Is There a Robot Vacuum That Mops?

Which is pretty cool.

Whenever tech can be used to make our lives better, we usually buy it, especially if it makes doing chores easier. One such product is the robot vacuum.

In case you are not familiar, robot vacuums are capable of sweeping up dust bunnies, and other small particles, on flat surfaces without much human supervision. And that is just the lower end models!

Higher end models are designed to sweep hardwood or tiled floors, and even carpets, using sensors to map the room. This is a very efficient way of cleaning and can be done on a set schedule. It can even return to the recharging station if it runs out of charge, then carry on where it left offMatter of fact, the only thing better than a robot vacuum is one equipped with extra perks, such as the ability to sweep and mop the floor.

These are generally known as a robot vacuum and mop combo. They not only save time by vacuuming your floor but can also mop your hard floors at the same time.

Types of Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo

There are quite a few robot vacuums on the market. All of which need to have their dustbin emptied from time to time. However, not all robot vacuums are equipped with mopping functionality. And even those that are considered to be a robot vacuum and mop combo complete floor chores in very different ways.

Vacuum and wash at the same time

For example, some robot combo's only need one pass to sweep and mop the floor. To accomplish this, rotating sweepers or a suction intake is located in the front. As this portion cleans up debris, it preps the area for mopping. This is usually completed at the end of the device via a surface touching mopping pad.

There is a plastic attachment for the underneath of the robot vacuum which holds some water and the pad. The water wicks down and wets the pad so that you get a wet wipe on the floor as the machine moves around. It clips on or off as desired.

Vacuum or wash at different times

That said, to determine if a robot vacuum and mop combo is capable of completing both chores at the same time, check to see if the device has a water tank that fits into the dustbin space. This will mean that you can’t do both functions at the same time but it does hold more water for cleaning larger areas without refilling.

Here is how it works. After sweeping up the floor, robot owners need to remove and empty the dustbin. Place the water tank into the compartment the dustbin came out of, and make sure the container is filled with water.

Add the cleaning pad and then send your vacuum out again to mop the floor. The water from the tank drips onto the pad wetting it so that it can remove the dirt from the floor. Most pads are washable

What to Look For

Finding the best robot to complete your floor related chores can be accomplished by evaluating the following three categories.

Floor types

Homes with more carpet than hardwood, tile, or otherwise may prefer how a robot vacuum and mop combo cleans. You have the benefit of the vacuum for the main parts of your home and then you can add the washing attachment to manage the washable areas.

Mostly washable floors

If you have a majority of hardwood floors then you would probably get more out of a robot vacuum with a separate washing action.

You can send out the robot to vacuum first and then change over the dustbin for the water container and send it back out to wash the floors. The reason for this is that it has a larger water capacity for a larger area.

If you have really large washable floors and want automatic cleaning you might want to look into a robot mop which is designed for larger areas.

How much money you are willing to pay

Having a bunch of extras is awesome, like the voice control with Alexa, unless you never use them. So be sure to only invest in perks you plan on using.

This type of robot vacuum won’t do away with mopping your floors the normal way as they can’t get into all the nooks and crannies. But it will take off the surface dirt and you can do it daily if it’s a high traffic area.

The good part is that there are quite a few in the lower price range, so you can get the chance to try one without a large investment.

Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo’s to Consider

That said, let's take a look at three robot vacuum and mop combo devices available on the market today.

ILIFE V5s Pro Robot Vacuum Mop Cleaner

With a runtime of 140 minutes, this iLife iteration is packed with quite a few features. A few of our favorites include automatic docking, recharging, cleaning scheduler, and floor type detection.

That said, the V5s has only one compartment for the dustbin and water tank. Which means robot owners will need to swap out the components depending on what needs to be completed.

It’s a low cost and competent cleaner. It works on all floor types, has a choice of cleaning modes and comes with a charging dock for automatic recharging.

Pros

• Can go over some surface changes, such as hardwood to carpet

• Low profile

• Can mop the floor

• Four floor cleaning modes available

• Low cost

Cons

• Unable to schedule mopping, must have dustbin installed for charging and scheduling

• Have to mop separately

Needless to say, if you are looking for a way to keep your non-carpeted floors dust bunny free and do not mind a bit of work to have them mopped, this iLife robot vacuum and mop combo may be what you are looking for.

ECOVACS DEEBOT M80 Pro Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Although the Deebot is a little more expensive than the ILIFE, the extra features it comes with more than make up for the price. Robot owners can control the device from the comfort of their smartphone.

Schedule a cleaning on-the-go, or even get Alexa to start the high-tech cleaning machine on your behalf. And as an added bonus, the Deebot sweeps and mops, in one go! This is a decent price if you’re on a budget and it can manage all floor types.

Pros

• Water tank is removable

• Runs for 110 minutes

• Dustbin is conveniently located and easy to remove

• Automatic cleaning schedule

• Re-docks itself and recharges when battery is low

• Quiet

Cons

• Not recommended to put cleaning solution in water tank

• Can get stuck and has to be rescued

With all of the convenient ways to get the Deebot M80 going, it is easy to see why this device is great for really busy people interested in keeping their home clean in an effortless manner.

Roborock S5 Robotic Vacuum and Mop Cleaner

Having a washable filter is a must if you do not want to be buying new ones again and again, which is one of the perks the Roborock S5 offers. This robot vacuum and mop combo offers most of the features we have mentioned on our list thus far, plus quite a few more advanced perks.

For example, the S5 maps out a room to ensure all areas are accounted for during the cleaning process. Robot owners can use this map to designate a cleaning zone where they want the robot to work in. Tell it to clean using Alexa.

In addition, the spin brushes are designed to prevent tangling, which means less maintenance to deal with over time. Can manage all floor types and the mopping attaching slides in for a seamless change to cleaning hard floors.

Pros

• Quiet

• Self-adjusts brush speed based on proximity

• Can run for up to 150 minutes on average

• Covers 1.5 centimeter rises easily

• Good suction on carpet

• Self-recharge and docking

Cons

• Higher in price

• Virtual barrier tape is not included.

As you can see, the S5 combines the pros of iLife V5s and the Deebot without any of the cons. So, if you are in the market for a robot vacuum capable of mopping and do not mind paying a bit more for the perks, this device is likely perfect for you.

Wrap Up

If you’ve been looking for a robot vacuum and hadn’t considered one that can mop too then I hope this opens your eyes to what’s available.These machines are primarily a vacuum cleaner and then you can decide if you want to use it as a mop too.

It doesn’t let you charge your robot with the water tanks attached, as water and electrics don’t tend to mix well. But they have made the attachments easy to install when needed.

If you like the idea of a gadget that can help with your chores, give the robot vacuum and mop combo a try.