Buying a Robot Vacuum That Mop
A robot vacuum that mop can take the stress out of keeping your floors spotless. This is especially true if have hardwood flooring in your home and you want to reduce the amount of Swiffer pads you have to buy or dispose of.
Select models that are easy to install and maintain. This includes charging and emptying the tank of water, taking out and replacing cleaning pads.
1. Object Avoidance
Robot vacuums are able to detect large obstacles like furniture legs, walls, and pet toys. However, they can overlook smaller objects that are pushed around when cleaning. This is a concern that the majority of robots have and can cause a mess when they are entangled in something they should not. Robots equipped with object-avoidance systems employ sensors (like lasers, cameras or LIDAR) to detect and avoid small objects on the ground.
Certain robots make use of cameras to create a virtual map that can recognize the floor layout. These maps let you create no-mop zones and boundaries, set a cleaning schedule and regulate the flow of water in every room during mopping.
A robotic mop that makes use of mapping technology could be a valuable benefit, especially in homes with many furniture pieces and a complex floor plan. A robot that uses mapping 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 iRobotCombo j7+ utilized a combination of LIDAR and an in-front camera to keep away from obstacles that were in its path. This smart feature, called PrecisionVision, works during both sweeping and mopping modes, and is a great illustration of how robots are becoming more adept in recognizing what they encounter on the floor while they work.
This robot was good at eliminating large objects, but less so at detecting smaller items such as USB cords and sockballs. This is a common problem we see in most robotic mops but the good thing is that there are plenty of options on the market which are better in this regard.
Some of these mops make use of a special wand to spray water on floors, while others come with an oscillating head that performs the task with a gentle drip and does not have any large sprays of water. If you have wood floors, you should look for a model that uses water that is low-pressure to minimize damage.
2. Water Reservoir
The majority of robot mops come with the warning that they aren't designed to be used for removing stubborn staining, sticky or set-in. The good news is that even vacuum cleaners that are able to perform both tasks isn't as efficient at getting rid of these stains as a mopping robotic.
When we tried the Yeedi robot vacuum and mop, we found that it maneuvered well over obstacles and was able to adjust to objects such as toys, furniture and pet hair to leave floors shiny and buffed. It was unable to reach the top of ledges, meaning it couldn't reach the rooms to the opposite side. It's a smaller bin than most robot vacuums, which means you might have to empty it more often when it is used in your home. We recommend getting a model with an automatic emptying dock that will deposit its cleaning pads into the empty container, saving you multiple trips to the trash can.
Another aspect to think about is whether a mopping machine will automatically take its water tanks that are dirty to the dock for drying and washing. The majority of the models we tested have this feature, saving you an extra step in your cleaning routine. But, it's important to be aware that you'll need to manually empty the cleaning solution and dirt tanks and wash disposable pads according to the manufacturer's instructions between mopping sessions. This will stop mildew and other unwanted bacteria from growing in the dark and moist space beneath the bot.
Many robot mops come with an app specifically designed for them that allows you to adjust their home's map and customize your cleaning areas, schedules and monitor the status of cleaning and connected smart devices or voice assistants for hands-free control. The app can be used to detect whether your mopping device requires maintenance, like a filter replacement. Some of the top models come with smart home integration. This lets you connect them to smart lights, doorbells and other devices.
3. Water Level Adjustment
A robot vacuum that mops is a good investment for people who often spend time and energy cleaning their floors. The majority of mops come with a warning that they are not intended to be used to tackle adversity or sticky messes, or for setting-in stains. If you want a mopping machine that can do more that just remove dirt and spills, look for one with the ability to adjust water level or the intensity of the scrub.
It's useful to find models that allow you to plan or manually begin and finish cleaning. You will also be able to monitor the condition of your mop in real-time on the app. Similarly, it's helpful to choose a mop that automatically recharges and resumes cleaning when the battery gets low during cleaning. We've found that most models with this feature can easily clean a large area in less than two hours.
The app should be easy to use and is a huge benefit if you are able to use voice commands to control your mop. This is especially useful for those who wish to tidy their floors while they do other chores or sit down to watch television. The majority of the mop models we tested come with voice controls that are simple to use, but some require connecting the mop to Wi-Fi in order to access the app.
When you are buying a mopping robot it is important to consider whether the robot will come with disposable cleaning pads or reusable ones. The reusable pads are greener however they can be difficult to stock and might not perform quite as well as disposable pads. Some models allow you to choose the type of pad you use, but you'll need to ensure that you change them regularly or wash them after every cleaning.
If you have lots of high-pile area rugs in your home, it's worth searching for a robotic mop that is able to handle these. iRobot's j7 Combo can handle these better than the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra, but the latter can do great work on carpeted and non-carpeted flooring. You can also purchase an ECOVACS DEEBOT model that includes mopping and vacuuming functions.
4. Self-Mopping
Robotic mops are quieter than vacuums and could save you up to 35 hours of mopping each year. But you'll still need to perform some maintenance, like refilling the water reservoir or changing out the dirty cleaning pad. A self-mopping feature makes this a less hassle, as the mop will return to its dock when it's time to get an entirely new pad.
This feature is particularly useful for floors that are difficult to clean, such as granite or tile. Some mop models employ an e-spinner that rotates to scrub floors, whereas others use a simple cleaning pad across the floor. Some mop models sweep and vacuum as well as mop, giving you more options.
If you plan to use a mop robot often, think about getting one that has a built-in dust bin or a bin that is easy to empty. Some mops which also vacuum require you to empty the bin more frequently than those that just mop. Others have separate bins for each task. Ecovacs Deebot X1 comes with a bin that is opened easily unlike other robot vacuums. best robot vacuum for carpet replaces the reusable cleaning pad when it's full.
Some robot mop models have smart home connectivity which means you can control them with your smartphone or voice assistant. The Braava Jet M6 is an example of smart robot mops that can connect to a hub, meaning you can schedule recurring cleanings with your schedule and other preferences using the app. Additionally, you can receive a status update on the mop's battery life and water level, which can be useful if you're not home to see what's going on.
Remember that no robot mop will be perfect. Even the best ones will not get dirty, greasy messes wiped clean like you do with manual mops, or a traditional sweeper. 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 thorough vacuum cleaner.