After careful hands-on testing, we feature our favorite gear and gadgets as Mashable Selects products in our dedicated shopping guides.
Despite the enthusiasm of actors in Swiffer commercials, few people are foaming at the mouth when they think about the prospect of manually mopping their floors. We've already got so much on our plate that pulling out a handheld device and then having to drag said handheld device around rightfully earns a collective groan. Deep Groove Ball Bearing
It's as if robot vacuum companies heard our groans from afar and decided to make our lives a little easier, by adding mopping to their menu of offerings. Since 2020-ish, countless companies have added at least one hybrid model to their lineup, with prices ranging from $100 to well over $1,000. Price is one thing, but whether the wet mopping feature does much more than create a puddle is a whole other story. Often, you end up getting a mediocre vacuum and a mediocre mop for twice the price — and we know you deserve only the very best.
Fortunately, there are some robot mops that excel at making dry floors gleam. Below, we’re outlining some of the best robot mop combos on the market right now — including detailed explanations of the standout features that set them apart.
So put that manual mop back in the closet. It's somehow 2024, after all, and you need a break.
Any hybrid that cares about your floors to the point of making sure dirty mopping pads aren't dragging across them is truly taking the whole "robot" thing to a whole new level.
The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra does just that: Emptying its own dust bin and refilling its own water tank (by swapping dirty water for clean when necessary). Though previously we noted that those who have the older S7 MaxV Ultra vac most likely don't need to dish out for this newer model, the S8 Pro Ultra does stand out in one key way: not only washing but also drying its own mop pads. The dock, though still a bit large and thus not ideal for tight apartments, has also undergone a chic redesign to better disguise the triad of water tanks. Boosted suction on carpet (what with the vac's penetrating VibraRise 2.0 Mopping System) is more intense: 6,000 Pa versus the older model's 5,100.
At $1,599.99, the S8 Pro Ultra is currently the most expensive robot vacuum on the mainstream market. Its menu of specs is almost identical to that of the Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni, which is frequently on sale for less than $1,000 after a year on the market. But even on sale, we'd probably still advise opting for the $1,599.99 Roborock to avoid the IRL frustrations that come with the X1 Omni. In other words, we fully acknowledge this isn't an investment you can make carelessly — but one that will nevertheless leave you immensely satisfied with your squeaky-clean floors.
The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra is ideal if you'd prefer a true hands-off cleaning experience, including not having to touch soggy mopping pads. But as the priciest contender on anyone's list, the S8 Pro Ultra isn't a necessary upgrade for small spaces that won't use a ton of mopping water in one round, or for anyone who already has the S7 MaxV Ultra.
As the number and letter mashup in the title suggests, the Combo j9+ finally combines the best features of the older high-end Roombas: the small obstacle detection and retractable mop of the Roomba Combo j7+ (which we also tested and really liked), and even better suction power than the Roomba s9+, which was previously the most powerful Roomba. The Combo j9+ also beats the suction power of the aforementioned Combo j7+, which was noticeably worse at picking up chip crumbs and cat hair than the new Combo j9+ in our comparative tests in the same apartment.
The mop on the Combo j9+ is also better than that of the all of the other hybrid Roombas, as well as many competing hybrids from other brands that drag a wet cloth across the floor with one or two passes. We could see iRobot's new SmartScrub working, successfully attacking dried stains on a hardwood floor by persistently scrubbing back and forth with force. The Combo j9+ can also accommodate both water and the cleaning solution of your choice in its water tank, which automatically refills the vacuum itself when the small onboard tank runs dry.
For those who are ready to test out Roomba's latest-and-greatest (only rolled out in September), the Roomba Combo j9+ is a fab way to do so. If your floors are well-loved — in the sense that they have some pretty deep, dried stains on them or are your pet's favorite spot to roll around — you'll be wowed by this Roomba's scrubbing and suction power alike. Unlike previous Roombas, this one saves you even more time, by freeing you from manually refilling the water tank for 30 days at a time.
