Buying a Robot Vacuum That Mop
A robot vacuum can make cleaning your floors easier. This is especially applicable if your home is made of hard floors and you want to cut down on the amount of Swiffer pads you have to purchase or throw away.
Find models that are easy to set up and maintain. This includes charging the tank with water and emptying it as well as taking out and replacing the pads for cleaning.
1. Object Avoidance
Robot vacuums can detect large obstacles like furniture legs, walls, and pet toys. However, they could miss smaller objects that are moved around during cleaning. This is a problem that the majority of robots have and can cause a mess if they get sucked into things they should not. Robots with object avoidance systems make use of different sensors (like cameras, lasers, and LIDAR) to identify small objects on the floor and avoid them during a cleaning session.
Some robots employ cameras to create an imaginary map and identify the floor layout. These maps allow you to define boundaries and mop zones, create an agenda for cleaning, and control the water flow in each space during mopping.
A robot mop that uses mapping technology can be a huge asset, particularly if your home has lots of furniture and a complicated floor plan. A robot that maps can memorize your rooms' layout, allowing it to clean them quickly and effectively without crashing into furniture or other objects.
In our tests, the iRobot Combo j7+ utilized a combination of LIDAR and a front-facing camera in order to avoid objects in its path. This clever feature, known as PrecisionVision is able to work in both sweeping and mopping modes, and is a great illustration of how robots are getting better at understanding what they're encountering on the floor while they work.
This robot was great at eliminating large objects, but not than it was at detecting smaller objects such as USB cords and sockballs. This is a common issue we see with most robotic mop. The good news is that there are many alternatives available that do a much better job.
Some mop models use a special wand to spray water on floors, while others come with an oscillating head that performs the task with more of a gentle drip, and not as strong streams of water. If you have hardwood floors, you should look for one that has water that is low-pressure to limit damage.
2. Water Reservoir
The majority of robot mops come with a disclaimer that they're meant to be used on difficult sticky, stuck-on, or set-in stains. But the good news is that a mopping device is still far superior in eliminating these stains than a vacuum, even one that can perform both.
When we tried the Yeedi robot mop and vacuum cleaner, we found that it was able to maneuver around obstacles and adjusted for objects like furniture, toys, and pet hair, leaving floors looking shiny and polished. The only issue was that it didn't reach the top of ledges to access rooms on the other side. It also has a smaller dust bin than the typical robot vacuum, so it will need to be cleaned more often if you use it throughout your home. We recommend a model that has self-emptying ports that will place the cleaning pads in the empty container. This will keep you from making numerous trips to the garbage container.
Another aspect to think about is whether a mopping device will return its dirty water tanks to the dock for washing and drying. The majority of models we tested have this feature this, allowing you to skip one step in your cleaning routine. But, robot vacuum that vacuums and mops to be aware that you'll have to manually empty the cleaning solution and dirt tanks and wash reusable pads in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions between mopping sessions. This will prevent the growth of mildew as well as other undesirable bacteria from forming in the dark, moist space under the bot.
Many robot mops have a dedicated app that lets you adjust their map of your home and customize your cleaning areas, schedules and monitor the status of a clean and connected smart devices or voice assistants to provide hands-free control. The app also gives you the ability to determine the time when your mopping machine requires maintenance, such as a filter change. Some of the most popular models include smart home integration that allows you to link them to your smart light bulbs doorbells, lights, and other devices.
3. Water Level Adjustment
Robot vacuums that mop can be an excellent investment for people who spend a lot of time and effort cleaning their floors. Most mops have an indication that they're not intended to be used for stubborn or sticky messes, or set-in stains. If you want a mopping machine that can do more that just remove dirt and spills, look for one that allows you to adjust water level or scrub intensity.
It is helpful to locate models that allow you to program or manually start and finish cleaning. You should also be able check the status of your mop in real-time via the app. It's also beneficial to select a mop that automatically recharges when the battery runs low. We've observed that the majority of models with this feature can easily clean a large home in less than two hours.
The app should be easy to navigate and is a huge benefit if you are able to use voice commands to control your mop. This is particularly beneficial for those who wish to clean their floors while doing other chores or watching television. The majority of the mop models we tested have voice controls that are simple to use, but some require that you connect the mop to Wi-Fi in order to access the app.
Another aspect to consider when buying a mopping robot is whether it will come with disposable or recyclable cleaning pads. The latter are more environmentally friendly, but are difficult to maintain and may not perform as well as the first. Some pads let you choose the kind of pad you want to use, but you'll need to remember to change them regularly or wash them after every cleaning.
If you have a lot of high-pile area rugs in your home, you should consider seeking out an automated mop that can take care of these. IRobot's J7 Combo is better in cleaning these rugs than the Roborock S7 maxv ultra however, it also does excellent work on non-carpeted surfaces. You can also purchase an ECOVACS DEEBOT model which includes mopping and vacuuming functionality.
4. Self-Mopping
Most robot mops can save you up to 35 hours a year of exhausting mopping They're also quieter than vacuum cleaners. But you'll still need to take care of some maintenance tasks like refilling the reservoir of water or replacing the dirty cleaning pad. A self-mopping feature makes this a less hassle, as the mop will automatically return to its dock when it's time for the replacement pad.
This feature is particularly helpful if your floors are hard to clean, such as granite or tile. Some mop models scrub floors by using a rotating, spinning bristle while others use pads for cleaning. You can also find some mops that can sweep or vacuum in addition to mopping, meaning you'll have a variety of options for your cleaning needs.
If you intend to use a mop robot frequently you should consider one that has a built-in dust bin or a bin that is simple to empty. Certain mop models that also vacuum require you to empty the bin more often than those that only mop. Others have a separate dustbin for each task. The Ecovacs Deebot X1 has a self-emptying bin for its sweeping pads, which is easier to open than other robot vacuums, and it automatically swaps out the reusable cleaning pads to fresh ones once they're full.
Some robot mop models have smart home connectivity which means you can control them with your phone or voice assistant. The Braava Jet M6 is an example of smart robot mops that connects to a hub, meaning you can set up recurring cleanings with your schedule and other preferences through the app. You will also receive an update about the mop's battery and water levels, which is helpful if you are not at home.
Be aware that no robot mop is perfect and even the top ones won't be able to get dirty, greasy messes as clean like you would with manual mops or traditional Swiffer. They're ideal for quick clean-ups or keeping stains from getting set however they're not a substitute for a thorough hand mop or deep-cleaning vacuum cleaner.