Vacuuming With a robot vacuum cleaner industrial Hoover is the Best Hands-Off Model We've Tested

This top-quality bot from Eufy is the best hands-off model we've tested so far. It vacuums, mop and self-empties and drys mop pads all without you having to do anything.

It doesn't feature advanced cleaning options or a bigger docking system, but it provides outstanding performance for less than half the cost of the most expensive robotic vacuums. It also has an incredibly compact design that can reach under furniture.

Vacuuming

Vacuuming with a robot is a simple, quick method to keep your floors clean and tidy. Many of the robots in our top picks are designed to operate without your involvement You can set them to run while you're out or trigger cleaning sessions using your smartphone. But, you should choose a model that has 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 carpets than others, which is why it's crucial to select a robot that can efficiently and effectively clean all types of flooring. Find a robot that has an enormous dust bin that can hold a large amount of dirt between emptying and a nozzle that doesn't lose suction when it turns.

Most expensive robot vacuum robots need little to no maintenance other than getting rid of hair that is tangled from the rotating brush (and wiping its sensors or cameras, when needed) after each cleaning session and regularly emptying the trash bin or an automatic emptying base in the event that the robot has one. If you follow these easy maintenance tips, your robot vacuum should last as long as larger vacuums and will keep your home clean for longer.

While robot mops are generally less versatile than their vacuuming counterparts they do have the ability to suck up spills and puddles while they're doing their thing. The iLife V3s Pro is an example of such a machine, which is a great option for those with wood floors or a mix of rugs and carpets. It's quiet and has solid navigation capabilities that allowed it to overcome obstacles during testing, and the charging dock doubles as a trash bin.

Choose a robot vacuum cleaner that is able to mop simultaneously. Karcher's RCV 5 is able to do that, and also has other features that are beneficial including live cameras, which sends a blurry image to your app, so you can keep an eye on your pet or children and a remote control that is easily programmed. Its navigation isn't as solid as the other models in our selection, but it can lift its own thresholds to a certain level and comes with a large 500ml trash bin that doesn't have to be emptying often.

Mopping

Robots that vacuum and mop are a fairly new addition to the market. These robots are more expensive and require a separate tank of water than standalone robots. However, they may be worth the extra expense for those who have staining that is difficult to clean or pets.

The best robots that vacuum and mop also be very effective at cleaning bare floors and carpets. There are many brands that offer robots that can do both jobs very effectively. The Combo J9+ is among the most efficient mopping robots that we have tested. It has docks that can hold up to 60 days' worth of debris. This is an enormous improvement over the Qrevo Pro which ran out water after only mopping 30 days worth of dirt in our tests.

The Tapo RV30 plus from networking giant TP-Link is another very excellent two-in-one. It's quiet, compact and has a clean, fuss-free appearance. In our test rooms it cleans the floors quickly and thoroughly - it was particularly adept at cleaning rugs. However, it took several runs to clean smart robot certain areas of soiled wooden. Its LIDAR navigation works well as well. It is able to avoid hitting furniture and running over power cables.

It's a little 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 fiddly to attach and didn't remain in place during our tests. Additionally, it does not have the capability to deal with dried-on dirt and makes it more like a vacuum cleaner rather than a full-fledged mop.

Despite these issues however, it's a great choice for those who want an effortless cleaning experience that can take care of carpets with equal competence. It has a decent amount of suction, which helped it to clean fine dust and pet hair from carpets. Automatic carpet recognition is a fantastic feature since it boosts the vacuuming power to better tackle embedded dirt. It's also simple to use and has a handy charging dock that automatically empty the dust bin when it's filled, which is a great benefit for flat dwellers.

Cleaning Apps

Most smart robot vacuums vacuums, mops, and sweepers come with an application that lets you customize cleaning routines. You can also select rooms to be cleaned, schedule cleaning sessions, and alter settings such as 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 data to prioritize dirty areas and optimize cleaning mode.

A smartphone app can also allow you to set up virtual barriers and no-go zones to protect your robot from dangerous items, such as cords or pet water bowls and sharp objects. Certain models have laser navigation sensors that permit you to create virtual barriers while others come with small physical boundaries and barriers that you can place anywhere you'd like to limit your floor washing robot area.

There are still risks to be aware of even though the best robot vacuums can detect and navigate around obstacles. For instance, a robot's main brush could get stuck on long cords or curtains, which can stop the machine from moving. To prevent this from happening you should remove the cords and tie up any curtains that are long.

Certain robots automatically update their software that controls the algorithm for navigation and obstacle avoidance. This improves performance and decreases the wear and tear on the robot's internal parts. It is a good idea to check regularly the website of the manufacturer as well as your robot vacuum cleaner on sale's app for updates to the firmware.

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

If you're looking to be hands-off, a robot with a voice-activated assistant is a great option. The iRobot Roomba 980 can be operated by Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant. It comes with a compact self-emptying docking system and a powerful cleaning motor that makes your floors sparkling.