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 so far. It vacuums, mops, self-empties, and washes and drys mop pads all without your involvement.
It doesn't come with advanced cleaning options or a larger docking system, but it offers amazing performance for less than half the price of the top robotic vacuums. It also boasts a compact design that can reach under furniture.
Vacuuming
Vacuuming using a robot hoover is a quick, easy way to keep your floors clean and tidy. A majority of the robots featured in our top picks are designed to work without your input So you can schedule them to run when you're out or trigger cleaning sessions using your phone. But, you must look for a model with excellent navigation and obstacle detection so that it will not be stuck on the stairs or beneath furniture.
Certain models are better at removing pet hairs from rugs than others, which is why it's important to select a robot that can efficiently and effectively clean all types of flooring. Find a model with a dust bins that is able to hold plenty of dirt between emptying and an nozzle that does not lose suction when it rotates to get rid of debris.
The majority of robots require little or no maintenance, aside from taking out tangled fur from the rotating brush after each cleaning session (and wiping its camera or sensors when needed) and regularly emptying the bin, or using a robot's self-emptying base. If you follow these simple routine maintenance steps, your robotic vac should last just the same amount of time as a traditional vacuum and help keep your home cleaner for longer.
Robot mops aren't as flexible than vacuums, however some also clean up puddles and spills. The iLife V3s Pro, a great example of machine, is a fantastic option for those who have carpets and rugs as well as wood flooring. It is quiet and has excellent navigation capabilities, which helped it avoid obstacles during testing. The charging dock can also double as a trash bin.
For the best results, pick the robot that is capable of both vacuuming and mopping at the same time. Karcher's RCV 5 can do that, and has other features that are beneficial like live cameras that transmits a blurry picture to your app, so you can monitor your pet or children as well as a Remote Vacuum control that's easily programmable. Its navigation may not be as good as the other models in this selection, but its 500ml dustbin is big enough and doesn't require frequent emptying.
Mopping
Robots that mop and vacuum are a fairly new addition to the market. These robots are more expensive and require an additional tank of water compared to standalone robots. However, they may be worth the extra cost for those who have staining that is difficult to clean or pets.
Some of the top robots that vacuum and mop can also be very effective in cleaning floors that are not clean and carpets. There are many brands that offer robots capable of doing both very well. The Combo j9+, for instance, is among the top mopping machines we've tested. It comes with an impressively large dock that can hold up to 60 days of debris. This is a huge improvement over the Qrevo Pro, which ran out of water after mopping only 30 days of dirt during our tests.
The Tapo RV30 plus from networking giant TP-Link is another very good two-in-one. It's compact and quiet, with an elegant, easy-to-use look. In our test rooms it cleaned the floors efficiently and thoroughly - it was particularly effective in cleaning rugs. However, it took several runs to scrub certain areas of soiled wooden. Its LIDAR navigation is effective, too. It prevents hitting furniture or running over power cables.
It's a little slow on the stairs, but that's to be expected from a compact robot that is designed to work around obstacles. The only issue is that the mopping pads are fiddly to attach and didn't remain in place during our tests. It also isn't equipped to handle dried-on dirt that makes it more like a vacuum cleaner rather than a full-fledged mop.
Despite these shortcomings It's still a good choice for those who want an effortless cleaning experience that can take care of bare and low-pile carpets with equal ease. It has a decent amount of suction, which has helped to remove dust and pet hair from carpets. Automatic recognition of carpets is a great feature, since it boosts the suction power to tackle dirt that has been embedded. It's also user-friendly and has a handy charging dock that automatically empties the dust bin once it's full, which is a huge benefit for flat dwellers.
Cleaning apps
Most robot vacuums mop, sweeper, and vacuum has an application that lets you modify cleaning routines, choose rooms to clean, plan cleaning sessions, and adjust settings like suction, water level, and scrub 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.
Having an app also allows you to set up virtual barriers and no-go zones to protect your robot from dangerous items, such as cords or pet water bowls and sharp objects. Certain models have laser navigation sensors that permit you to create virtual barriers, while others come with small physical boundaries and barriers that can be put anywhere you wish to restrict your floor area.
The top 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. For instance, a robot's main brush can 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 any cords and tying off any curtains that are long before operating your robot.
Certain robots automatically update the software that controls their navigation and obstacle avoidance algorithms, which improves performance and reduces wear and tear on the robot's internal components. It is a good idea to check regularly the manufacturer's website or the app on your robot for updates to the firmware.
If you live in a huge home, select one that comes with multiple 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 power setting to the highest level when cleaning carpets and increase the strength of its scrubbing with SmartScrub.
A robot that has the ability to speak is a great option for those who want to be hands-free. The iRobot Roomba 980, for example, can be operated using a simple voice command from Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant. It has a compact self-emptying docking station, as well as an efficient cleaning engine that makes your floors sparkling.