The Best Robot Vacuum Mop Combo For Pet Hair

If you've got shedding pets, a robot vacuum and mop pet hair vacuum mop combo can keep your home in check between deep cleanings. These machines can get under furniture and into corners to clean up dirt that you cannot see.

Jodhaira Rodriguez has tried a variety of floor-cleaning equipment in the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab which includes a variety of robot vacuum and mop combinations. She's compiled her top picks for the best models for pet hair.

1. Battery life

The size of your house and the number of pets you own are crucial considerations when shopping for a robot vacuum and mop combo. The bigger your house is, the more power a robot cleaner will need. More pets typically mean more hair. It's also important to take into consideration the type of flooring in your home, since certain models are better suited to clean hard floors.

A robotic vacuum and mop should be able to remove pet hair from any floor surface, including hardwood tiles, carpet, and tile. If you have more than one pet, you may want to select an option with a high-efficiency hair picker. Most robot cleaners employ suction to get rid of dirt and debris, but some models have an additional water feature that helps with sticky spills and staining. These units also disinfect floors with water.

Robotic mops with integrated vacuuming typically have longer battery life than those that simply mop. This is because you're utilizing two functions together, reducing the amount of time that the device is required to be charged and shut off. Some models even empty themselves into the charging station automatically after each run, drying the pads as they do so. This stops bacteria from forming on wet pads.

Ecovacs Deebot X2 is the best robot vacuum for pet hair self emptying robot mop and vacuum combination to keep up with pet hairs and paw prints. This model is a top performer in our tests and boasts numerous smart features such as TrueMapping 2.0 and TrueDetect 3D technology to map your home to create optimal cleaning patterns and avoid hitting furniture or other obstacles. It also comes with an all-in-one base that houses both the clean and dirty water tanks, allowing an easy task of maintaining them.

2. App control

Many robot vacuum and mop combos can be paired with an app that lets you save maps of your home, set cleaning schedules, and track maintenance requirements. Certain robots can be controlled remotely. There are still models that have a power button on the charging dock, base station, or even a remote included.

In general, look for a model with a clean-up mode that vacuums, mops or performs both, and doesn't require the user to press a manual button to switch off. This way, you can take the robot back to its dock to empty its dirt bin, change the pad that is wet, wash a mop cloth or fill its water tank. It is also important to determine whether the robot is compatible with your voice assistant. If it is, you can simply use a voice command like "OK Google" or "OK Alexa" to initiate a cleaning cycle, ask for help with problems and more.

Consider how long you'd like to dedicate to your robot vacuum and how much traffic your floors receive before you decide on a model. If you have low furniture or a lot of space you might want to pick a cleaner that is smaller in capacity for vacuuming and mopping. You should also consider that some mopping robotics are expensive and require ongoing costs. They are usually expensive to purchase and you'll need to purchase replacement pads or even cloths. Don't forget to consider the price of the cleaning product that you purchase, as some brands may recommend purchasing an additional cleaning product to keep your floors tidy.

3. Carpet recognition

The most effective robot vacuums and mop sets can distinguish between carpets and hard surfaces. This ensures that they won't sweep over spills or staining. They can also identify areas with more than one kind of flooring and automatically schedule cleanings based on the layout of your home. These features are usually easy to use however, you'll need to download a separate app to your phone.

Some hybrid models do not use any liquid. These machines typically empty into a bag which is stored inside the base. Certain robots come with the ability to dump the contents of the robot into a trashcan.

Certain robots come with a variety of mopping options, while others are designed for floors that are dry, such as hardwood or tile. The most effective robot vacuum and mop combination for pet hair are made to work on both types of floors which makes them a great option for those who have mixed flooring in your home.

Think about the size of your home and the amount of foot traffic you'll encounter when choosing a robot mop and vacuum. If you have children or pets, you'll need a model that has enough power and battery to cope with the daily cleaning of your floors.

The top two-in-one robots come with premium capabilities that make them worth the cost. Ecovacs Deebot Omni for example, can vacuum and mop with suction of 8,000-Pa, and has dual rotating mop head. It can also scan your furniture and other items to stay clear of them while cleaning, and can even communicate with using two-way sound. It also takes care of itself and will return to its dock to wash when the time comes.

4. Water tank capacity

Robot vacuums lift dirt and deposit it in a bag or bin, while robot mops disperse cleaning solutions across the floor and scrub it off with pads. Certain models combine the two functions while others have special abilities to deal with different types of surfaces. Note the flooring type and foot traffic within your home to ensure you have the best cleaning.

The cleaning formula for the majority of mop and robot vacuums will differ from brand to brand. While you can purchase third-party cleaners to use with these machines, it's best to stick to the brand suggested by the manufacturer. This will help prevent the possibility of damage and keep your robot operating as efficiently as it can.

If your vacuum or mop has a dustbin it is necessary to empty it on a regular basis. Most vacuums come with an indicator that tells you when it's time to buy the replacement of the bag. You'll also need to change the filters, rollers, and side sweeping brushes from time to intervals to ensure the best performance.

A self-emptying robot could make this process a lot easier, allowing you to simply dump the contents of the dustbin into a trash container or recycling bin. The majority of these machines do not automatically wash and air dry their mopping pads or cloths which can cause bacterial growth. If your machine doesn't include this feature, you must remove the pad and wash it every use. You can lay it flat to dry between runs if you do not own a machine equipped with this feature.

The iRobot Combo i5+, the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 and the Eureka E10S all have this feature. In contrast, the budget-friendly iLife V5s Pro focuses on minimalistic design by removing this feature.

5. Mop mode

If you're looking for a robot mop and vacuum that will clean your floors even when you're not there the best vacuum mop combo for pet hair option is the iRobot Roomba j7. It's expensive, but its AI obstacle avoidance is among the best in the industry. It can clean up Cheerios or spot poop and even navigate the tangled mess that phone and socks cables typically create on your floor. This makes it a good choice for households with children and pets who love to keep their floors clear of clutter.

It's also among the few robots we tested that can clean hard floors, such as tiles, hardwood and Linoleum. In our tests, it did a great job of cleaning sticky and wet mess and was able to clean pet hair off carpets, too.

The only issue is that it's not a 2-in-1 robot, and can take up to 6.5 hours to fully charge. In addition, while the majority of robots automatically empty a dust bag stored in the base station, this model requires you to manually empty the bin once it is empty. This can be a problem in large homes with high ceilings and stairwells.

If you're looking for a 2-in-1 that is more traditional, go for the Ecovacs T10 Plus. It has excellent suction power that easily cleaned up pet hair on carpets as well as an automatic emptying dust bin. It comes with scent-infused pods so you can select the scent you prefer. However it has a less battery life than the top models we reviewed and needs to be recharged frequently.