A Provocative Rant About Robots That Vacuum And Mop
Robots That Vacuum and Mop
Robots that vacuum and clean offer the convenience of cleaning dry and wet messes in one time, without having to switch devices. They can also reduce space when compared to two separate units, especially in smaller living areas.
A good combination bot will offer excellent navigation and obstacle avoidance. Look for models that have docks that let them automatically empty their bins, fill their water tanks and wash the mopping pads.
1. Eufy S1 Pro
It's one of the easiest robots to set up that we've ever tested. Unpacking is easy and the quick-start guide will have you up and running in no time. You'll have a a full dust bag, water tank and a hard floor solution.
The S1 Pro is a powerful little machine that cleans up a mess and also vacuums well. The mops spin at a high speed and utilize 2.2 pounds (1kg of force) to quickly remove dirt, pet hair and sticky dried spills. The vacuum comes with four power modes, a selection of brushes and attachments and an intuitive app that lets you choose the kind of cleaning you'd like to have for each room.
For instance, you can ask the robot to clean the kitchen and living room thoroughly, but leave the spare bedroom alone. The S1 Pro has excellent front collision sensors and smart navigation technology. It is able to detect small obstacles that other models are unable to. Its only issue is that it is known to smash into walls and objects at a high speed. However looking at the history of cleaning in the app will reveal precisely what the robot has completed, where it's going, and which obstacles he has run into or avoided.
The docking station has a handy LCD screen that shows when maintenance is needed, such as emptying debris and cleaning the water tank that is dirty. It also mixes detergent into the water tank in a controlled manner with a 600ml of eufy solution.
Both the S1 Pro mop and vacuum have a long run time. The mop is able to run for 184 mins in Quiet Mode and the vacuum can run for 136 minutes in standard mode, before needing to recharge or returning back to the base. And you can see the full cleaning details in the app, which is intuitively laid out and easily understood although we would like to be able to distinguish between a vacuum only or mop clean, when looking at a cleaned area in the cleaning history.
2. Roborock S8 Pro Ultra
The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, the latest version of Roborock's top-of-the-line robot mop and vacuum, is the most up-to-date version. Unlike last year's model it comes with two agitators in its mopping pad, which significantly improves its carpet cleaning abilities. The S8 Pro Ultra also has improved suction power, allowing it to remove small hairs and other debris that other robotic cleaners may overlook.
Like the two other Roborock models I've tried the S8 Pro Ultra has a reactive 3D obstacle avoidance and infrared technology to helps it avoid walls, furniture and other obstacles. However, the S8 Pro Ultra takes things a step further by adding a dual camera which can recognize objects and determine whether they're a wall or another surface. It can then automatically change its direction and clean the objects without a pause.
It's the most expensive of the three models I've reviewed, but it's also feature-packed. Its sleek and angular design is striking and only has three buttons that are physically accessible. The power button, which also restarts the cleaning process, a mop button that doubles up as a child-lock, and a home-button to take the robot to its dock. The hinged lid can be lifted to reveal the 350ml dust bin as well as a 200ml water tank. The water tank is self-emptying and the bin is auto-filling.
The only issue I have found with this model is that the VibraRise mop pad mount isn't movable. It is possible to replace the mopping cloth when required, but it's a challenge to remove the mount for manual washing. I've found that any plush carpet that the robot passes will come into contact with the Velcro-like fastener system on the mount, and that could cause abrasions.
The S8 Pro Ultra is equipped with a variety of intelligent features that include support for Google Home and Amazon Alexa. The Roborock app allows you to manage and set up these features. It also includes maps and advanced mopping options. The app lets you schedule cleanings and track battery life. You'll have to go through a few steps to enable voice control on this model. It's a shame considering how well-performing it is otherwise.
3. Dreame X40
The Dreame X40 robot vacuum and mop is an industry leader with its innovative features, top suction power and cutting-edge mowing capabilities. Its intelligent design allows for personalized and efficient cleaning, while saving you time.
The X40 is the first robot vacuum cleaner to provide 12,000 Pascals of cleaning power, which makes it one of the best alternatives available. This powerful vacuum is able to clean up pet hair dust, crumbs and any other dry debris. It has a mop of high quality that cleans hard floors without the use of pads. In addition the X40 is very quiet during it's operation, producing only occasional bursts of noise when switching between modes or when completing self-maintenance tasks.
The X40 has an additional side brush that can be extended and lifted. This lets it reach into corners that are difficult to reach and clean furniture that is curved like table and chair legs. It also lets the robot to reach under furniture that is low-profile which makes it a great choice for small apartments and condominiums with small spaces. The side brush automatically swivels downwards when it detects wet spots. This is a nice touch that assists the X40 keep floors safe from damage caused by the frequent back-and-forth movement.
In contrast to other robots that are limited to one task, the X40 can mop and vacuum at the same time. It can also be programmed to skip areas with carpets and mop only hard floors or vice versa. It can be controlled using the Dreame App or Alexa, Siri, or Google Home to ensure smooth voice-controlled operations.
The app is simple to use and intuitive The X40 is equipped with many clever features that are easy to set up. Users can program the X40 for cleaning at specific times. It is also possible to alter suction power, alter modes, view floor plans and maps and control mopping settings. The X40 will also keep track of its progress and notify you when it's done.
The X40 is easy to maintain and has many features which make it a good choice for busy families. The docking station can automatically empty the dustbin, and clean mop pads before refilling them with fresh cleaning solution and water. It can also tell when the mop pad is full and notify you when it gets overflowing, reducing the requirement for manual maintenance.
4. L20 Ultra
The L20 Ultra robot is one of the most expensive models on the market. It does have several characteristics that make it stand out. Smart DuoScrub, a new feature of its mops, uses two mop heads that are high-speed to scrub floors more thoroughly. It also has a maximum suction force of 7,000Pa. This is more than that of the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra or Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni, and it can vacuum up pet hair and small dirt particles and also pick up spills and wet spots.
Its mops are also cleaned and dried inside the base station after each use. This is a great feature since it prevents the build-up of odours and mould in storage, and it also makes the mop system more efficient. This is a feature we haven't seen in other robot vacuum and mop models. It could be a great method to keep your home clean longer.
There are many choices, including the possibility to schedule cleanings and adjust preferences. The app lets you make these settings or you can make use of the buttons on the device itself. The app is easy to use and offers many options for customizing the cleaning routine. Additionally, there are many functions that other robots don't include, such as the Clean Genius mode that automatically increases suction power whenever it detects dust particles rather than using an individual setting.
The L20 Ultra is also one of the most elegant robots we've seen on market, with metallic and white colors that looks classy and sophisticated. It's a bit heavier at 4kg than some of the other robots on this list but it's not excessively heavy. It feels solid and well-constructed. The mopping system is also well-designed and the double-rotating mop is a great choice for hard floors or in corners. The MopExtend feature allows them to reach up to 2mm below baseboards.