Robot Vacuum That Mops: The Secret Life Of Robot Vacuum That Mops Buying a Robot Vacuum That Mop

A robot vacuum can help you clean your floors more easily. This is especially relevant if you live in a home with hard floors and you want to reduce the amount of Swiffer pads that you need to buy or discard.

Choose models that are simple to install and maintain. This includes charging and emptying the water tank, removing and replacing the pads for cleaning.

1. Object Avoidance

Robot vacuums can detect large obstacles such as furniture legs, walls, and pet toys. However, they can miss smaller items which are pushed around when cleaning. This is a problem most robots have and can cause a mess when they are caught in something they should not. Robots that have object-avoidance systems utilize sensors (like lasers, cameras or LIDAR) to detect and avoid small objects that are on the ground.

Some robots employ cameras to create a virtual map that can recognize the floor's layout. These maps allow you to define boundaries and no-mop zones, set a cleaning schedule and control water flow in every room during mopping.

Mapping technology is among the most significant advantages of a robot that mops, especially if you have an apartment with a lot of furniture or complicated floor plans. A robot that uses mapping can memorize your rooms' layout so it can clean them quickly and effectively without crashing into furniture or other items.

In our tests, the iRobot Combo j7+ utilized a combination of LIDAR and an in-front camera to stay clear of 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 robots are becoming more adept in recognizing what they encounter on the floor while they work.


When we test the robot, it did a good job of avoiding obstacles that were large however it was not as skilled at recognizing smaller objects like sock balls and USB cords on the floor. This is a common problem that we see in all robotic mops, but the good news is that there are a lot of options on the market that are much better in this regard.

Some mops feature a special wand that sprays a stream of clean water on the floor, while others employ an oscillating head that does the job with the gentle drip of water, not a strong jet. Find a model with an air flow that is low-pressure to minimize damage.

2. Water Reservoir

Most robot mop models come with an instruction that they are not designed to be used for stubborn, sticky or set-in stains. However, redirected here is that a mopping robot is still far more effective in removing these stains than a vacuum, even one that can do both.

When top rated robot vacuum tested the Yeedi robot mop and vacuum cleaner, we found that it was able to maneuver well around obstacles and was able to adjust for objects such as toys, furniture and pet hair to leave floors looking shiny and buffed. It was unable to reach the top of ledges, meaning it wasn't able to reach rooms to the opposite side. It has a smaller bin than other robot vacuums, which means you might need to empty it more frequently in the event that it is used throughout your home. We recommend buying a model that has self-emptying docks, which will place its cleaning pads in an empty container, avoiding numerous trips to the trash can.

Another crucial aspect to consider is whether a mopping robot will return its water tanks that are dirty back to the dock for washing and drying. The majority of the models we tested will be able to do this, which can save you time in your cleanup routine. But, it's important to note that you will need to manually empty the dirt and cleaning solution tanks and wash the pads according to the manufacturer's instructions between mopping sessions. This will prevent mildew or other harmful bacteria from growing in the moist and dark space beneath the bot.

Many robot mops have an app that allows you to alter the map of your home as well as customize cleaning areas and schedules, check the state of your cleans, and connect other smart devices or voice-activated assistants to allow hands-free control. The app also offers a way to see when your mopping robot needs maintenance, like changing the filter. Some of the popular models also have smart home integration. This lets you connect them to smart lights, doorbells, and other gadgets.

3. Water Level Adjustment

A robot vacuum that mop could be a great investment for people who often spend time and energy cleaning their floors. However, all mop models come with a disclaimer that states that they're not meant to be used on a variety of stubborn or sticky spills or set-in stains. If you're searching for a mopping robot that does more than just clean up of spills and dust, it's essential to find one that has the ability to adjust its water level and/or scrub intensity to deal with tough dirt.

It's useful to discover models that allow you to plan or manually begin and stop cleaning. You should also be able to check the status of your mop live on the app. It's also beneficial to select mops that automatically charge when the battery runs low. We've found that most models that include this feature can clean up a large space in less than two hours.

It should be easy to use, and you should be able to control your mop via voice commands. This is especially useful for those who wish to clean their floors while doing other chores or watching TV. The majority of models we've tested have simple-to-use voice commands, however some require you to connect the mop to your Wi-Fi to connect to the app.

Another aspect to consider when purchasing a mopping device is whether it will come with disposable or recyclable cleaning pads. They are more eco friendly, but are difficult to store and may not perform like the former. Certain models let you select the type of pad you want to use, but it's important to keep in mind to clean or change them after every cleaning.

If you have a lot of high-pile area rugs around your house, it's worth searching for an automated mop that can manage these. IRobot's J7 Combo is better at handling these than the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra however, the latter can do great work on carpeted and non-carpeted floors. You can also purchase an ECOVACS DEEBOT series model that comes with mopping and vacuuming functions.

4. Self-Mopping

The majority of robot mops will save you 35 hours a year of exhausting mopping and are quieter than vacuum cleaners. However, you'll still need to perform some routine maintenance such as refilling the reservoir or changing a dirty cleaning pad. A self-mopping feature makes this less of a hassle, as the mop will automatically return to its dock when it's time to get an entirely new pad.

This feature is especially useful for floors that are difficult to clean such as granite or tile. Some mop models employ a rotating, spinning brush to scrub floors, whereas others simply run a cleaning pad across the floor. Some mop models can sweep and vacuum, as well as mop, providing more options.

If you intend to use a robot mop often, you should consider purchasing one with a built-in trash bin or an easy-to-empty bin. Some mops which also vacuum require you to empty the bin more frequently than those that only mop. Some have a separate dustbin for each function. The Ecovacs Deebot X1 features an automatic bin for emptying its sweeping pads that is simpler to open than other robot vacuums. It also automatically swaps out the reusable cleaning pads to fresh ones once they're full.

Some robot mops are connected to smart homes, which means you can make use of your phone or voice assistant to control them. The Braava Jet M6 is an example a smart robot mop that connects to a hub. This means it is possible to schedule regular cleaning schedules using your schedule and other preferences through the app. You will also receive an update regarding the mop's water and battery levels, which is helpful even when you're not home.

Remember that no robot mop will be perfect. Even the best ones will not get sticky, greasy messes clean like you would with manual mops, or a traditional sweeper. They are excellent for speedy cleaning up or preventing stains but they don't replace the need for a thorough hand mop or vacuum.