Buying a Robot Vacuum That Mop
A robot vacuum can make cleaning your floors easier. This is particularly relevant if you live in a home with hard floors and you want to reduce the amount of Swiffer pads that you need to purchase or throw away.
Select models that are easy to install and maintain. This includes charging the tank with water and emptying it as well as taking out and replacing the cleaning pads.
1. Object Avoidance
Robot vacuums are fantastic at detecting large obstacles like furniture legs, walls, and pet toys, but they can miss smaller items that get moved around in the course of cleaning. This is a concern that most robots have and can cause chaos when they are caught in things they should not. Robots that have object-avoidance systems utilize sensors (like a laser, camera or LIDAR) to detect and avoid small objects on the ground.
The majority of the robots we tested with this feature employed lasers to 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 allow you to define boundaries and no-mop zones, set a cleaning schedule and regulate the flow of water in each room during mopping.
A robot mop that uses mapping technology can be a huge benefit, especially when your home is surrounded by lots of furniture 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 objects.
In our tests, the iRobot Combo j7+ utilized a combination of LIDAR and a front-facing camera to stay clear of obstacles that were in its path. This clever feature, known as PrecisionVision works in mopping and sweeping modes. It's a great illustration of how robots are becoming more adept in understanding what they're seeing on the floor while they work.
When we test the robot, it did a good job of avoiding obstacles that were large, but it was less adept at recognizing smaller things like sock balls and USB cords lying on the floor. This is a common issue we encounter with a lot of robotic mop machines. The good news is there are numerous alternatives available that perform better.
Some of these mops come with a wand that is specially designed to spray an unclean stream of water onto the floor while others use an oscillating head to accomplish the job with the gentle drip of water and not a powerful spray. If you have hardwood flooring, choose a model that uses water that is low-pressure to limit the damage.
2. Water Reservoir
Most robot mops have a disclaimer that they're not designed to be used for difficult, sticky, or set-in stains. The good news is that the vacuum cleaner that is able to be both effective at getting rid of these stains as a mopping robotic.
We discovered that the Yeedi robot mop and vacuum was able to maneuver around obstacles and adjust for objects like furniture, toys or pet hair, leaving floors looking shiny and buffed. The only issue was that it wasn't able to make it up to the top of ledges in order to access rooms on the other side. It's a smaller bin than other robot vacuums, which means you might need to empty it more often in the event that it is used throughout your home. We suggest a model with an automatic emptying port, which will deposit the cleaning pads into the empty container. This will prevent you from having to make multiple trips to the garbage bin.
Mopping Read the Full Document to automatically return its dirty tanks back to the dock to be cleaned and dried is an additional important feature. Most of the models we tested will do this, which will save you a step in your cleanup routine. However, it's important to keep in mind that you'll need to manually empty the dirt and cleaning solution tanks and wash reusable pads according to their manufacturer instructions between mopping sessions. This helps prevent the growth of mildew as well as other undesirable bacteria from developing in the dark, moist space under the bot.
Many robot mops come with an app that allows you to customize the layout of your home and customize cleaning areas as well as schedules, view the progress of cleaning, and connect other smart devices or voice-activated assistants for hands-free control. The app can also be used to determine whether your mopping device requires maintenance, like filter replacement. A few of the most popular models also have smart home integration. This lets you connect them to your smart lights, doorbells and other gadgets.
3. Water Level Adjustment
A robot vacuum that mop is a good investment for those who frequently spend time and energy cleaning their floors. The majority of mops come with an indication that they are not intended to be used for tackling stubborn or sticky messes or set-in stains. If you're looking for a mopping machine that does more than just remove spills and dust, search for one with the ability to adjust the water level or the intensity of the scrub.
It's also useful to find a model that lets you schedule or manually start and end cleaning. You will also be able to see the status of your mop in real-time on the app. It's also beneficial to select mops that automatically charge when the battery runs low. We've seen that the majority of models that include this feature can easily clean a large area in less than two hours.
The app should be simple to use, and it's a big benefit if you are able to use voice commands to control your mop. This is particularly useful for those who wish to sweep their floors while they go about their other chores or even watch TV. Most models we've tested offer easy-to-use voice controls, but some require you to connect the mop to your Wi-Fi network to access the app.
Another aspect to consider when purchasing a mopping device is whether it comes with disposable or reusable cleaning pads. These are more environmentally friendly but can be difficult to store and may not work like the former. Some models let you pick the type of pad you wish to use, but it's essential to remember to clean or change them every cleaning.
If you have high-pile carpets in your home, it is worthwhile to look for a robot that can handle the carpets. The j7 model from iRobot's Combo can handle these better than the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra, but the latter can do an excellent job on both carpeted and non-carpeted floors. You can also buy an ECOVACS DEEBOT model, which has both mopping and vacuuming functionality.
4. Self-Mopping
Robotic mops are more quiet than vacuums and can help you save up to 35 hours of mopping per year. There's still some maintenance, like refilling the reservoir or changing a dirty cleaning pads. Self-mopping features make this less of a hassle since the mop will be automatically returned to its dock when it's time for an entirely new pad.
This feature is particularly helpful when your floors are difficult to clean, such as tile or granite. Some mop models scrub floors with the rotating bristle spinning while others use a pad for cleaning. There are mop models that sweep or vacuum in addition to mopping, meaning you'll have a variety of options for cleaning.
If you plan to use a robot mop frequently, consider getting one that has a built-in dust bin or an easy-to-empty bin. Some mops that also double as vacuums require you to empty the bin more often than those that mop and go, and some have distinct bins for each purpose. The Ecovacs Deebot X1 comes with an automatic bin for emptying its sweeping pads that is easier to open than the other vacuums, and it also automatically swaps out the disposable pads to fresh ones once they're full.
Certain robot mops are connected to smart homes, so you can utilize your phone or voice assistant to control them. The Braava Jet M6 is a smart robotic that connects to hubs that allow you to set up recurring cleanings according to your schedule and preferences through the app. Additionally, you can receive a status update on the mop's battery life and water level, which is helpful if you're not at home to check what's going on.
Keep in mind that no robot mop can be perfect. Even the most effective ones won't get messy, greasy messes cleaned like you would using manual mops or a traditional sweeper. They are ideal for quick cleaning or preventing stains, but they don't replace the need for a thorough vacuum or hand mop.