Before I bought a robot wood floor cleaner, I did some research to find the Best Robot Wood Floor Cleaner. Here is the list.
When I recently bought my first home, I thought that hardwood floors were the best way to go. I loved the way they looked – such a timeless, elegant style. However, I was sorely unprepared for how much I would have to clean them. Dirt, hair, and other debris collect almost immediately, meaning that I have to sweep and mop all the time. I thought there has to be a better way!
Fortunately, we live in the age of the Jetsons, and robot vacuums are now a thing. While I wouldn’t necessarily trust a robot to get into every nook and cranny, it helps take care of most of the dirt so that I only have to deep clean once a month.
Before I bought a robot wood floor cleaner, I did some research. If you’re in the market for one of these gadgets, you can benefit from my online sleuthing. Here is what I found.
Top 5 Robot Wood Floor Cleaners
1. Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S
When searching for a wood floor cleaner, you can choose a standard vacuum (like this one), a robot mop, or a combination unit. While some combo robots can do well, most of them are not adept at cleaning the whole floor. So, I prefer something that is singularly focused,
This vacuum comes with BoostIQ, a fancy term for sensors that can tell when to pump up the suction. Since I don’t have pets or kids, my floors are clear of any significant messes, but when there is a clump, the Eufy handles it well.
Other features of this vacuum include a slim design to fit under furniture more easily, internal filters to trap more dust and allergens, 100 minutes of battery life (on average), and quiet operation. The biggest challenge is making sure that you don’t accidentally step on this thing since it barely makes any noise.
2. iRobot Braava Jet 240
Although a vacuum can help clean up any dry messes, what happens if you make a spill or track mud into the house? In those situations, you’ll want to use a robot mop like this one from iRobot. Since this is just a mop and not a vacuum, it can handle bigger jobs since it has a larger water tank.
This robot has three cleaning options – wet mopping, dry sweeping, and damp mopping. The machine will automatically configure itself based on the head you install, so be aware of that before turning it loose. While I would prefer a mop that could change heads by itself, AI is not quite there yet.
The square design of the Braava makes it more agile and allows it to fit into tight corners easier. This robot does work well in bathrooms unless you’re like me and have extra-thick rugs to help your feet stay warm on cold winter mornings. In that case, the Braava will get tangled and have to be rescued.
3. ILife V8s 2-in-1 Floor Cleaner
As I mentioned, most combination robot cleaners are not suitable for mopping large surface areas. So, if you have a lot of ground for your ILife to cover, don’t expect it to make it all the way. Instead, units like this are designed for spot cleaning messes when pulling out the mop and bucket is too time-consuming and cumbersome (or when you’re late for work).
Since this model only has one mop setting, it will automatically tell when to use water. However, I use that term loosely since its sensors are not always finely tuned. For example, mud may not trigger a spritz, but liquids will. Do with that information what you will.
Otherwise, the V8s is an excellent vacuum for hardwoods since it cleans in a zig-zag pattern and can navigate around obstacles like a champ. My primary complaint is that the mop head is always there, so be aware that some messes may get spread around by accident. If you have small dogs that are not housetrained, you may want to avoid this robot, lest you walk in on a dreadful scene.
4. RoboRock S6
Here we have another 2-in-1 robot floor cleaner. However, while the ILife automatically selects which cleaning method to use, the RoboRock requires a bit more input. I prefer this option because I don’t have to worry about my robot getting too overzealous with mopping when it shouldn’t.
The way that this model works is that you pre-program which head to use in different rooms. You can even schedule times for each room for maximum efficiency. Again, the mop head is designed for spot cleaning, so don’t expect this machine to get your kitchen or living room floors shining – the water tank just isn’t big enough.
Overall, the suction is excellent for a robot of this size, and it adapts well to its surroundings.
5. ILife Shinebot W400
Mopping cleanup is this robot floor mop from ILife. Since this machine is not a vacuum, it can do much better at cleaning up spills and other messes. This robot cleans in four steps: first, it sprays the floor with water. Second, it scrubs the stain with a vibrating head. Third, it suctions up all of the dirty water (into a separate tank, no less). Finally, it wipes the spot to ensure that it is squeaky clean.
To make this robot even more adaptive, you can choose one of three cleaning modes – spot, area, or path. All three options are useful for various situations, giving you far more flexibility when cleaning your hardwood floors.
Bottom Line: Robots Help, But You’ll Still Have to Clean
Although I am still waiting for the day when I can set my robot cleaner loose and never have to worry about dusting, mopping, or sweeping ever again, the fact is that these machines are still not quite at Rosie levels. Yes, they are far better than the original Roomba, but they have their limitations. Overall, the best robot wood floor cleaner will save you a lot of work, but you’ll still have to put some elbow grease into your floors. Trust me.