Vacuuming With a Robot Hoover is the best smart vacuum Hands-Off Model We've Tested

This top-of-the-line bot from Eufy is the best hands-off model we've seen so far. It vacuums, mops, and self cleaning vacuum-empties its bin, washes and dry mop pads without you having to do anything.

It doesn't come with advanced cleaning functions or a bigger docking system, but it provides outstanding performance for less than half the cost of the top robotic vacuums. It is compact in design and can be positioned to reach under furniture.

Vacuuming

Vacuuming with a robot is a quick, easy way to keep your floors clean and tidy. The majority of the robots we've selected are designed to operate without your involvement, so you can set them up to sweep while you're away or trigger the session using your smartphone. You'll want to select one that has excellent navigation and object detection to avoid getting stuck in furniture or on the stairs.

It's important to select the right robot vacuum to effectively and efficiently clean all types of flooring. Choose a model with a large dust bin that will hold a large amount of dirt in between emptyings and a nozzle that does not lose suction as it rotates.

Most robots require little to no maintenance other than taking hair that has become tangled off the rotating brush (and wiping its cameras or sensors as needed) after every cleaning session, and then emptying the dustbin or using an auto vacuum-emptying base, when the robot is equipped with one. If you follow these simple routine maintenance steps, your robotic vacuum will last as long as a full-size vacuum cleaner and keep your home clean for longer.

While robot mops are generally less versatile than vacuums they do have the ability to clean up the puddles and spills while they're at it. The iLife V3s Pro, a excellent example of this kind of machine, is a great choice for those with carpets and rugs as well as wood floors. It is quiet and has good navigation capabilities, which allowed it to overcome obstacles during tests. The charging dock can also double as a trash bin.

To get the best robovac results, choose the robot that is capable of both vacuuming and mopping simultaneously. This is what the Karcher RCV 5 does and it comes with other handy features like live cameras that send an image that is grainy to your app so that you can check on your pet or kids and also an easily-programmable remote control. Its navigation may not be as precise as some of the other models in this selection, but its 500ml dustbin is spacious and doesn't need frequent emptying.

Mopping

Robots that mop and vacuum are relatively new to the market. These machines are more expensive and require an additional tank of water, unlike standalone robots. However, they might be worth the extra 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 in cleaning floors that are not clean and carpets. There are many brands that offer robots capable of doing both exceptionally efficiently. The Combo J9+ is among the most effective mopping robots that we have test. It uses a dock that can store up to 60 days worth of dirt. This is a significant improvement over the Qrevo Pro which ran out water after mopping only 30 days worth of dirt during our tests.

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

It's a bit slow on the stairs but that's to be expected from a compact robot designed to work around obstacles. The only downside is that the mopping pads are difficult to attach and didn't stay in place during our tests. It also isn't equipped to handle dried-on dirt and makes it more like a vacuum cleaner rather than a full-fledged robot mop.

It's a great option 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 that helped it remove fine dust from pet hair and carpets. A good feature is its automatic carpet recognition which boosts the power of the vacuum 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 when it's full. This is a great benefit for flat dwellers.

Cleaning apps

Nearly every robot vacuum mop, sweeper, or mop has an app that lets you customize cleaning routines, choose rooms to clean, schedule cleaning sessions, and change settings like suction, water level, and the power of scrubbing. Some robots provide intelligent dirt detection, which uses maps and previous cleaning data to determine the most soiled areas.

You can also utilize an app to design virtual barriers and no-go zones to keep your budget robot vacuum away from dangerous objects, like cords and pet water bowls. Some models let you create these virtual barriers using laser navigation sensors, and others come with small physical boundaries or barriers to place wherever you'd like to block the floor space.

The most effective robot vacuums and mops are smart enough to recognize obstacles and navigate around them, but there are still certain dangers to be on the lookout for. For example, a robot's main brush can get stuck in long cords or curtains and stop the machine dead in its tracks. To prevent this it is possible to clear the area of cords and tie up any curtains that are long.

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

If you live in a big house, choose a model that has different cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max can mop and vacuum on hard and carpeted floors using different suction settings. It can also automatically switch to the highest power setting for carpets and increase its scrubbing power with SmartScrub.

A robot that has an integrated voice assistant is a great option if you want to be hands off. The iRobot Roomba 980 can be controlled by Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant. It comes with a compact Self cleaning vacuum Cleaner-emptying docking station as well as powerful cleaning motor that leaves your floors sparkling.