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

This high-end 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 without your intervention.

It doesn't come with advanced cleaning options or a bigger docking system, but it offers stellar performance at less than half the price of top-end robotic vacuums. It also boasts the ability to be able to reach under furniture.

Vacuuming

Vacuuming using a robot hoover is a quick, easy method to keep your floors clean and tidy. Many of the robots in our top picks are designed to work without your intervention, so you can schedule them to work while you're out or start cleaning sessions using your phone. But, you should look for a model with excellent navigation and obstacle detection to ensure it will not be stuck on the stairs or under furniture.

Some 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 effectively and efficiently clean all flooring types. Choose a model with a large dustbin that will hold a large amount of dirt between emptyings, and a nozzle which doesn't lose suction when it rotates.

most expensive robot vacuum robots require little to any maintenance, other than removing tangled hair from the rotating brush (and wiping down its cameras or sensors as required) after each cleaning session and periodically emptying the trash bin or an auto-emptying base, if the robot has one. If you follow these simple steps to maintain your robot, the vacuum should last as long as regular vacuums and keep your home cleaner for longer.

Robot mops aren't as flexible than vacuums but some can also clean up puddles and spills. The iLife V3s Pro is an example of such a device, which is a good choice for people who have wood floors or a mix of carpets and rugs. It is quiet and has good navigation capabilities, which helped it avoid obstacles during testing. The charging dock can also double as a trash bin.

To get the best results, choose the robot that is capable of mopping and vacuuming simultaneously. Karcher's RCV 5 is able to do this, and it also comes with other features that are useful including live cameras, which broadcasts a grainy picture to your app, so you can monitor your pet or kids, as well as a remote control that is easily programmable. The navigation might not be as precise as some of the other models on this list but its 500ml trash bin is large and doesn't require frequent emptying.

Mopping

Robots that vacuum and mop are relatively new to the market. They are more expensive than standalone robots and require an additional water tank however, the additional cost could be worth it for a lot of people, especially those with hard-to-clean stains or lots of pets.

Some of the best robots can clean carpets and floors as well as vacuuming. Many brands offer robots capable of doing both exceptionally efficiently. The Combo J9+, for example, is one of the top mopping robots we've tested. It has an impressively large dock that can accommodate up to 60 days of debris. This is an enormous improvement over the Qrevo Pro which ran out water after only mopping 30 days worth of dirt during our tests.

The Tapo RV30 plus from networking giant TP-Link is another very great two-in-one. It's quiet and compact and is clean and easy to maintain an appearance. In our test rooms it cleaned the floors efficiently and thoroughly - it was particularly good at cleaning rugs. However, it took several runs to scrub certain areas of soiled wooden. Its LIDAR navigation system performs well, avoiding bumps into furniture or running over power cords.

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

Despite these shortcomings It's still a good choice for those who want a hands-off cleaning experience. It can handle carpets that are bare or low-pile with equal ease. It has decent suction, which allowed it to clean fine dust and pet hair from carpets. Automatic recognition of carpets is a great feature, as it increases the suction power to take on dirt that is embedded. It's also easy to use and has a handy charging dock that automatically empties the bin once it's filled, which is a real boon for flat dwellers.

Cleaning Apps

Most robot vacuums, mop and sweepers have an app that allows you to customize cleaning routines. You can also choose rooms to be cleaned, schedule cleaning sessions and adjust settings like suction levels, water levels and scrubbing strength. Certain robots also provide intelligent dirt detection, which makes use of the data from previous cleaning sessions and maps information to prioritize areas of dirt and optimize cleaning mode.

A smartphone app can also allow you to create virtual barriers and no-go zones to shield your robot from potentially dangerous objects, such as cords, pet water bowls, and sharp objects. Certain models have laser navigation sensors that allow you to create virtual barriers, while others feature small physical boundaries and barriers that you can place anywhere you want to block the floor area.

There are still risks to be aware of even though the best robot vacuums can detect and maneuver around obstacles. The primary brush of a robot could become stuck in long cords or curtains, and stop it in its tracks. To prevent this from happening you should rid the area of cords and tie up any curtains that are long.

Certain robots automatically update their software, Robotic vacuums which regulates the algorithm for navigation and obstacle avoidance. This improves performance and decreases the wear and tear on the robot's internal components. It's a good idea regularly to check the site of the manufacturer or your robot app for updates to firmware.

If you live in a big home, select one that comes with multiple cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max can sweep and vacuum hard and carpeted floors using different suction settings. It can also switch automatically to the highest power setting when cleaning carpets, and also boost its scrubbing power by using SmartScrub.

A robot that has the ability to speak is a great option when you want to keep your hands-free. The iRobot Roomba 980 can be operated by Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant. It has a compact, self cleaning vacuum-emptying docking station and a powerful cleaning engine that makes your floors sparkling.