Are Robot Mops Worth It? 13 Pros And Cons (Updated 2023)

Let’s be real.

Traditional mopping isn’t a fun chore.

It takes effort and mostly…hard scrubbing.

But does that mean robot mops are the answer?

Does it make house cleaning easier?

Or better yet, is it worth the cha-chings or…

Should you throw the idea into a rust bucket?

Well…

You’re about to find out:

6 cons to chew over before buying a robot mop (and if it’s right for you).
7 pros about robot mops that just might convince you one is worth getting.
Whether a robot mop is a good decision (and which are the best ones right now).
And so much more…

Are robot mops worth it?

Robot mops are worth it if you lead a busy life and can’t mop very often. For those with back pain, a robot mop is more convenient to have. However, robot mops can’t handle old, tough stains and grout lines.

7 robot mop pros

#1: Perfect for those with busy lives

For a full-time working parent, chores can feel like a burden.

And that doesn’t include…

Dinner prep.
Doing the laundry.
Washing the dishes.
Having enough time to relax after work.

Feels like there isn’t enough time, right?

Not to mention, the stress that comes with it.

And that’s exactly what robot mops aim to do.

Instead of spending 1 to 2 hours mopping your home, this little robot does it for you.

Now, think of it this way.

With a robot mop, you’re saving roughly 100 hours in a year.

That’s equivalent to 2 working weeks.

Imagine what you could do with that time.

Robot mops for the win?

Let’s go over its other benefits first.

#2: Ideal for seniors or anyone with back pain

If there’s 1 thing a robot mop can do effortlessly compared to traditional mops, it’s…

Being able to clean tight and small corners.
Easily handle hard-to-reach areas like under your couch or cabinet.

When’s the last time you reached under your bed?

Are you brave enough to clean behind your toilet 2 to 3x a week?

What about behind your fridge or laundry machine?

For a robot mop, it doesn’t care how filthy it looks.

Not to mention, they don’t have noses to breathe in foul odors.

These are all hard-to-reach areas that might be fine for a teenager or adult.

However, if you have back pain, for example, it’s difficult to clean these areas.

In addition, seniors need all the help they can get.

And a robotic mop fits that bill, cleaning small spaces easily like robot vacuums.

#3: Clean on a set schedule

Too tired to clean?

Let your robot mop do all the work.

In fact, you can set it to clean during a specific time so you can take care of what’s important first.

Are you going to prioritize cleaning over a crucial deadline? Over bathing your kids?

You wouldn’t, right?

But for a robot mop, it’s no biggie.

#4: Some have vacuum capabilities

There are a handful of robot mop models that can also vacuum your home.

It’s cleaning convenience with a booster shot.

Vacuum and mop at the same time? Sign me up!

#5: Saves time

“Wanna grab dinner in a restaurant and have a couple of drinks after?

Nah, I can’t. Cleaning duties, sadly.”

Now, it might seem like 1 hour doesn’t seem like a lot.

However, those hours add up.

And when you’re missing nights where you could’ve enjoyed time with friends, well…

It’s not exactly a choice you’d want to make, right?

But out of your responsible attitude, you decide to clean.

And I admire you for that but give yourself a break.

Or better yet, let a robot mop handle what you’ve been sacrificing for years.

#6: Adaptable cleaning modes for different flooring

Most robot mops have several cleaning modes for cleaning certain flooring materials.

Take, for example, bamboo or hardwood.

Too much water could damage the floor.

But thankfully, robot mops have a cleaning mode to adapt to it.

#7: Can handle coffee spills, mud, and sweat easily

Sweat? Check.

Mud? Solid job.

Coffee spills? I didn’t expect that.

Yup – robot mops are pretty solid when it comes to cleaning small spills.

However, as appealing as all these benefits sound, it’s time to take a closer look at its cons.

6 robot mop cons

#1: Some models aren’t very smart

For the record, robot mops aren’t dumb.

However, there are cases where they get stuck or end up mopping your carpet.

And don’t get me started with robot lawn mowers climbing hills.

That said, not all robot mops behave this way.

Some are smart enough to tell the difference between a carpet and a hardwood floor.

Others can easily get out from under a couch or cabinet.

The same is true for a Roomba getting stuck under a bed.

Then again, you’d have to pay more for a smarter robot mop.

If you settle for a cheaper model, it gets the job done but requires some babysitting.

#2: Not built for big spills

Accidentally spilled leftover food and sauce on the floor?

Sad to say, robot mops can’t handle a big spill like this…yet.

And that goes for vomit too.

When it comes to big spills like these, you’ll need a rag or a regular mop.

