Mopping the floor is one of the most unenjoyable house chores there is. Schlepping around heavy mop buckets, wringing out filthy mops, gross mop water, it’s no fun. Thankfully, some smart guys got together and came up with a way to update this tired process with the robot mop. Robot mops, like the robot vacuum cousins, are a mobile, self-contained cleaning appliance that can be controlled remotely or autonomously. All you have to do is fill up the water reservoir and turn it on. To help you get acquainted with this cutting edge home appliance, we put together a comprehensive guide to educate you on the robot mop basics and we’ve taken then best models we’ve found and listed them here. Make your cleaning life easier with a robot mop, start your search here and find the model that’s right for you.
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How to Choose a Robot Mop: Hybrid vs. Non-Hybrid
Are you considering upgrading your home with a robot mop? If so, there are a lot of things to take into consideration. Robot mops keep your floors clean and sparkling, and with most models, you don’t have to do much more than fill up the water tank and turn it on.
However, there are a lot of different options to consider when choosing a robot mop for your home. Generally, robot mops have a few common features. They all need water, a cleaning pad, and some amount of sensors or navigation systems.
Robot mops fall into one of two categories: hybrid and non-hybrid. Hybrid robot mops, like the iRobot Braava Jet 240 and Braava 380t (Click here to see the detialed info), have suction power and also function as a robot vacuum. This is very useful because the robot can vacuum and clear dirt and debris from the floor before starting to mop, the ILIFE V7 Pro works in this manner. Non-hybrids can’t vacuum, but they usually have some kind of dry sweep function that clears some of the dirt before beginning their mop cycle.
Single Purpose Mop Robot
If your home has mostly hard surface floors like tile, laminates, and hardwood, then this class or robot mop would be a good fit in your home. Since these vacuums only work on hard floors they’re not appropriate for homes with a lot of carpeting.
While less expensive than hybrid models, these units are often less economical since they are limited to hard floors. However, some units have a dry sweep function and you can set the machine to clear away dirt and debris before it starts its mop cycle to get the best results.
Pros
- Special Purpose, performs one function very well
- Light-weight, smaller, and easier to store.
- Battery lasts through multiple cleaning cycles.
Cons
- No Vacuum Function
Hybrid Robot – Vacuum & Mop / 2-in-1
For maximum convenience, hybrid robots are designed with both wet mopping and vacuum functions. In most cases, there is a removable pad that needs to bet soaked with water or cleaning solution before the machine runs its cycle. However, some models, like the ECOVACS DEEBOT M80, have an interchangeable water reservoir and dustbin so you don’t have to soak the pad before activating, models with this function have a dustbin for vacuuming and a water tank that is used for mop cycles.
Pros
- Multi-function convenience.
- Two products in one, convenient storage
Cons
- Larger, heavier than single function robot mops
- Higher power demands.
Both models have merits and drawbacks, so deciding on the best one for your home takes some consideration. For heavy duty mopping, a hybrid mop isn’t going to cut it. Hybrid mops are good for light dust mopping and upkeep, they don’t have the power to get up tough, stuck-on stains. If your home has mostly hard floors, you’ll most likely get by better with a single-function mop with a dry-sweep functionality. If your home has mostly carpeting or only needs light cleaning on its hard floors, you may not need a full-power, specialized-function robot mop to keep your floors clean. If you have carpets, a hybrid unit is much more convenient and they are usually smarter than single-function mops and return to their base when their cycle is over, and they can often connectable to virtual-assistants like Alexa and Google Assistance, and they may even connect with other devices in your smart home’s network.
How Do Robot Vacuum / Mops Work?
The biggest difference between hybrid robot vacuums and single-function robots is the reservoir and dustbin. Hybrid models usually have two different attachment, a water reservoir and a dustbin, that soak the cleaning pad and store sucked-up dust. Additionally, robot mops usually include a micro-fiber cleaning pad for mopping. Single-function vacuums do not have a water tank or cleaning pad, since they have no mop function.
Usually, the robot cannot detect the type of floor they are on and you need to switch between vacuuming and mopping by pressing a button. However, some high-end models can automatically detect the surface and clean accordingly. Regardless, you’ll still have to switch out the dustbin for the water reservoir in order to switch between functions when the vacuum cycle is done.
Don’t be put off by all the switching and human guidance, switching tanks is very easy and these little robots are super convenient. They are a great way to keep your floors shining all the time.
Things to Consider – Conclusion
Do You Have a Robot Vacuum?
If you have a robot vacuum in your home, there is no sense paying extra to get a hybrid use robot mop. You can get the exact same effect by running a single use robot mop after your robot vacuum completes its cycle. Of course, if you want two separate machines to do their own job efficiently, that is a good choice too. First, use robot vacuum to vacuum the floors and then assign the mop machine to do the mopping job.
Don’t know how to choose a robot vacuum? See this post to get more information!
Flooring
The flooring you have in your home is a huge factor in deciding the best type of robot mop to get for your home. For homes with predominantly hard surfaces like wood and laminates, you’ll need a hybrid robot with great suction, side brushes, with smart settings and easy-to-use controls.
Homes that have carpet will need a hybrid robot vacuum if they want their robot to clean it. Look for models that feature a brushroll for deep cleaning into carpets. Brushrolls are spinning brushes with stiff bristles, they’re great at pulling our deeply embedded debris in carpets. Some models have softer brush heads that can be used on both hard floors and carpet, these are the most versatile and effective for homes with both types of flooring.
House size
When you’re shopping for a robot mop the size of your home affects what features you will need to look for. If you live in an apartment or small home, you don’t need to worry about battery life or the size of the water reservoir. For larger homes, these features become an issue, you’ll want to look for models that have enough battery life and water tank capacity to clean your home in one cycle without recharging.
HEPA Filter
A HEPA filter is a special feature that filters allergens and debris as it vacuums. This is a vital feature for indoor allergy sufferers and it makes a huge difference in indoor air quality.
Smart Phone Control
Robotic mop supports smartphone app, so it can be controlled via the app. Then you can schedule it to mop your floors when you are at work.
Carpet Boost
Does it support Carpet Boost? The feature will increase the air suction power when the robot detects the carpet floors, make sure to clean your carpet efficiently.
Suction
Different models have different suctions strength. Floors like deep rugs and tile floors need high suction to clean them, so check specifications and product reviews to ensure the model your looking at has the suction your floors need.
Cleaning Time
Runtime measures how long the robot can run without running out of battery. Look for a model with a long runtime for maximum convenience.
Battery Type
Batteries come in different varieties and, depending on the type used, dictate how long your vacuum will run. Lithium-Ion batteries have longer runtimes, often around 2 hours. NiMH batteries have less capacity and usually have runtimes around 1 hour.
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