When it comes to robot mops like iRobot and others, one feature that truly stands out is the use of washable pads, alongside the disposable ones. These reusable pads are not just eco-friendly, but they also offer fantastic cleaning performance when properly cared for.
Maintaining these pads is a breeze – a quick wash, and they’re good to go! Regular cleaning is essential to ensure they stay effective and last longer. It might seem like a small task, but in the grand scheme of things, it can make a world of difference in your robot mop’s performance. So, not only are you saving the environment by reducing waste, but you’re also ensuring your robot mop keeps your floors spotless for the long haul. It’s a win-win!
Why Not Buy New Pads Every Time?
You have the option on many robot vacuums to use reusable or disposable pads to clean your floors.
While the disposable ones seem easier and less hassle, it’s not worth it.
The disposable ones break down and tear when cleaning. Make a bigger mess because they don’t absorb as much. And if you’re like me, it’s more crap in the garbage, and I hate taking out the garbage. Oh, and the reusable ones are more eco-friendly, I don’t lead with that because most people don’t care. They do care about things that make life harder on them, so the other points go first.
How To Wash Robot Mop’s Pads
To wash your robot mop pads, you can place them in with a regular load of laundry. If you do a load of laundry for towels, then that is the best time to wash your robot mop pads. Avoid washing them with delicate clothing or anything that needs strong cleaners.
If your pads are particularly dirty, you want to soak them in warm water for a few minutes before washing.
This will help loosen any built-up dirt and grime.
Once they’ve been washed, make sure to dry them completely before putting them back on your robot mop. You can either air dry them or put them in the dryer on a low-heat setting.
It's important to note that you should never use fabric softener when washing your robot mop pads. You should also not dry them with dryer sheets, as both will reduce their absorbency and effectiveness.
I cannot stress it enough, avoid fabric softeners and dryer sheets when it comes to your robot mopping pads!
The Washable Reusable Pads
The washable robot mop pads are reusable, but the one-time use pads are not.
You can tell you have a one-time use pad as they start to fall apart after one cleaning.
The washable pads can be reused many times, as covered in the post here.
How To Remove Pads From Robot
To remove a robot mop pad is simple, it’s often only held on by Velcro.
- Some robot vacuum cleaner and mop combo’s may require you to remove a bracket that holds the mop pad in place and then remove it by Velcro.
- Some robot mops will have pincers that hold the mop pad in place, and just a slight tug will release them.
- Some, like the one pictured below, has a groove for the pad to slip into and uses Velcro on the other end to hold it.
Make Sure You Clean Your Filter
The Braava mops and a few other robot mops have a filter screen that can be easily removed and washed with soap and water.
It is important to let the filter dry completely before putting it back in the mop.
Here is a video on how to clean the Braava mop filter:
The filter is used to keep large items in the water from getting to your floors.
If you’re on well water, this can be a huge issue, as sand and other small abrasive things can make it past your sink.
Sand and rocks that do pass could do damage to your floor by scraping it, so a robot mop having a filter is a good thing.
If you’re on well water, or even city water, I suggest adding a whole house water filter. If your fridge has a water filter built in, then use that water instead. Even bottle water will work fine, as many robot mops don’t need much water.
How Do You Clean Your Roomba Mop
The iRobot Roomba mop is one of the most popular robot mops on the market. And for good reason! It’s a great product that does a great job at cleaning your floors.
But even the best products need a little bit of maintenance from time to time. So in this section, we’re going to show you how to clean your Roomba mop.
- The first thing you’ll want to do is remove the dustbin and empty it out. Remove the air filter and clean it off or get a new one. Next, you’ll want to remove the pads and wash them (as covered in the previous section). Once they’re clean and dry, put them back on your Roomba mop.
- Now it’s time to clean the sensors. The first sensors are located on the bottom of the Roomba mop, and you’ll want to use a dry cloth to wipe it down. Second sensors are often located on the front of the robot, so give them a good wiping too. Don’t forget to clean the metal connectors on the bottom of the robot and the base charging station, these are used to charge the robot and if they’re too dirty, they can keep the robot from charging.
- Finally, you’ll want to clean the brushes. The brushes are hair magnets, so you may need to cut the hair free. If the brushes are old or too far gone, you’ll need to replace them.
Please Avoid Using Vinegar!!!
It’s best you don’t use vinegar or anything but clean water in your robot mop. The vinegar can damage the sensors, pumps, hoses and ruin the mopping pads.
We go over the best kind of floor cleaners to use with your robot mop here.