Best Robot Hoover: It's Not As Difficult As You Think
Vacuuming With a Robot Hoover is the Best Hands-Off Model We've Tested
This high-end Eufy bot is the best hands off model we have tried so far. It vacuums, mops, and self-empties its bin, washes and dry mop pads without you having to do anything.
It lacks advanced cleaning modes and a larger docking station but delivers a stellar performance at a fraction of the price of top-end robot vacuums. It also has an incredibly compact design that can be able to reach under furniture.
Vacuuming
Vacuuming with a robot hoover is a fast, simple way to keep your floors looking and feeling clean. A lot of the models we've picked are built to operate without any involvement from you, so you can set them up to clean your floors while you're out or start an appointment from your phone. You'll need to choose a robot with excellent navigation and object detection to avoid getting stuck under furniture or down the stairs.
Certain models are better at picking up pet hair from carpets than others, which is why it's crucial to select a robot that can effectively and efficiently vacuum all types of flooring. Look for a robot with a large dust bin that will hold a large amount of dirt between emptyings and a nozzle that does not lose suction as it turns.
Most robots require little to no maintenance besides taking hair that has become tangled off the rotating brush (and wiping its cameras or sensors when needed) after each cleaning session and regularly emptying the dustbin or using a self-emptying base if the robot has one. If you follow these easy routine maintenance steps, your robotic vacuum will last as long as a regular vacuum, and will help keep your home cleaner for longer.
Robotic mops aren't as versatile than vacuums, but they can also clean up puddles and spills. The iLife V3s Pro, a excellent example of this kind of machine, is a great choice for people with carpets, rugs, or wood floors. It's quiet and has solid navigation capabilities that have helped it overcome obstacles during testing, and the charging dock doubles as a trash can.
For the best results, pick a robot that can handle both vacuuming and mopping simultaneously. Karcher's RCV 5 does that, and has other features that are beneficial, such as a live camera, which transmits a blurry picture to your app, so that you can keep an eye on your kids or pet and a remote control that is easily programmable. Its navigation isn't as solid as the other models we've reviewed however, it can elevate it over low thresholds and has a generous 500ml trash bin that doesn't have to be emptying often.
Mopping
Robots that vacuum and mops are relatively new to the market. These robots are more expensive and require an additional tank of water, unlike standalone robots. However, they could be worth the extra cost for those who have hard-to-clean stains clean or pets.
Some of the top robots can clean floors and carpets and also vacuum. Several brands now offer all-in-one robotics that perform both jobs extremely well. The Combo J9+, for example, is among the top mopping robots we've tested. It has an impressively large dock that can accommodate up to 60 days worth of dirt. This is a huge improvement over the Qrevo Pro, which ran out of water after mopping just 30 days of dirt in our tests.
The Tapo RV30 plus from networking giant TP-Link is a great two-in-one. It's small quiet and has an attractive, clutter-free appearance. In our test rooms, it scrubbed the floors thoroughly and precisely - it was particularly good on rugs but it took several runs to completely clean some areas of soiled wood. Its LIDAR navigation system functions well, avoiding bumps into furniture or crossing power cords.
It's a bit slow on the stairs, but that's to be expected from a compact robot that is designed to work around obstacles. Its only downside is the mopping pad attachment, which was a challenge and didn't stay in place during our tests. It also lacks the ability of handling dust that has dried, making it more like a vacuum than a robot mop.
It's still a great choice 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 allowed it to remove fine dust from carpets and pet hair. A good feature is its automatic carpet recognition which increases the strength of the vacuuming to tackle dirt that has been embedded. It's easy to use, and the charging dock automatically empty the bin when it's full. This is a fantastic feature for apartment dwellers.
Cleaning Apps
Nearly every robot vacuum mop, sweeper, and vacuum has an application that lets you personalize 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 uses past cleaning data and map data to prioritize dirty areas and optimize cleaning mode.
The app allows you to create virtual barriers and no-go zones to keep your robot away from potentially dangerous objects like cords and pet water bowls and sharp objects. Some models allow you to create these virtual barriers with laser navigation sensors, while others come with small physical boundaries or barriers you can place wherever you'd like to keep your floor.
There are still hazards to be aware of, even though the top robot vacuum s can recognize and maneuver around obstacles. For instance, a robot's main brush can get stuck in long cords or curtains, which can stop the machine dead in its tracks. You can prevent this by clearing the area of all cords and tying off any curtains that are long prior to running your robot.
Some robots automatically update their software, which regulates the algorithm for navigation and obstacle avoidance. This improves performance and decreases the wear and tear of the robot's internal components. It is recommended to regularly check the website of the manufacturer as well as the app on your robot for firmware updates.
If you live in a large home, select a model that has different cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max can clean and mop hard and carpeted floors using different suction settings. It also has the ability to automatically change to the highest power setting on carpets and increase its scrubbing power by using SmartScrub.
If you're looking to be hands-off, a robot with the ability to speak to a voice-activated assistant is a great option. The iRobot Roomba 980 can be controlled by Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant. It comes with a compact self-emptying docking system and a powerful cleaning motor that leaves your floors sparkling.