The Best Robot Vacuum Mop Combo For Pet Hair

If you've got shedding pets, a robot vacuum mop combo can keep your home in check between deep cleanings. These machines can get to messes that you cannot see by getting under furniture or into corners.

Jodhaira Rodriguez has tested a myriad of floor-cleaning tools in the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, including many mop and robotic vacuums. She has compiled a list of the best models to deal with pet hair.

1. Battery life

When looking for a robotic mop and vacuum, think about the size of your home and the number of pets you own. The larger your home, the more power the robot cleaner will require. More pets typically means more hair. It's also important to consider the flooring you have within your home, as some models are better suited for cleaning floors made of wood.

A robotic vacuum and mop must be able to remove pet hair from any floor surface, including hardwood tiles, carpet, and tile. If you have multiple pets, you may want a model that's especially efficient in picking up hair. Certain robot cleaners come with a water feature to help with sticky spills or staining. These machines also clean floors using water.

Robot mop mops that vacuum as well as mop have longer battery lives. This is because you're using two functions in one device, which cuts down on the time required to charge and shut down. Some models even empty themselves into the charging station automatically after each run drying the pads as they do so. This prevents bacteria from forming on wet pads.

For the best robot vacuum and mop combo that can cope with pet hair and footprints, we recommend the Ecovacs deebot X2 Omni. It was a great performer in our tests. It is equipped with a range of smarts, including TrueMapping and TrueDetect 3D technologies to map your home and avoid bumping against furniture or other obstacles. It comes with a base that houses the tanks that are clean and dirty in one location, making maintenance easy.

2. App control

Many robot vacuums and mop sets have an app that lets you save your house's maps, set up cleaning schedules, and mopping monitor maintenance requirements. Certain robots can be controlled remotely. However, that's not required and there are still models that have a power button right on the base station, or a charging docks or an included remote.

In general, look for a model that has a clean-up mode that vacuums, mops or performs both and doesn't need the user to press a manual button to turn it off. It is then possible to take the robot to its dock in order to empty its dirty bin, replace a damp mop pad or mop cloth, wash it or fill up its reservoir of water. Also, you should check if the robot is compatible with your voice-activated assistant. This allows you to make simple commands such as "OK Google" and "OK Alexa" in order to begin a cleaning session or ask for help in a situation or other.

Consider how long you'd like to devote to your robot cleaner and how much traffic your floors receive before deciding on a specific model. If you have low furniture, or a large space, you may want to choose a robot that is smaller in capacity for vacuuming and mopping. You also might need to be aware that some mopping robots have reoccurring expenses since they can be costly to purchase. You'll need to buy mop pads or replacement cloths on top of the need to replace filters side sweeping brushes, rollers and other parts that could be suggested for maintenance on a regular basis. Don't forget to consider the price of the cleaning solution in general, as some brands recommend that you purchase a second cleaning solution to keep your floors looking new.

3. Carpet recognition

The most effective robot vacuum and mop combination can tell the difference between hard and carpet making sure they don't or scrub over stains or spills. They can also recognize areas that have more than one type of flooring and automate cleaning in accordance with the layout of your home. You'll require an additional app on your phone to manage these features, however they're generally easy to use.

The majority of robot vacuums and mops use a reusable cleaning solution that is purchased separately, but there are some hybrid models that don't need any liquid at all. These machines usually empty into a dust bag that's stored inside the base station. Some models even have a self-emptying feature which allows you to dump the contents into a trash bin.

Some robots can be used on dry and wet floors, such as hardwood or tile. The most effective robot vacuum and mop combos for pet hair are made to work on both kinds of surfaces which makes them a great option for those who have mixed flooring in your home.

When selecting a robotic mop and vacuum, think about the size of your home and how much the amount of foot traffic it receives. If you have pets or children, you'll need a model that is powerful enough and has a battery to cope with the regular cleaning of your floors.

The best two-in-one robots are equipped with premium features that make them worth the price. For example the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni is able to mop and vacuum in one sweep featuring 8,000-Pa suction and dual rotating mop heads. It also scans your furniture and other items to keep them from getting damaged while cleaning, and even communicate using two-way sound. It also takes charge of its own scrubbing, so it automatically heads back to its dock when it's time for a wash.

4. Water tank capacity

Robot vacuums clean dirt off the floor, depositing it in a bin or bag. Robots spread cleaning solution on the floor and scrubs off dirt using pads. Some models combine both functions and others have distinct abilities to deal with different types of surfaces. To ensure you get the right kind of clean for your home, make a list of your floors' surface types and how much people use them.

The majority of robot vacuum mop for pet hair and mop combos require a cleaning formula that'll vary between brands. While it's possible to purchase third-party cleaners for these devices, it's best to stick with the brand suggested by the manufacturer. This will prevent damage and keep your machine operating as efficiently as it can.

If your robot vacuum and mop combo includes a dust bin you'll need to empty it periodically. Most vacuums come with an indicator that informs you when it's time to buy an upgrade to a bag. Similarly, you'll likely need to replace the filters, side sweeping brushes, rollers and other accessories from time to time to ensure that they are operating at their best.

Self-emptying robots can make this process simpler, allowing you to simply empty the contents of the dustbin into a trash container or recycling bin. The majority of these machines do not automatically clean and dry their mopping pads or cloths which can cause the growth of bacteria. If your machine isn't equipped with this capability, make sure to wash and remove the pad after each use, or set it somewhere flat to dry between runs.

The iRobot Combo i5+, the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1, and the Eureka E10S all have this feature. In contrast, the budget-friendly iLife V5s Pro focuses on simplicity by removing this function.

5. Mop mode

The iRobot Roomba J7 is the top robot vacuum and mop combination to clean your floors when you're away. It's not expensive, but its AI obstacle-avoidance is the best available in the marketplace. It can vacuum up Cheerios or spot poop and even cut through the tangled mess that socks and phone cables usually pile up on your floor. This makes it a good choice for homes with children and pets that like to keep the floor free of clutter.

It's one of the few robots we tested that can mop tile, hardwood, and Linoleum. In our tests it did a fantastic job at cleaning wet spills and sticky messes and was able to clean pet hair off carpets, too.

The only issue is that it's not a 2-in-1 robot, and it can take up to 6.5 hours to fully charge. This model also requires the manual emptying of the dust bin unlike other robots that automatically empty into the dust bin at the base station. This can be a challenge particularly in larger homes with a high ceiling or stairs.

If you're looking for a more traditional 2-in-1, you can try the Ecovacs Deebot T10 Plus. It is equipped with powerful suction that easily eliminate pet hair from carpets. It also has a self-emptying bin. It has scented pods, so you can select your favorite scent. However it has a less battery life than the best models we looked at and has to be charged regularly.