Last but not least, don’t make the mistake of using a robot mop for poop.

Even a Roomba can’t pick up soft feces on the floor.

#3: Can’t handle grout lines

The biggest and worst challenge for a robot mop?

Grout line stains.

The stains or spills on a grout line are deep enough to make it hard for a robot mop to clean.

Put simply, that means you’ll have to hard scrub this one.

#4: Some models require more maintenance

Robot mops are still quite new.

And with it come a few design flaws that could lead to an inconvenient cleaning session.

Specifically, smaller water reservoirs and cleaning pads.

If your robot mop has a small water tank, that means you’ll have to empty and refill it regularly.

Not to mention, cleaning pads.

It’s what a robot mop uses when mopping your floors.

But also, these pads need to be washed…manually.

Most models come with reusable pads and in addition, you can buy an entire set online easily.

But if the pads are too dirty, you’ll need a replacement cleaning pad.

Either way, it means you still have to put in some manual work and keep the pads clean.

#5: Pricey

Yes – there are price-friendly options.

But you’ll also find expensive models that go as high as $1000.

The difference between the two? Here are a couple worth mentioning:

Expensive models are smarter and mop better.
An expensive robot mop hardly needs babysitting.
Cheaper robot mops don’t have as many cleaning modes.

Benefits aside, the price can be steep, just like Roomba robot vacuums.

#6: Some have limited capacity

For larger homes, a robot mop might not have enough cleaning solution.

And that means refilling its tank 2 to 3 times in a session.

Alternatively, you could get 2 robot mops but that would be too expensive, right?

Which robot mop is best for me?

Robot mops have only been recently introduced, so there are a fair share of buggy models.

However, only a few stand out.

And these robot mops leave your floors spick and span without much hassle.

Below, I’ve chosen 3 of my top picks and set them in the following categories:

Best Overall.
Best Premium.
Best Budget-Friendly.

Additionally, I have 2 recommended alternative picks if you find the top 3 too pricey.

#1: Roborock S7 (Best Overall)

The Roborock S7 takes the crown here.

And here’s why:

Excellent performance on laminate flooring.
Detects carpets and rugs so you don’t have to babysit them as often.
Mops and vacuums at the same time, saving you a ton of hassle and time.
Its mopping technology uses vibration to remove tougher and harder floor stains.

Roborock handles the stressful messy chaos of a home with ease.

But what about its downsides? There are a few:

Only uses a water solution – no disinfectants or chemicals.
Uses the same cleaning pad per session so if the pad’s dirty, the floor will be too.

A good workaround solution is to switch pads in-between sessions.

Now, if these aren’t a deal-breaker for you, the Roborock S7 is truly worth it.

Long live Robomop King.

#2: Narwal T10 (Best Premium)

The Narwal T10 is an expensive one, but a mop beast at that too.

How so?

Here are several awesome features about it:

Superior mopping performance.
Has a clean and dirty water reservoir.
Allows the use of cleaning solution for a deep clean.
Ideal for hard floors, such as wooden, laminate, and tile.
Cleans pads regularly on its own during a cleaning session.

However, its biggest downsides include the following:

Doesn’t work well with carpets and rugs.
Vacuum mode requires you to switch out mopping pads.
Even with moping and vacuum functions, you have to do each function separately.

Ideally, the Narwal T10 does an excellent job when it comes to mopping.

But if you’re planning on using it as a 2-in-1 vacuum, it’s quite inconvenient.

Not to mention, it has a small dustbin.

So, you’ll have to empty the bin regularly if you have a lot of pet litter.

That aside, if you already have a robot vacuum at home, the Narwal T10 is an excellent choice.

#3: EcoVacs T8 (Best Budget-Friendly)

If you found the Roborock and Narwal T10 too pricey, the EcoVacs T8 is a solid robot mop.

It doesn’t have as great of a mopping performance, but it still gets the job done.

Meaning, you’ll have to run the EcoVacs T8 2x to fully clean a tough or hard stain.

That said, you can boost its mopping performance by getting the Ozmo Pro attachment.

This allows its motor to oscillate more rapidly and in effect, clean a lot better.

Take note, though.

The EcoVacs T8 doesn’t work on carpets.

Overall, it’s not a bad choice.

In fact, I’d recommend it for anyone living in a relatively small to medium-sized home.

Not to mention, it doesn’t hurt your wallet.

If you want a robot mop with similar performance but cheaper, I recommend the iLife V8s.

And finally, if you want a price-friendly robot mop for larger spaces, get the iRobot Braava Jet M6.