7 Secrets About Robot Vacuum That Mops That No One Will Tell You

Buying a Robot Vacuum That Mop

A robot vacuum can help you clean your floors more easily. This is especially true if your home has hard flooring and you want to cut down on the amount of Swiffer pads that you need to buy or discard.

Choose models that are simple to set up and maintain. This includes charging the water tank and emptying it and changing and removing the pads used for cleaning.

1. Object Avoidance

Robot vacuums can spot 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 concern that most robots have and can cause a mess if they get sucked into something they shouldn't. Robots with object avoidance systems employ a variety of sensors (like laser, camera and LIDAR) to detect small objects on the floor and avoid them during a cleaning session.

Most of the robots that we tested with this feature used lasers to navigate its way and avoid obstacles, however some also use cameras to detect the floor's layout and create an imaginary map of the space. These maps let you create boundaries and no-mop zones as well as set a schedule for cleaning and control the flow of water through each room when mopping.

A robot mop that uses mapping technology can be a huge asset, particularly when your home is surrounded by a lot of furniture and a complex floor plan. Mapping lets a robot learn the layout of your rooms, so it can quickly and effectively clean them without hitting or knocking over furniture or other items that may be in the way.

During our testing the iRobotCombo j7+ used a combination of LIDAR and an in-front camera to stay clear of obstacles in its path. This clever feature is called PrecisionVision works in both sweeping and mopping mode, and is a good illustration of how robots are getting better at understanding the objects they come across on the floor.

When we tested the robot performed well, it did a decent job of avoiding obstacles that were large however it was not as skilled at recognizing smaller objects like sock balls or USB cords on the floor. This is a common problem that we see in all robotic mop machines, but the good news is that there are plenty of options on the market that are much better at this.

Some mop models have a wand that is specially designed to spray a stream of water on floors, while others have an oscillating mop head that does the work with a gentle drip, and not as powerful jets of water. Choose a model that has a water flow that is low pressure to minimize damage.

2. Water Reservoir

Most robot mops come with an instruction that they are not intended to be used for removing stubborn staining, sticky or set-in. But the good news is that a mopping device is still much superior in eliminating the stains than a vacuum and even one that is able to do both.

When we tried the Yeedi robot mop and vacuum cleaner and found it was able to maneuver well over obstacles and was able to adjust to objects like furniture, toys and pet hair, leaving floors looking shiny and polished. It wasn't able to reach the top of ledges, meaning it couldn't reach the rooms to the opposite side. It has a smaller bin than other robot vacuums, and you may have to empty it more often in the event that it is used throughout your home. We recommend getting a model with a self-emptying dock, which will drop its cleaning pads in an empty bin, avoiding multiple trips to the trash can.

Another important feature to consider is whether a mopping robot will return its dirty water tanks to the dock to be cleaned and dried. Most of the models we tested did do this, which will save you time in your cleaning routine. It is important to keep in mind that you need to manually empty the dirt and cleaning solution tanks and wash the pads that are reusable in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning between mopping sessions. This helps prevent mildew and other unwanted bacteria from growing in the moist, dark area under the bot.

Many robot mops have an application that lets you customize the layout of your home and customize cleaning areas as well as schedules, check the status of cleans and connect to other smart devices or voice-activated assistants to allow hands free control. The app can also be used to determine whether your mopping device requires maintenance, like a filter replacement. Some of the top models have smart home integration. This lets you connect them to your smart lights, doorbells, and other gadgets.

3. Water Level Adjustment

Robot vacuums that mop can be an excellent investment for those who spend a lot of time and effort cleaning their floors. Most mops have a warning that they're not intended to be used for stubborn or sticky messes, or for setting-in stains. If you want a mopping machine that does more that just remove spills and dust, search for one with the ability to alter the level of water or scrub intensity.

It's also beneficial to find a model that lets you schedule or manually start and end cleaning. The app will also let you keep track of the condition of the mop in real time. Similarly, it's helpful to select a model that recharges automatically and resumes cleaning if the battery gets low during cleaning. Many models that feature this feature are able to clean a large house in less than a half an hours.

It should be simple to use and have the option to control your mop via voice commands. This is especially useful for those who need to clean their floors while doing other chores or watching TV.  best robot vacuum 2024  of the models we tested come with voice controls that are easy to use, however some require you to connect the mop with your Wi-Fi to access the app.

Another thing to consider when buying a mopping robot is whether it will come with disposable or recyclable cleaning pads. Reusable pads are more eco-friendly but they are difficult to store and may not perform as well as disposable pads. Some models let you pick the type of pad to use, but it's important to remember to clean or change them every cleaning.

If you have high-pile area carpets in your home, it's worthwhile to find an automated system that can manage them. iRobot’s j7 Combo is more effective at cleaning these than the Roborock S7 maxv ultra but it also does a great job on non-carpeted surfaces. You can also buy an ECOVACS DEEBOT model that includes mopping and vacuuming capabilities.

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 maintenance, like refilling the reservoir or changing a dirty cleaning pad. Self-mopping makes this simpler because the mop goes back to its dock automatically when it requires new pads.

This feature is especially useful for floors that are difficult to clean, like granite or tile. Some mop models scrub floors by using a rotating, spinning bristle, while others use a cleaning pad. You can also find some mops that can sweep or vacuum in addition to mopping, so you'll have more options for cleaning.

If you are planning to use a mop robot frequently, consider getting one with a built-in trash bin or a bin that is easy to empty. Certain mops that double as vacuums need you to empty the bin more frequently than those that mop and go, and some even have a separate bin for each purpose. Ecovacs' Deebot X1 features an open bin that can be opened easily unlike other robot vacuums. It also replaces the cleaning pad when it is full.

Some robot mops come with smart home connectivity, which means you can control them via your phone or voice assistant. The Braava Jet m6 is an example of smart robot mops that can connect to a hub, which means you can set up regular cleaning schedules based on your schedule and other preferences via the app. You can also receive a status update about the mop's water and battery levels, which is helpful when you're not at home.

Remember that no robot mop is perfect and even the most effective mop will not be able to remove dirty, greasy messes as clean like you would with manual mops or a traditional Swiffer. They're great for quick cleanups or for keeping stains from getting set, but they aren't a substitute for a thorough hand mop or a thorough vacuum cleaner.