Vacuuming With a Robot Hoover is the Best Hands-Off Model We've Tested
This top-of-the-line bot from Eufy is the most hands-free model we've tested to date. It vacuums, mops and self-empties its bin and washes and dries mop pads with no intervention from you.
It's not equipped with the latest cleaning techniques and a larger docking station but delivers a impressive performance at a fraction of the cost of high-end robotic vacuums. It is compact in design and is able to reach under furniture.
Vacuuming
A robot vacuum is a simple and quick way to keep your floors spotless. The majority of the robots we've included that we have selected are designed to work without your input You can set them to run while you're out or trigger cleaning sessions from your phone. However, good robot vacuum 'll want to choose a model that has 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, which is why it's important to select an item that is able to efficiently and effectively clean all types of flooring. Look for a robot with a large dust bin that will hold a large amount of dirt in between emptyings, and a nozzle which does not lose suction as it rotates.
Most robots require little to no maintenance, aside from cleaning the tangled fur off the rotating brush after every cleaning session (and wiping its camera or sensors when required) and periodically emptying the bin, or using the robot's self-emptying base. If you follow these easy steps to maintain your robot, the vacuum should last as long as larger vacuums and will keep your home clean for longer.
While robot mops tend to be less versatile than their vacuuming counterparts they do have the ability to suck up the puddles and spills while they're working. The iLife V3s Pro, a good example of this type of machine, is an excellent choice for those with carpets and rugs or wood floors. It's quiet and has solid navigation capabilities that helped it overcome obstacles during testing, and the charging dock doubles as a trash can.
Choose a robot vacuum cleaner that has the ability to mop simultaneously. That's exactly what the Karcher RCV 5 can do and it comes with other handy features like a live camera that broadcasts an image that is grainy to your app so you can monitor your children or pets, as well as an easily programmable remote control. Its navigation may not be as precise as the other models in this selection but its 500ml trash bin is spacious and doesn't need frequent emptying.
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, but the extra expense may be worth it for a lot of people, particularly those who have difficult-to-clean stains or pets.
Some of the top robots that vacuum and mop also be very effective cleaning floors with no carpets. Many brands offer robots that can do both jobs exceptionally well. The Combo J9+ is among the most effective mopping robots that we've tested. It has a dock that can store up to 60 days' worth of debris. That's a big improvement on the Qrevo Pro, which ran out of water after mopping just 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 is clean and easy to maintain an appearance. In our test rooms it cleaned the floors efficiently and thoroughly. It was particularly effective in cleaning rugs, however it took several runs to clean certain areas of wood that were stained. Its LIDAR navigation is very effective, too. It prevents hitting furniture or running over power cables.
It's a bit sluggish on the stairs, but it's to be expected from a small robot that is designed to work around obstacles. The only drawback is that the mopping pads can be difficult to attach and didn't remain in place during our tests. Additionally, it does not have the capability to deal with dried-on dirt and makes it more like a vacuum cleaner rather than a full-fledged mop.
It's still an excellent choice for people who prefer a hands-off experience and want to clean low-pile or bare carpets equally well. It has decent suction, which has helped to pick up fine dust and pet hair from carpets. Automatic carpet recognition is a wonderful feature as it increases the power of vacuuming to better tackle embedded dirt. It is simple to use, and the charging dock automatically emptyes the trash bin when it's full. This is a great feature for apartment dwellers.
Cleaning Apps
The majority of robot vacuums, mops and sweepers have an application that lets you customize cleaning routines. You can also select rooms to be cleaned, plan cleaning sessions and adjust settings like suction as well as scrub strength and water levels. Certain robots also provide intelligent dirt detection, which uses past cleaning data and map information to prioritize areas of dirt and optimize cleaning mode.
You can also make use of an app to create virtual barriers and no go zones to keep your robot from dangerous objects, like cords and pet water bowls. Some models have laser navigation sensors that permit you to create virtual barriers, while others have small physical barriers and boundary strips that you can place anywhere you'd like to limit your floor space.
There are still dangers to be aware of, even though the best robot vacuums can recognize and navigate around obstacles. The principal brush of a robot could be caught in long cords or curtains and stop it from moving. To avoid this, you can clear the area of cords and tie up any curtains that are long.
Certain robots automatically update their software that controls navigation and obstacle avoidance algorithm. This improves performance and reduces the wear and tear on the robot's internal parts. It's a good idea regularly to check the manufacturer's site or your robot's application for updates to the firmware.
If you live in a big house, choose one that comes with several cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max, for instance, can mop and vacuum on carpeted floors as well as hard floor rooms that have different suction levels. It can also automatically switch the highest power setting when cleaning carpets, and also boost its scrubbing power with SmartScrub.
If you want to be hands-off, a robot with the ability to speak to a voice-activated assistant is a great option. The iRobot Roomba 980 can be operated by Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant. It has a small self-emptying docking station, as well as powerful cleaning motor that leaves your floors sparkling.