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

This high-end bot from Eufy is the most expensive robot vacuum hands-free model we've tested to date. It vacuums, mops and self-empties its bin and washes and dries mop pads with no intervention from you.

It doesn't feature advanced cleaning functions or a more powerful docking system, but it offers amazing performance for less than half the price of top-end robotic vacuums. It also has an incredibly compact design that can be able to reach under furniture.

Vacuuming

Vacuuming using a robot hoover is a fast, simple 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 clean while you're out or start the session using your smartphone. However, you'll want to select a model that has excellent navigation and obstacle detection to ensure that it won't get stuck down the stairs or under furniture.

Certain models are better at removing pet hairs from rugs than others, so it's important to select an item that is able to efficiently and effectively clean all types of flooring. Choose a model that has a a dustbin that can hold plenty of dirt between emptyings and a nozzle that does not lose suction when it rotates to remove debris.

The majority of robots require little or no maintenance besides getting rid of hair that is tangled from the rotating brush (and wiping down its cameras or sensors as needed) after each cleaning session and periodically emptying the trash bin or a self-emptying base when the robot is equipped with one. If you follow these simple maintenance steps, your robot vacuum will last the same amount of time as a traditional vacuum, and will help keep your home cleaner for longer.

Robot mops aren't as flexible than vacuums, however some also remove spills and puddles. The iLife V3s Pro is an example of such a machine, which is a great option for those with wood floors or a combination of rugs and carpets. It is quiet and has good robot vacuum navigation capabilities, which helped it avoid obstacles during testing. The charging dock can also function as a trash bin.

Select a robotic vacuum cleaner that can also mop at the same time. Karcher's RCV 5 is able to do that, and has other useful features, such as a live camera, which broadcasts a grainy picture to your app, so you can keep an eye on your pet or children, as well as a remote control that is easily programmable. The navigation might not be as precise as some of the other models in this collection however, its 500ml dustbin is big enough and doesn't require frequent emptying.

Mopping

Robots that vacuum and mop are relatively new to the market. They're more expensive than standalone robots and require an additional water tank but the extra cost may be worth it for some people, particularly those with difficult-to-clean stains, or lots of pets.

Some of the best robot cleaner robots that vacuum and mop also be very effective at cleaning bare floors and carpets. Several brands now offer all-in-one robotics that perform both tasks with ease. The Combo J9+, for instance, is among the top mopping robots we've tested and uses an impressively large dock that can accommodate up to 60 days worth of dirt. That's a big improvement on the Qrevo Pro, which ran out of water after mopping just 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 quiet, compact and is clean and easy to maintain an appearance. In our test rooms, it scrubbed the floors thoroughly and accurately - it did particularly well on rugs, however it took several runs to completely clean some areas of soiled wood. Its LIDAR navigation system performs well, avoiding bumps into furniture or tripping over power cords.

It's a bit slow on the stairs, but that's expected from a compact robot that's designed to overcome obstacles. The only drawback is that its mopping pads can be difficult to attach and didn't remain in place during our tests. It also does not have the capability to deal with dirt that has dried that makes it more of a vacuum cleaner instead of a full-fledged mop.

It's still an excellent choice for people who prefer a hands-off experience and want to clean low-pile or unfinished carpets equally. It was able to provide a lot of suction, which helped it pick up fine dust from carpets and pet hair. A good feature is its automatic carpet recognition, which increases the strength of the vacuum to take on dirt that is embedded. It's also easy to use and comes with a convenient charging dock that automatically empty the dust bin once it's full, which is a real boon for flat dwellers.

Cleaning apps

Most robot vacuums, mop, and sweeper comes with an app that lets you customize cleaning routines, pick rooms to clean, plan cleaning sessions, and change settings like suction, water level and scrubbing power. Some robots offer intelligent dirt detection that uses maps and previous cleaning data to prioritize dirty areas.

You can also utilize an app to design virtual barriers and no-go zones to keep 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, whereas others have small physical barriers or boundary strips which you can put wherever you want to block the floor space.

The top robot vacuums and mops are smart enough to spot obstacles and maneuver around them, but there are still certain dangers to be on the lookout for. For example, a robot's main brush can become stuck on 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 automatically update their software that regulates the algorithm for navigation and obstacle avoidance. This improves performance and reduces the wear and tear on the robot's internal components. It is a good idea to periodically check the website of the manufacturer or the app of your robot for firmware updates.

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

If you want to be hands-free, a robot that has an assistant that can be activated by voice is an excellent choice. The iRobot Roomba 980 can be operated by Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant. It has a small self-emptying docking station, as well as an efficient cleaning engine that will leave your floors sparkling.