After your incredible trip, the last thing you want to do is to clean your floors. You probably just want to take a rest, catch up with friends, or browse through your photos to re-live your adventure.

The back-breaking chore of using the good old mop and bucket is always the least of my priorities.

Of all the most disliked household chores, mopping is perhaps the most despised. Even vacuuming doesn’t top that list. From the filthy water to the floors of most homes which are a challenge to mop, I’ve found it’s often easier to simply neglect the task!

Fortunately, technology has evolved and introduced robots, yes, robots! … that can perform almost anything, including household chores while we’re out of the country on an adventure.

If you’ve ever fantasized about having your home cleaned while you’re away on vacation, consider investing in a robot mop. The battery-operated mop can get rid of stains, grime, and dirt from all sorts of flooring surfaces such as wood, tile, and stone. There are even models that can even vacuum your floors first.

With so many out there, it’s vital to do your research (when it comes to reviews, read before you go to the store), and to buy with enough time to test it out around the house before you leave.

This guide will help you understand what mopping robots are and which necessary functions and features you need to look for.

Travel Back to a Clean Home with the Help of this Robot

What The Best Robot Mops Offer

Packing up your essentials for your next trip is pretty exciting. But make sure not to overlook the cleanliness of your home when you’re away.

Even if your home is normally clean, depending on how long you’re away, just the dust that piles up can be insane.

This is where a robot mop comes in. And when you’re shopping for one, consider the features and functions below that set the top mopping robots from others.

Mopping and Vacuuming Functions

How a robot mop function is similar across all brands and models. You have to fill the tank of your unit water, which it will dispense as it navigates your surfaces. It will scrub the dirt off the flooring with the help of a pad attached to it.

But generally, these smart gadgets are available in two types:

• Single-use mopping robots
• Hybrid robots

The cheapest option you have is the single-use type, which will mop your floors for you. These robots are ideal if your home is mostly hard floors and a few carpeted areas, which your upright vacuum can take care of.

Hybrid models are more expensive, but offer both mopping and vacuuming functions. That means these robots can meet all your floor cleaning needs when you’re on vacation. And they are perfect if your surfaces are a combination of carpeted and hard floors.

In terms of which type is better, there are no prevailing rules here. Though hybrid robots are usually more desirable for travelers because they include smart home integration and app control, aside from taking care of two tasks with one tool.

Multiple Cleaning Modes

These gadgets come with multiple cleaning modes for tackling various levels of dirty floors. Make sure to pay close attention to the following options:

Wet mopping. When a robot mop is in wet mopping mode, it will use a substantial amount of water or cleaning solution. It will then make several passes over your floor to give it the deep cleaning it deserves.

Damp mopping. In this mode, the amount of cleaning fluid your device will release is less in comparison to wet mopping. Likewise, the passes it will make on your flooring are fewer.

Dry mopping. For this, your mop will make a single pass on your floor, clearing the surface up of any moisture. You may opt to run a dry mopping cycle if your floors only require some light cleaning or to try them out after a damp or wet mopping session.

Schedule Cleaning Sessions

More advanced mopping robots enable you to schedule cleaning sessions in advance at a time and date you prefer. This optional feature is pretty handy, especially when you want to tidy up your floors while you’re on vacation.

App Integration

Another useful feature that enables you to see what your unit is up to and access maintenance problems while you’re getting your tan on a beach somewhere around the globe.

Additionally, if there are rooms you don’t want to be cleaned, simply use the app to create no-go zones instead of blocking these spaces off before your trip.

Navigation

This is an important feature to look for since it will give you peace of mind knowing that your robot will not get stuck somewhere when you schedule it to clean.

Just like their vacuum counterparts, robot mops have sensors that allow them to navigate around walls, furniture, stairs, and other obstacles.

The most advanced models on the market are equipped with sensors smart enough to only clean within predefined floor areas. Some hybrid robots even feature a mapping technology that uses a special sensor to help them create a precise map of your home.

Meanwhile, some let you set some sort of virtual barrier to ensure the robot does not go into areas it’s not supposed to go to.

Battery Life

The battery life of a robot mop corresponds to how much area it can cover in a single full charge. Usually, it will take a robot one hour to mop most apartments.

Nonetheless, it’s advisable to opt for a model with 90-minute battery life if you have a larger home.

It’s worth noting that mopping utilizes more battery life compared to vacuuming. So if you get a hybrid type, expect that its run time will be less than what is claimed by its manufacturer when it’s in mopping mode.

Our Top Picks

Roborock Robot Vacuum and Mop

The Roborock robot mop comes with 13 types of sensors and offers longer battery life. In fact, it will mop your surfaces methodically for 3 hours straight on a single charge.

Moreover, it’s a robot vacuum, meaning you can use it to clean carpets or hard floors.

One of the most notable features of this machine is its app that gives you full control of your robot, from cleaning schedules and cleaning strength to the home layout.

After downloading the Roborock app for iPhone or Roborock app for Android and you’ve set it up to your preference, you can simply leave your device to work. And yes, it works with smart home assistants like Alexa as well.

iRobot Braava Jet M6 Ultimate Robot Mop

The iRobot Braava Jet M6 boasts more than 2 hours of battery life on a single charge and 1,000 square feet of coverage area. This robot features iRobot’s patented navigation system that allows it to learn your home’s layout.

That means you can set the M6 to work via its HOME app while you’re shopping for souvenirs. Along with that, it is compatible with Alexa, allowing you to command it to clean using voice commands.

Ecovacs Deebot T8 Robot Vacuum and Mop Cleaner

If you’re willing to splurge on a mopping robot, Ecovacs Deebot T8 may just be what you’re looking for. Aside from its separate mop and vacuum function, it can also perform these duties at the same time.

Therefore, your floors don’t need any prepping up before you let this smart home gadget get to work.

Its other notable features include avoiding objects intelligently, multi-floor mapping, and laser navigation, as well as being compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa.

Furthermore, its fully-charged battery offers two hours of run time. Once it’s done with cleaning, it will return to its dock on its own.

Final Thoughts

Traveling is the time where you let yourself free from all the hustle and bustle of daily life. You want to enjoy it as much as you can without thinking about what’s waiting for you once you return home.

With a mopping robot, a dirty floor is one less thing out of your mind. So, are you considering giving up your first-class seat to business class right now to invest in one of these innovative cleaning gadgets?