Roomba Vacuum and Mop

What is a Roomba vacuum and mop?

iRobot calls its two-in-one robots the Roomba Combo range. Each one has the usual robot vacuum system (rubber brushes, an edge-sweeping brush and a bin) plus a way to wet-clean tiles, vinyl and wood. Some vacuum and mop in a single pass; others vacuum first and then go back over the kitchen and bathroom with the pad.

Before Combo models arrived, the company sold the vacuum and mop as two separate robots, a Roomba and a Braava jet, which can still be bought as a bundle. Good Housekeeping tested the Roomba s9+ with the Braava jet m6 and liked the pairing, though the two machines together cost well over £2,000 at the time. A single combo robot is cheaper, needs just one charging dock and does the whole cleaning job on its own.

How each Roomba mops: four different systems

This is the part most product pages skip. The name covers several quite different designs, and the mopping system decides how well the robot copes with rugs, how much work you do and how clean the floor ends up.

1. Swap-in combo bin (Combo i5, i8, j5)

You swap the normal dust bin for a combo bin that holds water as well as debris, then clip a microfibre pad underneath. The robot vacuums and mops at the same time. It's simple and affordable, but the pad stays down, so the maker advises rolling up rugs or setting keep out zones. On the i5+, iRobot also notes that the auto-empty base can't empty the robot while the mopping bin is fitted.

2. Auto-retract mop arm (Combo j7, Combo 10 Max)

The mop pad sits on an arm that swings up and over the robot when it reaches carpet, so soft flooring stays completely dry and you can leave the pad attached all week. These models also use PrecisionVision cameras to spot cables, socks and pet waste. The 10 Max adds an AutoWash dock that rinses and dries the pad for you.

3. Spinning DualClean pads with an AutoWash dock (Roomba Plus and Max Combo)

The newer models from 2025 onwards, such as the Plus 405 Combo, Plus 505 Combo, Plus 415-675 Combo and Max 775/875 Combo, use two round pads that spin and press down on the floor. The brand says this gives twice the scrubbing of its older pads. The robot returns to the dock during a clean to rinse them, and the dock empties the bin into a bag and dries the pads. Suction has gone up too, with 7,000 Pa quoted for the Plus 405, so the robot vacuum side has the strongest suction iRobot has offered. This is the closest the brand gets to the big-dock rivals in our Ecovacs robot mops and Xiaomi robot vacuum mops.

4. Disposable pads (Roomba Mini, Roomba 205)

The compact Roomba Mini uses fresh-scented disposable pads, so there's no dirty water to tip away. It maps a home in under 10 minutes and automatically avoids mats while mopping, according to the maker. Its AutoEmpty dock bag only needs changing about four times a year. The Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo squashes debris inside the robot so it can go up to eight weeks between empties without a big dock, but TechRadar found its mopping was little more than a light wipe and it couldn't climb onto mats with the pad fitted.

Roomba vacuum and mop models compared

Specs below come from the product listings in our range and the manufacturer's own pages. Capacity figures are the maker's numbers.

Model	How it mops	Carpet	Dock	Navigation
Combo 10 Max	Single pad on a lifting arm	Pad lifts onto the top	AutoWash: empties, washes and dries the pad	PrecisionVision cameras, Dirt Detect
Roomba 505	Two spinning DualClean pads, 200 RPM	Pads lift automatically	AutoWash with heated drying, up to 75 days of dust	ClearView Pro LiDAR + PrecisionVision AI
Combo j7	Single pad on a retractable arm	Pad lifts onto the top	Home Base charger only	PrecisionVision cameras
Combo i8+	Swap-in bin, 210 ml tank, mops while vacuuming	Pad stays down: set no-go areas	Self-empties for up to 60 days	Imprint Smart Mapping
Roomba i3+ EVO + Braava jet m6	Separate mopping robot with a water spray	Mop robot keeps to tiles and wood	Clean Base for the vacuum	Smart maps on both
Roomba 205 DustCompactor	Clip-on pad	Can't cross mats with the pad fitted	Small charger; compacts dust in the robot	Laser mapping

Which Roomba vacuum and mop suits your home?

Mostly hard floors and a few rugs

A model that lifts its pad (the j7, 10 Max, 505 or the newer Plus and Max models) is worth paying for. You can set a daily clean and never think about which rooms have soft flooring. If wooden or laminate boards are your main concern, see our guides to robot mops for hardwood floors and robot mops for laminate floors, which explain why a lightly damp pad matters.

Pets in the house

Camera-based obstacle avoidance is the feature to look for, because it stops the robot running over pet accidents. Strong suction and tangle-resistant rubber rollers matter too, as fur wraps round bristle brushes. Our robot vacuum and mop picks for pet hair and obstacle avoidance robot mops cover other brands that do the same.