As an added bonus, if you're someone for whom the "aesthetic factor" ranks highly among robot vac criteria, rest assured that the Combo j9+ is sheer eye candy. I mean, its dock is literally topped with chic wood accents — allowing it to double as a side table. In the world of robovacs, this is quite rare.
The Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 (previously the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1) really surprised us, which is why it earned a spot among the very best robot vacuum and mop hybrids and as our favorite Shark robot vacuum. Both the standalone and self-emptying versions of the Matrix Plus 2-in-1 can be scored for less than that when they're on sale at Shark's website, which they almost always are — firmly in the budget category compared to bots from iRobot and Roborock.
Despite its budget status, the Shark AI Ultra proved to be a feature-packed robovac that aced Mashable's at-home cleaning tests. Activating Matrix cleaning mode while mopping triggers the mopping pad to vibrate 100 times per minute and goes over the desired scuffed or stained area multiple times. During dry vacuuming, Matrix mode also hits the designated area from multiple angles in a crosshatch pattern, upping the likelihood of picking up hair or debris that couldn't quite be grabbed on the first pass. And that's on thoroughness.
We suggest the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 if your main concern with a robot mop is whether it actually scrubs (with more than water, at that) but also that its advanced mopping capabilities can be secured for a few hundred dollars. We will say that the Matrix Plus 2-in-1 is best for homes without a heavy rug situation, as the bot requires you to manually point out rugs or carpets in the app and can't vacuum while the water tank is attached.
Read our full review of the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1.
Autonomous wet and dry cleaning plus auto-emptying is typically a pricey checklist, but this Yeedi makes the whole process hands-free for less than $300 on sale (which it almost always is at Amazon).
The presence of room mapping is also impressive at such a practical price point, despite undercooked quirks like only having the capacity to hold a map of one floor at a time. This Yeedi model's shaky navigation (when it comes to whizzing past furniture) is less annoying when you can still enjoy the convenience of targeting specific rooms and setting virtual boundaries in the app.
This packed budget model has serious value for folks who would like to try the triple threat that is room mapping, mopping, and automatic emptying, but who definitely don't want to spend more than $300 — the sale price we see constantly on the Yeedi Vac Station.
While we were totally satisfied by its debris pickup and light mopping in our hands-on tests, we could see the Yeedi running into problems in homes larger than a two-bedroom apartment or two-floor homes, as its VSLAM mapping isn't quite as accurate as the laser-based LiDAR system used by more expensive robot vacuums. Its slender, minimalist dock is similarly ideal for smaller spaces.
The Combo j7+ was the very first true vacuum and mop hybrid from iRobot. Though it's since been upstaged by the 2023 Combo j9+, the 2022 Combo j7+ will always be pivotal for iRobot's legacy. If you can find it at its relatively-frequent sale price of $799, you'll be scoring one of the smartest robot vacuums on the market for a pretty digestible cost.
Our hands-on comparison between the Combo j9+ and Combo j7+ did show an obvious trailing in the Combo j7+'s scrubbing power but particularly its suction power, which wasn't ideal for large crumbs on carpet or rugs. However, the Combo j7+ is still the only other Roomba (than the Combo j9+) with a retractable mop that's onboard 24/7 and lifts the mop overtop of the vacuum itself when carpet is sensed. As a j Series Roomba, it's also armed with iRobot's signature PrecisionVision front-facing camera that lights the way to perceive small obstacles that other robot vacuums eat (and subsequently get stuck on).
If you've confirmed that you definitely want a Roomba that mops, the next question is how much you'll need to count on your 2-in-1 Roomba to clean on a whim when you're not home. Even on sale, $799 is a pretty hefty investment — but unless you have multiple pets that shed onto thick carpet and hard floors with heavy foot traffic, the Combo j7+ provides a nearly-identical hands off experience to the Combo j9+ for much less money.
