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

This high-end bot from Eufy is the best vacuums hands-off model we've seen so far. It vacuums, mops, and self-empties its bin, washes and dries mop pads with no intervention from you.

It doesn't have advanced cleaning functions or a bigger docking system, but it offers amazing performance for less than half the price of the top robotic vacuums. It also boasts the ability to reach under furniture.

Vacuuming

A robot vacuum is a convenient and quick method of keeping your floors spotless. The majority of the robots we've picked are built to run on their own without any involvement from you You can set them up to sweep while you're away, or even trigger the session using your smartphone. You'll need to choose an excellent robot that can navigate and object detection to avoid it getting stuck in furniture or on the staircase.

Certain models are better at picking up pet hair from carpets than others, so it's important to select a robot that can efficiently and effectively vacuum all types of flooring. Choose a model 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.

Most robots require little to no maintenance, other than taking out tangled fur from the rotating brush after every cleaning session (and wiping its camera or sensors as required) and then periodically emptying the bin or using a robot's self-emptying base. If you follow these simple maintenance tips, your robot vacuum should last as long as full-size vacuums and keep your home cleaner for longer.

While robot mops are generally less versatile than vacuums Some have the ability to clean up spills and puddles while they're at it. The iLife V3s Pro, a good example of this type of machine, is a fantastic choice for those with carpets and rugs or wood flooring. It's quiet and has excellent navigation capabilities that allowed it to overcome obstacles during testing, and the charging dock doubles as a trash bin.

For the best automatic vacuum results, pick a robot that can handle mopping and vacuuming simultaneously. Karcher's RCV 5 does this, and it also comes with other useful features like a live camera, which sends a blurry image to your app, so you can monitor your pet or children and remote controls that are easily programable. Its navigation isn't as solid as the other models we've reviewed however it is able to lift its own thresholds to a certain level and has an ample 500ml dustbin that doesn't need to be emptying often.

Mopping

Robots that vacuum and mop are relatively new to the market. These robots are more expensive and require an additional tank of water, unlike standalone robots. However, they could be worth the extra cost for those with staining that is difficult to clean or pets.

Some of the best automatic vacuum robots that mop and vacuum also do a great job cleaning floors with no carpets. Many brands are now offering all-in-one robots that do both tasks extremely well. The Combo J9+, as an example, is one of the top mopping machines we've tested. It has an impressively large dock that can accommodate up to 60 days of dirt. This is a huge improvement over the Qrevo Pro, which ran out of water after mopping only 30 days of dirt during our tests.

The Tapo RV30 Plus from networking giant TP Link is a great two-in-one. It's quiet, compact, and has a neat, easy-to-clean appearance. In our test rooms it cleans the floors quickly and thoroughly - it was particularly adept at cleaning rugs. However, it required several runs to scrub some areas of stained wood. Its LIDAR navigation is effective, too. It prevents hitting furniture and running over power cables.

It's a little slow on the stairs but that's to be expected from a compact robot that's designed to overcome obstacles. The only issue is the mopping pad attachment, which was difficult and didn't stay in place during our tests. It also has a problem dealing with dried-on dust which makes it more of a vacuum than a robot mop.

It's still an excellent choice for those who prefer a hands-free experience and want to clean low pile or unfinished carpets equally. It was able to provide a lot of suction which allowed it to remove fine dust from carpets and pet hair. One of the most appealing features is its automatic floor vacuum carpet recognition which boosts the power of the vacuuming to better tackle embedded dirt. It's also easy to use and comes with a convenient charging dock that automatically empty the bin once it's filled, which is a great benefit for those who live in flats.

Cleaning apps

The majority of robot vacuums, mops and sweepers come with an application that allows you to customize cleaning routines. You can also select rooms to be cleaned, schedule cleaning sessions and adjust settings like suction as well as water levels and scrubbing strength. Some robots offer intelligent dirt detection that uses maps and previous cleaning data to determine the most soiled areas.

The app allows you to create virtual barriers and no-go zones to protect your robot from potentially hazardous items such as cords, pet water bowls, and sharp objects. Some models come with laser navigation sensors that permit you to create virtual barriers while others come with small physical barriers and boundary strips that can be put anywhere you wish to restrict the floor area.

There are still risks to be aware of, even though the Best Robot Hoover robot vacuums can recognize and maneuver around obstacles. For instance, the main brush could get stuck in long cords or curtains, which can stop the machine from running. You can prevent this by clearing the area of all cords and tie up any curtains that are long before operating your robot.

Some robots 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 site of the manufacturer or your robot's application for updates to the firmware.

If you have a large home, you should consider models that have multiple cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max can clean and mop carpeted and hard floors with different suction settings. It can also automatically switch the highest rated robot vacuum power setting when cleaning carpets, and also boost the strength of its scrubbing with SmartScrub.

If you're looking to be hands-free, a robot that has the ability to speak to a voice-activated assistant is a fantastic option. The iRobot Roomba 980 can be controlled by Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant. It has a compact, self-emptying docking station and an efficient cleaning engine that makes your floors sparkling.