You don't want to empty anything

Go for an AutoWash dock. An AutoEmpty dock deals with the dust, but you still rinse the pad by hand; AutoWash empties the bin into a sealed bag and keeps the pads clean, so your job is to top up clean water, tip out the dirty tank and change the bag every month or two. Compare the alternatives in self-emptying robot vacuum and mop models.

A tight budget

Older combo robots such as the i5+ and j5 drop in price as stock runs down, and they still map rooms and work with the app. Just accept that you'll lift mats before each mopping run. For cheaper non-iRobot options, our budget robot vacuum and mop range starts lower still.

App, voice control and smart features

Recent models use the Roomba Home app, while older i- and j-series robots run the iRobot Home app with iRobot OS. Either app gives you:

• Room-by-room cleaning from a saved map, so you can send it to the kitchen only.
• No-go areas round pet bowls, cables and the mats you never want mopped.
• Schedules that start a clean when you leave the house.
• Voice assistant control through Alexa and Google Assistant: "Roomba, clean the kitchen" sends it straight to the spot.
• Recharge and resume, so a big home gets finished after a top-up on the charging dock.

Our Alexa mopping robots page lists other voice-controlled options. Dirt Detect on many models makes it slow down and go over grubby areas, such as round the bin or under the dining table, more than once.

Is iRobot still in business?

Yes. The company filed for Chapter 11 in the US on 14 December 2025 as part of a planned sale to Picea, its long-standing manufacturing partner and lender. The deal completed on 23 January 2026, and the brand now carries on under Picea ownership. The chief executive told TechRadar it is "business as usual": the app keeps working and warranties are honoured. Spare pads, bags and filters are still sold on iRobot's UK store and Amazon. The Combo j7 listing in our range states security updates until at least 31 December 2027.

Running costs and upkeep

• Pads: reusable microfibre pads go in the washing machine; the Roomba Mini uses disposable pads that you replace.
• Cleaning solution: the brand sells its own floor cleaning solution. Most models are designed for water or that solution, so check the manual before adding anything else. Our robot mops that use cleaning solution explains the options.
• Dock bags: AutoEmpty and AutoWash docks use sealed bags, and each bag holds many bin-loads, so a pack lasts for months.
• Brushes and filters: swap filters every couple of months and check the rubber rollers for hair.
• Dirty water: empty the AutoWash dock's dirty tank after each mopping run so it doesn't smell.

Battery safety and recycling

Every Roomba runs on a lithium-ion battery, so use the original charging dock and genuine replacement parts, and stop using a robot that swells, smells of burning or overheats. The London Fire Brigade advice on lithium-ion charging is worth reading. When an old robot reaches the end of its life, take it to an electrical recycling point; Recycle Your Electricals lists the nearest one.

Setting up a new Roomba for mopping

1. Give the robot a full charge on its dock before the first run.
2. Run a vacuum-only clean first so it builds a map of every room.
3. Name the rooms in the app and mark rugs and pet bowls.
4. Fill the tank or dock with clean water, plus a little of the approved cleaning solution if you like.
5. Fit a clean pad and start with a kitchen or bathroom to check the water flow.
6. Plan the routine: daily vacuuming and two or three mopping runs a week suits most homes.

Roomba vacuum and mop FAQs

Can a Roomba vacuum and mop at the same time?

Yes. Models with a swap-in bin (i5, i8, j5) do both in one pass. Models with a lifting arm or spinning pads can do both together or vacuum the whole home first and then mop the kitchen and bathroom.

Will a Roomba Combo get my rugs wet?

Not if it lifts the pad. The j7, 10 Max and 505 raise it automatically on carpet. Bin-swap models keep the pad down, so roll up rugs or block them off in the app.

What's the difference between a Roomba Combo and a Braava?

A Braava jet is a mopping-only robot. A combo robot vacuums and mops in one machine. A Braava jet m6 can be linked with a compatible Roomba so the mop starts once the vacuum finishes.

Can I use my own floor cleaner in a combo Roomba?

Water works in all of them. For a cleaning product, stick to the maker's own solution or one the manual lists, as others can foam, leave residue or damage the tank.

How often do I need to empty the dock?

The maker quotes up to 60 days for the i8+ base, up to 75 days for the 505 AutoWash dock and about four bag changes a year for the Roomba Mini. You'll tip out an AutoWash dock's dirty water tank far more often.

Which Roomba mops best?

Models with spinning, pressurised pads and a washing dock (the Plus and Max range and the 505) scrub hardest. For dried-on, sticky spills, see our hot water robot vacuum mops, or compare the brand with Shark robot vacuum mops.