Buying a Robot Vacuum That Mop

A robot vacuum can make cleaning your floors easier. This is especially true if have hard floors throughout your home and want to reduce the amount of Swiffer pads you need to buy or get rid of.

Select models that are easy to set up and maintain. This includes charging the tank with water and emptying it, as well as changing and removing the cleaning pads.

1. Object Avoidance

360 robot vacuum vacuums are excellent in spotting large obstacles such as furniture legs, walls, and pet toys, but they may overlook smaller objects that are pushed around in the course of cleaning. This is a common issue with most robots and can result in an unpleasant clean-up when the robot is sucked up into an object that it shouldn't be. Robots with object-avoidance systems use sensors (like a laser, camera or LIDAR) to detect and avoid small objects on the ground.

Most of the robots that we tested with this feature used a laser to help guide its way and avoid obstacles, but some also utilize cameras to recognize the floor's layout and draw an imaginary map of the area. These maps let you create boundaries and mop zones, establish a cleaning schedule, and control the flow of water in each space during mopping.

A mop with a robot that utilizes mapping technology could be a valuable asset, particularly in homes with many furniture pieces and a complex floor plan. A robot that maps can remember your rooms' layout so it can clean them efficiently and quickly without knocking over or running into furniture or other items.

During our tests, the iRobot Combo j7+ combined LIDAR with a front-facing video camera to stay clear of obstacles in its path. This feature, dubbed PrecisionVision works in both sweeping and mopping modes and is a good illustration of how some robots are getting better at understanding what they're encountering on the floor as they work.

The robot was effective in avoiding large objects, but less so at detecting smaller items like sockballs and USB cords. This is a problem we encounter in the majority of robotic mop cleaners but the good thing is that there are a lot of options available that do much better at this.

Some of these mops have a wand that is specially designed to spray an unclean stream of water onto the floor while others utilize an oscillating head that does the job using a gentle drip of water and not a strong jet. If you have hardwood floors, look for models that use water that is low-pressure to limit damage.

2. Water Reservoir

The majority of robot mop models come with a warning that they are not intended to be used to remove stubborn sticky or set-in stains. But the good robot vacuum news is that a mopping device is still far more effective at eliminating these than a vacuum cleaner even if it can do both.

We discovered that the Yeedi robot mop and vacuum was able to move around obstacles and adjust to objects like toys, furniture, or pet hair, leaving floors sparkling and buffed. It didn't reach the top of ledges, so it wasn't able to reach rooms to the opposite side. It also has a smaller dust container than the average robot vacuum, so it will need to be emptied more often if you utilize it in your entire home. We recommend getting a model with self-emptying docks, which will drop its cleaning pads in the empty container, saving you many trips to the garbage can.

Another important feature to consider is whether a mopping machine will return its water tanks that are dirty to the dock for washing and drying. Most of the models we tested, and this saves you a step in your cleanup routine. It's important to keep in mind that you need to manually empty the cleaning and dirt tanks and wash the pads that are reusable in accordance with the instructions from the manufacturer between mopping sessions. This will prevent mildew and other unwanted bacteria from growing in the dark, moist space under the bot.

Many robot mops come with an app which lets you change their map of your home, customize cleaning areas, schedule and see the status of cleaning, and connect with other smart devices or voice assistants to provide hands-free control. The app also provides an opportunity to know the time when your mopping machine requires maintenance, for example, an adjustment to the filter. Some of the top models have smart home integration. This lets you connect them to smart lights, doorbells and other gadgets.

3. Water Level Adjustment

Robot vacuums that mop could be an excellent investment for those who spend much time and effort cleaning their floors. Many mops are accompanied by warnings that they are not intended to be used to tackle adversity or sticky messes, or for setting-in staining. If you're looking for a cleaning robot that can do more than just rid of spills and dust, it's important to look for one that's able to adjust its water level or scrub intensity to take on difficult mess.

It is helpful to locate models that allow you to program or manually start and stop cleaning. You will also be able to monitor the condition of your mop live on the app. It's also helpful to choose a mop that automatically recharges when the battery gets depleted. Many models that feature this feature can clean a large home in less than an hours.

The app should be easy to navigate, and it's a big benefit if you are able to use voice commands to control your mop. This is especially beneficial for those who would like to clean their floors as they go about their other chores or sit down to watch television. Most of the models we've tested provide simple-to-use voice commands, however some require you to connect the mop to your Wi-Fi network to access the app.

If you are considering buying a mopping robot it is important to consider whether the robot will come with disposable cleaning pads or one that is reusable. Reusable pads are more eco-friendly but they are difficult to store and may not perform quite as well as disposable pads. Certain models let you select the type of pad you want to use, but it's important to remember to clean or change them every cleaning.

If you have high-pile carpets in your home, it's worthwhile to look for an automated system that can manage them. iRobot's j7 Combo is better at handling these than the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra, however the latter does an excellent job on both carpeted and non-carpeted floors. You can also purchase an ECOVACS DEEBOT series model that has mopping and vacuuming capabilities.

4. Self-Mopping

Robotic mops are quieter than vacuums and can help you save up to 35 hours of mopping each year. However, you'll still need to perform some routine maintenance such as refilling the reservoir or changing dirty cleaning pads. Self-mopping can make this easier, as the mop returns to its dock automatically when it needs new pads.

This feature is especially helpful if you have hard-to-clean floors such as granite or tile. Some mop models use a rotating, spinning brush to scrub floors, while others simply run a cleaning pad across the floor. You can also find some mop models that sweep or vacuum in addition to mopping, which means you'll have a variety of options to clean your home.

If you plan on using a mop robot frequently, consider one that has a built-in dust bin or a bin that is simple to empty. Some mops that double as vacuums need you to empty the dustbin more frequently than those that just mop and go, and some even have a separate bin for each use. The Ecovacs Deebot X1 comes with an auto-emptying bin for its sweeping pads that is easier to open than other robot vacuums. It also automatically swaps out the reusable cleaning pads for 360 Robot Vacuum new ones when they're full.

Some robot mops come with smart home connectivity, which means you can control them with your smartphone or voice assistant. The Braava Jet M6 is an example smart robot mops that can be connected to a hub. This means you can set up regular cleaning schedules using your schedule and other preferences through the app. Additionally, you can receive an update on the mop's battery and the level of water, which is beneficial if you're away from home to check on what's going on.

Remember that no robot mop is perfect and even the top ones will probably not get dirty, greasy messes as clean as you would with a manual mops or a traditional Swiffer. They are great for quick cleaning up or preventing stains but they don't replace an effective vacuum or hand mop.