your app so you can check on your pets or children, as well as an easily programmable remote control. 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 comes with a large 500ml dustbin that doesn't have to be emptying often.
Mopping
Robots that mop and vacuum are relatively new to the market. They are more expensive and require an additional tank of water, unlike standalone robots. However, they might be worth the extra cost for those who have staining that is difficult to clean or pets.
Some of the top robots that mop and vacuum also be very effective at cleaning bare floors and carpets. Several brands now offer all-in-one robotics that perform both jobs extremely well. The Combo J9+, as an example, is among the top mopping robots we've tested. It comes with an impressively large dock that can accommodate up to 60 days worth of debris. This is a huge improvement over the Qrevo Pro, which ran out of water after mopping only 30 days worth of dirt in our tests.
The Tapo RV30 Plus from networking giant TP Link is a fantastic two-in-one. It's quiet, compact and has a neat, easy-to-clean appearance. In our test rooms, it cleaned the floors thoroughly and precisely - it did particularly well on rugs, however it took multiple runs to fully clean some areas of soiled wood. Its LIDAR navigation is very effective, too. It avoids bumping into furniture or running over power cables.
best automatic vacuum 's a bit slow on the stairs, but it's to be expected from a small robot that is designed to work around obstacles. Its only downside is its mopping pad attachment, that was difficult to use and didn't stay in place during our tests. It also has a problem handling dust that has dried and dust, which makes it more like the vacuum rather than a mop.
Despite these issues however, it's a great option for those seeking an easy-to-clean experience that can handle carpets that are bare or low-pile with equal competence. It offers a decent amount of suction, which has helped to remove dust and pet hair from carpets. Automatic recognition of carpets is a fantastic feature as it increases the power of vacuuming to tackle dirt that has been embedded. It is simple to use and the charging dock automatically emptyes the trash bin when it's full. This is an excellent feature for apartment dwellers.
Cleaning apps
The majority of robot vacuums, mops and sweepers have an application that allows you to modify cleaning routines. You can also select rooms to be cleaned, plan cleaning sessions and change settings such as suction, the amount of water and scrubbing power. Certain robots also provide intelligent dirt detection, which makes use of the data from previous cleaning sessions and maps data to identify areas that are dirty and optimize cleaning mode.
You can also use an app to create virtual barriers and no go zones to protect your robot safe from potentially dangerous objects, such as cords and pet water bowls. Some 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 want to block the floor space.
The best robot vacuums and mops are smart enough to spot obstacles and maneuver around them, but there are still some hazards to watch out for. The main brush of a robot can be caught in long cords or curtains, and stop it in its tracks. You can prevent this from happening by clearing the area of any cords and tie up any curtains that are long before operating your robot.
Some robots automatically update their software which controls navigation and obstacle avoidance algorithm. This improves performance and reduces the wear and tear of the robot's internal components. It is a good idea to regularly check the website of the manufacturer or the app of your robot for updates to the firmware.
If you own a large home, look for a model with multiple cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max, for instance, can be used to mop and vacuum carpeted and hard flooring rooms with different suction levels. It can also automatically switch the power setting to the highest level when cleaning carpets, and boost its scrubbing power with SmartScrub.
A robot that has 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 device and a powerful cleaning motor that makes your floors sparkling.