Buying a Robot Vacuum That Mop

A robot vacuum can help you clean your floors more easily. This is particularly true if your home has hard flooring and you wish to reduce the amount of Swiffer pads that you need to purchase or throw away.

Choose models that are simple to set up and maintain. This includes charging and emptying the tank of water, taking out and replacing cleaning pads.

1. Object Avoidance

Robot vacuums are great in spotting large obstacles such as furniture legs, walls and pet toys, but they also overlook smaller objects that are pushed around during cleaning. This is a common problem that affects all robots and can lead to an unclean environment if the robot gets sucked into a place it shouldn't be. Robots that have object-avoidance systems utilize sensors (like lasers, cameras or LIDAR) to detect and avoid small objects that are on the ground.

Certain robots make use of cameras to create a virtual map and recognize the floor layout. These maps let you create boundaries and no-mop zones as well as set a schedule for cleaning and regulate the flow of water in every room during mopping.

A robot mop that uses mapping technology can be a great benefit, especially when your home is surrounded by many furniture pieces and a complex floor plan. A robot that uses mapping can memorize your rooms' layout so it can clean them quickly and efficiently without falling over or running into furniture or other objects.

In our tests the iRobotCombo j7+ employed a combination of LIDAR and an in-front camera to keep away from obstacles that were in its path. This smart feature called PrecisionVision is able to work in both sweeping and mopping mode and is an example of how robots are becoming more adept at identifying the objects they come across on the floor.

When we examined this robot mop vacuum it did a great job of avoiding obstacles that were large however, it was less proficient in recognizing smaller items like sock balls or USB cords on the floor. This is a problem that we see in all robotic mop cleaners, but the good news is that there are plenty of options on the market that do much better in this regard.

Some mop models make use of a special wand to spray water on floors, while others have an oscillating mop head that does the work with a gentle drip and no powerful jets of water. If you have wood flooring, choose a model that uses a low-pressure flow of water to limit the damage.

2. Water Reservoir

The majority of robot mops come with an explanation that they're not meant to be used on stubborn, stuck-on, or set-in stains. But the good news is that a mopping robot is still far superior in eliminating these than a vacuum cleaner and even one that is able to perform both.

We found that the Yeedi bagless robot vacuum mop and vacuum was able to navigate around obstacles and adjust for objects like furniture, toys or pet hair, leaving floors shiny and vacuum robot buffed. The only drawback was that it couldn't get to the top of ledges to reach rooms on the other side. It also has a smaller bin than the average robot vacuum, so it will need to be cleaned more often if you utilize it in your entire home. We suggest a model with self-emptying ports that will place the cleaning pads into an empty container. This will prevent you from making multiple trips to the garbage container.

A mopping robot's ability to automatically return its dirty tanks back to the dock to be cleaned and dried is another important feature. The majority of the models we tested be able to do this, which can save you a step in your cleanup routine. It's important to keep in mind that you need to manually empty the cleaning and dirt tanks and wash the reusable pads in accordance with the instructions from the manufacturer between mopping sessions. This will prevent the growth of mildew as well as other undesirable bacteria from forming in the moist, dark space beneath the bot.

Many robot mop models have an app that allows you to adjust their map of your home and customize your cleaning areas, schedule and see the status of a clean, and connect with other smart devices or voice assistants for hands-free control. The app can also be used to check when your mopping robot requires maintenance, for example, replacement of the filter. Some of the most popular models include smart home integration, allowing users to connect them to your smart light bulbs as well as doorbells and other devices.

3. Water Level Adjustment

A robot vacuum that mops can be a worthwhile investment for those who frequently spend time and energy cleaning their floors. Many mops are accompanied by a warning that they are not intended to be used to tackle adversity or sticky messes, or for setting-in staining. If you're looking for a mopping robot that can do more than just get rid of spills and dust, it's essential to find one that has the ability to adjust the water level or scrub intensity to take on tough mess.

It's helpful to discover models that let you plan or manually begin and end cleaning. You will also be able to check the status of your mop in real-time on the app. It's also beneficial to select a mop that automatically recharges when the battery is low. Many models that feature this feature can clean a large house in less than a half 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 sweep their floors while doing other chores or watching television. Most of the models we've tested provide easy-to-use voice controls, but some require you to connect the mop to Wi-Fi to access the app.

If you are considering buying a mopping robot be sure to think about whether the mopping robot comes with disposable cleaning pads or reusable ones. The reusable pads are more environmentally-friendly however they can be hard to stock and may not perform quite as well as disposable ones. Some models let you choose the type of pad to use, but it's important to remember to wash or change them after every cleaning.

If you have high-pile area carpets in your home, it's worthwhile to look for an automated system that can manage these carpets. The j7 model from iRobot's Combo can handle these better than the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra, however the latter does an excellent job on both carpeted and non-carpeted floors. If you want to, you can purchase an ECOVACS DEEBOT series model that includes both vacuuming and mopping functionality.

4. Self-Mopping

Robotic mops are quieter than vacuums and can save you up to 35 hours of mopping per year. However, you'll need to take care of some maintenance tasks, like refilling the reservoir with water or changing out the dirty cleaning pad. Self-mopping features make this less of a chore since the mop will automatically return to its dock when it's time to get an entirely new pad.

This feature is particularly useful if your floors are hard to clean, such as granite or tile. Some mop models scrub floors with a rotating, spinning bristle while others use pads for cleaning. You can also find mop models that sweep or vacuum in addition to mopping, so you'll have a variety of options for cleaning.

If you plan to use a mop robot often, you should consider purchasing one with a built-in dustbin or an easy-to-empty bin. Certain mop models that also vacuum require you to empty the bin more often than those that just mop. Others have a separate dustbin for each purpose. The Ecovacs Deebot X1 comes with a self-emptying bin for its sweeping pads that's more accessible than those of other robot vacuums, and it also automatically switches out the disposable pads for new ones when they're full.

Some robot mop models are connected to smart homes, which means you can utilize your smartphone or a voice assistant to control them. The Braava Jet M6 is a smart robotic that can connect to hubs and allow you to set up recurring cleanings according to your schedule and preferences via the app. You can also get a status update on the mop's battery life and water level, which can be beneficial if you're away from home to check on what's going on.

Keep in mind that no robot mop is perfect, and even the best ones won't be able to get dirty grease messes as well like you would with manual mops or traditional Swiffer. They're great for quick clean-ups or preventing stains from setting, but they aren't an alternative to a thorough hand mop or a deep-cleaning Vacuum Robot cleaner.