Buying a Robot Vacuum That Mop

A robot vacuum can make cleaning your floors easier. This is particularly true if your home has hard floors and you want to reduce the amount of Swiffer pads that you need to buy or discard.

Look for models that are simple to install and maintain. This includes charging and emptying the water tank, removing and replacing pads for cleaning.

1. Object Avoidance

Robot vacuums are fantastic in spotting large obstacles such as furniture legs, walls, and pet toys, but they may overlook smaller objects that are pushed around in the course of cleaning. This is a problem the majority of robots have and can cause a mess when they are entangled in things they should not. Robots equipped with object avoidance systems use various sensors (like cameras, lasers, and LIDAR) to detect small objects on the floor and avoid them during a cleaning session.

Most of the robots that we tested with this feature used lasers to guide the robot and avoid obstacles, but some also use cameras to detect the floor's layout, and create a virtual map of the space. These maps let you create boundaries and no mop zones, establish a schedule for cleaning, and control the flow of water in the mopping area for each space.

A robot mop that uses mapping technology can be a great benefit, especially in homes with many furniture pieces and a complicated floor plan. Mapping lets robots remember the layout of your rooms so it can quickly and efficiently clean them without running into or knocking over furniture or other items that could be getting in the way.

In our tests, the iRobot Combo J7+ incorporated LIDAR with front-facing video cameras to eliminate obstacles in its path. This smart feature called PrecisionVision can be used in both sweeping and mopping mode, and is a good illustration of how robots are getting better at understanding the objects they come across on the floor.

The robot was effective in getting rid of large objects, but not than it was at detecting smaller objects like sockballs and USB cords. This is a common issue we see in most robotic mops however the good news is that there are plenty of options available that are much better at this.

Some of these mops come with an wand with a special design that sprays an unclean stream of water onto the floor vacuum Mop combo robot while others employ an oscillating head to do the job with the gentle drip of water, not a powerful spray. Choose a model that has an air flow that is low-pressure to limit the damage.

2. Water Reservoir

Most robot mops come with the warning that they are not designed to be used to remove stubborn staining, sticky or set-in. But the good news is that a mopping robot is still much more effective at eliminating these stains than a vacuum, even one that can do both.

We found that the Yeedi robot mop and vacuum Mop combo robot was able to maneuver around obstacles and adjust for objects like toys, furniture, or pet hair, leaving floors shiny and polished. The only drawback was that it wasn't able to make it up to the top of ledges to reach rooms on the opposite side. It also has a smaller dust container than a typical robot vacuum, which means it might need to be emptied more often if you utilize it throughout your home. We recommend getting a model with a self-emptying dock, which will drop its cleaning pads in an empty container, saving you numerous trips to the trash can.

Another important feature to consider is whether a mopping machine will return its water tanks that are dirty to the dock for drying and washing. The majority of the models that we tested do this, allowing you to skip a step during your cleaning routine. But, it's important to note that you will need to manually empty the cleaning solution and dirt tanks and wash disposable pads according to the manufacturer's instructions every time you mop. This will prevent mildew or other harmful bacteria from growing in the moist and dark space underneath the bot.

Many robot mops come with an app that lets you alter the map of your home, customize cleaning areas and schedules, check the progress of cleaning and connect other smart devices or voice-activated assistants for hands-free control. The app also offers a way to see the moment when your mopping robot requires maintenance, such as an adjustment to the filter. Some of the top models have smart home integration. This lets you connect them to smart lights, doorbells, and other gadgets.

3. Water Level Adjustment

Robot vacuums that mop could be a great investment for those who spend much time and effort cleaning their floors. The majority of mops come with a warning that they're not intended to be used for tackling stubborn or sticky messes or set-in staining. If you're looking for a cleaning machine that can do more than just clean up spills and dust, search for one that has the capacity to adjust the water level or the intensity of the scrub.

It's also useful to choose models that allow you to program or manually start and stop cleaning. The app should also allow you to keep track of the condition of the mop in real time. Additionally, it's beneficial to select a model that recharges automatically and resumes cleaning when its battery starts running low mid-cleaning. The majority of models that have this feature can clean a large home in less than an hour.

The app should be easy to use and is a huge advantage if you can use voice commands to control your mop. This is especially useful for those who want to clean their floors as they go about their other chores or even watch television. Most models we've tested offer easy-to-use voice controls, but some require you to connect the mop to your Wi-Fi to access the app.

Another thing to consider when buying a mopping robot is whether it will come with disposable or recyclable cleaning pads. Reusable pads are more environmentally-friendly but they are hard to stock and may not perform quite as well as disposable ones. Certain models let you select the type of pad you want to use, but it's vital to keep in mind to wash or change them after each cleaning.

If you have lots of high-pile area rugs around your house, it's worth seeking out a robotic mop that is able to manage these. The j7 model from iRobot's Combo is better at handling these than the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra, but the latter can do great work on carpeted and non-carpeted floors. If you want to, you can purchase an ECOVACS DEEBOT series model that comes with mopping and vacuuming functions.

4. Self-Mopping

The majority of robot mops will save you up to 35 hours a year of tiring mopping work, and they're quieter than vacuum cleaners. However, you'll still need to perform some maintenance, like refilling the reservoir or changing dirty cleaning pad. Self-mopping can make this easier, as the mop returns to its dock automatically if it needs a new pad.

This feature is especially useful if your floors are hard to clean, like tile or granite. Certain mop models utilize the rotating, spinning brush to scrub floors, whereas others simply run a cleaning pad across the floor. You can also find mops that can sweep or vacuum in addition to mopping, meaning you'll have more options for cleaning.

If you plan on using a robot mop often you should consider one that has an integrated dustbin or one that is easy to empty. Some mops that also double as vacuums require you to empty your dust bin more frequently than those that mop and go, and some come with separate bins for each purpose. Ecovacs Deebot X1 has a bin that is opened with ease unlike other amazon robot vacuum vacuums. It also replaces the cleaning pad when it is full.

Some robot mop models are connected to smart homes, meaning you can use your smartphone or a voice assistant to control them. The Braava Jet M6 is an example of a smart robot mop that can be connected to a hub, meaning you can set up recurring cleanings with your schedule and other preferences via the app. You can also receive a status update about the mop's water and battery levels, which can be useful if you are not at home.

Be aware that no robot mop is perfect and even the most effective mop will not be able to remove messy grease messes as well as you would with a manual mops or traditional Swiffer. They're great to clean up quick or for preventing stains from setting, but they aren't an alternative to a thorough hand mop or a thorough vacuum cleaner.