The Combo j7+ is the cheapest Roomba that doesn't require you to be around to manually swap out the dry dust bin to mop like you do with the Combo i5 or even Combo j6. The Combo j7+ also has more meticulous obstacle avoidance smarts than cheaper Roomba Combo j5 or j6. If you're iffy on whether you need obstacle avoidance at all, we're all for it if you have the budget — in our experience, being able to trust the Combo j7+ to not eat a phone charger totally made up for its meh carpet cleaning.
Read our full review of the iRobot Roomba Combo j7+.
Mashable product reviewers (especially our unofficial vacuum specialist, Senior Shopping Reporter Leah Stodart) have tested a lot of robot vacuums in recent years, from $150 budget models that mindlessly zig-zag back and forth to $1,500 cleaning robots that can do double duty as home security guards (or allow you to check in on your pets!). However, testing hybrid robot vacuums and mops requires some additional steps.
For this review, we separately tested several bots’ ability to vacuum and mop on hardwood, rug, and tile surfaces. When cleaning up dry waste, we scattered debris (read: Cocoa Pebbles, intentionally-smashed ugly potato chips) around the floor and along the edges of a wall to test suction and edge cleaning. When that process was complete, we then stained the floor with a small patch of syrup. We wanted to see how well these bots could handle a stubborn stain, which isn’t what they’re technically designed to do. If these vacs would simply drive over the syrup stain without mopping it up, what's the point of getting a hybrid vac versus a normal vac, after all?
We found that in order to effectively mop, the best hybrid models needed to do more than rub a wet mop pad across your floor. The Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1, the most detail-oriented mopper we tested for this guide (and one which you can read our dedicated, in-depth review of), used a combination of sonic scrubbing and floor cleaning solution for a deep clean that other bots simply couldn’t match. The Roomba Combo j9+ offers a similar smart scrubbing feature that attacks dry floors with actual elbow grease and is also compatible with cleaning solutions.
After some management of expectations with the mopping models that are slightly less advanced, we still watched to ensure that they noticeably lapped up spills or minimized shoe stains, all while accurately not mopping on carpet.
However, to earn a spot in our guide to the best robot vacuum/mop hybrids, these cleaning machines had to do more than vacuum and mop. We also tested their navigation capabilities, obstacle avoidance, self-emptying, and smart mapping features. What good is a robot mop if it can never reliably make its way to the rooms that require mopping?
In our testing, we discovered that the best hybrid robot vacuums offered a combination of essential features — effective mapping and navigation, carpet detection, sonic mopping, and self-emptying. We chose to include a handful of robot vacuums that offered some of these features even though we weren’t able to test them for this story (yet). All of these chosen products are made by companies with a proven reputation for delivering high-quality goods (psst... we recommend avoiding unknown budget brands in this product category).
A mopping robot's value is pretty indisputable — that is, if it can actually mop as well as it promises. Most robot mops include a disclaimer along these lines: “Not meant to be used for stubborn, sticky, or set-in stains.” That's a nuanced statement, because aren't these kinds of floor stains the exact reason why you'd invest in a robo-mop in the first place? If you want a lasting (and effective) purchase, we recommend avoiding most budget models in favor of more advanced cleaning bots that can, indeed, be used on most stains.
The traditional mop and bucket is a logistical headache, and constantly tossing out Swiffer pads feels wasteful (despite the chokehold their TV marketing has on all of us). If you're going to pay to take the tedious motion of vacuuming off of your to-do list, you may as well let the same bot finish the job with a nice sparkle. The best robot vacuum and mops may not scrub with as much "oomph" as your own two hands, but they can make your floors shine a bit more than they normally would.
At their core, robot vacuum mop combos are really just robot vacuums with an attached water reservoir and scrubbing pad. Thus, they work just like robot vacuums but dispense water for mopping when they're not sucking up dust. When you want to finish treat your freshly vacuumed floors to a little glimmer and shine, you fill the water tank up and attach a cloth or pad to the bottom. The bot will then navigate your floors to clean up the extra dirt. Some, of course, are better than others about lifting the cloth when they approach carpet and ceasing water flow automatically.
