Vacuuming With a Robot Hoover is the best automatic vacuum cleaner Hands-Off Model We've Tested

This premium Eufy bot is the top hands off model we have tried so far. It vacuums, mops, self-empties its bin, washes and dries mop pads with no intervention from you.

It doesn't have advanced cleaning functions or a larger docking system, but it delivers outstanding performance for less than half the price of the top robotic vacuums. It also boasts an incredibly compact design that can reach under furniture.

Vacuuming

A robot vacuum is an easy and quick method of keeping your floors tidy. A majority of the robots featured in our top picks are designed to work without your intervention So you can schedule them to run while you're out or trigger a cleaning session from your phone. However, you'll want to select a model that has superior navigation and obstacle detection to ensure it won't get stuck down the stairs or beneath furniture.

Some models are better at picking up pet hair from carpets than others, so it's important to select the right model that will efficiently and effectively clean all types of flooring. Choose a model with a large dust bin that will hold a lot of dirt between emptying and a nozzle that does not lose suction as it rotates.

Most robots need little to any 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 trash bin or using an auto-emptying base, if the robot has one. If you follow these simple maintenance tips, your robot vacuum should last as long as full-size vacuums and help keep your home tidy for longer.

Robot mops aren't as flexible than vacuums but some can also remove spills and puddles. The iLife V3s Pro, a excellent example of this kind of machine, is a fantastic choice for people with carpets, rugs, or wood flooring. It's quiet and has excellent navigation capabilities that allowed it to overcome obstacles during testing, and the charging dock can also double as a trash bin.

Pick a robot vacuum cleaner that can also mop at the same time. This is what the Karcher RCV 5 can do and it comes with other useful features such as a live camera that broadcasts an unreliable image to your smartphone so you can monitor your pet or kids as well as an easily-programmable Remote Vacuum control. Its navigation may not be as efficient as 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 but the extra expense may be worth it for a lot of people, especially those with difficult-to-clean stains, or lots of pets.

The best robots that vacuum and mop also do an excellent job at cleaning bare floors and carpets. Many brands are now offering all-in-one machines that can do both tasks extremely well. The Combo j9+, for example, is among the top mopping machines we've tested. It comes with an impressively large dock that can hold up to 60 days of debris. This is a huge improvement over the Qrevo Pro, which ran out of water after mopping only 30 days worth of dirt in our tests.

The Tapo RV30 Plus from networking giant TP Link is a great two-in-one. It's quiet and compact and has a neat, easy-to-clean appearance. In our test rooms, it cleaned the floors thoroughly and precisely and efficiently. It was particularly effective on rugs, however it took multiple runs to fully remove soiled areas from wood. Its LIDAR navigation works well, too. It avoids bumping into furniture and running over power cables.

It's a bit slow on the stairs however that's to expected in a compact robot that's designed to overcome obstacles. The only issue is its mopping pad attachment which was a challenge and wouldn't stay in the right position during our tests. It is also not capable of dealing with dust that has dried on which makes it more of a vacuum than a robot mop.

It's a great option for those who prefer a hands-free experience and want to clean low-pile or plain carpets equally. It has a decent amount of suction, which allowed it to pick up fine dust and pet hair from carpets. One of the most appealing features is its automatic carpet recognition, which increases the strength of the vacuuming to take on dirt that is embedded. It's also simple to use and has a handy charging dock that automatically empties the dust bin when it's full. This is a great benefit for those who live in flats.

Cleaning apps

Nearly every robot vacuum, mop, and sweeper comes with an app that lets you customize cleaning routines, select rooms to clean, plan cleaning sessions, and alter settings such as suction, water level, and the power of scrubbing. Some robots also have intelligent dirt detection, which uses past cleaning data and map data to prioritize dirty areas and optimize cleaning mode.

You can also use an app to create virtual barriers and no go zones to keep your robot from dangerous objects, like cords and pet water bowls. Certain models have laser navigation sensors that permit you to create virtual barriers while others have small physical barriers and boundary strips you can place anywhere you'd like to limit your floor area.

The most effective robot vacuums robot and mops are smart enough to spot obstacles and navigate around them, but there are still certain dangers to be on the lookout for. For example, a robot's main brush could get stuck on long cords or curtains and stop the machine dead in its tracks. You can prevent this from happening by clearing the area of any cords and tie up any curtains that are long prior to running your robot.

Some robots automatically update the software that controls their navigation and obstacle avoidance algorithms which improves performance and reduces wear and tear on the budget robot vacuum's internal components. It is recommended to check regularly the website of the manufacturer as well as the app on your robot for firmware updates.

If you live in a huge home, you should choose one that comes with different cleaning modes. The iRobot Roomba 11S Max can sweep and vacuum carpeted and hard floors with different suction settings. It also has the ability to automatically switch the power setting to the highest level when cleaning carpets and increase its scrubbing power with SmartScrub.

A robot that has the ability to speak is a great choice when you want to keep your hands off. The iRobot Roomba 980, for instance, is able to be operated with a simple command from Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant. It is equipped with a compact self-emptying docking system and a powerful cleaning motor that leaves your floors sparkling.