Understanding the Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Robot Mop Vacuum

Robot mops incorporate mops and cloths in the main unit, so they can both mop floors and wipe them dry. They're a popular choice because they take care of mopping the floor just with the press of a button. But people often have a lot of questions when thinking about purchasing a robot mop for the first time — they want to make sure they can use it properly in their home, or wonder if the features are worth the price, among other concerns.

 

Understanding robot mops is key to making a smart purchase you don't regret in future. So, here we'll explain in detail the advantages and disadvantages of robot mops and summarize the main points to consider when purchasing. Make sure you keep these in mind, so you can purchase the right robot vacuum cleaner for you.

 

What is a robot mop?

 

So what sort of features do robot mops have? Well, there are three types of robot vacuum cleaner — sweeping robots, robot mops and robot vacuum and mops.

 

Sweeping robots suck up dust, robot mops clean floors with cloths and mops and robot vacuum and mops combine both vacuuming and mopping. Robot mops have a built-in water tank to wet the included mops and cloths that spin and vibrate to clean the floor. These clean away fine dust, dirt and sticky stains that cannot be picked up by sweeping robots.

 

Generally, robot mops can only be used on floors that can be mopped — such as hardwood flooring, tiles or cushioned vinyl flooring. However, robot vacuum and mops use both vacuuming and mopping so do not have this limitation, and can be used on both types of floors. Models incorporating AI let you set areas that can be mopped.

 

 

What are the disadvantages of a robot mop?

 

Let's look at some of the disadvantages of a robot mop.

 

Disadvantage 1 Cannot be used on carpets or other surfaces that should not get wet

 

 

 

Robot mops cannot be used on floors that cannot be mopped — this includes unpainted hardwood floors, which may absorb water and result in mold or mites. Using robot mops on unwaxed hardwood floors may result in water staining. If using on hardwood flooring, make sure you select a model that wipes the floor dry after mopping.

 

Disadvantage 2 Not good with climbing raised thresholds

 

 

 

Robot mops are generally not good with raised thresholds or uneven surfaces. They are designed to push mops and cloths along the floor, so they can only handle uneven surfaces of 2–3 mm. Some models are configured to avoid raised areas, so that the robot mop does not ride up onto carpets or mats.

 

However, there are some sweeping robots and robot vacuum and mops that use tires or tracks to handle raised areas of around 2 cm. Before you purchase a robot mop, you should check if there are raised thresholds or uneven surfaces in your house that might be a problem for a robot vacuum cleaner.

 

Disadvantage 3 Maintenance takes time and money.

 

 

 

Maintaining a robot mop requires both time and money. Before starting automatic operation, you need to make sure the water tank is full and that the mops and cloths are installed.

 

Having replacement consumables at hand is also a good idea. However, the maintenance time and cost required may make you want to reduce the frequency you use the robot mop, so first make sure you are aware of how frequently you need to replace consumables, and how much this will cost.

 

Disadvantage 4 Cannot clean in rails or narrow gaps

 

 

 

Robot mops cannot clean dust and dirt from sliding door rails or gaps between flooring. Particles that lead to a dusty house may accumulate in these narrow gaps. These particles include dust, hair and skin particles, dandruff, dirt, sand, mites, dead insects and their droppings, pet hair and pollen.

 

To remove these from the floor, after using the robot mop you then need to use a canister vacuum or sweeping robot to remove anything that has collected in these gaps. Robot vacuum and mops provide a full solution for cleaning this dust and can efficiently clean floors throughout the house.

 

What are the advantages of a robot mop?

 

Next, we'll explain the advantages of a robot mop.

 

Advantage 1 Doesn't blow dust and pollen around

 

Robot mops prevent dust and pollen from being blown around. Starting floor cleaning with a vacuum cleaner or sweeping robot stirs dust particles up into the air, leading to a dusty house. Using a robot mop first lets you more efficiently carry out floor cleaning.

 

Advantage 2 Reduces the amount of housework

 

Using a robot mop significantly reduces the effort involved in housework. Cleaning with a cloth is hard on the back and legs, and using water with detergent can be hard on your hands. Not missing spots while moving mops and cloths around the house is also tricky. Cleaning floors once or twice a week is recommended in order to keep them at their best.

 

So, if cleaning takes 20 minutes each time.

