Best Robot Hoover: What Nobody Is Talking About

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

This high-end bot from Eufy is the best automatic vacuum cleaner hands-off model we've seen so far. It vacuums, mops and self-empties and drys mop pads all without your involvement.

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

Vacuuming

A robot vacuum is a convenient and quick method of keeping your floors clean. A lot of the models we've chosen are designed to run on their own without the involvement of you and you can set them up to sweep while you're out or start the session using your smartphone. You'll need to select one that has excellent navigation and object detection to avoid getting stuck under furniture or down the staircase.

Some models are better at removing pet hair from rugs than others, so it's important to select a robot that can effectively and efficiently vacuum all types of flooring. Find a model with a dust bins that can hold plenty of dirt between emptyings and a nozzle that does not lose suction as it rotates to get rid of debris.

The majority of robots require little or no maintenance besides taking hair that has become tangled off the rotating brush (and wiping down its sensors or cameras, when needed) after each cleaning session and periodically emptying the dust bin or a self-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 full-size vacuums and help keep your home tidy for longer.

Robot mops aren't as flexible than vacuums but some can also remove puddles and spills. The iLife V3s Pro is an example of such a machine, which is a great choice for people who have wood floors or a combination of carpets and rugs. It is quiet and has good navigation capabilities, which helped it avoid obstacles when tested. The charging dock also doubles as trash bin.

For the best robot cleaner results, select a robot that can handle both vacuuming and mopping at the same time. That's what the Karcher RCV 5 does, and it also offers other handy features like live cameras that stream a grainy image to your app so that you can monitor your pet or kids and also a remote control that is easily programmed. Its navigation isn't as solid as other models we've reviewed however it is able to lift itself over low thresholds and has a generous 500ml trash bin that doesn't have to be emptying often.

Mopping

Robots that vacuum and mop are relatively new to the market. They are more expensive than standalone robots and require an additional water tank, but the extra cost may be worth it for a lot of people, particularly those who have difficult-to-clean stains or lots of pets.

Some of the best cheap robot vacuum robots can clean carpets and floors as well as vacuum. Many manufacturers offer machines capable of doing both exceptionally well. The Combo J9+ is among the most efficient mopping machines that we have test. It uses docks that can hold up to 60 days worth of dirt. This is a significant improvement over the Qrevo Pro, which ran out of water after mopping 30 days of dirt in our tests.

The Tapo RV30 plus from networking giant TP-Link is a good two-in-one. It's quiet, compact and has a clean, fuss-free appearance. In our test rooms, it cleaned the floors thoroughly and precisely - it did particularly well on rugs but it took multiple runs to fully clean certain areas of soiled wood. Its LIDAR navigation works well, too. It is able to avoid hitting furniture and running over power cables.

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

It's a great option 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 pick up fine dust from pet hair and carpets. automatic floor cleaners carpet recognition is a fantastic feature since it boosts the suction power to take on dirt that is embedded. It's also simple to use and has a handy charging dock that automatically empties the bin once it's full, which is a huge benefit for those who live in flats.

Cleaning Apps

The majority of robot vacuums, mops and sweepers have an application that allows you to alter the cleaning routines. You can also pick rooms to be cleaned, schedule cleaning sessions and change settings like suction, scrub strength and water levels. Some robots also offer intelligent dirt detection, which uses the data from previous cleaning sessions and maps data to prioritize dirty areas and optimize cleaning mode.

A smartphone app can also allow you to set up virtual barriers and no-go zones to protect your robot from potentially dangerous objects such as cords, pet water bowls, and sharp objects. Certain models let you create these virtual barriers with laser navigation sensors, and others have small physical boundaries or barriers that which you can put wherever you'd like to keep the floor space.

The most effective robot vacuums and mops are intelligent enough to detect obstacles and maneuver around them however there are certain dangers to be on the lookout for. The primary brush of a robot may get stuck in long cords or curtains and stop it from moving. To prevent this from happening, you can remove the cords and tie up any curtains that are long.

Some robots will automatically update the software that governs their navigation and obstacle avoidance algorithms which improves performance and reduces wear and tear on the robot's internal components. It's a good idea periodically to check the manufacturer's site or your robot's app for firmware updates.

If you have a huge home, look for models that have multiple cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max can mop and vacuum on hard and carpeted floors with different suction settings. It can also automatically switch to the highest power setting for carpets and boost its scrubbing power with SmartScrub.

A robot that has an integrated voice assistant is a great option for those who want to be hands-free. 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.