Nobody likes cleaning floors, but let’s be honest: When we’re done, though, we get a satisfying feeling out of it. But still, the process of mopping and cleaning floors is labor-intensive and involves working with buckets of dirty water and filthy mop fibers.
Thankfully, robot mops were invented to make floor cleaning and mopping a cinch. These machines have come a long way since their inception. Now, all we need to do is fill its tank up with water or cleaning solution, push start, and let it do the rest. Depending on its price, robot mops can be controlled using apps and may even be integrated with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. Some could even handle vacuum cleaning.
Needless to say, robot mops are lifesavers because they’ll help you save time! Are you looking for one yourself? We have listed the best robot mops out there in the market, plus throw you some tips to help you decide which robot mop is best for you and your cleaning needs.
Should You Go Single or Double?
Robotic mops generally share common attributes. They have water/cleaning solution tanks and some form of cloth they scrub the floor and pick up dirt with. Many of them are equipped with sensors so that they can freely move around the space and furniture.
With that being said, no two robot mops are alike. They often come in one of the two types: single-purpose mops or hybrids. The single-purpose machines are one-trick ponies in the sense that they can’t vacuum your floor while the hybrids can. The latter often features interchangeable water tanks and dustbins. They also tend to be more expensive than single-purpose robot mops and are more likely to have smart features.
Another option, albeit the priciest one, is purchasing a separate robot mop and robot vacuum. This is often a more efficient option since the hybrids do not necessarily have the cleaning power of a single-purpose machine.
On the other hand, single-purpose machines are only stuck to the one thing that they do best. Robot mop and vacuum combos solve both problems quickly, although, at this time, only iRobot has manufactured such a pairing, significantly limiting the consumers’ options.
7 Best Robot Mops of 2021
1. Best Basic/Budget Hybrid: iLife V5s 2-in-1 Robotic Mop and Vacuum
When it comes to a robot mop with the lowest prices, it comes down to the iLife V5s and the iRobot Braava Jet 240. Right now, the Braava Jet 240 is about 20 bucks pricier, but the iLife V5s is a hybrid machine. If you’re paying attention, that means the V5s can mop the floor and vacuum carpets. There is no doubt that the model is a must-try for first-time robot mop and vacuum owners at its price point.
Here is the thing with the iLife V5s: Its mopping feature is way behind its vacuuming attribute by a mile. If your primary concern is vacuuming floors or carpets, it’s one of the best out there for less than $200. It’s also very quiet, remarkably easy to set up, and has a pretty cool design. With that being said, if you don’t mind a little noise, the iLife V3s is a better hair pet cleaner and even much cheaper than its V5s sibling.
2. Best Basic/Budget Single Purpose: iRobot Braava Jet 240
OK, there’s the budget hybrid, there’s also a budget single-purpose unit, and that’s the aforementioned Braava Jet 240. Unlike the iLife V5s, which should have been just a robot vacuum in the first place, the Braava Jet 240’s calling card is cleaning all types of floors and spaces.
A couple of things that you’d certainly like with the Jet 240 is the way it cleans off edges, small spaces, and even larger ones. It does weigh only three pounds and is lifted 3.3 inches off the ground, so its stature is its advantage in cleaning. It also leaves a fresh scent from its disposable cleaning pads, something that sensitive noses will undoubtedly appreciate.
Now, let’s be clear: It won’t replace the traditional mop and bucket anytime soon, but thanks to the Jet 240, you also won’t have to break them out on a daily basis either.
3. Best Vacuuming Hybrid: Roborock S7
If there is a true deep-cleaning hybrid machine, I can point my finger at the Roborock S7. To say that this robot mop is my favorite machine does not do it justice! Let me count the ways why the S7 is possibly the best robot mop and vacuum out there:
- Uses sonic vibration technology to scrub the floors 3,000 times a minute!
- Very quiet operation
- Switches from mopping to vacuuming on the fly depending on the surface it touches
- Does not ever get stuck
- 2500 Pa suction force
- Uses LiDAR navigation system
At over $600, I’d say you have to think twice before you pull the trigger on this machine. But if you do, and if you actually need its features, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything better. Its whole cleaning cycle lasts 3 hours, more than enough to clean a big house. When it needs to recharge, the S7 finds its dock and picks up where it has left off when full.
At only 3.8 inches tall and barely 10 pounds, you could not believe the amount of technology Roborock has put into his model!
