10 No-Fuss Methods To Figuring Out Your Best Robot Hoover
Vacuuming With a Robot Hoover is the Best Hands-Off Model We've Tested
This high-end Eufy bot is the best home vacuum cleaner hands-off model we've tested so far. It vacuums, mops, self-empties, and washes and drys mop pads all without you having to do anything.
It doesn't have advanced cleaning options or a more powerful docking system, but it provides outstanding performance for less than half the cost of the most Expensive robot vacuum expensive robotic vacuums. It's compact and can be positioned to reach under furniture.
Vacuuming
A robot vacuum is a simple and quick method of keeping your floors tidy. A lot of the models we've selected are designed to operate without your involvement and you can set them up to sweep while you're away or trigger a session from your smartphone. You'll need to select a robot with excellent navigation and object detection to avoid it getting stuck in furniture or on the stairs.
Certain models are better at picking up pet hair from rugs than others, which is why it's also important to choose the right model that will efficiently and effectively vacuum all types of flooring. Choose a model with an enormous dust bin that can hold a large amount of dirt in between emptyings, and a nozzle which 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 required) and periodically emptying the bin or using the robot's self-emptying base. If you follow these simple maintenance steps, your cheap robot vacuum cleaner vacuum will last as long as larger vacuums and will keep your home clean for longer.
Robot mops are less versatile than vacuums, but they can also clean up puddles and spills. The iLife V3s Pro, a excellent example of this kind of machine, is a fantastic choice for those with carpets and rugs or wood floors. It's quiet and has solid navigation capabilities that allowed it to avoid obstacles during testing and the charging dock doubles as a trash bin.
Pick a robot vacuum cleaner that has the ability to mop simultaneously. That's exactly what the Karcher RCV 5 does, and it also offers other handy features like a live camera that broadcasts an image that is grainy to your app so you can monitor your pet or kids, as well as a remote control that is easily programmed. Its navigation isn't as reliable as other models we've reviewed however, it can elevate itself over low thresholds and has a generous 500ml dustbin that doesn't have to be cleaned frequently.
Mopping
Robots that vacuum and mop are a fairly new addition to the market. They are more expensive and require a separate tank of water compared to standalone robots. However, they may be worth the cost for those with staining that is difficult to clean or pets.
Some of the top robots that vacuum and mop also do an excellent job at cleaning bare floors and carpets. Many manufacturers offer machines that can do both jobs very well. The Combo J9+, as an example, is among the top mopping machines we've tested. It comes with an impressively large dock that can hold up to 60 days of dirt. This is a significant improvement over the Qrevo Pro, which ran out of water after mopping just 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 quiet and compact and has a clean, fuss-free appearance. In our test rooms, it scrubbed the floors thoroughly and accurately - it was particularly good on rugs but it took several runs to completely remove soiled areas from wood. Its LIDAR navigation system works very well, avoiding crashing into furniture or tripping over power cords.
It's a little slow on the stairs, but that's to be expected from a small robot that's designed to work around obstacles. The only drawback is that the mopping pads are fiddly to attach and didn't remain in place during our tests, and it does not have the capability to deal with dried-on dirt and makes it more like a vacuum cleaner rather than a full-fledged mop.
It's still a great choice for those who prefer a hands-free experience and want to clean low-pile or bare carpets equally well. It offers a decent amount of suction, which has helped to pick up fine dust and pet hair from carpets. 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 simple to use and comes with a convenient charging dock that automatically empties the dust bin once it's full. This is a great benefit for flat dwellers.
Cleaning apps
Almost every robot vacuum mop, sweeper, or mop comes with an application that lets you personalize cleaning routines, select rooms to clean, schedule cleaning sessions, and change settings such as suction, water level, and scrub power. Certain robots have intelligent dirt detection that uses maps and previous cleaning data to identify dirty areas.
Having an app also allows you to create virtual barriers and no-go zones to keep your robot away from potentially hazardous items, such as cords or pet water bowls and sharp objects. Some models let you create these virtual barriers using laser navigation sensors, while others feature small physical boundaries or barriers that you can place wherever you'd like to keep your floor.
There are still risks to be aware of, even though the top robot vacuums can detect and avoid obstacles. The primary brush of a robot could become stuck in long cords or curtains and stop it from moving. You can prevent this from happening by clearing the area of all cords and tying off any curtains that are long before operating your robot.
Some robots automatically update the software that controls their navigation and obstacle avoidance algorithms which enhances performance and reduces wear and tear on the robot's internal components. It's a good idea regularly to check the website of the manufacturer or your robot's app for firmware updates.
If you own a large house cleaning robot, consider models that have multiple cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max can mop and vacuum on carpeted and hard floors with different suction settings. It can also switch automatically to the highest power setting when cleaning carpets, and boost the strength of its scrubbing with SmartScrub.
A robot that has a voice assistant is a great choice if you want to be hands-free. The iRobot Roomba 980 can be controlled by Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant. It has a small self-emptying docking device and a powerful cleaning motor that leaves your floors sparkling.
