How to Choose a Robot Hoover and Mop

Some robot mops can also be used as vacuums, and others do both sweeping and mopping. Those that only sweep need to have their bins regularly cleaned and their sweeping pads taken away or machine-washed.

Those that mop also need their water tank to be full and their mops washed (or replaced) frequently. Also, it's important to secure your home with a vacuum and keep things like cords, clothes and pets away from reach.

How it works

The primary component of a robot vacuum that mops vacuum is its motor, which produces suction power to pull dirt and debris into the vacuum bag. Some robotic cleaners have the combination of roller brushes, side brushes and mops to agitate and lift particles into the suction. Some are equipped with smart features such as the ability to automatically return to the dock once it is full and recharge. Others have smart home integration and voice activation, allowing you to control the machine via your smartphone's app or through your preferred assistant.

Sensors assist robots in navigating their environment, avoiding obstacles and tight corners. Sensors such as obstacle and cliff sensors are used to prevent robots from falling down steps or getting stuck under furniture. Some robots also have dirt sensors that notify you when they are dirty and require to be emptied. A lot of advanced robot vacuums come with clever features, such as intelligent mapping, smart mops and mops which can distinguish between carpets and hard floors.

Some robot vacuums that also have mops come with a docking station that can automatically empty the bin, clean mop pads and replenish the water. They might also be able to complete two jobs, which includes mopping and vacuuming in the same session. You can also program them to clean a certain area or room in your home on a regular basis. For example, you could program your robot to vacuum and clean the living area every day and at night for a week.

Despite their sophisticated features, the majority of robot vacuum and mop combos are still in development. The best of them include the Eufy Narwal and Roborock Revo, are intelligent enough to keep your floors in pristine condition. They come with a lidar-powered maps that divides rooms, labels them and creates digital keep-out zones to avoid the robot hoover from wandering too far. The apps are simple to use and come with a variety of customization options, such as the ability to select the cleaning options you want your robot to carry out. They also have a unique onboard compression bin, which eliminates noisy and messy self-emptying.

Cleaning time

The majority of robot vacuum cleaners come with a water and dust reservoir that must be empty however, mop robots also have to have their cleaning pads cleaned and this can increase the overall running time of the device. The amount of time needed to clean a room can be affected if the robot is required to maneuver around obstacles, such as shoes, furniture, socks, tassels or even rooms that are overcrowded.

Certain robotic vacuums and mop systems are able to sense carpets, and alter their power settings to suit. However, they can leave behind some dirt - particularly on high-pile or shag rug. Some models use more power to navigate over carpets with thicker piles than others, which could drain their batteries fast.

Other factors, such as the condition of the robot's accessories and the frequency they have to be cleaned, can affect the performance of the robot. A tangled brush could stop the robot from performing its task. A dirty or full filter can cause it to overheat or even stop connecting to the internet.

ECOVACS robots are equipped with clever features that reduce the use of accessories and prolong their life span. Self-emptying stations eliminate the chance of overflows, while ZeroTangle technology prevents brush tangles from occurring. These technologies, combined with smart sensors and intelligent mapping, allow an ECOVACS robot vacuums with mop to operate more efficiently.

All ECOVACS robots come with an automatic refill mode which automatically refills the wiper blades and water tank when they're running low. They also have docking that is automatic vacuum and mop for time and energy savings. You can program them to return to dock after cleaning or go into sleep mode after 10 minutes of inactivity. If you'd like to delay a specific time you can set the robot as DND time (Do Not Disturb). This stops it from using its battery or entering cleaning mode until it is restarted.

We recommend that you give the floor a thorough clean prior to running your robot's cleaning machine. This will ensure any sticky or stubborn spills are cleaned up prior to the robot arrives. It is also important to clean up toys and small items before the robot arrives, to avoid getting tangled.

Cleaning Area

Robots that have mopping capabilities, unlike vacuum-only models use cleaning soap and water to soften the stains. This means the pads or brush that collects dirt must be cleaned regularly or machine-washed, and replacements could be required at some time. It is important to include these costs in your budget.

A robot vacuum and mop combination is a great option to add to your home cleaning supplies, despite the drawbacks. If you have carpets and hard floors, for instance the robot will sweep them, and then clean any dirty spots that cannot be removed by sweeps. If you have both wood floors and tiles, the robot will ensure that no stones are left behind in the mopping process, and that tiles won't be damaged by water or cleaning solution.

A good mopping device will have an automated navigation system that maps every room and knows the exact location to complete the task. It must also be able to avoid obstacles, such as wires and furniture. It is recommended to select a model that includes smart features that let you keep track of your cleaning robot. This includes a dashboard that displays the progress of a mopping process in real-time and an app that allows you to set "no go zones" that will prevent it from being able navigate through certain areas.

The best robot cleaner robots can also be programmed to clean in specific time frames. They can be set through the app and you can use your smartphone as remote control to direct the robot where it needs to go on the floor. Based on your preferences you can also opt for features such as smart track, which allows the robot to follow you around your home and clean in the direction you're walking.

A feature that's worth considering is the ability to check how many of the tools that your robot uses have been used, which will help you plan the time when they'll require replacement. This information is accessible through the Home Robots App and is determined by the amount of cleaning runs that the equipment has been through. The information is updated frequently and is a great tool to ensure that your home is well-equipped to clean.

Cleaning Results

The majority of robot vacuums and mops are easy to operate and do an excellent job of cleaning, but some models excel at one task or the other. For example the iRobot Braava 450 robotic mop is one of the best mops in our tests thanks to its outstanding cleaning and scrubbing capabilities on all kinds of floors, including wood floors. It is also excellent at removing hair from pets (both short and long) and other debris from corners and crevices. And its ability to navigate through obstacles makes it a good option for homes with pets as well as children.

Some mops, like the Noesis Florio, use disposable pads that are washed automatically and refilled at the dock at the end of every cleaning run. Some mops, like the L20 Ultra use reusable pads which are machine washable and last for up to 20 years. It's important to avoid putting any other chemicals, such as laundry detergent or floor cleaner, in your robot mop's water tank unless the manufacturer has stated it's safe. This could cause damage to the internal components and void your warranty.

If you choose a robot mop with advanced features, choose one that is able to detect and avoid obstacles like walls and furniture edges. It should be able to tell the difference between low-pile carpeting and unfinished floors, so that it doesn't saturate the rug. Certain models come with sensors that can detect spills or staining, which can help keep the floor looking good. The most expensive models are able to return to the dock to remove dirty cleaning water, wash the brushes, and refill the solution.

The Home Robots app is a useful tool for controlling your robot vacuum and mop and offers a variety of additional functions, including monitoring your cleaning results. You can view the duration and distance your robot has traveled, as well as the rooms it cleaned and the time it was there. You can also create "no-go zones" to prevent the robot from entering specific areas and adjust its levels to accommodate different flooring types.

All robot vacuums and mops require regular maintenance, including emptying the bin cleaning the filter and replacing bags and filters. It is also necessary to clean the sensors frequently to ensure better navigation, empty and rinse the tank of water and clean the filter. It is essential to clear obstructions and tangles off the brush roll and other parts of the vacuum mop combination units.