4. The Quietest: iRobot Braava 380t
The Braava is not a hybrid and is just a basic mopper, but it does have features you won’t find in any robot mop. First of all, since it’s just a basic, single-purpose machine, don’t expect any virtual walls, advanced scheduling, app integration, and all of those features.
From the design, the 380t is like the bigger sibling of the Braava 320. They do look alike and with the exact square-like dimensions and weigh a mere four pounds.
When using the Braava 380t, make sure that you have the appropriate pads installed. The mopping and cleaning pads, as well as the sweeping and mopping microfiber cloth, are not interchangeable, but they are all machine-washable and can be used until you no longer can.
If we are going to pick out the best feature of the Braava 380t, it’s the unit’s quiet operation. It is virtually silent as a whisper, and you’d pretty much forget it’s there if you happen to attend to some things while it’s on. With that being said, it tackles dirt like crazy, and you’d genuinely be surprised at how much dust, debris, and dead insects it can pick up.
5. Best Smart Features: eufy by Anker, RoboVac L70 Hybrid
The RoboVac S7 did have robust features, but it’s almost nothing compared to the RoboVac L70. Well, not really nothing, but the L70 is superior in virtually every way.
For instance, the L70 does not use LiDAR but instead uses iPath Laser Navigation. It is a better, more efficient navigation system that allows the robot to find the quickest cleaning route inside your home. Once it maps a room, then consider the cleaning done.
Here are other smart features of the L70:
- Allows virtual boundaries to be set on the phone
- Real-time mapping technology
- Alexa and Google Assistant voice integration
- Drop-sensing and anti-collision technology
- BoostIQ Technology (automatically increases suction power in areas where extra strength is needed)
6. Most Functional: Samsung JetBot Mop
The Samsung Jetbot Mop is not the sophisticated machine that the L70 or the S7, but it boasts something that its counterparts don’t have. What exactly is that? The Jetbot is not only a robot mop; it also doubles as a handheld wall cleaner.
The Jetbot’s operation is pretty simple and nothing out of the ordinary. It has dual spinning pads that can clean tight corners and edges and dual tanks that keep the pads damp. The Jetbot is safe to use on any type of hardwood floor, including vinyl and tiles. It does have a smart sensor system that prevents it from falling off stairs, but the Jetbot is a basic robot mop that could also function as a handheld wall cleaner.
7. Best for Pet Hair: Eufy RoboVac 11s
The RoboVac 11s’ suggested retail price is just under $220, but it’s now available for a shade under $110. Now, if that’s not value, I don’t know what is. If you have small dogs or cats around your house, then the Eufy RoboVac 11s increases its value sevenfold.
You see, the RoboVac 11s performs just as well as robotic vacuum cleaners at twice its price. It is also pretty small in stature, so it has no problem getting into areas where most vacuum cleaners can’t. Thus, it will pick up an army of dust and pet hair from under the furniture and even on carpeted floors with no problem. Depending on the type of dirt and the pet you have, you may have to check the filter replacement frequency of your RoboVac.
However, if you’re looking for smart features and other technology stuff aside from the BoostIQ technology, you won’t find it in this machine.
Final Thoughts: Are Robot Mops and Vacuums Worth It?
The first thing that I’d like to mention is that robot mops and vacuum cleaners are still not ready to take over the cleaning world. Perhaps, in the future, that could happen, but not right now. No matter how far technology has improved, there is still no substitute for old elbow grease and hard work.
Still, if you want to keep your home maintained daily, robot mops and vacuums are the perfect answer. This is especially true for busy homeowners who don’t have the luxury of time to even do light sweeping. Robot mops and vacuum cleaners are suitable for a quick clean and are more than enough to clean fresh spills, pet hair, and new stains. However, to remove dried, caked, and hardened stains, you’ll always have to revert to manual labor and the traditional bucket/mop combo.
If you do decide to purchase a robotic mop or vacuum, here are some things to keep in mind: Should you buy a single-purpose machine or a hybrid that does both mopping and vacuuming? Remember that hybrids are generally much more expensive, and yet, one of their features could still be underwhelming.
If you can afford to buy one like the Roborock S7 or the RoboVac L70, then chances are, they are true deep-cleaning machines that you won’t regret. If not, then stay within your means, and consider all the budget options outlined in this article. Either way, just enjoy the process and don’t rely too much on these machines.