 

• 20 minutes each time × 2 times/week × 4 weeks (1 month) = 160 minutes (2.6 hours)/month
• 20 minutes each time × 2 times/week × 52 weeks (1 year) = 2080 minutes (35 hours)/year

 

Robot mops reduce the amount of work required for tiring mopping work, freeing up 35 hours per year for other things. Although they require maintenance and replacement of consumables, their big advantage is that they can clean your floors without you being there.

 

Advantage 3 Quiet

 

Robot mops are quiet when compared to other vacuum cleaners. Many people prefer to not use vacuum cleaners while working from home or at night, as the motor noise increases depending on the vacuum power.

 

Even louder models of robot mops top out at 40–50 db. This is the equivalent of a quiet residential area or the inside of a library, so they can be used comfortably at any time of the day or night, including during remote meetings or while sleeping.

 

Advantage 4 Barefoot comfort

 

Robot mops let you walk around your house barefoot in comfort, without needing slippers. A surprising number of people wear slippers around the house because they are bothered by things like oil splashes around the kitchen, food dropped by children, or pet hair.

 

Robot mops can clean areas where dust easily accumulates, such as around the kitchen, in corners of rooms and under sofas. As they mop and then dry the floor, you can always enjoy a dry floor without worrying about getting your feet dirty.

 

How to select a robot mop

 

Next, we'll explain how to select a robot mop.

 

 

• Does it have a mapping function?

 

 

Choosing a model with a mapping function cuts down on problems. The mapping function uses cameras, lasers, and other sensors to determine the shape and layout of the room so that it can clean it intelligently. Specifically, the following five features are available.

 

•  Setting areas to be cleaned
•  Setting areas that are off-limits
•  Support for complex floor plans and for those with 3 or more rooms
•  Automatic recharge and automatic restart during cleaning
•  Control using a smartphone app (Wi-Fi connected)

 

Models without a mapping function can only clean using one pattern, where the mop changes direction when it bumps into a wall or similar. Depending on the position of furniture or the layout of the room, the unit may repeatedly pass over the same areas, taking longer than expected.

 

At present, there are three types of sensors — camera, laser and optical dToF. A feature of models that use optical dToF is their ability to rapidly and accurately recognize and remember a 360° space, meaning they can clean every corner of rooms, even those with complex floor plans or lots of furniture.

 

ECOVACS DEEBOT series that combine vacuuming and mopping capabilities in a single unit feature the True Mapping system, an industry-leading optical dToF technology. They include a range of convenient features including timer settings, a smart voice report, automatic recharging and continuous cleaning, suction level adjustment, water volume adjustment, and voice control.

 

 

• Is it easy to maintain?

 

The ease of maintenance is important for a robot mop. Frequently refilling the water tank and replacing the mops and cloths can be a hassle.

 

Some sweeping robots include a function that automatically removes collected dust at the charging station. This type of automatic maintenance function is also a convenient feature in robot mops. For reference, ECOVACS DEEBOT series that combine vacuuming and mopping capabilities in a single unit also include Auto Water Refill functionality and an Auto-Clean System.

 

For example, the DEEBOT X1 OMNI includes the Auto Water Refill function. The two water tanks in the charging station automatically provide water to the DEEBOT. The fully automatic mopping system returns to the charging center every 15 minutes to wash the dirty mops with water and dry them using warm air and high-speed rotation. Selecting a robot vacuum cleaner that incorporates automatic maintenance functionality provides you with a truly hands-free experience.

 

Conclusion

 

Many of the disadvantages faced by robot mops can be resolved by choosing an ECOVACS DEEBOT series that combines vacuuming and mopping functions in a single unit.

 

• Cannot be used on carpets or other surfaces that should not get wet

→ Automatically cleans carpets and hardwood flooring by switching to vacuum mode

• Not good with height differences

→ Front casters and tires can handle height differences of up to 2 cm

• Maintenance takes time and money

→ Reduced workload with a reusable mop and fully automatic mopping system

•  Cannot clean in rails or narrow gaps

→ Powerful 5000 Pa suction power removes dust from gaps

 

To keep your floors clean, we recommend a more advanced robot vacuum cleaner that fully automates the entire floor cleaning process. Let DEEBOT take care of the housework, giving you more time for the things you enjoy!