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 seen so far. It vacuums, mop and self-empties and drys mop pads all without you having to do anything.

It isn't equipped with advanced cleaning modes and a bigger docking station, but provides impressive performance for less than half the price of top-end robot vacuums. It is compact in design and can reach under furniture.

Vacuuming

Vacuuming with a Robot Sweeper is a simple, quick way to keep your floors looking and feeling clean. A lot of the models we've chosen are designed to operate without your involvement, so you can set them up to clean while you're away, or even trigger an appointment from your phone. You'll need to select a robot with excellent navigation and object detection to avoid getting stuck in furniture or on the staircase.

Certain models are better at picking up pet hair from rugs than others, which is why it's also important to choose a robot that can efficiently and effectively vacuum bot all types of flooring. Look for a robot with a large dust bin that will hold a lot of dirt in between emptyings and a nozzle that does not lose suction when it turns.

The majority of robots require little or no maintenance, other than cleaning the tangled fur off the rotating brush after every cleaning session (and wiping its camera or sensors as needed) and then periodically emptying the bin or using a robot's self-emptying base. If you follow these simple 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 are generally less flexible than their vacuum counterparts they do have the capability of absorbing the puddles and spills while they're doing their thing. The iLife V3s Pro is an example of a machine which is a great choice for people who have wood floors or a mix of carpets and rugs. It is quiet and has good navigation capabilities, which helped it avoid obstacles when tested. The charging dock can also double as a trash bin.

To get the best robot vacuum for the money results, select a robot that can handle both vacuuming and mopping at the same time. Karcher's RCV 5 is able to do that, and also has other useful features, such as live cameras, which broadcasts a grainy picture to your app so you can keep an eye on your pet or children and a remote control that is easily programmed. Its navigation may not be as efficient 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 mops are relatively new to the market. They're more expensive than standalone robots and require an additional water tank, but the extra expense may be worth it for some people, especially those who have difficult-to-clean stains or lots of pets.

Some of the best robots can clean carpets and floors as well as vacuuming. Many brands are now offering all-in-one robots that do both tasks with ease. The Combo J9+, as an instance, is among the best 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 huge 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 great two-in-one. It's small quiet and has an elegant, easy-to-use look. In our test rooms, it cleaned the floors thoroughly and accurately and efficiently. It was particularly effective on rugs but it took several runs to completely clean certain areas of soiled wood. Its LIDAR navigation is very effective as well. It is able to avoid hitting furniture and running over power cables.

It's a bit sluggish on the stairs, but it's to be expected from a small robot that's designed to overcome obstacles. The only downside is that the mopping pads are fiddly to attach and didn't stay put during our tests. It also lacks the ability to handle dried-on dirt that makes it more of a vacuum cleaner than a full-fledged mop.

It's a great option for robot sweeper those who prefer a hands-off experience and want to clean low pile or unfinished carpets equally. It was able to provide a lot of suction which helped it pick up fine dust from carpets and pet hair. A good feature is its automatic carpet recognition which enhances the effectiveness of the vacuuming to take on dirt that is embedded. It's also user-friendly and comes with a convenient charging dock that automatically empty the dust bin once it's full. This is a great benefit for those who live in flats.

Cleaning Apps

Almost every robot smart vacuum mop, sweeper, or mop comes with an application that lets you modify cleaning routines, pick rooms to clean, schedule cleaning sessions, and alter settings like suction, water level, and scrub power. 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 use an app to create virtual barriers and no go zones to shield your robot from dangerous objects, such as cords and pet water bowls. Some models come with laser navigation sensors that allow you to create virtual barriers while others come with small physical barriers and boundary strips you can place anywhere you wish to restrict your robotic floor scrubber space.

There are still risks to be aware of even though the best self cleaning vacuum robot vacuums are able to detect and maneuver around obstacles. For example, a robot's main brush could get stuck on long cords or curtains, which can stop the machine from running. To prevent this it is possible to rid the area of cords and tie up any long curtains.

Some robots automatically update their software, which regulates the navigation and obstacle avoidance algorithm. This improves performance and decreases the wear and tear of the robot's internal components. It is recommended to periodically check the website of the manufacturer as well as your robot's app for firmware updates.

If you own a large house, consider models that offer multiple cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max, for example, can vacuum and mop on carpeted and hard flooring rooms that have different suction levels. It can also automatically switch to the highest power setting for carpets and boost its scrubbing power by using SmartScrub.

If you're looking to be hands-off, a robot with a voice-activated assistant is a great option. The iRobot Roomba 980, for instance, can be controlled using a simple voice command from Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant. It has a compact self-emptying docking station, as well as powerful cleaning motor that will leave your floors sparkling.