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

This top robot vacuum-quality bot from Eufy is the most hands-free model we've tested to date. It vacuums, mops, self-empties its bin, washes and dry mop pads with no intervention from you.

It's not equipped with the latest cleaning techniques and a bigger docking station, but provides stellar performance at a fraction of the cost of high-end robotic vacuums. It also boasts the ability to be able to reach under furniture.

Vacuuming

A robot vacuum is an easy and quick method of keeping your floors clean. Many of the robots we've picked are built to run on their own without the involvement of you You can set them up to clean your floors while you're away, or even trigger a session from your smartphone. You'll need to choose a robot with excellent navigation and object detection to avoid getting stuck under furniture or down the stairs.

It's important to select the best robot vacuum that is able to effectively and efficiently 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 best robot vacuum deals a nozzle which doesn't lose suction when it rotates.

The majority of robots require little or any maintenance, other than removing tangled hair from the rotating brush (and wiping down its sensors or cameras, as required) after each cleaning session and periodically emptying the dustbin or using a self-emptying base in the event that the robot has one. If you follow these easy upkeep steps, your robot vacuum should last the same amount of time as a traditional vacuum, and will help keep your home cleaner for longer.

Robot mops are less versatile than vacuums, but they can also remove puddles and spills. The iLife V3s Pro is an example of such a device, which is a great option for those who have wood floors or a combination of rugs and carpets. It's quiet and has excellent navigation capabilities that allowed it to overcome obstacles during testing, and the charging dock can also double as a trash bin.

Choose a robot vacuum cleaner that can also mop at the same time. Karcher's RCV 5 can do this, and it also comes with other features that are beneficial, such as a live camera, which transmits a blurry picture to your app, so you can keep an eye on your kids or pet and a remote control that is easily programmable. Its navigation may not be as good as some of the other models in this selection however, its 500ml dustbin 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, however, the additional cost could be worth it for some people, particularly those who have difficult-to-clean stains or lots of pets.

The best robots that mop and vacuum also be very effective in cleaning floors that are not clean and carpets. Many brands are now offering all-in-one machines that can do both jobs extremely well. The Combo J9+, for example, is among the best automatic vacuum mopping robots we've tested. It has an impressively large dock that can accommodate up to 60 days worth of debris. This is a significant improvement over the Qrevo Pro, which ran out of water after mopping just 30 days of dirt in our tests.

The Tapo RV30 Plus from networking giant TP Link is a fantastic two-in-one. It's quiet, compact and is clean and easy to maintain an appearance. In our test rooms, it was able to clean the floors thoroughly and precisely and efficiently. It was particularly effective on rugs, however it took multiple runs to fully clean some areas of soiled wood. Its LIDAR navigation system performs well too, avoiding bumping into furniture or running over power cords.

It's a little slow on the stairs, but that's expected from a compact robot that's designed to overcome obstacles. The only drawback is that the mopping pads can be difficult to attach and didn't remain in place during our tests, and it does not have the capability to handle dried-on dirt that makes it more like a vacuum cleaner rather than a full-fledged robot mop.

It's still an excellent choice for those who prefer a hands-off experience and want to clean low pile or plain carpets equally. It has a decent amount of suction that helped it remove fine dust from pet hair and carpets. One of the best features is its automatic recognition of carpets, which increases the strength of the vacuuming to take on dirt that is embedded. It's also user-friendly and has a handy charging dock that automatically empties the dust bin when it's full, which is a great benefit for those who live in flats.

Cleaning apps

Most affordable robot vacuum vacuums, mop and sweepers have an app that allows you to alter the cleaning routines. You can also select rooms to be cleaned, schedule cleaning sessions, and alter settings such as suction levels, the amount of water and scrubbing power. Some robots offer intelligent dirt detection that utilizes maps and cleaning data to prioritize dirty areas.

You can also utilize an app to design virtual barriers and no go zones to protect your robot away from dangerous objects, like cords and pet water bowls. Certain models have laser navigation sensors that allow you to create virtual barriers while others come with small physical barriers and boundary strips that can be placed wherever you'd like to limit the floor area.

There are still hazards to be aware of, even though the best robot vacuums can recognize and maneuver around obstacles. For example, a robot's main brush can become stuck in long curtains or cords and stop the machine dead in its tracks. To avoid this it is possible to clear the area of cords and tie up any curtains that are long.

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

If you live in a huge home, you should choose one that comes with several cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max can mop and vacuum on hard and carpeted floors with different suction settings. It can also switch automatically to the power setting to the highest level when cleaning carpets, and also boost its scrubbing strength by using SmartScrub.

If you want to be hands-free, a robot that has the ability to speak to a voice-activated assistant is a great option. The iRobot Roomba 980, for instance, can be controlled by a single command from Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant. It has a compact, self-emptying docking station and a powerful cleaning engine that leaves your floors sparkling.