The right robot mop can help you keep your floors clean with less effort than a spray mop or broom. But you’ll need to do some upkeep, such as emptying and cleaning the dust bin, refilling water tanks, and washing the mop pads, which are typically reusable. Look for a model with easy-to-use controls and an extra-large base that doubles as a clean water reservoir, a dirt bin, and a wash tray. Some models also let you do a dry sweep and vacuum before switching to mopping.
Most robot mops pass a pad with water across floors to wipe away spills, but some use a more intensive mopping action that involves scrubbing and/or wetting the pad. These types of robots are good for high-traffic areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and mudrooms. They’re also better at wiping up splatters than spray mops are, and some can be used on carpet, too.
If you want the convenience of mopping and vacuuming in one, consider a hybrid robot. These models use a dry-sweeping pad to clear debris before using the mop, and some can also vacuum with suction. They have the potential to save you time and work well, but they can be harder to maneuver around furniture than robots that only do mopping.
Unlike robot vacuums, which can learn the layout of your home and adapt to changes in that layout, robot mops are more likely to get confused when they have to switch between mopping and vacuuming mode. They also tend to be more expensive than traditional spray mops.
The best mops are smart enough to clean on their own and can be programmed to do so on a regular schedule. They’re also able to sense and avoid obstacles without getting stuck, and they can recharge and resume cleaning if the battery runs low. Some can even tell when the mop pads are dirty and need to be washed.
For a hands-off experience, look for a smart-home compatible robot mop that can be controlled by your smartphone or tablet. You can set schedules, adjust settings, and see how much water is dispensed to the mop pads from your app. Look for a mop that can be programmed to return to its dock after completing a cleaning session, so it’ll automatically empty the clean water tank and wash the mop pads.
Whether you’re looking for a quick clean or a more extensive mopping job, we can help you find the right robot for your space and budget. Our expert reviews and recommendations, as well as comparison tables and videos, can help you narrow down your options and decide what features are most important to you. We test mops in our lab, including measuring how well they detect and clean up messes on hard floors and on carpet, to determine the best robots for your home. CR’s testers also pour espresso and V8 juice on floors to assess the effectiveness of mopping, and they use an obstacle course to see how well a robot can navigate around furniture.