Robot vacuum-mop combos are meant to be do-it-all wonders that can clean up any mess, wet or dry. Sadly, they don’t live up to the hype, and we don’t recommend them.
But someday, I bet we will. That’s because they’re only going to get better.
The appeal of these combo cleaners is clear. After all, you can outsource your dirty dishes, stinky laundry, and Cheerio-strewn floors to machines, but what about the soggy Cheerios and the milk? Or the applesauce dumped from the high chair, the dog’s muddy footprints, and the vague stickiness that eventually accumulates on every unwashed floor?
Robot vacuum-mop combos purport to clean all of it. And over the past year or so, leading robot vacuum companies have been cranking out these devices at furious speed.
I spent six months testing 16 robot vacuum-mop combos. Unfortunately, I didn’t find a single model I’d wholeheartedly recommend over a standalone robot vacuum and good old-fashioned mop or dust mop.
The bots struggled to remove all but the easiest spills and stains.
Their navigation was unreliable, and most failed to avoid the most critical obstacles (cough, cough, fake poop).
Robot vacuum-mop combos are big, heavy, and loud enough to terrify small pets and skittish spouses.
They require upkeep, and their bulky docks can be an eyesore in your carefully curated home.
Our advice? Don’t buy one just yet.
We’re hopeful that better models will emerge soon. Until they do, here’s what we’ve learned about these robot vacuum-mop combos.
