15 Things You Don't Know About Robot Vacuum That Mops Buying a Robot Vacuum That Mop

A robot vacuum can help you clean your floors more easily. This is especially true if you have hardwood flooring throughout your home and want to cut down on the Swiffer pads you need to purchase or dispose of.

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

1. Object Avoidance

Robot vacuums are able to detect large obstacles like furniture legs, walls, and pet toys. However, they may miss smaller items which are pushed around when cleaning. This is a problem the majority of robots have and can cause a mess when they are caught in things they should not. Robots with object avoidance systems use different sensors (like laser, camera and LIDAR), to recognize small objects on the floor and avoid them during cleaning.

Some robots employ cameras to create a virtual map and recognize the floor layout. These maps let you create no-mop zones and boundaries, set a cleaning schedule and regulate the flow of water in every room during mopping.

Mapping technology is one of the main advantages of a robot that mop especially if you live in a home with lots of furniture or complicated floor plans. A robot that maps can memorize your rooms' arrangement so that it can clean them quickly and effectively without crashing into furniture or other objects.

In our tests, the iRobotCombo j7+ combined LIDAR with an in-front video camera to eliminate obstacles in its path. This smart feature, called PrecisionVision is able to work in mopping and sweeping modes. It's a great illustration of how some robots are becoming more adept at understanding what they're encountering on the floor while they work.

When we examined the robot performed well, it did a decent job of avoiding large obstacles, but it was less skilled at recognizing smaller objects like sock balls and USB cords that were lying around. This is a common issue we see in most robotic mops, but the good news is that there are plenty of options on the market that do much better in this regard.

Some of these mops use a special wand to spray water on floors, while others feature an oscillating mop head that does the work with more of a gentle drip and no large jets of water. Choose a model that has a low-pressure water flow to limit the risk of damage.

2. Water Reservoir

Most robot mops come with an instruction that they are not designed to be used for stubborn staining, sticky or set-in. However, the good news is that a mopping robot is still far more effective at eliminating these than a vacuum cleaner, even one that can perform both.

We discovered that the Yeedi robot mop and vacuum could move around obstacles and adjust to objects like furniture, toys or pet hair leaving floors shiny and buffed. It was unable to reach the top of ledges, so it wasn't able to reach rooms on the other side. It also has a smaller dust container than the typical robot vacuum, meaning it may need to be emptied more frequently if you are using it in your entire home. We suggest getting a model with self-emptying docks, which will deposit its cleaning pads in the empty bin, avoiding many trips to the garbage can.

Another aspect to think about is whether a mopping robot will automatically take 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. It's important to remember to manually empty the dirt and cleaning solutions tanks and wash the reusable pads in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning between mopping sessions. This prevents the growth of mildew as well as other undesirable bacteria from developing in the dark, moist space beneath the bot.

Many robot mops come with a dedicated app that allows you to adjust their map of your home and customize your cleaning areas, schedules and monitor the status of cleaning, and connect with other smart devices or voice assistants for hands-free control. The app can also be used to check whether your mopping device requires maintenance, such a a filter replacement. Some of the most well-known models include smart home integration, allowing you to link them to smart lighting bulbs as well as doorbells and other devices.

3. robots that vacuum and mop that mop can be a worthwhile investment for those who frequently spend time and energy cleaning their floors. However, most mops have a disclaimer stating that they are not designed to be used for stubborn or sticky dirt or set-in staining. If you're searching for a mopping robot that does more than just rid of dust and spills it's crucial to choose one that's able to adjust its water level and/or scrub intensity to deal with tough dirt.

It's also useful to find a model that lets you program or manually start and end cleaning. You should also be able check the status of your mop in real-time on the app. Similarly, it's helpful to choose a model that recharges automatically and resumes cleaning if its battery starts running low in mid-cleaning. Many models that feature this feature are able to clean a large home in less than an hour.

It should be easy to use and be able to control your mop with voice commands. This is especially useful for those who would like to clean their floors as they work or sit down to watch television. The majority of the mop models we tested have voice controls that are simple to use, but some require connecting the mop to your Wi-Fi connection to access the app.


When buying a mopping robotic, you should also consider whether the mopping robot comes with disposable cleaning pads or disposable ones. Reusable pads are more environmentally-friendly however they can be difficult to store and may not perform as well as disposable pads. Some pads let you select the kind of pad you want to use, but you'll need to ensure that you change them regularly or clean them after each cleaning.

If you have high-pile area carpets in your home, it is worthwhile to find a robot that can handle the carpets. IRobot's J7 Combo handles these better than the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra, but the latter will do great work on carpeted and non-carpeted flooring. Alternatively, you can buy an ECOVACS DEEBOT series model that comes with both vacuuming and mopping functionality.

4. Self-Mopping

Robotic mops are more quiet than vacuums and can save you up to 35 hours of mopping each year. There's still some maintenance like refilling the reservoir or changing dirty cleaning pad. Self-mopping makes this easier, as the mop returns to its dock automatically if it's in need of a new pad.

This feature is particularly useful if your floors are hard to clean, such as tile or granite. Certain mop models utilize the rotating, spinning brush to scrub floors, whereas others use a simple cleaning pad across the floor. Some mop models sweep and vacuum as well as mop, offering more options.

If you plan on using a mop robot frequently look for one that has a built-in dust bin or a bin that is easy to empty. Some mops that double as vacuums will require you to empty the dustbin more often than those that mop and go, and some come with distinct bins for each use. The Ecovacs Deebot X1 comes with an automatic bin for emptying its sweeping pads that is simpler to open than those of other robot vacuums. It also automatically replaces the reusable cleaning pads to fresh ones once they're full.

Certain robot mops are connected to smart homes, so you can use your phone or voice assistant to control them. The Braava Jet M6 is a smart robotic that connects to hubs that allow you to schedule regular cleaning according to your schedule and preferences via the app. You will also receive an update about the mop's battery and water levels, which is helpful when you're not at home.

Keep in mind that no robot mop can be perfect. Even the best ones will not get dirty, greasy messes wiped clean like you do with manual mops, or a traditional sweeper. They're ideal for quick cleanups or for preventing stains from setting however they're not an alternative to a thorough hand mop or deep-cleaning vacuum cleaner.