Watch Out: How Robot Vacuum Mop Pet Hair Is Gaining Ground, And What To Do
The Best Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo
A robot vacuum/mop set-up is the ideal solution for pets who shed fur. This machine can mop and vacuum, and can even dry and clean its own mop pads.
It also has 8,000Pa suction, which is the most of any robot we've evaluated. It can also organize cleaning schedules and save maps of your home through its app.
1. Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni
The X2 Omni is the latest model in Ecovacs range of hybrid robot vacuum-mop robots. This wet-dry model is equipped with the company's upgraded AIVI 3D 2.0 lidar system, which offers improved mapping and obstacles avoidance. The system is dual-laser LiDAR -- similar to what is used in self-driving cars -- and can scan an area of up to 32 feet wide by 270 degrees. This translates to more precise mapping, quicker response times, as well as better cleaning accuracy.
It also features an adjustable mopping pad made of chenille, which makes it easier to scrub hard areas more effectively as opposed to traditional mops. In my tests, the X2 Omni took just over an hour to clean its pad before getting to work, and I noticed it was more precise than the previous models, which seemed to follow a grid path around rooms. It was able navigate corners and edges of my rooms, and also make "Zambani patterns" up and down the middle of the room. It returned to its OMNI Station regularly to empty the dustbin, and clean the mop with hot water prior to beginning another task of cleaning.
The X2 Omni is just as easy to use and set up as other Ecovacs products. Simply snap the dock into place connect it to the power outlet and connect it to your home WiFi network. It only takes a few minutes. Then, you can start the app and begin with your first task of cleaning. I was able to customize my floor plan in about 15 minutes. This included creating limited areas for mopping and sweeping and rearranging the layout of furniture on the wall, and more. The X2 Omni was astonished in my tests, achieving excellent scores for the removal of pet hair and debris cleaning and close to perfect results in crevice and edge cleaning.
2. Deebot T10 Omni
The EcoVACS T10 Omni is a powerful vacuum and mopping machine. It is the most advanced model of the brand's T-line and features the brand's new OZMO Turbo 2.0 mopping system that utilizes dual-spinning brushes to provide better cleaning than traditional oscillating scrubbing. It comes with YIKO, a natural language processing technology that is a first of its kind. It can respond to a variety of voice commands. You can use the ECOVACS app to map your home, establish cleaning schedules and adjust settings.
The biggest con with the T10 Omni is that it's unable to switch between mopping and vacuuming in one go. The T10 Omni has two modes that require you to attach mop heads to and from the vacuum according to your needs. This is fine for the majority of households, but not so for those who lead busy lives.
However, the Deebot Omni is a fantastic robot vacuum that has impressive results in our tests for pet hair. It was able to remove more than 96% debris from our hardwood floors. This is an excellent performance. It also did an excellent job on tile and carpet cleaning up more than 90% of dirt and dust.
This robot vacuum and mop has large docking stations that provides cool water cleaning for the mop pads, and auto-emptying into a 3L plastic bag that is easy to replace, and hot-air drying for quick and easy maintenance. It also has a large water tank that permits frequent washing and drying between mopping runs.
best robot vacuum for pet hair self emptying www.robotvacuummops.com has an integrated wash tray into its base, similar to other mopping robots. It uses the wash tray to rinse and dry the mop pads while using them. But it doesn't use an open tray, which means that dirty water, dust, and other grime gradually builds up in the bottom of the tray over time.
3. RoboVac X8 hybrid
While Anker's Eufy is well-known in the robot vacuum space but this model is its first venture into the realm of mopping. It offers improved smarts, multiple map support, and LIDAR scanning, along with twin turbine suction technology that adjusts to the floor you're cleaning. It's a mid-range cleaner that's appealing even if the claim of being a one-stop-shop for floor cleaning doesn't make sense.
The X8 Hybrid looks like a regular robotic vacuum cleaner from the top, with its circular shape with sweeping wheels and a raised area for sensors. However, flip it over you'll see an electric floor brush and one side sweeper brush that carries dirt from the edges of the machine into the main path of the robot's mouth. It's a bit smaller than the main brushes of the iRobot Roomba S9 which I found made it easier to reach under chairs and couches.
Its mapping system is fairly sophisticated and allows you to set no-mop zones as well as specific cleaning zones. It is prone to hitting objects such as its charging station, and isn't the best in climbing over carpets. It was great at collecting pet hair off bare floors. In our tests, it picked up 89.5 percent of kitty litter.
While it's controllable via the app, the X8 Hybrid also comes with physical buttons on its base, which allow you to select the cleaning mode and switch the robot off or on. Additionally, you can use these to set no-go zones and see real-time maps. It's a little chatty, and will tell you what it plans to do next ("start cleaning") or even warn you that something's not right (it isn't able to charge, for instance).
4. ILIFE A4s
This model is high-tech and sucks up pet hair, kibble, and other particles with top-quality effectiveness and effortlessly moves around furniture legs. It comes with a feature set that is impressive, including two cleaning modes and an automatic docking station and real-time obstacles avoidance technology. The device that is Wi-Fi-connected can be controlled via the Neato App which schedules cleanings and maintenance requirements are monitored. The X2 Omni is an excellent choice for homes that have a hardwood carpet and floors, but it requires some advance planning to avoid getting stuck by power cords, toys or other unexpected obstacles.
This robot did well during our tests on hardwood floors and kibble. It was able to pick up everything from a single rice grain to multiple pet food pieces in just one pass. It had a bit of trouble transitioning to rugs, but in general this vacuum cleaner is ideal for rooms that have both types of flooring and a variety of pets.
It's a bit expensive however, if you are able to afford it, it's an excellent buy for those who wish to be able to leave their homes hands-free to go about other tasks or to take care of chores. The A4s Pro also offers a handy auto cleaning mode that automatically boosts suction power to handle tough spills and dirt and it includes a battery-powered ElectroWall which allows you to set boundaries that the robot is not allowed to be allowed to enter.
This budget-friendly model from a well-known brand is the most affordable robot we've tested to date and offers an incredible value for money. Its navigation system is based on a basic random pathing algorithm, and it's not able to map rooms. This makes it less efficient as other models on this list. It's still able to get under furniture and in the corners. Mopping mode was very effective in our tests and picked up hairs that were straying and other debris.
5. Shark iQ
Shark's iQ might not be as well-built, but it is better at cleaning pet hair from all surfaces. It clears bare floors more thoroughly and does a good job on carpets with a low pile, and it utilizes smart-pathing navigational technology to provide superior maneuverability. It also allows you to assign it to a specific room, and its advanced set of automation features include no-go zones and scheduling. It allows you to stop and resume cleaning sessions, making it perfect for homes that have pets.
Its self cleaning brushroll prevents tangles and can hold up to 30 day's worth of dirt. It comes with angled side brushes to reach into corners, as well as a multi-stage filter system that captures dust, allergens, and dander.
The iQ robot vacuum is well-built and feels solid. It has a smartphone application that lets you change the vacuum settings and schedule cleaning sessions ahead of time. The app allows you to see the remaining battery life of the iQ and receive push notifications in the event of any problems during a cleaning session. You can utilize your voice to control it using an Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant device, and if you do not have either of these devices, you can mark areas with physical boundary marker strips.
The iQ can do a decent job of clearing bare floors and does a decent job on low-pile and shaggy carpet, but it doesn't have the same level of autonomy as our top choices. It's also expensive, and its recurring expenses can add up over time.