Vacuuming With a Robot Hoover 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 tested so far. It vacuums, mops, and self-empties its bin and washes and dries mop pads with no intervention from you.

It's not equipped with the latest cleaning techniques and a bigger docking station but delivers a impressive performance for less than half the price of top-end robot vacuums. It also features an incredibly compact design that can be able to reach under furniture.

Vacuuming

A robot vacuum is a simple and quick way to keep your floors clean. Many of the robots that we recommend are designed to work without your involvement, so you can schedule them to work while you're out or start a cleaning session from your smartphone. But, you should look for a model with excellent navigation and obstacle detection to ensure that it will not be stuck on the stairs or underneath furniture.

It's important to select the right robot vacuum to effectively and efficiently clean all kinds of flooring. Choose a model that has a an empty bin that is able to hold plenty of dirt between emptyings and a nozzle that does not lose suction as it rotates to take debris.

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

robotic floor vacuums mops aren't as versatile than vacuums, however some also remove spills and puddles. The iLife V3s Pro is an example of such a device, which is a great choice for people who have wood floors or a combination of rugs and carpets. It's quiet and has solid navigation capabilities that have helped it avoid obstacles during testing and the charging dock doubles as a trash bin.

To get the best robot cleaner results, select an appliance that can do both vacuuming and mopping simultaneously. That's exactly what the Karcher RCV 5 can do and it comes with other handy features like a live camera that broadcasts a grainy image to your smartphone so you can monitor your pet or kids, as well as an easily programmable remote control. The navigation might not be as precise as the other models on this list, but its 500ml dustbin is spacious and doesn't need frequent emptying.

Mopping

Robots that robotic vacuum cleaner best and mops are relatively new to the market. These robots are more expensive and require an additional tank of water than standalone robots. However, they could be worth the extra expense for those who have hard-to-clean stains clean or pets.

Some of the top robots that mop and vacuum also do a great job cleaning floors with no carpets. Several brands now offer all-in-one robots that do both tasks with ease. The Combo J9+, as an example, is among the best mopping robots we've tested. It comes with 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 water after mopping only 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 compact quiet and has an attractive, clutter-free appearance. In our test rooms, it cleans the floors quickly and thoroughly. It was particularly good at cleaning rugs, but it took several runs to scrub certain areas of wood that were stained. Its LIDAR navigation system performs well too, avoiding bumping into furniture or crossing power cords.

It's a bit sluggish on the stairs however, that's to be expected from a compact robot that's designed to work around obstacles. The only drawback is that the mopping pads are difficult to attach and didn't stay in place during our tests. It also does not have the capability to deal with dirt that has dried and makes it more of a vacuum cleaner than a full-fledged 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 had a good amount of suction which helped it remove fine dust from pet hair and carpets. One of the most appealing features is its automatic Floor cleaning machine carpet recognition which enhances the effectiveness of the vacuuming to tackle dirt that has been embedded. It's also easy to use and comes with a convenient charging dock that automatically empties the dust bin once it's filled, which is a huge benefit for flat dwellers.

Cleaning Apps

Nearly every robot vacuum mop, sweeper, and vacuum comes with an app that lets you customize cleaning routines, pick rooms to clean, schedule cleaning sessions, and change settings like suction, water level and scrubbing power. Certain robots have 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 keep your robot away from potentially dangerous objects such as cords, pet water bowls, and sharp objects. Certain models let you create these virtual barriers using laser navigation sensors, and others come with small physical barriers or boundary strips which you can put wherever you want to block the robotic floor scrubber space.

The best robot vacuums and mops are smart enough to recognize obstacles and avoid them, but there are still some hazards to watch out for. For example, a robot's main brush could get stuck in long curtains or cords and stop the machine from moving. To avoid this it is possible to clear the area of cords and tie up any long curtains.

Some robots automatically update their software which regulates the algorithm for navigation and obstacle avoidance. This improves performance and reduces the wear and tear of the robot's internal parts. It is recommended to check regularly the manufacturer's website or the app on your robot for updates to the firmware.

If you have a huge house, consider a model with multiple cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max, for instance, can be used to vacuum and mop on carpeted and hard flooring rooms with different suction levels. It also has the ability to automatically change to the highest power setting on carpets and increase its scrubbing power with SmartScrub.

If you want to be hands-free, a robot that has an assistant that can be activated by voice is a great option. The iRobot Roomba 980, for example, can be operated by a single command from Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant. It has a small self-emptying docking device and a powerful cleaning motor that makes your floors sparkling.