Best Robot Hoover: 11 Things You re Not Doing

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

This top robot vacuum cleaner-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 dry mop pads with no intervention from you.

It doesn't have advanced cleaning modes or a more powerful docking system, but it provides amazing performance for less than half the price of the top robotic vacuums. It is compact in design and is able to reach under furniture.

Vacuuming

A robot vacuum is a convenient and quick method of keeping your floors spotless. A majority of the robots featured that we recommend are built to function without your involvement So you can schedule them to work while you're away or initiate cleaning sessions from your phone. But, you should choose a model that has superior navigation and obstacle detection so that it will not get stuck on the stairs or beneath furniture.

Certain models are better at picking up pet hair from rugs than others, which is why it's also important to choose the right model that will efficiently and effectively clean all types of flooring. Look for a robot with an enormous dust bin that can hold a lot of dirt between emptyings, and a nozzle which doesn't lose suction when it rotates.

Most robots require minimal to no maintenance, aside from cleaning the tangled fur off the rotating brush after each cleaning session (and wiping its camera or sensors as needed) and regularly emptying the bin, or using a robot's self-emptying base. If you follow these simple maintenance steps, your robot vac should last just as long as a full-size vacuum and help keep your home cleaner for longer.

While robot mops tend to be less versatile than their vacuuming counterparts, some have the added capability of absorbing spills and puddles while they're working. The iLife V3s Pro is an example of a machine which is a good option for those who have wood floors or a combination of carpets and rugs. It is quiet and has excellent navigation capabilities, which allowed it to avoid obstacles when tested. The charging dock also doubles as trash bin.

To get the best results, pick the robot that is capable of mopping and vacuuming simultaneously. Karcher's RCV 5 does that, and has other useful features including a live camera, which broadcasts a grainy picture to your app so you can monitor your pet or kids and a remote vacuum cleaner control that's easily programmable. The navigation isn't as robust as the other models we've reviewed, but it can lift it over low thresholds and comes with a large 500ml dustbin that doesn't need to be emptying often.

Mopping

Robots that vacuum and mop are a fairly new addition 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 who have staining that is difficult to clean or pets.

Some of the best robots that vacuum and mop also do a great job in cleaning floors that are not clean and carpets. Many brands offer robots that can do both jobs extremely well. The Combo J9+ is one of the most efficient mopping robots that we've test. It comes with a dock that can store up to 60 days worth of debris. 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 another very great two-in-one. It's quiet and compact and has a neat, easy-to-clean appearance. In our test rooms, it cleaned the floors thoroughly and precisely - it was particularly good robot vacuum on rugs, however it took several runs to completely clean certain areas of soiled wood. Its LIDAR navigation system functions well, avoiding bumps into furniture or tripping over power cords.

It's a bit sluggish on the stairs but that's expected from a compact robot that's designed to overcome obstacles. The only issue is that its mopping pads can be difficult to attach and didn't remain in place during our tests. Additionally, it isn't equipped to deal with dried-on dirt and makes it more of a vacuum cleaner than a full-fledged mop.

Despite these shortcomings, it's still a solid option for those looking for an effortless cleaning experience that can handle bare and low-pile carpets with equal ease. It had a good amount of suction that helped it pick up fine dust from pet hair and carpets. One of the most appealing features is its automatic floor cleaning machine carpet recognition which increases the strength of the vacuum to better tackle embedded dirt. 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 real boon for flat dwellers.

Cleaning apps

Almost every robot vacuum mop, sweeper, and vacuum has an application that lets you modify cleaning routines, pick rooms to clean, schedule cleaning sessions, and change settings such as suction, water level and scrubbing power. Certain robots also provide intelligent dirt detection, which utilizes the data from previous cleaning sessions and maps data to identify areas that are dirty and optimize cleaning mode.

You can also make use of an app to create virtual barriers and no go zones to shield your robot safe from potentially dangerous objects, like cords and pet water bowls. Certain models let you create these virtual barriers with laser navigation sensors, while others have small physical boundaries or barriers that which you can put wherever you'd like to block off your floor area.

There are still dangers to be aware of even though the most effective robot vacuums can recognize and maneuver around obstacles. For instance, the main brush can get stuck on long cords or curtains, which can stop the machine from running. To prevent this from happening it is possible to rid the area of cords and tie up any curtains that are long.

Some robots automatically update the software that controls their navigation and obstacle avoidance algorithms, which enhances performance and reduces wear and tear on the robot's internal components. It is a good idea to check regularly the manufacturer's website or the app of your robot for firmware updates.

If you own a large home, look for models that have multiple cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max can clean and mop hard and carpeted floors using different suction settings. It can also automatically change to the highest power setting on carpets and boost its scrubbing power by using SmartScrub.

If you want to be hands-off, a robot with an assistant that can be activated by voice is an excellent choice. The iRobot Roomba 980, for instance, is able to be operated by a single command from Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant. It comes with a compact self-emptying docking system as well as a powerful cleaning motor that will leave your floors sparkling.