iRobot Vacuum and Mop Combo Review

iRobot's new Combo J7+ is the first combinator vacuum and mop robot. It looks like a Roomba and offers similar rug-avoiding smarts, but the mop is self-filling and compatible with more cleaning solutions.

If you ask it to mop using the iRobot Home voice assistant or app, a tiny robot arm will rise out of the base. The mops will only be activated when the robot is aware that it's on a floor that's hard, and they avoid drag across carpets and rugs.

Here are a few examples of

A robot vacuum and mop combo is a useful device to keep floors tidy without the need for a broom or a Swiffer. It is able to remove the sticky mess and keep dirt out. This means you don't need to worry about a mess that builds up in areas that are prone to traffic such as mudrooms or kitchens. It also does a better job of cleaning hard floors than vacuums alone, and it can do this in a way that is automatic.

Most irobot vacuum/mop combos can be used on carpets and hard floors, so they're an excellent choice when you have different flooring types. The best models have features that let you determine how often and how powerfully the robot cleans. Certain models also feature automatic emptying and can be controlled via voice.

IRobot's most adored mop and robot vacuum combo is the j7 Combo+, which transforms into a full-featured robot cleaner by pressing one button. Its smarts include the same advanced obstacle avoidance technology as the j7 plus new onboard acoustic sensors to aid in determining the type of floor. The mop can only go over hard flooring like tiles or wood when in mop mode. It does not go over carpeting. I tried several times to trick the J7 Combo+ into going over a rug, but it always backed up and then returned to where it left off.

Like most combo robots, it's slow to remove fine dust that a vacuum can miss however, it is a great job of getting rid of dried milk staining. It also has a handy mopping pad that's simple to refill.

The J7 Combo+ may be slightly cheaper than other robot vacuum and mop combinations however, it's still an expensive machine for a basic one. It's limited in terms of battery capacity and life, so it must return to the dock to recharge between cleaning sessions. It is also necessary to manually move the machine to a new room after each cleaning session. Its small size and the absence of a scheduling feature means it can only clean 200 square feet.

Design

The app lets you schedule and track cleaning chores as well as to create "clean zones" and "keep out zones". You can also control robots using the app or via voice activation using the smart speaker of choice. Many offer multiple power modes and can detect obstacles to aid in navigation.

Unlike some mop and vacuum combinations that are unable to handle both tasks effectively, the Combo j9+ can do impressively at both, removing the crumbs, fur and dirt. It also utilizes SmartScrub to scrub the floor in a circular motion with a consistent pressure to ensure a thorough scrubs of tough messes such as coffee and grime. Dirt Detective, a feature that learns from past cleaning efforts and prioritizes rooms with more dirt to ensure they are cleaned thoroughly.

In addition to the features available on the regular robotic vacuums of irobot roomba price including a telescopic extension and dual rubber brushes, the Combo j7+ also has an intelligent mopping system that raises the pad when it comes into contact with carpet or area rug. This helps to avoid getting the rugs wet and speeds up cleanup. It's the first robot that can be used to vacuum and mop all floor types making it an ideal option for those with a mix of hard and soft floors.

The Combo j7+ looks like the regular Roomba J7 robot vacuum, with a a sleek black plastic body and a brushed aluminum top piece that bears the irobot roomba price logo. The reservoir for water is at the back, while the mop pad is tacked to the bottom of the unit. The app allows you to see when the tank is empty or has to be filled.

The Combo J9+ is compatible with your WiFi network in your home. It also has sensors onboard for navigation and obstacle avoidance. It gathers usage data, such as the frequency of its movements around the house, as well as mapping and image data, but does not make use of this data to sell or share it with third parties without your permission. The company's Privacy Principles are available on its website.

Cleaning Performance

A robot vacuum and mop will save you time by keeping your floors spotless all the time. You'll still have to bust out a traditional mop when you have difficult stains or spots that are extremely dirty, but this is less often than you might otherwise need to do with a standalone vacuum cleaner or a basic bucket of water and a brush. It's an excellent solution for areas that are prone to traffic or that are particularly filthy, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms and mudrooms.

Think about a robot for mopping if you want to get the most advanced cleaning. These are made of a microfiber a reservoir that is only clean water, and a scrubbing motion to remove dirt. They are more effective than a vacuum. Some of them models, like our upgraded choice, Braava Jet M6, even squirts detergent into the pad to provide a deeper cleaning.

The main drawback of mop-only machines is that it can't perform any work on carpet or area rugs. If a robot encounters these surfaces while in mop and vacuum modes, it will lower its pad in order to keep the surface wet. This also means that it will not be able to navigate around them in the event that you have not created 'clean zones' and 'keep-out zones' in the application.

Combination robots are superior in this. Our top pick is the iRobot J7+ combination. It is similar to a normal j7 but has an integrated wet mop that it utilizes when it senses hard floors. It's a little more aggressive than other combo robots when it comes to crossing rugs and thresholds, however, it backs up when it encounters them, rather than trying to mop them.

If you want to be completely hands-free you'll need a robotic cleaner that can understand the layout of your house and navigate between rooms on its own (our upgrade choice is the irobot roomba robot vacuum Jet M6) or a combination vacuum that has a navigation system using lidar (like the Roborock S5 Max). It is also possible to create "clean zones" and "keep-out zones in the app to make sure it is aware of the location of furniture.

Cost

A combined robot vacuum and mop will do a great job of cleaning your floors. It is more expensive than a standalone vacuum or a dedicated mop. The cost will depend on whether or not you want a high end model that has mapping technology that allows it to learn the design of your home and then clean each room without running out battery power. This feature is essential when you have rugs or carpets in your home, and the newer Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni or Roborock S8 Pro Ultra are the best models with this feature.

Another thing to think about is the size of your floors and the number of rooms you will must vacuum and mop. Smaller rooms will require a more compact robot, but you may be able to make do with a robot that mops or vacuums, but does not have the two capabilities. For example the iRobot Combo j7+ is an upgrade choice that comes with a mop robot with its highest-rated Roomba vacuum cleaner, and it is priced at a fraction of the price of a standalone mop like the Braava Jet M6.

The Combo j7 Plus also includes the irobot self empty Clean Station, which auto-empties the soiled mop water out of the tank for cleaning when it's full. The base is not included in the standard version of the j7, and must be purchased separately. This is partly why the combo robot is priced at $1,099 since it's not included with the standard model.

The j7+ is a sleek modern-looking, contemporary-looking vacuum-mop. It's style is similar to Roomba's i7 vacuum. However, it does lack a few key features that other mop-only bots do. It doesn't have the powerful suction as iRobot vacuums. It also doesn't have an automatic washing feature for its mop pads, which is becoming more commonplace on mop robots with premium features. However, you can still purchase an add-on for the j7+ to wash the mop pad when you're not using it. This will prevent the pads from drying out and causing a mess. The j7+ is good value and one of our top robots to clean your floors.