Unless you’re my friend Mandi, you find mopping your home an unenviable task. There are many chores we dislike, one of which is the tedious chore of mopping the floors. It takes time out of your daily schedule to clean your home, and since time is money, it only makes sense to invest in any method possible to reduce the amount of time it takes.
As a result, robot floor cleaners are becoming more and more popular. The market is full of various robot mops, so it can be hard to know just where to start. That’s why we’ve compiled this starter guide. To help you understand which features you should pay attention to, along with what types of robot mops are available today.
Features to Consider
When attempting to find the right robot mop, you’ll want to take several factors into consideration. Here are some we recommend thinking about before you decide which one you want to buy.
Size
The size of your robot mop is a very important feature when purchasing a robot mop. You’ll want a smaller robot mop since they can fit into tighter spaces, which means you’ll get a nice, thorough clean. It also means you don’t have to lug a heavy device from one spot to the next. Even if the device can be controlled via remote, it’s still possible that it might get stuck somewhere, resulting in your returning it back to its dock.
Choosing a robot mop with a smaller design means you’ll have a device that can clean under furniture easily. If you have plenty of wood flooring and lots of furniture, a compact, and miniature robot design is going to work much better for you. Additionally, if you have a multi-level home, a small and lightweight robot mop will be handy if you have to carry it from floor to floor on a regular basis (or you can always buy one for each floor).
Charging Station
The majority of robot floor cleaners available have sensors that alert them when their batteries are low. These sensors help the robot mop navigate back to its charging station, which is essentially where you’ll store your device. It’s important that you have a robot mop that doesn’t have trouble finding its way back to its dock when its time to recharge.
Water Tank
Smaller robot mops will have smaller tanks, which means you’ll have to refill them repeatedly. On the other hand, a larger robot mop requires fewer refills as it goes about its cleaning cycle. There are some robot mops that soak their pad to prepare for cleaning, while some of the others spray water in front of them as they clean.
Many advanced robot mops employe the use of two water tanks. One tank is used to collect the dirty was as the device mops, while the other one contains clean water used for rinsing.
Battery
Typical robot mops offer a battery life of around 30 minutes, however, some of the higher-end options provide up to 200 minutes worth of juice. A robot floor cleaner with an hour of runtime will work for most homes. Unfortunately, those with less battery power are not as likely to get your home thoroughly cleaned. These devices usually offer an indicator light that let you know if the device is charging or if the battery is fully charged.
Alerts
Many robot floor cleaners will let you know when they get stuck or run into trouble. Additionally, you might discover options that alert you when the water tank is empty and needs to be refilled, or when the water is dirty and needs to be replaced.
Controls
The majority of robot mops you find will have onboard controls. Be sure to select a model that has easy to understand controls. Some robot floor cleaners offer remote operation which means you can use your smartphone to control the device much the same way you would an RC car. Additionally, those that have remote operation usually come with a remote, so you don’t have to mess with getting up if your robot mop gets stuck under a piece of furniture.
Sensors
Navigation technology is a staple for most robot mops. Their front bumpers detect obstructions and obstacles and drop-off sensors give the device the ability to detect stairs. Some robot mops offer the capability to create invisible barriers that prevent the device from entering any areas that don’t need cleaning. Some of the more high-end models feature 3D mapping technology. This allows the device to map your entire home, learning the best path to clean as it goes.
Wireless Connectivity
With the previously mentioned remote control capabilities comes a mobile application for your smartphone. In addition to remote control, you can also create schedules and monitor your device when you’re not at home. This is a great feature to have if you forget to start or schedule a clean. You can also operate your robot mop from anywhere, so if you want to clean a certain area, you can do so right from the convenience of your smartphone.
How to Pick the Right Robot Floor Cleaner
There is no shortage of robot floor cleaners available and of course many make the claim that they are the best and most unique. Finding the right one can be challenging, however, there are some methods you can use to determine which one works best for you.
Considering exactly what your cleaning requirements are before you make your decision, then you’ll have a much better idea about which robot floor cleaner is the right one for you. Here are a few tips to get you started.
Flooring
Take a moment to consider the types of floors you have in your home. The majority of robot floor cleaners are made for cleaning hard floors like laminate or wood, however, there are some that will work with carpet floors. Additionally, there are robot floor cleaners that can clean both hard floors and carpets. Know the flooring in your home so you can find the right robot mop for it.
Pets
Pets often leave behind hair and dander, which is tough to clean. Not every robot floor cleaner can pick up pet hair and dander effectively. Some clog up, while others don’t do a good job of mopping up the debris. Some of the more advanced robot mops are designed to pick up dander and pet hair and remove any stains that might occur as well.
Occupants
The number of people in your home might not seem important, but if you have children, you’re more than likely going to have a dirtier house than a person living alone. This is also true if your family spends a lot of time with outdoor activities. All these things mean you want a robot floor cleaner like the Braava Jet 240, that can provide a thorough and complete clean when it goes about its cycle.
Read here to learn all you need to know about the latest floor mopping robots, including iRobot Scooba, Moneual, and many more. If you don’t want to mop your floors anymore — get some help and read all about the best robot mops here!
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