Ten Myths About Robot Vacuum That Mops That Aren't Always The Truth Buying a Robot Vacuum That Mop

A robot vacuum can help you clean your floors more easily. This is especially true if you have hard floors throughout your home and wish to cut down on the Swiffer pads you have to buy or dispose of.

Find models that are easy to set up and maintain. This includes charging and emptying the water tank, removing and replacing cleaning pads.

1. Object Avoidance

Robot vacuums can detect large obstacles such as furniture legs, walls, and pet toys. However, they may overlook smaller objects that are pushed around while cleaning. This is a common problem that affects all robots and can result in an unclean environment in the event that the robot is pulled into a place isn't. Robots equipped with object avoidance systems make use of different sensors (like cameras, lasers and LIDAR), to recognize small objects on the floor and avoid them during a cleaning session.


Most of the robots that we tested with this feature employed a laser to help guide its way and avoid obstacles, however some also use cameras to recognize the floor's layout and create an imaginary map of the space. These maps let you create boundaries and no-mop zones, set a cleaning schedule and control water flow in each room when mopping.

A mop with a robot that utilizes mapping technology could be a valuable asset, especially if your home has a lot of furniture and a complex floor plan. A robot that maps can memorize your rooms' arrangement so that it can clean them quickly and effectively without falling over or running into furniture or other items.

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

The robot was effective in getting rid of large objects, but less than that at detecting smaller objects like USB cords and sockballs. This is a common issue we have seen with the majority of robotic mop. The good news is there are numerous options available to perform better.

Some of these mops come with an wand with a special design that sprays an unclean stream of water on the floor, while others utilize an oscillating head that does the job using a gentle drip of water, not a powerful jet. If you have hardwood flooring, choose a model that uses the water at a low pressure to limit 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. The positive side is that a vacuum cleaner that can be both effective at eliminating these stains as a robotic.

We found that the Yeedi robot mop and vacuum was able to navigate around obstacles and adjust to objects like furniture, toys or pet hair, leaving floors sparkling and buffed. The only downside was that it wasn't able to reach the top of ledges to reach rooms on the other side. It also has a smaller bin than the typical robot vacuum, so it will need to be cleaned more often if you utilize it in your entire home. We recommend buying a model that has self-emptying docks, which will deposit its cleaning pads in the empty container, saving you many trips to the garbage can.

A mopping robot's capability to automatically return its dirty tanks to the dock to be cleaned and dried is a further important feature. Most of the models we tested did, and this saves you a step in your cleaning routine. However, 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 their manufacturer instructions every time you mop. This prevents mildew and other harmful bacteria from developing in the moist, dark space under the bot.

Many robot mops have a dedicated app which lets you change their map of your home, customize cleaning areas, schedule and track the progress of the cleanliness of your home and also connect to other smart devices or voice assistants for hands-free control. The app can also be used to check when your mopping robot requires maintenance, like a filter replacement. Some of the popular models also have smart home integration. This allows you to connect them to smart lights, doorbells and other devices.

3. Water Level Adjustment

A robot vacuum that mop is a good investment for people who often spend time and energy cleaning their floors. Most mops have warnings that they are not intended to be used for tackling stubborn or sticky messes, or set-in staining. If you want a mopping machine that can do more than just remove spills and dust, search for one with the ability to adjust water level or the intensity of the scrub.

It's useful to discover models that allow you to program or manually start and stop cleaning. You should also be able to see the status of your mop in real-time on the app. Additionally, it's beneficial to choose a model that automatically recharges and resumes cleaning when its battery is running low mid-cleaning. We've found that most models with this feature can easily clean a large area in less than two hours.

It should be simple to use, and you should be able to control your mop via voice commands. This is particularly useful for those who wish to sweep their floors while they go about their other chores or sit down to watch TV. The majority of the mop models we tested come with voice controls that are easy to use, however some require that you connect the mop to Wi-Fi in order to connect to the app.

When you are buying a mopping robot be sure to think about whether the machine will come with disposable cleaning pads or disposable ones. Reusable pads are more environmentally-friendly but they are hard to stock and may not perform as well as disposable pads. Certain models let you select the type of pad to use, but it's vital to be sure to clean or change them every cleaning.

If you have a lot of high-pile area rugs in your home, it's worth looking for a robot mop that can take care of these. The j7 model from iRobot's 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 buy an ECOVACS DEEBOT model which includes mopping and vacuuming functions.

4. Self-Mopping

Most robot mop s can save you 35 hours a year of tiring mopping work, and they're quieter than vacuum cleaners. There's still some maintenance like refilling the reservoir or changing dirty cleaning pad. A self-mopping feature makes this less of a chore, as the mop will automatically return to its dock when it's time for a new pad.

This feature is especially helpful for floors that are difficult to clean, like tile or granite. Certain mop models utilize a rotating, spinning brush to scrub floors, while others use a simple cleaning pad across the floor. There are mop models that sweep or vacuum in addition to mopping, so you'll have more options for your cleaning needs.

If you plan on using a robot mop often, consider one with an integrated dustbin or a bin that is easy to empty. Some mops that also double as vacuums need you to empty the bin more often than those that mop and go, and some have distinct bins for each purpose. Ecovacs Deebot X1 comes with a bin that is opened easily unlike other robot vacuums. It also automatically replaces the reusable cleaning pad when it's full.

Some robot mop models are connected to smart homes, so you can utilize your phone or voice assistant to control them. The Braava Jet M6 is a smart machine that can be connected to hubs and allow you to schedule regular cleaning according to your schedule and preferences using the app. You can also get a status update on the mop's life expectancy and water level, which can be useful if you're not home to check on what's going on.

Keep in mind that no robot mop can be perfect. Even the most effective mop won't be able to keep messy, greasy messes cleaned like you would using manual mops or a traditional sweeper. They're excellent for quick clean-ups or stopping stains from forming, but they aren't a substitute for a thorough hand mop or a thorough vacuum cleaner.