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

This premium Eufy bot is the best hands-off model that we have tested so far. It vacuums, mop, self-empties, and washes and drys mop pads all without your intervention.

It doesn't have advanced cleaning options or a bigger docking system, but it provides stellar performance at less than half the cost of the most expensive robotic vacuums. It's compact and can reach under furniture.

Vacuuming

Vacuuming with a robot hoover is a quick, easy method to keep your floors clean and tidy. The majority of the best robot vacuum cleaner robots we've included in our top picks are designed to operate without your intervention So you can schedule them to run while you're away or initiate cleaning sessions from your phone. You'll need to choose an excellent robot that can navigate and object detection to avoid it getting stuck under furniture or down the stairs.

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 clean all types of flooring. Choose a model that has a a dustbin that can hold plenty of dirt in between emptying and an nozzle that does not lose suction when it rotates to get rid of debris.

Most robots require little to any maintenance, other than taking out tangled fur from the rotating brush after every cleaning session (and wiping its sensors or camera as needed) and then periodically emptying the bin, or using a robot's self-emptying base. If you follow these easy routine maintenance steps, your robotic vacuum bot should last as long as a full-size vacuum cleaner and keep your home cleaner for longer.

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

Select a robotic vacuum cleaner that has the ability to mop simultaneously. Karcher's RCV 5 can do that, and has other features that are useful, such as a live camera, which sends a blurry image to your app, so you can keep an eye on your kids or pet, as well as a remote control that is easily programmable. Its navigation may not be as precise as the other models in this selection however, its 500ml dustbin is spacious and doesn't need frequent emptying.

Mopping

Robots that mop and vacuum are a fairly new addition to the market. They are more expensive than standalone robots and require a separate water tank, but the extra cost may be worth it for a lot of people, bagless robot vacuum especially those with hard-to-clean stains or lots of pets.

Some of the top robots can clean carpets and floors and also vacuum. There are many brands that offer robots that can do both jobs extremely well. The Combo J9+, as an example, is among the top mopping machines we've tested and uses an impressively large dock that can hold up to 60 days worth of debris. This is a huge 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 is compact, quiet and has a neat, fuss-free look. In our test rooms, it cleaned the floors thoroughly and accurately - it was particularly good on rugs, but it required several runs to thoroughly remove soiled areas from wood. Its LIDAR navigation system works very well too, bagless robot vacuum avoiding bumping into furniture or crossing power cords.

It's a bit sluggish on the stairs however that's to expected from a small robot designed to work around obstacles. The only issue is that the mopping pads can be difficult to attach and didn't stay put during our tests. Additionally, it does not have the capability to deal with dried-on dirt and makes it more like a vacuum cleaner rather instead of a full-fledged mop.

It's still a great choice for those who prefer a hands-off experience and want to clean low pile or bare carpets equally well. It has decent suction, which allowed it to clean fine dust and pet hair from carpets. Automatic carpet recognition is a great feature, since it boosts the power of vacuuming to better tackle embedded dirt. It's also easy to use and comes with a convenient charging dock that automatically empties the bin once it's filled, which is a great benefit for flat dwellers.

Cleaning apps

Most robot vacuums, mops, and sweepers come with an app that allows you to alter the cleaning routines. You can also choose rooms to be cleaned, schedule cleaning sessions and change settings such as suction levels, water levels and scrubbing strength. Certain robots have intelligent dirt detection that utilizes map data and past cleaning data to identify dirty areas.

You can also use an app to create virtual barriers and no-go zones to shield your robot away from dangerous objects, like cords and pet water bowls. Certain models have laser navigation sensors that permit you to create virtual barriers while others feature small physical boundaries and barriers that can be put anywhere you want to block your floor area.

The best robot vacuums and mops are smart vacuum 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 become stuck in long cords or curtains and stop it dead in its tracks. To prevent this from happening you should remove the cords and tie up any curtains that are long.

Certain robots automatically update their software, which manages navigation and obstacle avoidance algorithm. This enhances performance and reduces wear and tear of the bagless robot vacuum's internal components. It is a good idea to periodically check the manufacturer's website or the app of your robot for updates to the firmware.

If you live in a large house, choose a model with different cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max, for example, can mop and vacuum on carpeted floors as well as hard floor rooms with different suction levels. It can also switch automatically to the highest power setting when cleaning carpets, and boost its scrubbing power with SmartScrub.

If you're looking to remain hands-off, a robot with a voice-activated assistant is a great option. The iRobot Roomba 980 can be operated by Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant. It has a small, self-emptying docking station and a powerful cleaning engine that leaves your floors sparkling.