The People Nearest To Irobot Vacuum Tell You Some Big Secrets
iRobot Vacuum and Mop Combo Review
IRobot's latest Combo j7+ robotic is the first combination vacuum/mop. It's akin to the Roomba and offers similar rug-avoiding smarts, but the mop is self-filling and compatible with more cleaning solutions.
A little robot arm pops up from the base when you command it to mop with the iRobot Home app or voice assistant. The mops only activate when the robot detects that it's on a hard floor and avoids drag across carpets and rugs.
Features
A robot vacuum mop and broom can be a useful tool to keep floors tidy without having to rely on a broom or a Swiffer. It is able to remove the sticky mess and keep grime at bay. This means that you do not have to worry about mess accumulating in areas that see a lot of traffic like kitchens or mudrooms. It also does better job of cleaning hard floors with a vacuum than a vacuum by itself.
Most irobot vacuum/mop combos can be used on carpet and hard floors, so they're an excellent choice for homes with different flooring types. The top models come with features that allow you to regulate how often and powerfully the Robot Vacuums iRobot cleans. Certain models also come with automatic emptying, and can be controlled by voice control.
The most well-known irobot roomba deals mop and robot vacuum combo is the j7 Combo+, which can be transformed into a fully-featured robot cleaner at the touch of a button. Its advanced features include the same advanced obstacle avoidance as the j7 and new onboard acoustic sensors that aid in determining the type of floor. The mop can only go over solid flooring such as tiles or wood when in mop mode. It will not go over carpeting. I tried to trick the j7 Combo+ repeatedly into deploying over a carpet but it always went back and started where it left off.
Like many combo robots, it's a bit slow to remove fine dust that vacuums can miss however it does an excellent job of getting rid of dried milk stains. It comes with 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 expensive for a basic appliance. It has a limited battery life and water tank, which means it has to return to its dock to recharge between the majority of cleaning sessions. You'll also need to manually move the machine to a different room after each cleaning session. Its small size and lacks a scheduling feature means it can only clean 200 square feet.
Design
The app allows you to plan and track cleaning tasks, as well as create "clean zones" and "keep out zones". You can also control robots through the app or by voice activation with the smart speaker of your choice. They have a variety of power modes and can detect obstacles to help with navigation.
Contrary to some mop and vacuum combinations that aren't able to do both tasks effectively, the Combo j9+ does impressively at both, removing the crumbs, fur and dirt. It also makes use of SmartScrub to scrub the floor back and forth with consistent pressure for deeper scrubbing of stubborn messes such as coffee and grime. Dirt Detective, which has learned from previous cleaning missions it prioritizes rooms that have more dirt to ensure they receive a thorough cleaning.
The Combo J7+ is equipped with a mopping system which raises the pad as soon as it comes into contact with carpet or area rug. This makes it less likely to get the rugs wet and allows for faster cleanup. It is the first robot combination that is capable of mopping and vacuuming all kinds of flooring which makes it a great option for those with a mixture of soft and hard floors.
The Combo J7+ appears similar to the standard best buy roomba vacuum J7 robot vacuum, with a a sleek black plastic body and brushed aluminum circular top piece bearing the iRobot logo. The reservoir for water is in the back, and the mop pad is tacked to the bottom of the unit. The app will notify you when the tank requires to be filled or empty.
The Combo J9+ is connected to your home's Wi-Fi network. It features onboard sensors for navigation and obstacle avoidance. It collects usage information, such as how often the Combo j9+ moves around your home, as well as mapping and image data. However it does not sell or share the data with third-party companies without consent. On its website the company's Privacy Principles can be found.
Cleaning Performance
A robot vacuum and mop combination can save you time by keeping your floors spotless most of the time. You'll still need to take out a traditional mop for hard-to-clean spots or stains that are particularly dirty however this is much less often than you might otherwise have to do with a single vacuum cleaner or bucket of water and brush. It's a great option for areas with a lot of traffic or that are extra dirty, like kitchens, bathrooms and the mudrooms.
You should consider a mopping machine for the most advanced cleaning. They typically employ an ultra-fine microfiber pad, a water reservoir filled with only clean water and a scrub-like motion to clean dirt away, leaving your floors cleaner than a regular vacuum. Some of them models, like our top pick, Braava Jet M6, even sprays detergent onto the pad to give it a more thorough clean.
The biggest drawback to mop-only machines is that it's not able to perform any work on carpet or area rug. If a robot encounters these surfaces in vacuum and mop mode it will lower the pad to avoid getting they wet. This also means that it cannot navigate around them except if you have created 'clean zones' and zones to keep out of the application.
Combination robots are better in this. Our top pick is the iRobot J7+ combination. It operates similarly to the regular j7 vacuum but it has a built-in wet mop that it deploys when it detects hard flooring. It is more aggressive than other robots when it comes to crossing rugs and thresholds. However, it is able to back off when it encounters these obstacles, instead of trying to mop over them.
If you're looking to be hands-free with your cleaning, you'll need an automated vacuum that is able to learn your floor layout and navigate between rooms without assistance (our upgrade pick, the iRobot Braava Jet M6) or a model that incorporates a lidar navigation system (like the Roborock S5 Max). It is possible to create a 'clean zone' and a 'keep out zone within the app to ensure that it knows where your furniture is.
Cost
A robot vacuum that doubles as a mop is excellent way to keep your floors. It is more expensive than a stand-alone robot mop or a separate vacuum. Cost depends on whether you want a high end model with mapping technology that lets it discover the design of your home and then clean every room with no battery power. This feature is crucial if you have carpets and rug in your home. The newer Ecovacs Roborock S8 Pro Ultra or Deebots X2 Omni are the top models that can provide this capability.
You should also think about the dimensions of your floor as well as how many rooms must be cleaned and vacuumed. Smaller rooms require a smaller robot. You may be able to make do with a device that vacuums or mops, but not both. For example the iRobot Combo J7+ is an upgrade pick that comes with a mop machine with its top-rated Roomba vacuum, and costs a fraction of the price of a standalone mop robot like the Braava Jet M6.
The Combo j7 Plus also includes the iRobot Clean Station, which auto-empties the dirty mop water from the tank for cleaning when it's full. The base isn't available in the standard model 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 is almost like the popular roomba irobot i7 vacuum, which is what makes it such an appealing option for vacuum-mop hybrids. It does, however, lack some key features that other mop-only robots have. It doesn't offer the same powerful suction of 8,300Pa like iRobot vacuums. It does not come with the automatic mop pad washing feature, that is becoming more commonplace on high-end mop robots. However, you can still purchase an add-on for the j7+ to wash the mop pad if you're not using it. This will prevent the pads from drying and becoming dirty. The j7+ is good value and one of our top robots to clean your floors.