If you’ve been scratching your head lately, wondering why your trusty cleaning bot isn’t mopping up the way it used to, relax – you’re in good company.
It turns out that this issue has puzzled many robot vacuum users before you, but guess what? There’s a light at the end of the dusty tunnel, and it’s not far away.
Let’s dive into the rescue mission: What to do when your robot vacuum decides to take a break from mopping duty. We’ve got the lowdown on how to troubleshoot and get your cleaning buddy back to its mopping best.
Wait, Don’t You Mean Robot Mop?
I’ve been getting a few people on this post saying I’m using the wording wrong, it’s not a robot vacuum but a robot mop.
This post is about robot vacuums that have the mopping attachment, not about the robot mops.
You can buy robot vacuums that not only vacuum your carpet and floors, but also have the ability to clean the floor with the mop attachment.
If Your Robot Vacuum Is Not Mopping, Then Do This!
You can get many robot vacuums that have a mopping attachment to help you clean and vacuum your hard floors.
You may run into a few situations that your robot vacuum is not mopping at all, or not mopping that well when you’re in mopping mode.
Here are a few things to check:
- Make sure you have the mopping attachment on the robot and seated correctly. Many models use a magnet to let it know the mop is attached and if it’s not on right it won’t start mopping.
- Make sure you have a wet pad and not a dry pad. Some robot vacuums can do both dry and wet mopping.
- Make sure the mopping water tank has water in it and only water.
- If you ever put cleaner or vinegar in the water tank, then remove the tank and clean it. Let it soak in dish soap and let it dry overnight to get the cleaner out.
- Make sure mopping is allowed in the app of the robot vacuum. I’ve seen a few people create no mopping zones for their whole house mistakenly, as the apps can be confusing.
- Make sure the mopping pad is not old or worn out.
- Reset the robot vacuum to default settings if nothing else worked. There could be a bug and a reset or update can often fix many problems.
What To Do If Robot Vacuum Is Not Dispensing Water?
If your robot mop is not dispensing water, the first thing you should do is check for a clog.
The water tank has a small hole that leads to the pump and if there’s something blocking it, the water can’t get through.
To clean it out, remove the water tank and look at the tube or hole. If there’s anything in there, carefully remove it and then put the tank back on.
You should also make sure that you’re using distilled water in your mopping attachment. This will help prevent any mineral buildup that could clog up your machine. The biggest reason why a robot mop will get clogged and not release water is because people are not using distilled water. Avoid using tap water and use bottle water or distilled water instead. It cleans your floor so much better, as talked about here.
Please Don’t Use Vinegar!
You should not put vinegar in your robot mop water tank.
Vinegar is an acidic substance and over time it can damage the internals of your robot mop. It’s best to avoid using any cleaners or chemicals in your mopping attachment, as they can cause long-term damage or clog ports. Unless the cleaner is made for robot mops like with what iRobot Braava uses, you need to avoid it!
If you need to clean your machine, remove the water tank and let it soak in water with dish soap for a bit and then dry out overnight. This will help remove any residue or build-up that may be causing problems.
The Mopping Attachment Need To Be On!
Yes, the mopping attachment needs to be on your robot vacuum in order for it to mop.
The mopping attachment is what houses the water tank and has the cleaning pads attached. It’s essential for mopping and without it, your machine won’t be able to dispense any water or clean your floors.
If you’re having trouble attaching the mopping attachment, make sure you check that it’s compatible with your model of robot vacuum. You may need a different size or type of attachment depending on which model you have.
What Is The Water Usage On Robot Mops?
Robot mops use very little water compared to traditional mopping. Most barely take a standard water bottle worth of water.
Typically, you’ll only need to fill up the water tank halfway or less to clean your whole house.
The amount of water that your robot mop uses will also depend on the cleaning pads that you’re using. Some pads are made for dry mopping and others are made for wet mopping. If you’re using a dry mopping pad, then your machine won’t dispense any water at all.
Do All Robot Vacuums Have A Mopping Attachment?
Not all robot vacuums have a mopping attachment, but many of the newer models do.
The mopping attachments are becoming more popular as people are looking for ways to clean their hard floors without having to break out the old bucket and mop.
If you’re interested in getting a robot vacuum with a mopping attachment, make sure to do your research beforehand to see which model would be best for your needs. You can get some models that only mop and others that are also robot vacuums with a mopping attachment.
Can You Make A Non-Mopping Robot Vacuum Into A Mopping Robot?
It’s not recommended to try and make a non-mopping robot vacuum into a mopping one.
The mopping attachments are designed specifically for certain models of robot vacuums, and trying to put one on a non-compatible model could damage your machine.
If you’re interested in getting a robot vacuum with a mopping attachment, it’s best to just buy one that already has the attachment included. This way, you’ll know for sure that it will work correctly and won’t damage your vacuum.