Buying a Robot Vacuum That Mop
A robot vacuum can make cleaning your floors easier. This is particularly true if your home has hard flooring and you wish to reduce the amount of Swiffer pads that you need to buy or discard.
Look for models that are easy 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 excellent in spotting obstacles large like furniture legs, walls and pet toys, but they can miss smaller objects that are carried around when cleaning. This is a common problem for all robots and could lead to an unclean environment when the robot is sucked up into an object that isn't. Robots with object avoidance systems use a variety of sensors (like cameras, lasers and LIDAR) to identify small objects on the floor and avoid them during cleaning.
The majority of the robots we tested with this feature used a laser to help navigate its way and avoid obstacles. However, certain models also employ cameras to identify the floor's layout and create a virtual map of the area. These maps allow you to create boundaries and mop zones. You can also create a cleaning schedule, and control the flow of water in every space during mopping.
A robot mop that uses mapping technology can be a huge asset, especially if your home has many furniture pieces and a complicated floor plan. A robot that maps can remember your rooms' arrangement so that it can clean them quickly and effectively without knocking over or running into furniture or other items.
During our testing the iRobot Combo J7+ used a combination of LIDAR and a front-facing camera to stay clear of obstacles that were in its path. This smart feature, called PrecisionVision is able to work in both sweeping and mopping modes and is a good illustration of how robots are becoming more adept in recognizing what they encounter on the floor as they work.
This robot was good at getting rid of large objects, but not so at detecting smaller items like USB cords and sockballs. This is a common problem we encounter in the majority of robotic mop machines however the good news is that there are a lot of options on the market that do much better at this.
Some mop models make use of a special wand to spray water onto floors, whereas others come with an oscillating head that performs the task with a gentle drip and does not have any strong sprays of water. If you have wood flooring, choose models that use water that is low-pressure to limit the damage.
2. Water Reservoir
The majority of robot mop models come with an instruction that they are not designed to be used to remove stubborn, sticky or set-in stains. The good news is that even a vacuum cleaner that can do both is not as effective at eliminating these stains as a mopping robotic.
When we tested the Yeedi robot vacuum and mop, we found that it was able to maneuver well over obstacles and was able to adjust to objects like furniture, toys and pet hair, leaving floors looking shiny and polished. It didn't reach the top of ledges, meaning it couldn't reach the rooms to the opposite side. It's smaller than other robot vacuums, which means you might need to empty it more frequently when it is used throughout your home. We suggest getting a model with self-emptying docks, which will deposit its cleaning pads into the empty container, avoiding numerous trips to the trash can.
Another important feature to consider is whether a mopping device will automatically take its dirty water tanks to the dock to be cleaned and dried. The majority of the models we tested did, saving you one step in your cleaning routine. It is important to remember that you must manually empty the dirt and cleaning solutions tanks and wash the reusable pads in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions between mopping sessions. This helps prevent mildew and other harmful bacteria from developing in the dark, moist space under the bot.
Many robot mops come with an app that lets you alter the layout of your home and customize cleaning areas as well as schedules, see the progress of cleaning, and connect other smart devices or voice-activated assistants for hands free control. The app also offers an opportunity to know the moment when your mopping robot requires maintenance, such as changing the filter. Some of the most well-known models have smart home integration, allowing users to connect them to your smart light bulbs, doorbells, and other devices.
3. Water Level Adjustment
Robot vacuums that mop can be an excellent investment for people who spend much time and effort cleaning their floors. Many mops are accompanied by an indication that they are not designed to be used to tackle adversity or sticky messes or set-in stains. If you're looking for a cleaning robot that does more than just clean up of spills and dust, it's essential to find one that is able to adjust the water level or scrub intensity to take on difficult mess.
It's helpful to find models that allow you to program or manually start and finish cleaning. You will also be able to monitor the condition of your mop in real-time on the app. It is also beneficial to select a mop that automatically recharges when the battery runs low. We've seen that the majority of models that include this feature can clean a large area in less than two hours.
The app should be easy to navigate and is a huge benefit if you are able to use voice commands to control your mop. This is particularly useful for those who wish to tidy their floors while they go about their other chores or sit down to watch TV. Most of the models we've tested provide simple voice controls, however some require you to connect the mop to Wi-Fi to connect to the app.
best self emptying robot vacuum to consider when buying a mopping robot is whether it comes with disposable or recyclable cleaning pads. These are more environmentally friendly, but are difficult to keep stocked and may not perform as well as the former. Some models let you choose the type of pad you wish to use, but it's essential to be sure to clean or change them every cleaning.
If you have high-pile area carpets in your home, it is worthwhile to look for a robot that can handle them. IRobot's J7 Combo can handle these better than the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra however, the latter does well on carpeted and non-carpeted floors. You can also get an ECOVACS DEEBOT model, which has both mopping and vacuuming functions.
4. Self-Mopping
The majority of robot mops will save you 35 hours per year of exhausting mopping, and they're quieter than vacuum cleaners. But you'll still need to perform some maintenance like refilling the reservoir of water or replacing the dirty cleaning pad. A self-mopping feature makes this less of a chore since the mop will return to its dock when it's time to get a new pad.
This feature is particularly helpful for floors that are difficult to clean, such as tile or granite. Some mop models use the rotating, spinning brush to scrub floors, whereas others use a simple cleaning pad across the floor. There are mops that can sweep or vacuum in addition to mopping, which means you'll have a variety of options for cleaning.
If you intend to use a robot mop often, you should consider purchasing one that has a built-in dust bin or a bin that is easy to empty. Certain mops that double as vacuums will require you to empty your dust bin more frequently than those that just mop and go, and some have separate bins for each function. Ecovacs Deebot X1 comes with an open bin that can be opened easily unlike other robot vacuums. It also automatically replaces the reusable cleaning pad once it's full.
Some robot mops are connected to smart homes, meaning you can utilize your smartphone or voice assistant to control them. The Braava Jet M6 is a smart robotic that can connect to hubs that allow you to schedule recurring cleanings according to your schedule and preferences through the app. You can also receive a status update on the mop's life expectancy and water level, which can be useful if you're not home to check what's going on.
Keep in mind that no robot mop will be perfect. Even the most effective mop won't be able to keep sticky, greasy messes clean as you can using manual mops or a traditional sweeper. They're great for quick clean-ups or keeping stains from getting set however they're not an alternative to a thorough hand mop or deep-cleaning vacuum cleaner.