For the most effective clean, look for models that can accommodate cleaning fluid (like Pine Sol) in addition to regular water. Likewise, robot mops that incorporate a scrubbing motion (or, better yet, sonic vibration technology) will do a better job at lifting away dirt and grime.
Choosing the best robot vacuum mop for you really depends on your lifestyle and the budget you’re looking to adhere to. Whether you’re in the market for something that will tackle big messes with ease, or something that you can set and forget, there are a few key factors to keep in mind:
Battery life: A 90 to 100-minute battery life should be sufficient to cover an apartment in one charge, or if most of your cleaning will be done on a room-by-room basis. Battery life of 170 to 200 minutes isn't hard to find and would be ideal for square footage over 1,500. Even the cheapest robot vacuums nowadays should recharge on their own and automatically resume cleaning — meaning you won't have to pick them up and escort them back to the base.
Floor-type sensors: A robot vacuum's ability to adjust suction based on floor type is important even just in the dry sweeping realm. But for robot mops, this is exactly the feature that will keep your carpets from getting soggy. Most hybrids automatically start to mop once their water tank is attached, but only the smarter ones know to pause the water flow and lift their wet cloth above the carpet. Bots that remember your rooms or follow virtual boundaries can be programmed to avoid carpeted areas while mopping altogether.
Smart mapping: A robot vacuum's navigation tech decides whether or not it's equipped to adhere to virtual boundaries. Currently, the golden standard is LiDAR: A laser that scans different points in your home to determine where walls are. On the other hand, there's also VSLAM technology — which uses cameras and not lasers to pinpoint where everything in your house is. The major downside of VSLAM is that it needs light to operate (meaning you won't be able to program your hybrid vac to work while you sleep, like you can with LiDAR navigation). Once a robot vacuum has made its rounds and gotten its bearings, it draws a floor plan. You can refer to this plan in-app — sending the bot to clean specific rooms or setting up "No-Go" zones that you'd like the bot to avoid, like a pile of toys or your pet's precious water bowl.
Dust bin size and self-emptying: You’ll want to make sure the dust bin and water reservoir in your robot vacuum-mop combo are an appropriate match for your home. If you’re living in a condo, apartment, or other small space, you probably won’t need a massive vacuum reservoir. If you’re hoping to cover an entire house, you’ll want to look for something that won’t have to be emptied out after every single cleaning session. A self-emptying vacuum will come in clutch here, which automatically empties its debris into a dock and leaves you off the hook for a month or two.
Sonic mopping: While sonic mopping isn't a feature that all robovacs have, it's certainly one that will distinguish a good hybric vacuum from a great one. In case you're wondering what sonic mopping really is — given its cryptic name and all — Roborock's website explains it best. According to them, this means the mop is able to "produce high-speed reciprocating vibration of up to 3000 times/min... up to a frequency of 50Hz which is within a 'sonic' range." All this vibration means the vac won't just skim over stains but truly penetrate them for a deep, thorough clean.
Leah Stodart is a Philadelphia-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable where she covers essential home tech like vacuums and TVs as well as sustainable swaps and travel. Her ever-growing experience in these categories comes in clutch when making recommendations on how to spend your money during shopping holidays like Black Friday, which Leah has been covering for Mashable since 2017.
Leah graduated from Penn State University in 2016 with dual degrees in Sociology and Media Studies. When she's not writing about shopping (or shopping online for herself), she's almost definitely watching a horror movie, "RuPaul's Drag Race," or "The Office." You can follow her on X at @notleah or email her at [email protected] .
Toilet Paper Stacia Datskovska is an NYU journalism major (graduating this December). Her work has appeared in USA Today, Boston Globe, Teen Vogue, HuffPost, Bustle, and more. When she's not writing something or other, Stacia can be spotted crying over poetry, making a home-cooked meal, or walking on an NYC pier. For her more half-baked thoughts: @staciadats on Twitter.