Vacuuming With a Robot Hoover is the Best Hands-Off Model We've Tested

This high-end bot from Eufy is the most hands-free model we've tested to date. It vacuums, mops and self cleaning vacuum cleaner-empties its bin and washes and dries mop pads without your intervention.

It doesn't have advanced cleaning options or a more powerful docking system, but it offers amazing performance for less than half the cost of top-end robotic vacuums. It is compact in design and can be positioned to reach under furniture.

Vacuuming

A robot vacuum is a simple and quick way to keep your floors clean. Many of the robots we've chosen are designed to run on their own without the involvement of you, so you can set them up to clean your floors while you're away or trigger the session using your smartphone. However, you'll want to choose a model that has superior 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 hair from carpets than others, so it's also important to choose the right model that will efficiently and effectively clean all types of flooring. Look for a model with an empty bin that is able to hold plenty of dirt in between emptying and a nozzle that does not lose suction as it rotates to get rid of debris.

The majority of robots require little or any maintenance, other than removing tangled hair from the rotating brush (and wiping down its cameras or sensors, as needed) after each cleaning session and regularly emptying the dustbin or an auto-emptying base, in the event that the robot has one. If you follow these simple maintenance steps, your robot vacuum will last as long as a regular vacuum and help keep your home clean for longer.

Robot mops are less versatile than vacuums but some can also pick up spills and puddles. The iLife V3s Pro, a great example of machine, is a great option for those who have carpets and rugs or wood floors. It's quiet and has excellent navigation capabilities that helped it overcome obstacles during testing, and the charging dock can also double as a trash bin.

Choose a robot vacuum cleaner that has the ability to mop simultaneously. This is what the Karcher RCV 5 does and it comes with additional useful features, such as live cameras that stream an image that is grainy to your app so you can monitor your children or pets and also an easily programmable remote control. The navigation isn't as robust as the other models in our selection however, it can elevate it over low thresholds and has a generous 500ml dustbin that doesn't have to be emptied often.

Mopping

Robots that mop and vacuum are relatively new to the market. They are more expensive and require a separate tank of water than standalone robots. However, they might be worth the cost for those who have stains that are difficult to clean or pets.

The best robots that vacuum and mop can also do an excellent job cleaning floors with no carpets. Many manufacturers offer machines that can do both jobs exceptionally efficiently. The Combo J9+, for example, is one of the top 5 robot vacuum mopping robots we've tested. It comes with an impressively large dock that can accommodate up to 60 days worth of dirt. This is a significant improvement over the Qrevo Pro which ran out water after only mopping 30 days worth of dirt during our tests.

The Tapo RV30 Plus from networking giant TP Link is a fantastic two-in-one. It's small, quiet and has an attractive, clutter-free appearance. In our test rooms, it cleans the floors quickly and thoroughly - it was particularly adept at cleaning rugs, however it took several runs to scrub some areas of stained wood. Its LIDAR navigation is effective, too. It avoids bumping into furniture or running over power cables.

It's a bit slow on the stairs, but that's to be expected in a compact robot designed to work around obstacles. The only issue is its mopping pad attachment, which was a challenge and didn't stay in the right position during our tests. It also lacks the ability of dealing with dust that has dried on which makes it more of an ordinary vacuum cleaner than a robot mop.

It's a great option for people who prefer a hands-off experience and want to clean low-pile or unfinished carpets equally. It has a decent amount of suction, which allowed it to remove fine dust from carpets and pet hair. Automatic recognition of carpets is a great feature, because it boosts the power of vacuuming to better tackle embedded dirt. It's also easy to use and comes with a convenient charging dock that automatically empties the bin once it's filled, which is a huge benefit for those who live in flats.

Cleaning apps

The majority of robot vacuums, mop and sweepers have an app that allows you to modify cleaning routines. You can also select rooms to be cleaned, schedule cleaning sessions and change settings like suction levels, water levels and scrubbing strength. Certain robots have intelligent dirt detection that uses maps and room cleaning robot, right here on Pdc, data to prioritize dirty areas.

A smartphone app can also allow you to set up virtual barriers and no-go zones to protect your robot from dangerous items such as cords and pet water bowls and sharp objects. Certain models have laser navigation sensors that allow you to create virtual barriers, while others come with small physical boundaries and barriers that you can place anywhere you wish to restrict your floor area.

There are still risks to be aware of even though the most effective robot vacuums are able to detect and avoid obstacles. The principal brush of a robot could be caught in long cords or curtains and stop it in its tracks. You can avoid this by clearing the area of any cords and tying off any long curtains before running your robot vacuum reviews.

Certain robots automatically update their software, which regulates the algorithm for navigation and obstacle avoidance. This improves performance and decreases the wear and tear on the robot's internal parts. It is a good idea to regularly to check the manufacturer's site or the app for firmware updates.

If you have a large home, look for a model with multiple cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max, for example, can mop and vacuum 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 boost its scrubbing strength with SmartScrub.

A robot with the ability to speak is a great option for those who want to be hands-free. The iRobot Roomba 980, for instance, is able to be operated by a single command from Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant. It has a small self-emptying docking system and a powerful cleaning motor that makes your floors sparkling.