Vacuuming With robotic hoovers is the Best Hands-Off Model We've Tested
This top-of-the-line bot from Eufy is the most hands-free model we've seen so far. It vacuums, mops, self-empties its bin, washes and dries mop pads without you having to do anything.
It doesn't have advanced cleaning options or a bigger docking system, but it offers outstanding performance for less than half the cost of the top robotic vacuums. It also features the ability to reach under furniture.
Vacuuming
A robot vacuum is an easy and quick way to keep your floors spotless. A lot of the models we've picked are built to run on their own without any involvement from you, so you can set them up to sweep while you're away, or even trigger the session using your smartphone. You'll need to choose a robot with excellent navigation and object detection to avoid it getting stuck in furniture or on the stairs.
It is essential to choose the best robot vacuum that is able to effectively and efficiently clean all kinds of flooring. Choose a model with a large dust bin that will hold a large amount of dirt in between emptyings, and a nozzle which does not lose suction as it turns.
Most robots require minimal to no maintenance, other than removing tangled fur from the rotating brush after each cleaning session (and wiping its camera or sensors when required) and then periodically emptying the bin, or using a robot's self-emptying base. If you follow these easy 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 they can also remove spills and puddles. The iLife V3s Pro is an example of a machine which is a good choice for people with wood floors or a combination of carpets and rugs. It is quiet and has excellent navigation capabilities, which allowed it to avoid obstacles during testing. The charging dock can also double as a trash bin.
For the best results, select an appliance that can do mopping and vacuuming simultaneously. This is what the Karcher RCV 5 can do and also comes with other useful features such as a live camera that broadcasts an image that is grainy to your app so that you can monitor your children or pets as well as a remote control that is easily programmed. Its navigation may not be as good as 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 are more expensive and require an additional tank of water than standalone robots. However, they could be worth the extra expense for those with staining that is difficult to clean or pets.
Some of the best robots that vacuum and mop can also do an excellent job cleaning floors with no carpets. Several brands now offer all-in-one machines that can do both tasks extremely well. The Combo J9+ is among the most efficient mopping robots that we've tested. It uses a dock that can store up to 60 days worth of dirt. This is a huge improvement over the Qrevo Pro, which ran out of water after mopping only 30 days worth 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 neat, easy-to-clean appearance. In our test rooms, it was able to clean the floors thoroughly and precisely - it did particularly well on rugs, however it took several runs to thoroughly clean some areas of soiled wood. Its LIDAR navigation system works very well, avoiding bumps into furniture or tripping over power cords.
It's a bit slow on the stairs, but that's to be expected in a compact robot that's designed to overcome obstacles. The only drawback is that the mopping pads are fiddly to attach and didn't remain in place during our tests. It also does not have the capability to handle dried-on dirt that makes it more like a vacuum cleaner rather than a full-fledged mop.
Despite these shortcomings, it's still a solid choice for those who want an easy-to-clean experience that can take care of carpets that are bare or low-pile with equal ease. It has a decent amount of suction, which helped it remove fine dust from carpets and pet hair. One of the most appealing features is its automatic recognition of carpets, which enhances the effectiveness of the vacuuming to take on dirt that is embedded. It's also easy to use and has a handy charging dock that automatically empty the dust bin once it's full, which is a huge benefit for flat dwellers.
Cleaning apps
Nearly every robot vacuum, mop, and sweeper has an application that lets you modify cleaning routines, choose rooms to clean, schedule cleaning sessions, and alter settings like suction, water level and the power of scrubbing. Some robots provide intelligent dirt detection that uses map data and past cleaning data to prioritize dirty areas.
A smartphone app can also allow you to create virtual barriers and no-go zones to protect your robot from potentially dangerous objects like cords or pet water bowls and sharp objects. Some models come with laser navigation sensors that permit you to create virtual barriers while others feature small physical barriers and boundary strips can be put anywhere you'd like to limit your floor area.
The best robot vacuums and mops have the capability of being smart enough to spot obstacles and navigate around them, but there are still some hazards to watch out for. For instance, a robot's main brush can get stuck in long curtains or cords and stop the machine from moving. To avoid this, you can remove the cords and tie up any long curtains.
Some robots will automatically update the software that governs their navigation and obstacle avoidance techniques, which enhances performance and reduces wear and tear on the robot's internal components. It is recommended to regularly check the website of the manufacturer as well as the app of your robot for updates to the firmware.
If you own a large home, look for models that have multiple cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max, for instance, can vacuum and mop on carpeted floors as well as hard floor rooms that have different suction levels. It can also automatically change to the highest power setting on carpets and increase its scrubbing power with SmartScrub.
A robot with an integrated voice assistant is a fantastic option when you want to keep your hands-free. The iRobot Roomba 980, for instance, is able to be operated by a single command from Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant. It has a small self-emptying docking system as well as a powerful cleaning motor that makes your floors sparkling.
