The Best Robot Vacuum Mop Combo For Pet Hair
If you've got shedding pets, a robot vacuum mop combo can keep your home in check between deep cleanings. They can tackle the messes you can't see by slipping under furniture and into corners.
Jodhaira Rodriguez has tested dozens of floor-cleaning appliances in the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab which includes a variety of mop and robotic vacuums. She has compiled a list of the best models to deal with pet hair.
1. Battery life
The size of your home and the amount of pets you have are crucial considerations when choosing a robot vacuum and mop combo. The larger your home, the more power the robot cleaner will require. More pets typically means more hair. The kind of flooring in your home are important because some models are better at cleaning hard floors than others.
A robotic vacuum and mop will be able remove pet hair from any flooring surface including tile, hardwood and carpet. If you have more than one pet you may want to select an option that has a hair picker with high-efficiency. Most robot cleaners employ suction to get rid of dirt and debris. However, some models have an additional water feature that helps with sticky spills and stains. The water that these models use can also disinfect the floors.
Robot mops with integrated vacuuming typically have longer battery lives than those that simply mop. This is because you're using two functions in one device, which reduces the time it takes to charge and shut down. best irobot for pet hair can even empty themselves into the charging station after every run drying the pads while doing so. This stops bacteria from growing on wet pads.
For the best robot vacuum and mop combo that can cope with pet hair and prints from paws we recommend the Ecovacs DeebotX2 Omni. The model was very good in our tests. It comes with a variety of smarts including TrueMapping and TrueDetect 3D technologies to map your home and prevent bumps against furniture or other obstacles. It also has an all-in-one base that houses both clean and dirty water tanks, making it easy to maintain.
2. App control
Many robot vacuum and mop combos can be combined with an app that allows you to save maps of your home, set cleaning schedules and keep track of maintenance requirements. Certain robots can be controlled remotely. You can still find models that have the power button on the charging dock, base station or remote included.
Look for models that have a cleaning mode that can mop, vacuum or do both, and doesn't require you to press a manual switch to switch it off. This way you can send the robot back to its dock to empty its dirt bin, change a wet pad or wash a mop cloth or fill up its water tank. You should also check whether the robot is compatible with your voice-activated assistant. This allows you to use simple commands like "OK Google" and "OK Alexa" to begin a cleaning process or ask for help in a situation or other.
Before deciding on a cleaner for your robot think about how long it will take to maintain the machine and also how many people are using your floors. For example, if you have furniture that isn't as large or big floor plan, you may prefer a cleaner with smaller mop and vacuum capacity. It is also important to think about the fact that some mopping robots can be costly and require recurring expenses. They can be costly to buy and you will require new pads or even cloths. Make sure to think about the cost of the cleaning product in the first place, as certain brands might suggest purchasing an additional cleaning agent to keep your floors neat.
3. Carpet Recognition
The most effective robot vacuums and mop combos can differentiate between hard and carpets. This ensures that they won't sweep over spills or staining. They can also recognize areas with more than one type of flooring and automatically schedule cleanings according to the layout of your home. You'll have to install an additional app on your phone to manage these features, though they're generally easy to use.
The majority of robot vacuums and mops utilize a reusable cleaning product that needs to be purchased separately, but there are some hybrid models that don't need any liquid whatsoever. These robots typically empty into a bag of dust that is stored in the base station. Some even have a self-emptying feature that allows you to dump the contents into a trash can.
Some robots can be used on dry and wet floors such as tile or hardwood. The best robot vacuums and mop combos for pet hair can be used on both types of surfaces. This makes them an ideal choice if your home has different flooring.
When you are choosing a robot mop and vacuum, think about the size of your home and the amount of foot traffic it gets. You'll want to select the model that has enough power and battery longevity to cope with regular cleaning of your floors, especially if you have kids or pets.
The top two-in-one robots are equipped with premium features that make them worth the cost. Ecovacs' Deebot Omni, for example, can vacuum and mop with suction of 8,000-Pa, and comes with a dual-rotating mop head. It also scans your furniture and other objects to avoid them while cleaning, and even communicate with you via two-way sound. It also takes care of its own dirt so it will automatically go back to its dock when it's time for a wash.
4. Water tank capacity
Robot vacuums lift dirt and deposit it in a dust bin or bag, while robot mops scatter cleaning solution over the floor and scrubs it off with pads. Some models combine both functions and others have distinct abilities to deal with different types of types of floors. To ensure you get the right kind of clean for your home, take stock of your floors' surfaces and how much people use them.
Most robot vacuums and mop combos need an ingredient for cleaning that will vary between brands. You can purchase cleaners from third parties, but it's recommended to stick with the recommended brand by the manufacturer. This will ensure that there is no damage and keep your robot functioning as efficiently as it can.
If your robot vacuum and mop uses a dust bin, you'll have to empty it regularly. Most vacuums come with an indicator that will tell you when it's time for the replacement of the bag. In the same way, you'll probably require replacing the filters or side sweeping brushes, rollers and other accessories from time to time to ensure the best performance.
Self-emptying robots can make this process easier, allowing you to simply empty the contents of the dustbin into a trash bin or recycling bin. Most of these machines don't automatically clean and dry their mopping pads or cloths which can cause an increase in bacterial growth. If your machine doesn't have this capability, make sure to remove and wash the pad after each use or place it on a flat surface to dry between runs.
This feature is available on the iRobot Combo i5+ as well as the Shark Matrix Plus 2 in 1 and the Eureka E10S. The budget-friendly iLife V5s Pro, on the other hand, focuses on minimalism, and does not have this function.
5. Mop mode
If you're looking for a robotic mop and vacuum combo that can clean your floors while you're away the best choice is the iRobot Roomba j7. It's not inexpensive however its AI obstacle-avoidance is the best available in the industry. It can vacuum up Cheerios, spot poop and even navigate the tangled mess that phone and socks cables usually pile up on your floor. This makes it an excellent choice for homes that have pets or children and wish to keep their floors clutter-free.
It's one of the few robots we tested that could mop tile, hardwood, and Linoleum. It was successful in cleaning sticky mess, wet spills and pet hair from carpets.
It's only flaw is that it's not a 2-in-1 robot, and can take up to 6 hours to charge. The model also requires manual emptying of the dust bin unlike other robots that automatically empty into the dust bin at the base station. This can be a challenge in large homes with high ceilings and stairs.
If you're looking for a two-in-one that is more traditional, then go for the Ecovacs T10 Plus. It has a powerful suction capability that easily cleaned up pet hair from carpets, and also self-emptying dustbin. It also has scented air filter pods, allowing you to select the scent you prefer. It has a lower life battery than the top models we tested and must be recharged often.