The 10 Scariest Things About Best Robot Hoover
Vacuuming With a Robot Hoover is the Best Hands-Off Model We've Tested
This top-of-the-line bot from Eufy is the best hands-off model we've tested to date. It vacuums, mops and self-empties its bin and washes and dries mop pads without you having to do anything.
It isn't equipped with advanced cleaning modes and a bigger docking station, but it delivers outstanding performance for less than half the cost of premium robot vacuums. It also features an incredibly compact design that can reach under furniture.
Vacuuming
Vacuuming with a robot hoover is a simple, quick way to keep your floors looking and feeling clean. Many of the robots we've selected are designed to run without any involvement from you, so you can set them up to sweep while you're away or trigger a session from your smartphone. You'll need to select one that has excellent navigation and object detection in order to avoid getting stuck under furniture or down the stairs.
Certain models are better at removing pet hair from carpets than others, so it's important to select the right model that will effectively and efficiently vacuum all types of flooring. Find a model with a a dustbin that is able to hold plenty of dirt between emptying and the nozzle doesn't lose suction as it rotates to get rid of debris.
Most robots need little to no maintenance other than getting rid of hair that is tangled from the rotating brush (and wiping down its cameras or sensors, when needed) after each cleaning session and periodically emptying the dustbin or an automatic emptying base in the event that the robot has one. If you follow these easy routine maintenance steps, your robotic vacuum should last the same amount of time as a traditional vacuum, and will help keep your home clean for longer.
Robot mops aren't as flexible than vacuums, however some also clean up spills and puddles. The iLife V3s Pro, a great example of machine, is a fantastic choice for those with carpets and rugs or wood flooring. It is quiet and has good navigation capabilities, which helped it avoid obstacles when tested. The charging dock can also double as a trash bin.
Select a robotic vacuum cleaners vacuum cleaner that can also mop simultaneously. That's exactly what the Karcher RCV 5 does, and it also offers other useful features such as live cameras that send an image that is grainy to your smartphone so you can check on your children or pets as well as an easily programmable remote vacuum cleaner control. Its navigation isn't as reliable as other models we've reviewed however it is able to lift itself over low thresholds and has a generous 500ml dustbin that doesn't need to be emptying often.
Mopping
Robots that mop and vacuum are a relatively new addition to the market. These robots are more expensive and require an additional tank of water compared to standalone robots. However, they could be worth the cost for those who have stains that are difficult to clean or pets.
Some of the best robots can clean floors and carpets as well as vacuum. Several brands now offer all-in-one machines that can do both tasks with ease. The Combo j9+, for instance, is among the top 10 robot vacuum cleaner mopping robots we've tested. It comes with an impressively large dock that can hold up to 60 days of dirt. This is a significant 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 another excellent two-in-one. It's quiet, compact and has a neat, easy-to-clean appearance. In our test rooms, it was able to clean the floors thoroughly and precisely - it did particularly well on rugs but it took multiple runs to fully clean certain areas of soiled wood. Its LIDAR navigation system performs well too, avoiding bumping into furniture or crossing power cords.
It's a little slow on the stairs but that's expected from a compact robot that's designed to overcome obstacles. Its only downside is its mopping pad attachment which was a challenge to hold in its place during our tests. It is also not capable of dealing with dust that has dried on which makes it more of the vacuum rather than a 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 has a decent amount of suction, which helped it remove fine dust from pet hair and carpets. Automatic recognition of carpets is a great feature, as it increases the power of vacuuming to tackle dirt that has been embedded. It is simple to use and the charging dock automatically emptyes the bin when it's full. This is a fantastic feature for apartment dwellers.
Cleaning Apps
Most robot vacuums, mops and sweepers have an application that allows you to customize cleaning routines. You can also select rooms to be cleaned, plan cleaning sessions, and alter settings like suction, water levels and scrubbing strength. Some robots offer intelligent dirt detection, which uses maps and cleaning data to determine the most soiled areas.
You can also utilize an app to design virtual barriers and no-go zones to keep your robot from dangerous objects, like cords and pet water bowls. Some models allow you to create these virtual barriers using laser navigation sensors, whereas others have small physical barriers or boundary strips which you can put wherever you'd like to keep off your floor area.
The top robot vacuums and mops are intelligent enough to recognize obstacles and maneuver around them however there are some hazards to watch out for. The primary brush of a robot can become stuck in long cords or curtains and stop it dead in its tracks. You can prevent this from happening by clearing the area of any cords and tying off any long curtains before running your robot.
Some robots automatically update the software that governs their navigation and obstacle avoidance algorithms which improves performance and reduces 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 updates to the firmware.
If you have a huge home, look for models that offer multiple cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max can mop and vacuum on hard and carpeted floors using different suction settings. It can also automatically switch to the highest power setting for carpets and boost its scrubbing power by using SmartScrub.
A robot with an integrated voice assistant is a great choice for those who want to be hands-free. The iRobot Roomba 980, for instance, is able to be operated with a simple command from Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant. It has a small self-emptying docking device and a powerful cleaning motor that leaves your floors sparkling.