3 Reasons Commonly Cited For Why Your Best Robot Floor Cleaner Isn't Performing (And How To Fix It)

· 6 min read
3 Reasons Commonly Cited For Why Your Best Robot Floor Cleaner Isn't Performing (And How To Fix It)

Best Robot Floor Cleaner

In contrast to vacuum cleaners, which require you to move objects around before they clean, robot mops can be used to vacuum and mop without having to do any pre-cleaning. They also perform better at cleaning near the edges and thresholds.

The iRobot Combo j5+ is our top choice. It scored well on CR's mopping and vacuuming tests. It is able to navigate household obstacles and leaves hardwood floors clean, while also cleaning carpets with low pile.

iRobot Roomba Combo i5

This robot vacuum and mop is one of iRobot’s most versatile machines. It comes with a standard bin for dry waste, and an additional tank for wet. The tank is easy to fill and will alert when it is low. You can also purchase an concentrate for cleaning that is factory compatible to use with this device.

It does a great job of navigating floors and avoiding obstacles. It has a retractable mops which prevents carpets from getting wet. The robot is also effective at removing pet fur from different floor surfaces. However, it is loud and does not do the job as well as its competitors in picking up dirt and debris from bare floors.

The Roomba Combo i5 is an ideal choice for those who want a powerful machine that can do mopping and vacuuming without any additional equipment. It is best suited to homes without carpeting and the majority of hardwood floors. However, it's not the best option for households with lots of stairs or large rooms with a lot of rugs. It's expensive but its features and performance justifies the cost.

It uses patented Dirt Detect technology to pinpoint areas that have more dirt buildup and clean them more thoroughly than other 2-in-1s. It features a sophisticated navigation system that allows it to navigate in neat rows to thoroughly cover the walls of a room. The mop pads are washable and reused for 30 times.

You can easily create your own personalized cleaning schedule using the iRobot Home app or using your voice assistant1. Utilize the iRobot App to set a schedule and add rooms that you'd like to keep out of future mopping sessions.

The iRobot Combo j5+ is an affordable alternative to the i7 or J9 combo models. It has the same mop but it has a patented dirt-detecting system and powerful vacuuming. The iRobot J5+ also performs very well in our mopping and vacuum stress tests, but it's not as effective as the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni in these tests, making the Combo j5+ a less versatile choice.

iRobot Roomba Combo j5+

The iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ robot floor cleaner is a multi-functional piece of equipment that can clean your floors and vacuum at the same time. It has an advanced navigation system that allows it to map out your home and adjust to different floor types. This ensures effective cleaning from one room to the next. It can also detect obstacles such as walls, furniture and pet toys. Additionally, it is equipped with a special mopping pad that is able to tackle footprints, dirt, and dust on one-of-a-kind surfaces.

The Combo j5+ is unlike other all-in one robot floor cleaners because it can mop and vacuum simultaneously without changing bins or using an alternative setting. Attach the mop and fill the combo bins with water or other compatible cleaners. The robot will begin working immediately. You can also control the robot using voice commands when you pair it with Alexa or Siri-enabled devices. The Combo j5+ can understand more voice commands than other 2-in-1 models.

When cleaning is concerned the Combo j5+ performs well on both hardwood floors and carpets. It employs a robust 4-stage cleaning system to sweep up debris, mop the hard floor, and then sweep away any remaining dirt. This assures that your floors are properly cleaned and appear brand new.


To keep your carpets dry and avoid carpet soaking, you can create Mop Zones that are not mopped in the iRobot app or use voice assistants* to instruct it to stop mopping on those surfaces. Furthermore, the Mopping Intelligence technology helps to keep your carpets dry by the detection and removal of mop pads that are wet from carpeted areas.

This floor cleaner robotic is easy to maintain, with minimal cleaning requirements. The brushes need to be removed periodically to remove hair and other debris, and the side brush should be wiped down to avoid the clogging. You will also have to replace the filter periodically.

The iRobot App offers a wide range of features and controls to make cleaning as simple as possible. You can schedule your cleaning sessions and keep track of your cleaning history. You can also alter your settings. The iRobot App can provide you with a comprehensive report of the areas that have been cleaned in your house. It will also help you monitor the status of your battery and bin. The app is free and works with all iOS and Android devices.

Narwal Freo X Ultra

The Freo X Ultra, a highly-rated and functional Gen 4 robotic vacuum and mop is a well-built machine. The $1400 price tag might be difficult to swallow, but it is often available to make it more affordable. The unit looks fantastic and the base occupies very little room in a corner.

The design of this robot is a solution to the issues we've faced with other robotic mops and vacuum units, such as brushes that get caught in hair and the brush not being able to reach bare flooring beneath furniture. The sweeping performance on carpets and bare floors is also impressive. The vacuum/mop system is equipped with the highest amount of debris removal and the mop can saturate bare floors quickly.

The mops also use an advanced system for cleaning around the edges of furniture and around walls. The robot can easily avoid obstacles like food bowls, toys, and backpacks. But it can get stuck or entangled with smaller and less hefty objects, such as shoelaces USB cables and pen.

We utilized this robot to vacuum and mop a mixture of pile carpet tiles, FLOR rugs and hardwood floors in a large, open floor plan. It cleaned and mopped the area of 90m2 in 170 minutes, with FREO Mind enabled. This is about average for Gen 4 robots.

Certain features differentiate this robot from other robots in its class. The Freo X Ultra has a number of software, sensors and hardware enhancements designed to keep it at the top of its category. It promises 3.5 hours of autonomy for environments of up to 260 square meters.

You can modify a variety of functions from the Freo app, such as how frequently the robot returns to the base station the frequency of mopping, as well as power (silent or smart) and its mopping humidity. The app can detect heavily soiled spots and create an effective cleaning route. It can also distribute detergent, or raise the carpet pads.

Other impressive features include a quick charging battery, a clear display on the robot's underside and a practical dock door that is easy to open. The Freo X Ultra vacuum and mop is perfect for homeowners and apartment dwellers who want to simplify their chores and keep their home clean.

Miele Scout RX3

Miele is no slouches in the world of robot vacuums and is renowned for quality and technological innovation. This new robot is designed to elevate the cleaning capabilities to a new level with its smart features.

The RX3 comes with dual suction technology, intelligent navigation with 3D mapping and a camera that transmits live images to your smartphone for effortless control. Its powerful four-stage cleaning system ensures excellent dust removal on carpet and hard flooring, while the intuitive side brushes that swing out and dual suction channels clean in corners. Its 8.5 cm height lets it reach under furniture that is low. Front cameras and infrared sensor assist in navigating barriers, thresholds and obstructions with ease.

In our test of how well it cleaned baking soda close to baseboards and in corners The Scout RX3 was impressive. Its suction power of 2,500Pa was a bit weaker than some other robots, however, it moved swiftly and was very quiet. It didn't clean, however and its cleaning pads were a bit difficult to attach and couldn't cope with dried-on dirt.

Its app lacks advanced features like multiple cleaning modes or automated scheduling.  robot vacuum sale  does support Alexa however, its voice controls aren't very clear or responsive. It's also a bit sporadic when it comes back to the charging station following a run. Other robots can follow the wall or trace the previous route, but the RX3 is a mess until it gives up.

Another issue we had was with its intelligent features, specifically the mapping function and digital keep-out zones. It was good at keeping our shoes and furniture legs away however it could easily get hanging up on socks, cables, and rug. This is the reason we decided not to include it in our Best Buy list. The Scout RX3 offers a good price and impressive performance. It's worth looking into as an alternative to the traditional uprights.