Vacuuming With a Robot Hoover is the Best Hands-Off Model We've Tested
This top-of-the-line Eufy bot is the best hands off model we have test so far. It vacuums, mops and self-empties its bin, washes and dries mop pads without your intervention.
It isn't equipped with advanced cleaning modes and a bigger docking station but delivers a stellar performance at a fraction of the cost of premium robot vacuums. It also has the ability to be able to reach under furniture.
Vacuuming
A robot vacuum is an easy and quick way to keep your floors tidy. Many of the robots we've picked are built to run without the involvement of you and you can set them up to sweep while you're away, or even trigger an appointment from your phone. However, you'll want to look for a model with excellent navigation and obstacle detection to ensure that it won't get stuck down the stairs or under furniture.
Certain models are better at removing pet hair from carpets than others, which is why it's also important to choose a robot that can effectively and efficiently clean all types of flooring. Look for a robot with an enormous dust bin that can hold a lot of dirt in between emptyings and a nozzle that doesn't lose suction when it rotates.
Most robots require little to no maintenance besides taking hair that has become tangled off the rotating brush (and wiping its cameras or sensors, as needed) after each cleaning session and regularly emptying the dustbin or an auto-emptying base, when the robot is equipped with one. If you follow these easy maintenance steps, your robot vac should last just as long as a full-size vacuum, and will help keep your home looking cleaner for longer.
While robot mops are generally less flexible than their vacuum counterparts, some have the added capability of absorbing spills and puddles while they're working. The iLife V3s Pro is an example of a machine which is a solid option for those with wood floors or a mix of rugs and carpets. It's quiet and has excellent navigation capabilities that allowed it to avoid obstacles during testing, and the charging dock can also double as a trash bin.
Pick a robot vacuum cleaner that has the ability to mop at the same time. Karcher's RCV 5 is able to do this, and it also comes with other useful features like live cameras that broadcasts a grainy picture to your app, so that you can keep an eye on your pet or kids and remote controls that are easily programable. robotic vacuum cleaners might not be as efficient as some of the other models in this selection however, its 500ml dustbin is large and doesn't require frequent emptying.
Mopping
Robots that mop and vacuum are a fairly new addition 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 many people, particularly those with hard-to-clean stains or lots of pets.
Some of the top robots can clean carpets and floors as well as vacuum. Many brands are now offering all-in-one robots that do both jobs extremely well. The Combo j9+, for example, is one of the top mopping machines we've tested. It comes with an impressively large dock that can hold up to 60 days worth of dirt. This is a significant improvement over the Qrevo Pro, which ran out of water after mopping 30 days' worth of dirt in our tests.
The Tapo RV30 plus from networking giant TP-Link is a excellent two-in-one. smart robot and has an elegant, easy-to-use look. In our test rooms, it was able to clean the floors thoroughly and precisely - it did particularly well on rugs but it took several runs to thoroughly clean some areas of soiled wood. Its LIDAR navigation is very effective as well. It prevents hitting furniture or running over power cables.
It's a bit sluggish on the stairs, but that's to be expected in a compact robot that's designed to work around obstacles. The only issue is that the mopping pads can be difficult to attach and didn't stay in place during our tests, and it does not have the capability to deal with dirt that has dried and makes it more like a vacuum cleaner rather than a full-fledged robot mop.
It's a great option for those who prefer a hands-free experience and want to clean low-pile or unfinished carpets equally. It was able to provide a lot of suction, which allowed it to remove fine dust from carpets and pet hair. One of the best features is its automatic carpet recognition, which increases the strength of the vacuum to take on dirt that is embedded. It is simple to use, and the charging dock automatically emptyes the trash bin when it's full. This is a great feature for those who live in apartments.
Cleaning Apps
Almost every robot vacuum mop, sweeper, and vacuum has an application that lets you personalize cleaning routines, choose rooms to clean, plan cleaning sessions, and alter settings such as suction, water level and scrubbing power. Certain robots have intelligent dirt detection that utilizes maps and cleaning data to identify dirty areas.
You can also make use of an app to create virtual barriers and no go zones to protect your robot away from dangerous objects, such as cords and pet water bowls. Certain models have laser navigation sensors that permit you to create virtual barriers while others feature small physical barriers and boundary strips you can place anywhere you'd like to limit the floor area.
There are still hazards to be aware of even though the best robot vacuums can detect and navigate around obstacles. The principal brush of a robot can become stuck in long cords or curtains, and stop it from moving. You can avoid this by clearing the area of any cords and tying off any curtains that are long before operating your robot.
Some robots automatically update their software, which controls the navigation and obstacle avoidance algorithm. This improves performance and decreases the wear and tear of the robot's internal components. It's recommended to check the firmware periodically to check the manufacturer's site or your robot application for updates to the firmware.
If you have a large home, you should consider models that have multiple cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max can sweep and vacuum hard and carpeted floors with different suction settings. It also has the ability to automatically switch the highest power setting when cleaning carpets, and boost its scrubbing strength by using SmartScrub.
A robot with a voice assistant is a great choice when you want to keep your hands off. The iRobot Roomba 980, for instance, is able to be operated with a simple command from Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant. It comes with a compact, self-emptying docking station and powerful cleaning motor that leaves your floors sparkling.