Buying a Robot Vacuum That Mop

A robot vacuum can help you clean your floors more easily. This is especially true if you have hard flooring throughout your home and wish to reduce the amount of Swiffer pads you have to buy or dispose of.

Choose models that are easy to install and maintain. This includes charging the tank with water and emptying it, as well as removing and replacing the pads used for home cleaning.

1. Object Avoidance

Robot vacuums are able to detect big obstacles, such as furniture legs, walls, and pet toys. However, they could overlook smaller objects that are pushed around when cleaning. This is a common issue for all robots and could cause a messy clean up when the robot is sucked into an object it shouldn't be. Robots that have object-avoidance systems utilize sensors (like a laser, camera or LIDAR) to detect and avoid small objects that are on the ground.

Most of the robots that we tested with this feature used lasers to navigate its way and avoid obstacles, however some also use cameras to recognize the floor's layout and draw a virtual map of the space. These maps let you create boundaries and mop zones. You can also create a schedule for cleaning, and control the flow of water in the mopping area for each space.

A robotic mop that makes use of mapping technology can be a huge benefit, especially when your home is surrounded by a lot of furniture and a complicated floor plan. A robot that uses mapping can remember your rooms' layout, allowing it to clean them quickly and efficiently without falling over or running into furniture or other items.

In our tests the iRobotCombo j7+ used a combination of LIDAR and an in-front camera to stay clear of obstacles that were in its path. This smart feature, called PrecisionVision is able to work in mopping and sweeping modes, and is a great example of how some robots are becoming more adept in recognizing what they encounter on the floor as they work.

This robot was great at avoiding large objects, but not than that at detecting smaller objects such as USB cords and sockballs. This is a problem that we have seen with the majority of robotic mop. The good news is there are numerous options available to perform better.

Some of these mops come with an wand with a special design that sprays a stream of clean water onto the floor while others employ an oscillating head that does the job with an easy drip of water and not a powerful spray. If you have hardwood floors, you should look for one that has water that is low-pressure to minimize damage.

2. Water Reservoir

The majority of robot mops come with a warning that they aren't designed to be used for removing stubborn sticky or set-in stains. However, the good news is that a mopping device is still far superior in eliminating the stains than a vacuum and even one that is able to perform both.

We found that the Yeedi robot mop and vacuum was able to maneuver around obstacles and adjust to objects such as toys, furniture, or pet hair, leaving floors shiny and polished. The only downside was that it didn't reach the top of ledges in order to access rooms on the other side. It also has a smaller dust container than a typical robot vacuum, meaning it may require emptying more frequently if you are using it throughout your home. We recommend purchasing a model with self-emptying docks, which will deposit its cleaning pads into the empty container, saving you numerous trips to the trash can.

Another important feature to consider is whether a mopping device will return its water tanks that are dirty to the dock to be cleaned and dried. The majority of the models we tested, and this saves you time in your cleanup routine. However, it's important note that you will have to manually empty the dirt and cleaning solution tanks and wash reusable pads in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions between mopping sessions. This prevents the growth of mildew as well as other undesirable bacteria from growing in the moist, dark space under the bot.

Many robot mop models have an app specifically designed for them that allows you to adjust the map of your home as well as customize your cleaning schedule and track the progress of cleaning and also connect to other smart devices or voice assistants to provide hands-free control. The app also offers an opportunity to know the time when your mopping machine requires maintenance, such as an adjustment to the filter. A few of the most popular models feature smart home integration, allowing you to connect them to your smart lighting bulbs, doorbells, and other gadgets.

3. Water Level Adjustment

A robot vacuum that mops is a good purchase for those who regularly spend time and energy cleaning their floors. The majority of mops come with warnings that they're not intended to be used to tackle adversity or sticky messes, or for setting-in staining. If you're looking for a cleaning machine that does more than just clean up dust and spills, look for one with the ability to adjust the water level or scrub intensity.

It is helpful to discover models that let you schedule or manually start and finish cleaning. You should also be able see the status of your mop live on the app. Similarly, it's helpful to select a model that automatically recharges and resumes cleaning if the battery gets low mid-cleaning. We've seen that the majority of models with this feature can easily clean a large home in less than two hours.

It should be easy to use, and you should have the option to control your mop via voice commands. This is especially useful for those who wish to clean their floors as they go about their other chores or even watch TV. The majority of the models we tested have voice controls that are easy to use, but some require connecting the mop with your Wi-Fi to access the app.

When you are buying a mopping robot, you should also consider whether the robot will come with disposable cleaning pads or one that is reusable. Reusable pads are more environmentally-friendly, but they can be difficult to stock and might not perform as well as disposable ones. Certain models let you select the type of pad you want to use, but it's essential to be sure to wash or change them every cleaning.

If you have high-pile area carpets in your home, it is worthwhile to find an automatic system that can take care of these carpets. The j7 model from iRobot's Combo can handle these better than the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra, however the latter will do great work on carpeted and non-carpeted flooring. If you want to, you can purchase an ECOVACS DEEBOT series model that comes with both vacuuming and mopping functionality.

4. Self-Mopping

Most robot mops can save you 35 hours per year of tiring mopping work, and home they're quieter than vacuum cleaners. But you'll still have to take care of some maintenance tasks such as refilling the reservoir with water or changing out an old cleaning pad. Self-mopping makes this simpler, as the mop returns to its dock automatically when it needs an additional pad.

This feature is especially helpful if you have hard-to-clean floors, like tile or granite. Certain mop models utilize the rotating, spinning brush to scrub floors, while others use a simple cleaning pad across the floor. You can also find some mops that can sweep or vacuum in addition to mopping, which means you'll have more options to clean your home.

If you intend to use a mop robot often, you should consider purchasing one with a built-in dustbin or a bin that is easy to empty. Some mops that also double as vacuums will require you to empty your dust bin more frequently than those that just mop and go, and some come with distinct bins for each purpose. Ecovacs Deebot X1 has a bin that is opened with ease, unlike other robot vacuum for dog hair vacuums. It also replaces the reusable cleaning pad when it's full.

Some robot mops are connected to smart homes, so you can make use of your phone or voice assistant to control them. The Braava Jet M6 is an example of a smart robot mop that connects to a hub, which means it is possible to schedule recurring cleanings with your schedule and other preferences through the app. You can also receive a status update on the mop's battery life and water level, which is helpful if you're not at home to check on what's going on.

Remember that no robot mop is perfect, and even the best ones won't be able to get messy grease messes as well like you would with manual mops or traditional Swiffer. They're excellent for quick cleanups or for stopping stains from forming, but they aren't an alternative to a thorough hand mop or deep-cleaning vacuum cleaner.