The Filter Best robot vacuums to keep your home clean and dust free

Stuart Andrews trialled the most powerful robot vacuums - some of which even mop your floors - and these are the ones he rates

- Stuart Andrews

Robot vacuum cleaners take the drudgery out of cleaning floors and carpets. Over the past few years, they have become much more affordable, with basic units starting at about £150. They also do more than they used to, mopping areas of hard flooring and charging in sophisticated cleaning stations that empty their dust collectors and clean their mop pads for you.

In fact, the biggest effort required is deciding which one to buy. That's where I can help. I've tested seven of the most popular models to help you find the best for your space.

robot mop and vacuum. The base station washes and dries the heads between uses, refilling the internal water tank and emptying the dust collector. It uses a camera and laser technology to sense its way around your floors, spotting and identifying items, such as socks or cables, that it can then avoid.

Why we love it: This machine does almost everything for you, as long as you periodically empty the base station's dust bag and dirty-water tank and refill the clean-water one. Like the Samsung (right) it is great at mapping out your home and dodging potential obstacles, but it is better at cleaning on the first pass. The side brush and vacuum can shift dust and hair in seconds, while the mop left hard floors sparkling, even dealing with dried spots of juice.