The best robot vacuum mop combo for pet hair (Get the facts)

If you've got shedding pets, a robot vacuum mop combo can keep your home in check between deep cleanings. These machines reach under furniture and into corners to clean up the mess you can't see.

Jodhaira Rodriguez has tried a variety of floor-cleaning appliances in the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab that included a wide range of mop and robot vacuum combinations. She has compiled a list of the top models for dealing with pet hair.

1. Battery life

When you are looking for a robot mop and vacuum, you should take into consideration the size of your home and the number of pets you have. The bigger your home, the more power a robot cleaner will need. Plus, more pets generally means more hair. It's also important to think about the type of flooring in your home, since some models are better suited for cleaning hard floors.

A robotic vacuum and mop ought to be able to remove pet hair from any floor surface, including hardwood tiles, carpet, and tile. If you have multiple pets, you might want an item that is particularly effective at picking up their hair. Most robot cleaners use suction to get rid of dirt and debris, but some models have an additional water feature that assists with sticky spills and staining. These units also disinfect floors with the water.

Robotic mop vacuums and mop also have longer battery lives. This is because you're using two functions in one device, which cuts down on the time required to charge and shut down. Some models are able to automatically empty themselves into their charging station after each run and dry the pads during the process, stopping bacteria from growing in wet pads.

Ecovacs Deebot X2 is a top Linsar Robot Vacuum: 2-in-1 with Powerful Suction mop and vacuum to keep up with pet hairs and paw prints. This model is a solid performer in our tests and has plenty of smarts that include TrueMapping 2.0 and TrueDetect 3D technology to map your home's ideal cleaning patterns and avoid hitting furniture or other obstacles. It is equipped with a base that houses the clean and dirty tanks in one location which makes maintenance easy.

2. App control

Many robot vacuums and mops come with an app which lets you save maps of your house as well as create cleaning schedules, and track maintenance requirements. Certain robots can be controlled remotely. You can still find models with buttons for power on the charging dock, base station or remote included.

In general, you should look for a model with an option to clean up that vacuums, mops, or does both and doesn't need you to push a manual button to turn it off. This way, you can return the robot to its dock to empty its dirt bin, change the pad that is wet or mop cloth, wash it or refill its water tank. It is also important to determine whether the model is compatible with your voice assistant. If it is, you can use a simple command like "OK Google" or "OK Alexa" to initiate a cleaning cycle or request assistance for problems and more.

Consider how much time you'd like to devote to your robot cleaner and how much use your floors get before settling on a model. For instance, if have low furniture or a large floor space, you may opt for a robot with smaller mop and vacuum capacity. You should also be aware that certain mopping robots can be expensive and require ongoing costs. They can be costly to buy and you will need to purchase replacement pads or cloths. Make sure to think about the cost of the cleaning solution that you purchase, as some brands may recommend purchasing an additional cleaning agent to keep your floors clean.

3. Carpet Recognition

The most effective robot vacuum and mop combos can differentiate between hard and carpet surfaces, ensuring they don't vacuum or scrub over stains or spills. They can also spot areas with multiple types of flooring and plan cleaning schedules automatically based on the arrangement of your home. These features are usually easy to use however, you'll need to install a separate app on your phone.

The majority of robot vacuum and mop combos use a reusable cleaning solution that must be purchased separately, but there are certain hybrid models that don't need any liquid at all. These robots usually empty into a bag of dust that is stored inside the base station. Some models even have a self-emptying feature that lets you dump the contents into a trash can.

Some robots have multiple types of mopping settings, while others are designed for dry floors such as hardwood or tile. The most effective robot vacuum and mop combination for pet hair are designed to work on both kinds of flooring, making them an excellent option for those who have different flooring options within 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 pets or children, you'll need a model that is powerful enough and has a battery to keep up with the daily cleaning of your floors.

The top two-in-one robots are equipped with top-quality features that are worth the price. For instance, the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni is able to vacuum and mop in one go, with 8,000-Pa suction and dual rotating mop heads. It can also scan your furniture and other objects to avoid them when cleaning, and even communicate using two-way sound. It also takes care of its own dirtying and automatically goes back to its dock when it's ready for a wash.

4. Water tank capacity

Robot vacuums lift dirt and place it in a bag or bin, whereas robot mop mops spread cleaning solution over the floor and scrub it off using pads. Certain models combine the two functions and others have distinct capabilities for different types of floors. To ensure you get the appropriate type of cleaning for your home, take stock of your floors' surface types and how much foot traffic they get.

The cleaning formula used by the majority of mop and robot vacuums will differ from one brand to the next brand. While it's possible to purchase third-party cleaners for these machines but it's best to stick with the one that is recommended by the manufacturer. This will prevent the possibility of damage and keep your robot running as efficient as it can.

If your robot vacuum and mop has a dust bin, you'll have to empty it frequently. The majority of them have an indicator that lets you know when it's time switch out the bag. In the same way, you'll probably require replacing the filters and rollers, side sweeping brushes and other accessories from time time to ensure optimal performance.

A self-emptying robot can make this process easier, allowing you 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 cloths or pads, which can lead bacterial growth. If your machine doesn't come with this feature, take off the pad and wash it following each use. You can also lay it flat to dry between runs if you don't have a machine that has this feature.

This feature is available on the iRobot Combo i5+ as well as the Shark Matrix Plus 2 in 1 and the Eureka E10S. Contrastingly, the budget-friendly iLife V5s Pro focuses on simplicity by removing this function.

5. Mop mode

The iRobot Roomba J7 is the most effective robot vacuum and mop combination to clean your floors when you're away. It's expensive however its AI obstacle avoidance is the most effective in the market. It can sweep up Cheerios and spot poop, and even cut through the mess that socks and phone cables often leave on your floor. This makes it an excellent choice for homes that have pets or children and want to keep their floors tidy.

It's one of the few robots that we tested that could mop tile, hardwood and Linoleum. It did a good job cleaning sticky spills, messes, and pet hair from carpets.

It's only downside is it's not a 2-in-1 model and can take up to 6 hours to charge. Additionally, while most robots automatically empty a dust bag stored in the base station, this one requires users to manually empty the dust bin after it's the best robot vacuum for pet hair bin is full. This can be a challenge in large homes with stairs and high ceilings.

If you're looking for a 2-in-1 that is more traditional, try the Ecovacs T10 Plus. It has powerful suction that is able to easily remove pet hair from carpets. It also comes with an automatic emptying bin. It comes with scent-infused pods which allows you to pick your favorite scent. It's a less long-lasting battery than the top models we have reviewed and must be recharged regularly.