iRobot Vacuum and Mop Combo Review

iRobot's newest Combo J7+ is the first mop and vacuum robot. It's similar to an Roomba and comes with similar rug-avoiding capabilities, but the mops are self-filling and compatible with other cleaning solutions.

A small robot arm pops up from the base when you tell it to mop via the iRobot Home app or voice assistant. The robot only releases the mops when it is aware of an un-porous surface. They do not drag over carpets and rugs.

Features

A robot vacuum and mop combination is a useful device to keep floors tidy without relying on a broom or a Swiffer. It removes sticky messes and helps keep grime at bay, so you don't have to fret about the mess that builds up in areas that are heavily used, such as kitchens or mudrooms. It can also do a better job cleaning hard floors with a vacuum than a vacuum on its own.

The majority of irobot vacuum/mop combinations can be used on carpets and hard floors, so they are a great choice if your home has multiple flooring kinds. The top models come with features that allow you to determine how often and how powerfully the robot cleans. Some models also have automatic emptying, and can be controlled via voice commands.

The j7 Combo+ is iRobot’s most popular robot mop and vacuum combo. It can be converted into fully-featured robot cleaner simply by pressing a single button. It has the same advanced obstacle-avoidance technology as the j7, plus new onboard acoustic sensor to help determine the kind of floor. In mop mode the mop only activates when it detects hard flooring such as tile or wood; it never goes over carpeting or area rugs. I tried several times to trick the J7 Combo+ into crossing the rug however it always backed up and went back to where it had left off.

As with most combo robots it's slow to pick up fine dust that vacuums can miss however, it's a master of removing dried milk stains. It has a mopping pad which is easy to refill.

The J7 Combo+ is a little less expensive than other robot vacuum and mop combos, but it's still fairly pricey for a basic appliance. It has a limited battery life and a water tank, so it needs to return to its dock to recharge between most cleaning sessions. You'll also need to manually move it to a different room for every cleaning session as its small size and lack of a scheduling function mean it can only clean 200 square feet at the same time.

Design

irobot price has developed an app for its robots that lets you organize and track cleaning chores, as well as set up "clean zones" or "keep out zones." The robots can be controlled using the app or voice activation using the smart speaker you prefer. They have a variety of power modes and can even detect obstacles to aid in navigation.

Unlike some vacuum and mop combinations which aren't able to perform both tasks effectively, the Combo j9+ can do an excellent job at both, removing dirt, fur, and dirt. It also makes use of SmartScrub, which scrubs floors with constant pressure and back and forth motions to remove stubborn messes such as coffee and dirt. Dirt Detective, which is able to learn from previous cleaning mission it prioritizes areas with the most dirt to ensure they receive thorough cleaning.

In addition to the features that are available on the regular iRobot robotic vacuum including an extension telescopic and dual rubber brushes, the Combo j7+ has an intelligent mopping system that raises the pad when it encounters carpet or area rugs. This prevents the carpets from getting wet, and makes cleaning them easy. It is also the first combo robot that is able to vacuum and mop all types of floors which makes it a great option for those with an array of soft and hard floors.

The Combo J7+ is akin to the regular Roomba j7 robotic vacuum. It features a sleek black body with a brushed aluminum top piece with the iRobot logo. The reservoir for water is located in the rear and the mop pad attached to the bottom. The app will notify you when the tank requires to be filled or empty.

The Combo J9+ is compatible with your WiFi network at home. It also comes with sensors for navigation and obstacles to avoid. It gathers usage data like how often the Combo j9+ is moved around your home, as well the location and image data. However, it does not sell or share this information with third parties without permission. The company's Privacy Principles are available on its website.

Cleaning Performance

A robot vacuum and mop combination will save you time by keeping your floors clean most of the time. It's still necessary to pull out a traditional mop to clean difficult stains or spots that are extremely dirty however this is much less frequently than you would otherwise need to do with a separate vacuum cleaner or a standard bucket of water and brush. It's a great option for areas that are prone to traffic or have a lot of mess such as bathrooms, kitchens, and the mudrooms.

You should consider a mopping machine for an even more sophisticated cleaning. These typically use a microfiber pad and a reservoir of water filled with clean water, and a scrub-like motion to clean dirt away and dirt, making your floors look cleaner than a regular vacuum does. Some of these models, like our top model, Braava Jet M6, even sprays detergent onto the pad to give it a deeper clean.

The biggest drawback of a robot that just mops is that it will not be able to take care of carpets or area rug. If a robot encounters these surfaces when it is in mop or vacuum modes it will lower its pad to avoid getting the surface wet. This also means that it is unable to navigate around them, unless you have set up 'clean zones ' and 'keep-out zones' in the application.

Combination robots are better in this. Our top pick is the irobot for hardwood floors J7+ combination. It's akin to a regular j7, but has a wet mop built in that it utilizes when it detects hard floors. It is more aggressive than other robots when it comes to crossing thresholds and rugs. However, it still is able to back off when it encounters these obstacles instead of attempting to mop over them.

If you'd like to be hands-free for the duration of your stay you'll require a robotic cleaner that is able to learn the layout of your house and move between rooms on its own (our upgrade pick is the irobot vacuum and mop Jet m6), or a combination vacuum that has a navigation system using lidar (like the Roborock S5 Max). You may also need to create 'clean zones' and 'keep-out zones within the app to ensure it is aware of where furniture is.

Cost

A robot vacuum that is also a mop can do a great job of cleaning your floors. It's more expensive than a standalone robot mop or a separate vacuum. Cost depends on whether you're looking for a premium model that has mapping technology that lets it discover the structure of your house and clean every room with no battery power. This feature is essential if you have rugs and carpets in your home and the latest Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni or Roborock S8 Pro Ultra are the best irobot vacuum and mop models that come with this capability.

Another thing to think about is the dimensions of your floors and the number of rooms you will must vacuum and mop. Smaller rooms require a smaller robot. It is possible to use a robot that can vacuum or mop but not both. iRobot Combo J7+, for example is a fantastic upgrade that includes a separate mop for robots with its highly rated Roomba, and costs a fraction of what a standalone mop such as the Braava jet M6 costs.

The Combo j7 Plus includes iRobot’s Clean Station which automatically empties the mop-water that is dirty from the tank after it's filled. The base isn't available in the standard version of the j7 and must be bought separately. This is one reason why the combo robot costs $1,099 as it's not included with the standard model.

The design of the j7+ is modern and sleek and looks nearly like the popular Roomba i7 vacuum, which is why it's an appealing option for vacuum-mop hybrids. However, it lacks a few key features that other mop-only robots have. For instance, it does not have the same powerful suction of 8,300Pa that iRobot's vacuums provide. It doesn't have the automatic mop pad washing feature, which is increasingly common in high-end mop robots. You can buy an add-on that will wash your mop pad even when it's not in use. This will stop the pads from drying out and causing a mess. Apart from that, the J7+ is a fantastic value and is among the best robots to clean your floors.