11 "Faux Pas" That Actually Are Okay To Do With Your Robot Hoover
The best robot vacuum cleaner and mop Robot Hoover
The best robot hoover can mop and vacuum without needing your attention. It leaves your floors spotless. Its low cost and top-of-the-line features (such as dirt detectors) are a plus.
Make sure to check your robot's brushes regularly for tangled debris as well as hair. Wash them if needed. Some models will automatically empty their onboard dust bin into a larger bin in the base, which reduces the amount of fine dust released into the air.
1. Roomba Q5 Pro
The Q5 Pro, and its more expensive cousin the Q7 Max Series are among the most powerful robotic vacuums that we have tested. They are equipped with motors that are top of the quality and can suction up to 5,500 Pascals. Similar to other iRobots that are premium (including the most powerful model) they utilize smart mapping to produce precise floorplans and avoid household obstacles such as cords and furniture legs. The robots also feature Carpet Boost, a feature that increases its power when it detects dirt on the carpet.
The Q5 and Q7 Max Series both scored very well in our tests on bare floors They are also adept in removing hair from dogs. They do have some flaws, however, that prevent them from being our first choice. For one, the Q5's navigation system does not have AI-powered obstacle avoidance and is therefore prone to get caught up in shoes and socks and can't navigate tight spaces very well in our tests. Also, it doesn't have a camera that would let it see the corners of an area.
It's still a good value for those whose office or home has lots of unfinished flooring and you're looking to save some money. It's also very quiet and operates while you are at work or school. It doesn't have the edge-to-edge floor vacuuming that is offered by the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30. It's also less effective in mopping, using disposable wet wipes that don't hold on for long and don't take on dried-on debris. The Q5 does come with self-emptying docks, however. If you're in need of it, the mopping pad can be changed for one that is wet in just a few just a few seconds.
2. IRobot Roomba X30
The iRobot Roomba X30 is a compact, sleek vacuum cleaner that also has the ability to mop floors. Its intelligent cleaning maps as well as fluid navigation make it simple to clean, and effective in dealing with larger particles such as pet hair. It also comes with an impressive suction system and a self-emptying bin. It's the most efficient robot hoover for carpets, though it lags behind some competitors in deep cleaning.
This high-performance vacuum and mop utilizes sensor technology that can avoid obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the layout of your home over time and provide better cleaning. The app allows you to modify zones and alter the cleaning schedule. It has a battery lifespan that is similar to other models.
You can tell the X30 Ultra to remove its mops and extend them when it's in a room with carpet, which helps prevent cross-contamination. Its flex arm is also ideal for getting under low-lying furniture and along baseboards. However, it doesn't have the same level of washboard performance as our other Editors' Choice picks, the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Professional+ and the iRobot Combo j9+.
During testing, X30 Ultra was the quickest robot vacuum/mop that could complete the task of cleaning a whole home, with 66 per cent of its battery remaining. It did a good cleaning job on different flooring and rooms with different flooring types including certain area rug. Its obstacle detection was superb and it was able to avoid fake dog turds, socks, shoes and bundles of cables.
It's a little more expensive than iRobot Combo v9+ or iRobot Roomba j9+ but offers superior suction and an onboard bin that automatically empties into the base. It also supports voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It can even clean the floor after it vacuums this feature, which hasn't been seen in other robotic hoovers vacuum/mop combos.
3. iRobot Roomba X40
With an elegant, circular design that looks more like a regular Roomba than the competition's compact models this robot vacuum and mop combo is one of the most attractive designs in our evaluations. iRobot’s latest flagship model is also among its most advanced. It comes with advanced features like Enhanced Dirt Detection and future compatibility (another company's robot that is able to wash mop pads on its own).
It's the only robot vacuum/mop to score 100% in our testing due to a mix of high-tech sensors, which include a camera, structured light system and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra was the only robot we tested that could refill and empty its basestation autonomously. It also boasted an industry-leading suction of 12,000Pa as well as self-cleaning mops.
As with other iRobot models like the X40 is user-friendly, offering a simple mobile app interface as well as integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit as well as Google Assistant. The only drawback is that the X40 still a noisy unit. This could be a concern in the mornings prior to work or at night when you're trying to sleep.
It's also quite expensive, although it's not as pricey as Ecovacs X2 Omni or Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra both of which are similarly capable and look better. If you're willing to put up some more volume and a little more cost, this is a very powerful two-in-one that will delight most.
iRobot L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra is a top-of-the-range robot vacuum and mop, with a variety of sophisticated features to help you get rid of your chores. Similar to Ecovacs range-topping X2 Omni and Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra, the L20 is designed to be a hands-off cleaning machine that takes charge of both mopping and vacuuming. It comes with a multi-function dock that automatically empty the vacuum's dustbin, refills its water tank and washes and dries its mop pads.
The smart robot uses an array of LIDAR and structured light to create floor plans and identify obstacles, navigating more intelligently than its more expensive rivals. It also comes with a front-mounted camera that can detect hazards in real-time however this was not 100% reliable in our tests and could be confused with obstructions or power cords.
Its vacuum cleaner has a maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals which is more than sufficient to accomplish the task. It also has "Intelligent Dirt Detection", which regulates how hard the vacuum works and also alters the frequency of cleaning for different areas of the home according to the amount of dirt they tend to be.
For larger homes it's worth looking for one with zone or spot cleaning modes that allow you to tell the robot to clean a particular area of your house using the app or voice controls. A stair mode can be useful if you have a lot furniture. Also the recharge and resume feature that lets your robot vacuum best vacuum continue where it left off is ideal for busy families.
5. iRobot Roomba RX3
The RX3 is more intelligent than its price suggests. It's a pro at cleaning, removing 55% of the debris we found in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops using a single pad that uses an oscillating motion that cleans better than most of the other mop cleaners for robots we've tried. It's also self-sufficient with a fully-featured application, and a self-emptying base that can be washed.
The iRobot application is designed to help you navigate the mapping process that collects data on your floorplan and any "no go" areas that you have marked on the map. It can be used to design cleaning schedules or to set up a spot-clean. You can also use it to prioritize the most soiled areas for greater efficiency. The app comes with a variety of features, including seasonal suggestions, customized mapping, and advanced cleaning settings.
Its shape is more rectangular than other robot vacuums, meaning it is able to reach corners and under furniture more easily. It also has strong suction of 8,000 Pascal suction and intelligent combs for pet hair. You can also create a spot-cleaner that will thoroughly clean a specific area.
The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek and cheaper alternative to the iRobot Roomba. It's got a more attractive, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras appear like cute eyes. It does a great job vacuuming, however it is more likely to be stuck on low thresholds. It is also noisier than other top robot vacuums we have examined. It also has a less user-friendly app and a small base station that can't be used as a bin for emptying.