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 so far. It vacuums, mops and self-empties its bin and washes and dries mop pads without you having to do anything.
It doesn't come with advanced cleaning modes or a larger docking system, but it provides stellar performance at less than half the cost of the top robotic vacuums. It also features the ability to reach under furniture.
Vacuuming
Vacuuming with a robot is a quick, easy way to keep your floors clean and tidy. Many of the robots in our top picks are designed to work without your involvement So you can schedule them to run when you're out or trigger cleaning sessions from your smartphone. You'll need to choose an excellent robot that can navigate and object detection in order to avoid getting stuck in furniture or on the stairs.
Certain models are better at picking up pet hair from carpets than others, so it's also important to choose an item that is able to effectively and efficiently clean all types of flooring. Choose a model with a large dust bin that will hold plenty of dirt in between emptyings, and a nozzle which 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 every cleaning session (and wiping its camera or sensors when required) and then 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 full-size vacuums and help keep your home tidy for longer.
Robot mops are less versatile than vacuums, but they can also clean up puddles and spills. The iLife V3s Pro, a good example of this type of machine, is a great choice for people with carpets and rugs or wood flooring. It's quiet and has solid navigation capabilities that have helped it avoid obstacles during testing and the charging dock can also double as a trash bin.
Choose a robot vacuum cleaner that is able to mop at the same time. Karcher's RCV 5 is able to do that, and also has other useful features like live cameras, which transmits a blurry picture to your app, so that you can monitor your pet or kids, as well as remote controls that are easily programmable. Its navigation isn't as reliable as other models we've reviewed, but it can lift itself over low thresholds and has an ample 500ml trash bin that doesn't have to be emptied often.
Mopping
Robots that mop and vacuum are relatively new to the market. They're more expensive than standalone robots and require an additional water tank, but the extra cost may be worth it for some people, especially those who have difficult-to-clean stains or pets.
The best robots that vacuum and mop can also be very effective at cleaning bare floors and carpets. Many manufacturers offer machines that can do both jobs very well. The Combo J9+, as an instance, is among the top mopping robots we've tested and uses an impressively large dock that can accommodate up to 60 days worth of debris. This is an enormous improvement over the Qrevo Pro which ran out water after just mopping 30 days of dirt in our tests.
The Tapo RV30 plus from networking giant TP Link is a excellent two-in-one. It is compact, quiet and has a neat, fuss-free look. In our test rooms, it cleaned the floors efficiently and thoroughly. It was particularly good at cleaning rugs. However, it required several runs to scrub some areas of stained wood. Its LIDAR navigation system functions well, avoiding crashing into furniture or crossing power cords.
It's a little slow on the stairs however, that's to be expected from a compact robot that's designed to overcome obstacles. The only issue is that its mopping pads are difficult to attach and didn't stay 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.
It's a great option 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 allowed it to pick up fine dust and pet hair from carpets. Automatic recognition of carpets is a great feature, since it boosts the vacuuming power to tackle dirt that has been embedded. It is simple to use and the charging dock automatically emptyes the 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 lets you modify cleaning routines. You can also choose rooms to be cleaned, schedule cleaning sessions and adjust settings such as suction, the amount of water 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.
A smartphone app can also allow you to create virtual barriers and no-go zones to keep your robot away from dangerous items such as cords and pet water bowls and sharp objects. Some models let you create these virtual barriers with laser navigation sensors, whereas others feature small physical barriers or boundary strips which you can put wherever you want to block your floor.
The most effective robot vacuums and mops are smart enough to recognize obstacles and maneuver around them however there are some hazards to watch out for. For instance, a robot's main brush could get stuck in long cords or curtains and stop the machine dead in its tracks. You can prevent this by clearing the area of all cords and tying up any curtains that are long prior to running your robot.
Certain robots automatically update their software which manages the algorithm for navigation and obstacle avoidance. robot vacuum cleaner best buy enhances performance and reduces wear and tear of the robot's internal components. It is a good idea to periodically to check the manufacturer's site or your robot's app for updates to firmware.
If you have a huge home, look for models that have multiple cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max, for example, can mop and vacuum on both hard floors and carpeted rooms that have different suction levels. It can also automatically switch the highest power setting when cleaning carpets and increase its scrubbing power with SmartScrub.
If you're looking to be hands-free, a robot that has an assistant that can be activated by voice is a fantastic option. The iRobot Roomba 980 can be controlled by Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant. It has a compact self-emptying docking station as well as a powerful cleaning engine that will leave your floors sparkling.