A robot vacuum that mop can ease the burden of keeping your floors clean. This is especially true if have hardwood flooring in your home and you want to cut down on the Swiffer pads you have to purchase or dispose of.
Choose models that are easy to set up and maintain. This includes charging and emptying the water tank, removing and replacing pads for cleaning.
1. Object Avoidance
Robot vacuums can detect large obstacles such as furniture legs, walls, and pet toys. However, they could miss smaller items which are pushed around when cleaning. This is a concern that most robots have and can cause chaos when they are caught in things they should not. Robots equipped with object-avoidance systems employ sensors (like lasers, cameras or LIDAR) to detect and avoid small objects that are on the ground.
The majority of the robots we tested with this feature employed the aid of a laser to guide the robot and avoid obstacles, but some also use cameras to identify the floor's layout and draw a virtual map of the space. These maps let you create boundaries and no-mop zones, set a cleaning schedule and regulate the flow of water in every room during mopping.
A mop with a robot that utilizes mapping technology can be a huge benefit, especially when your home is surrounded by many furniture pieces and a complicated floor plan. Mapping allows a robot to learn the layout of your rooms so it can quickly and efficiently clean them without hitting or knocking over furniture or other items that could be in the way.
During our tests, the iRobot Combo j7+ combined LIDAR with front-facing video cameras to stay clear of obstacles in its path. This smart feature called PrecisionVision works in both sweeping and mopping mode, and is a good illustration of how robots are getting more adept at recognizing the objects they encounter on the floor.
When we tested this robot performed well, it did a decent job of avoiding obstacles that were large however, it was less skilled at recognizing smaller objects like sock balls and USB cords that were lying around. This is a problem we encounter in the majority of robotic mop machines however the good news is that there are a lot of options on the market that are much better at this.
Some mop models make use of a special wand to spray water onto floors, whereas others feature an oscillating mop head that performs the task with a more gentle drip, and not as powerful jets of water. If you have hardwood floors, you should look for one that has water that is low-pressure to limit the damage.
2. Water Reservoir
Most robot mops come with the warning that they are not intended to be used for removing stubborn sticky or set-in stains. However, the good news is that a mopping machine is still much more effective at eliminating these stains than a vacuum, even one that can do both.
We discovered that the Yeedi robot mop and vacuum could navigate around obstacles and adjust to objects like toys, furniture, or pet hair, leaving floors looking shiny and buffed. It didn't reach the top of ledges, so it couldn't reach the rooms to the opposite side. It also has a smaller dust bin than a typical robot vacuum, meaning it may require emptying more often if you use it throughout your home. We recommend getting a model with an automatic emptying dock that will deposit its cleaning pads in the empty container, avoiding multiple trips to the trash can.
robot vacuum cleaner mopping robot's capability to automatically return dirty tanks to the dock to be washed and dried is an additional important feature. Most of the models we tested did, and this saves you time in your cleaning routine. But, it's important to keep in mind that you'll have to manually empty the cleaning solution and dirt tanks and wash disposable pads according to the manufacturer's instructions every time you mop. This prevents mildew and other unwanted bacteria from developing in the moist, dark area under the bot.
Many robot mops have an app specifically designed for them that lets you adjust the map of your home and customize your cleaning areas, schedule and see the status of a clean and also connect to other smart devices or voice assistants to provide hands-free control. The app also offers the ability to determine the time when your mopping machine requires maintenance, such as an adjustment to the filter. Some of the most popular models feature smart home integration that allows you to link them to your smart lights as well as doorbells and other gadgets.
3. Water Level Adjustment
A robot vacuum that mops is a good investment for those who frequently spend time and energy cleaning their floors. Most mops have a warning that they are not intended to be used for tackling stubborn or sticky messes, or set-in stains. If you're looking for a cleaning robot that can do more than just get rid of spills and dust, it's essential to find one that's able to alter the level of water and/or scrub intensity to tackle tough messes.
It's also useful to find an option that allows you to set up a schedule or manually begin and end cleaning. You should also be able monitor the condition of your mop live on the app. Additionally, it's beneficial to choose a mop that recharges automatically and resumes cleaning whenever the battery gets low mid-cleaning. We've seen that the majority of models with this feature can easily clean a large area in less than two hours.
It should be easy to use and you should be able to control your mop with voice commands. This is especially beneficial for those who would like to sweep their floors while they do other chores or watch television. Most models we've tested offer simple voice controls, however some require you to connect the mop to Wi-Fi to connect to the app.
When buying a mopping robotic it is important to consider whether the machine will come with disposable cleaning pads or reusable ones. The reusable pads are more eco-friendly but they are difficult to stock and might not perform quite as well as disposable pads. Some pads let you choose the type of pad you use however you'll need remember to change them regularly or wash them after each cleaning.
If you have a lot of high-pile area rugs in your home, it's worth seeking out a robot mop that can handle these. The j7 model from iRobot's Combo is more effective at cleaning these than the Roborock S7 maxv ultra however, it also does an excellent job on non-carpeted surfaces. You can also buy an ECOVACS DEEBOT model which includes mopping and vacuuming functionality.
4. Self-Mopping
The majority of robot mops will save you 35 hours per year of tiring mopping work, and they're quieter than vacuum cleaners. There's still some routine maintenance such as refilling the reservoir or changing dirty cleaning pad. Self-mopping features make this a less hassle, as the mop will be automatically returned to its dock when it's time to get an entirely new pad.
This feature is particularly useful if your floors are hard to clean, such as tile or granite. Some mop models employ the rotating, spinning brush to scrub floors, whereas others use a simple cleaning pad across the floor. Some mops can sweep and vacuum, as well as mop, giving you more options.
If you are planning to use a mop robot frequently, consider getting one with a built-in trash bin or an easy-to-empty bin. Some mops that also vacuum require you to empty the bin more often than those that just mop. Some have a separate dustbin for each purpose. The Ecovacs Deebot X1 features an automatic bin for emptying its sweeping pads, which is simpler to open than those of other robot vacuums. It also automatically replaces the cleaning pads that are reusable for new ones when they're full.
Certain robot mops are connected to smart homes, which means you can use your phone or voice assistant to control them. The Braava Jet M6 is an example a smart robot mop that can connect to a hub. This means it is possible to schedule recurring cleanings with your schedule and other preferences via the app. You can also receive an update on the mop's battery life and water level, which can be beneficial if you're away from home to check what's happening.
Remember that no robot mop is perfect, and even the best mop will not be able to remove messy and greasy messes as easily like you would with manual mops or a traditional Swiffer. They're excellent to clean up quick or for keeping stains from getting set, but they aren't an alternative to a thorough hand mop or deep-cleaning vacuum cleaner.
