robot vacuum cleaners They have brought great comfort to many homes, cleaning the house for us and giving us more free time for other things.. Now, the new generation of robots with a scrubbing station also offers greater capabilities in this section, to always have our home impeccable, in total comfort.
Gone are those first robot vacuum cleaners that swept more than vacuumed. Each new generation has improved the performance of the previous one., and today they are devices capable of effectively collecting all types of dirt, dust, hair, crumbs, sand, cereals and even heavier particles.
To add even more convenience, multifunction robots were born, also incorporating the ability to scrub.. The first models simply wiped a wet mop as they moved through the house, and the water soaked the mop by decantation (that is, by the effect of gravity); Even today, many low and mid-range robots work this way.
The scrubbing system of hybrid robots has been acquiring more capabilities, with aspects such as the dosage of the water flow through electrical or electronic systems and different systems to eliminate stains, such as reciprocating or Y-shaped scrubbing that some devices use to try to imitate human movement, the increase of the pressure of the mops on the floor, or even a vibrating mop system.
In 2021, It is the turn of robots with a scrubbing station, devices that provide even greater capabilities, incorporating various technologies to solve the problems that a conventional robot encounters when mopping.
Table of contents (click to show/hide)
What problems do robots with a scrubbing station solve?
robots with traditional scrubbing systems They fundamentally face four problems:
Volume of water
The robot includes a tank for water, which in some cases shares space with another for solids (although there are models that directly exchange the tanks and can only do one of the two functions, or vacuum or scrub).
In any case, the volume of the water tank is limited, and many devices still offer tanks of between 80 and 120 milliliters, with a flat design that is part of the accessory in which the mop is inserted.
Thanks to the water dosage that many of these devices include, These quantities may be enough to scrub more or less large surfaces, but in any case, it is not an excessive volume of water. (a standard-sized glass is about 200 milliliters), so it may not be enough for an entire home.
Stains
Multifunction robots usually use a combination of water and a mop to try to remove stains from the floor. The incorporation of the water flow dosing systems It provides a certain degree of action in this sense, since we can establish a greater flow of liquid when the floor is dirtier, to better break up the dirt.
Several brands have also improved the design of microfiber mops, incorporating different roughnesses that allow obtaining a better result when it comes to eliminating some stains.
Some models They also include various movements, such as movements in the shape of a palm tree (such as Scrubbing of the Conga), in a Y shape (such as, for example, the Proscenic M7 Pro, Ultenic T10 or Xiaomi V2 Pro), which make the robot pass the same place more than once, performing a back-and-forth movement to achieve a better result.
Finally, the most sophisticated ones—until the appearance of robots with a scrubbing station—include vibrating mops (As the Roborock S7, Deebot T9 + or Midea M7 Pro).
All these technologies have made multifunction robots reach a better result when it comes to eliminating stains, but the new generation also advances one step further in this section.
dirty mop
The mop becomes dirty during the mopping process, so at the end of it, the cleaning may not be as effective and hygienic.; Furthermore, this means that in many cases it has to be washed after scrubbing.
Conventional microfiber mop
Some solve these aspects by including the possibility of using disposable mops, which we can throw away after using them, although it is a less ecological system, since it generates more waste, and it is somewhat more expensive, since you have to buy spare parts for the mops (microfiber mops, in the long run you also have to change them, but thanks to their duration, they have a lower cost per use).
rugs
Another problem that multifunction robots can have is related to carpets.. When it comes to scrubbing, we are not interested in the device passing over them and getting them wet, which happens with the most basic models.
Advanced robots incorporate mapping technology that allows defining restricted areas, which the robot will not access, which allows us to correct this problem. Some models also include sensors that detect carpets and in this way avoid them when they are scrubbing.
Mopping station: The most effective floor mopping robots on the market
Now that we have seen the challenges that multifunction devices face, let's look at How the new generation of robots with a scrubbing station solves them.
Robots with scrubbing station They are ideal for homes "with a lot of life", especially if there are pets and/or small children, as well as for cleaning large homes and businesses, due to its special qualities.
Water volume and cleaner mops
These robots have a large water tank, which is combined with electrical or electronic dosing of the liquid flow to achieve scrubbing quite large surfaces.
The double tank system allows you to wash the mops; When the robot is placed on the base, the mops rotate, rubbing against grooves and using the water to clean themselves; Dirty water is deposited separately in the corresponding tank, and in this way, the mops are always clean and moist.
double tank system
What's more, The scrubbing station has a drying system; At the end of mopping, use a fan to dry the mops, thus preventing the proliferation of bacteria and bad odors, and saving work for the user.
More effective scrubbing
To achieve greater efficiency when scrubbing, these robots incorporate—in addition to the water flow dosage— two complementary technologies:
Rotary mops
These next-generation hybrid robots include a system of two rotating mops that spin up to 180 times per minute (3 revolutions per second) to achieve a superior cleaning result.
Effective scrubbing
Additionally, they are very easy to replace, and Its circular design is combined with a hexagonal base for a great fit, which allows the entire surface to be covered, without leaving any gap in the middle.
Ground pressure
The rotation of the mops is combined with a technology that allows you exert pressure against the ground, with a force of 10 Newtons, which makes it easier to remove stains.
What robots with a scrubbing station can we find on the market
There are currently two models available with this technology, the Yeedi Mop Station and the Deebot N9+. We have analyzed both in our reviews in depth, and They are very similar, sharing many characteristics:
Regarding the differences, The Yeedi has a slightly higher level of performance: reaches a power of 2.500 Pa compared to 2.200 for the Deebot, a maximum autonomy of 180 minutes compared to 150 for the N9+, and has a New generation central brush, with a ridged silicone design that greatly reduces tangles; In addition, its price is (at the time of this review) significantly lower.
A more affordable alternative
Exists in the market a more affordable alternative to the two previously mentioned models, and which represents an intermediate step, with some of the advantages that these two machines offer, so it can be an interesting option for those looking for a multifunction robot with an excellent scrubbing system at a reasonable price. .
The Bissell SpinWave Robot is a mid-range robot, with gyroscopic navigation that allows you to map the home to explore it 100%, in an orderly and systematic way, moving in large straight lines and without repeating passage areas (although it does not save the map or have advanced functions, such as cleaning by areas or creating restricted areas).
Its suction power is quite good, reaching 1.500 Pascals, although it is one step below the Deebot and Yeedi robots.
In this case Does not have a scrubbing station, so it cannot clean the mops automatically, although its internal tank is one of the largest in the category, reaching 400 milliliters capacity, so it can scrub quite large surfaces.
Among the common aspects with previous models, highlights its rotating mop system, which allows you to obtain a cleaning result superior to that of other robots that use a mop.
As well It has water dosing on three levels, to be able to adapt the liquid flow to the type of surface and the degree of dirt, and carpet detection, so as not to climb on them when you are scrubbing.
Conclusions
If you're looking for hybrid robot with a higher than usual scrubbing capacity, robots with a mopping station can be a very interesting alternative, offering good vacuuming performance and an optimal result when mopping, a combination that allows you to keep your home exceptionally clean.
They are ideal for those who want the greatest comfort when scrubbing, and especially for homes with pets and/or small children, large homes and businesses., thanks to its autonomy when cleaning, both in relation to the surface it can cover and its automatic operation.
If you want an alternative with some of the advantages of this system and a more affordable price, the Bissell robot can be a great option.
For those people looking for a great convenience when it comes to keeping your home clean They can also be extremely interesting robots with self-emptying station, a product category that is experiencing great growth in the market.
