Buying a Robot Vacuum That Mop
A robot vacuum can make cleaning your floors easier. This is especially true if you have hardwood flooring in your home and you want to cut down on the Swiffer pads you have to buy or get rid of.
Look for models that are easy to set up and maintain. This includes charging the tank with water and emptying it and removing and replacing the pads for cleaning.
- Object Avoidance
Robot vacuums can detect large obstacles such as furniture legs, walls and pet toys. However, they could overlook smaller objects that are pushed around while cleaning. This is a common problem for all robots and could cause an unclean environment when the robot is sucked up into an object that should not be. Robots with object avoidance systems make use of different sensors (like cameras, lasers, and LIDAR), to recognize 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, but some also utilize 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 as well as set a schedule for cleaning and control water flow in each room when mopping.
Mapping technology is one of the biggest benefits of a machine that mops, especially if you have an apartment with a lot of furniture or intricate floor plans. Mapping lets a robot memorize the arrangement of your rooms so that it can quickly and effectively clean them without running into or knocking over furniture or other items that are in the way.
In our tests, the iRobot Combo J7+ was able to combine LIDAR with a front-facing video camera to avoid obstacles in its path. This smart feature called PrecisionVision works in both sweeping and mopping mode, and is a good illustration of how robots are getting more adept at recognizing the objects they encounter on the floor.
This robot was great at avoiding large objects, but not than that at detecting smaller objects like sockballs and USB cords. This is a problem that we see with most robotic mop. The good news is that there are many options available to do a much better job.
Some of these mops make use of a special wand to spray water onto floors, whereas others feature an oscillating mop head that performs the task with more of a gentle drip and no large streams of water. Find a model with a low-pressure water flow to minimize the risk of damage.
- Water Reservoir
Most robot mops include an explanation that they're not designed to be used for stubborn, stuck-on, or set-in stains. However, the good news is that a mopping machine is still far more effective at eliminating the stains than a vacuum, even one that can perform both.
When we tried the Yeedi robot mop and vacuum cleaner and found it maneuvered well around obstacles and was able to adjust for objects like toys, furniture, and pet hair, leaving floors shiny and buffed. The only drawback was that it wasn't able to make it up to the top of ledges to reach rooms on the other side. It also has a smaller dust container than the average robot vacuum, so it might need to be emptied more frequently if you are using it throughout your home. We suggest buying a model that has self-emptying docks, which will place its cleaning pads into the empty container, saving you numerous trips to the trash can.
A mopping robot's capability to automatically return dirty tanks to its dock to be cleaned and dried is a further important feature. Most of the models we tested will be able to do this, which can save you a step in your cleanup routine. But, it's important to be aware that you'll have to manually empty the dirt and cleaning solution tanks and wash reusable pads according to their manufacturer instructions every time you mop. This will prevent mildew or other unwanted bacteria from growing in the dark and damp area beneath the bot.
Many robot mops come with an app specifically designed for them which lets you change their home's map, customize cleaning areas, schedule and see the status of the cleanliness of your home and connected smart devices or voice assistants to provide hands-free control. The app also gives you an opportunity to know the time when your mopping machine requires maintenance, for example, an adjustment to the filter. Some of the most well-known models include smart home integration, allowing you to link them to your smart lights, doorbells, and other gadgets.
- Water Level Adjustment
Robot vacuums that mop could be an excellent investment for those who spend much time and effort cleaning their floors. Most mops have a warning that they are not intended to be used to tackle adversity or robotvacuummops sticky messes or set-in staining. If you're looking for a mopping machine that can do more than just remove dust and spills, look for one that has the capacity to adjust the water level or the intensity of the scrub.
It is helpful to discover models that allow you to program or manually start and end cleaning. You should also be able monitor the condition of your mop in real-time on the app. It's also beneficial to select a mop that automatically recharges when the battery runs low. Most models with this feature can clean a huge house in less than a half an 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 want to clean their floors while doing other chores or watching TV. The majority of models we've tested have simple voice controls, however some require you to connect the mop to your Wi-Fi to connect to the app.
If you are considering buying a mopping robot, you should also consider whether the robot will come with disposable cleaning pads or reusable ones. The latter are more environmentally friendly, but are difficult to keep stocked and may not perform as well as the former. Some pads let you select the type of pad you use however, you'll need to remember to change them regularly or wash them after each cleaning.
If you have high-pile area carpets in your home, it is worth looking for a robot that can handle the carpets. IRobot's J7 Combo can handle these better than the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra, but the latter can do well on carpeted and non-carpeted flooring. Alternatively, you can buy an ECOVACS DEEBOT series model that has both vacuuming and mopping functionality.
- Self-Mopping
The majority of robot mops will save you 35 hours per year of tiring mopping work and are quieter than vacuum cleaners. There's still some routine maintenance such as refilling the reservoir or changing dirty cleaning pad. Self-mopping features make this less of a chore because the mop will be automatically returned to its dock when it's time for the replacement pad.
This feature is especially useful when you have floors that are difficult to clean such as granite or tile. Some mop models scrub floors using a rotating, spinning bristle while others use a cleaning pad. Some mops can sweep and vacuum as well as mop, providing more options.
If you plan 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 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 features a self-emptying bin for its sweeping pads that is more accessible than those of other robot vacuums. It also automatically swaps out the disposable pads to fresh ones once they're full.
Some robot mops are connected to smart homes, which means you can use your phone or voice assistant to control them. The Braava Jet M6 is an example of smart robot mops that can be connected to a hub, meaning you can set up regular cleaning schedules using your schedule and other preferences through the app. Additionally, you can receive a status update on the mop's life expectancy and water level, which is helpful if you're not at home to check what's going on.
Remember that no robot mop can be perfect. Even the most effective mop won't be able to keep dirty, greasy messes wiped clean like you do using manual mops or a traditional sweeper. They're ideal to clean up quick or for keeping stains from getting set, but they aren't a substitute for a thorough hand mop or a thorough vacuum cleaner.