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. These machines can get under furniture and into corners to get at messes you can't see.

Jodhaira has tested dozens floor-cleaning devices in the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab. This includes a wide range of robotic vacuums and mops. She has rounded up the best models to deal with pet hair.

1. Battery life

The size of your house and the number of pets you own are crucial factors to consider when you're looking for a robotic vacuum and mop combo. The bigger your home the more power you'll require from a robotic cleaner and more pets typically mean more hair. The type of floor surfaces in your home are important as some models are better in cleaning hard floors than others.

A robotic vacuum and mop can remove pet hair from any floor surface including tile, hardwood and carpet. If you have more than one pet, you may want to choose an option that has a hair picker with high-efficiency. Some robot cleaners come with a water feature to help with sticky spills or staining. The water used in these units can also disinfect the floors.

Robotic mops with integrated vacuuming typically have longer battery lives than those that just mop. This is because you're utilizing two functions together, reducing the amount of time the device has to charge and then shut off. Some models 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.

Ecovacs Deebot X2 is the best robot mop and vacuum combo to keep up with pet hairs and paw prints. It was a great performer in our tests. It has a lot of smarts like TrueMapping and TrueDetect 3D technologies to map your home and avoid bumping against furniture or other obstacles. It also comes with 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 lets you save maps of your house, set cleaning schedules and monitor maintenance requirements. Some even let you control the robot remotely. You can still find models with buttons for power on the charging dock, base station, or remote included.

Look for Best Robot Vacuum Mop Combo For Pet Hair models that come with cleaning modes, which can vacuum, mop or both, and doesn't require an on-demand switch to switch it off. You can then take the robot to its dock to empty its trash bin, replace a wet mop pad, wash its mop cloth, or refill its water reservoir. You should also check whether the robot is compatible with your voice-activated assistant. This means that you can make simple commands such as "OK Google" and "OK Alexa" in order to start a cleaning session or request assistance with a problem or more.

Before choosing a robot cleaner take into consideration how long it will take to maintain the machine, and how much traffic is on your floors. For example, if you have a small furniture space or a large floor space, you may prefer a cleaner with smaller mop and vacuum capacity. It is also important to consider that some mopping robotics are expensive and require recurring expenses. They are often expensive to purchase and you'll need to purchase new pads or cloths. Lastly, don't forget about the cost of the cleaning product in general, as certain brands suggest you purchase a second cleaning solution to keep your floors looking new.

3. Carpet Recognition

The most effective robot vacuum and mop combos can distinguish between carpet and hard surfaces making sure they don't or scrub over stains or spills. They also can identify areas that have more than one type of flooring and then automatically schedule cleanings based on your home's layout. These tools are generally simple to use however, you'll need to install a separate app on your phone.

Most robot vacuum and mop combos utilize a reusable cleaning product that needs to be purchased separately, but there are certain hybrid models that don't require any liquid whatsoever. These robots typically empty into a dust bag that's stored in the base station. Some even have a self emptying robot vacuum for pet hair-emptying feature that lets you dispose of the contents in the trash can.

Some robots have multiple types of mopping settings, while others are designed for floors that are dry, such as tile or hardwood. The top robot vacuum and mop combinations for pet hair are made to work on both kinds of surfaces which makes them a great option if you have mixed flooring in your home.

Consider the size of your house and the amount of foot traffic when selecting a robot mop or vacuum. If you have children or pets you'll require a model with enough power and battery to handle the daily cleaning of your floors.

The best two-in-1 robots have superior capabilities that justify the price. For example the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni will vacuum and mop in one go, with 8,000-Pa suction and dual mop heads that rotate. It can also scan your furniture and other objects to stay clear of them when cleaning, and even communicate with using two-way sound. It also takes charge of its own scrubbing and automatically goes back to its dock when it's ready for cleaning.

4. Water tank capacity

Robot vacuums lift dirt and place it into a dust bin or bag, while robot mop mops spread cleaning solution over the floor and scrubs it off with pads. Some models combine the two functions and others have distinct capabilities to tackle different types of floors. Note the flooring type and foot traffic you have in your home to ensure that you get the best clean.

The cleaning formula of most robot vacuums and mop combos will differ from brand to brand. You can purchase cleaners from third parties, but it is best to stick to the one recommended by the manufacturer. This will protect your machine from the possibility of damage and keep your robot operating as efficiently as it can.

If your robot vacuum and mop combo includes a dust bin you'll have to empty it regularly. The majority of vacuums have an indicator that informs you when it's time to buy the replacement of the bag. Similar to that, you'll require replacing the filters and rollers, side sweeping brushes and other accessories from time time to ensure that they are operating at their best.

Self-emptying robots can make this process a lot easier, allowing you to simply dump the contents of your dust bin into a trash can or recycling bin. The majority of these machines do not automatically clean and air dry their mopping pads or cloths, which can lead the growth of bacteria. If your machine does not come with this feature, take off the pad and wash it every use. You can also lay it flat to dry between runs if you do not own a machine equipped with this feature.

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 focuses on simplicity by removing this function.

5. Mop mode

If you're in search of a robot mop and vacuum that will clean your floors while you're away the best choice is the IRobot Roomba j7. It's not cheap but its AI obstacle-avoidance is the best available in the marketplace. It can spot urine, sweep up Cheerios and even navigate the mess of phone cords and socks that typically build up on your floors. This makes it an excellent option for homes with children and pets that like to keep their floors clear of clutter.

It's also among the few robots we tested that can clean hard floors, such as hardwood, tile and Linoleum. It was able to do a great job cleaning sticky mess, wet spills and pet hair from carpets.

The only downside is that it's not a two-in-one robot, and it can take up to 6.5 hours to fully charge. In addition, while the majority of robots automatically empty into the dust bin that is located in the base station, this model requires you to empty the dust bin when the bin is full. This can be a problem in large homes with high ceilings and stairs.

If you prefer a 2-in-1 that is more traditional, look into the Ecovacs T10 Plus. It is a suction machine that easily cleaned up pet hair on carpets, and also self-emptying dustbin. It also comes with scented air filter pods so you can select the scent you prefer. It's a less long-lasting battery than the top models that we reviewed and must be recharged frequently.