Robot vacuums with wiper rinsing stations: a 2022 trend! Which models will hit the market?

Greetings to all readers of this site! In this article, I'd like to highlight a new trend in the robot vacuum cleaner market. We'll be discussing robots that can rinse their cleaning cloths at a dedicated station while they're cleaning. These aren't fully-fledged robot vacuum cleaners, but they are a transitional option that has proven to be superior to traditional ones. robotic vacuum cleaners for dry and wet cleaningThis article will discuss the advantages and which robotic vacuum cleaners with a rinsing base are already available and will be actively sold in 2022! So, let's get started!

What's so special about a wipe rinsing station?

The main problem with robotic vacuum cleaners with a wet mopping function is that the cloth becomes clogged with dust and dirt during cleaning. Consequently, the larger the cleaning area, the longer the robot will simply smear the collected dirt across the floor. Of course, if we're talking about daily cleaning and the original condition of the flooring requires little or no cleaning, the problem of smearing dirt is either unnoticeable or unimportant. However, if we're talking about more complex conditions or simply the need to perfect the robotic cleaning process, the wet mopping functionality implemented in most cases leaves much to be desired.

Of course, you can rinse the cloth yourself and replace it with a clean one every 15-30 minutes, interrupting the robot's cleaning process, but that defeats the whole purpose. After all, we want a robot vacuum to completely replace manual labor!

So, a relatively new solution is robotic vacuum cleaners with a station for rinsing the cleaning cloth during cleaning. The station contains two reservoirs—one for clean water and one for dirty water. The robot moves from its base, begins cleaning, and then, after a certain amount of time, returns to the base and rinses the cleaning cloth. Clean water is supplied to the platform, where the cleaning cloth is rinsed. The dirty water is then collected in a dedicated reservoir, and the robot resumes cleaning from where it left off. The cleaning cloth will be clean, and the cleaning performance will not deteriorate during operation, regardless of the area! This represents a new level of wet cleaning in robotic vacuum cleaners, and, looking ahead, it's worth noting that a significant number of such devices will appear in 2022. We'll discuss them below.

A review of the latest robotic vacuum cleaners with a rinsing function

A video version of the review has already been prepared and published on the channel. I recommend watching it:

Narwal T10

One of the first, if not the first, in this segment is the Narwal T10 robot vacuum cleaner, which was announced at the beginning of 2020 and caused quite a stir abroad.

The robot vacuum cleaner is equipped with a lidar sensor for navigation and two rotating platforms with cloths that can be swapped out for regular side brushes if needed. International reviewers have praised the product, and I really hope to be able to request a review next year!

ECOVACS DEEBOT N9+

Shortly after the Narwal, the ECOVACS DEEBOT N9+ was introduced to the market. Ecovacs specializes in robotic vacuum cleaners, and it's worth noting that their products are high-quality and feature updates keep pace with the times. The DEEBOT N9+ features a similar pad rinsing station and a similar module with two rotating pads. The main design difference is that navigation is handled by a camera rather than a lidar system. Nevertheless, the robot creates an accurate map of the room and is equipped with all the advanced features needed to maintain cleanliness and, most importantly, high-quality wet cleaning.

The robot vacuum cleaner is available for order from China. There are some complications with registering an account and connecting the robot to a Wi-Fi network. A Chinese phone number is required for account activation. However, the seller provides account login information when ordering the robot. You can keep these details, and you can change the password if you wish to prevent others from controlling your robot. The price of the Deebot N9+ is approximately $500 or $700, whichever is more affordable.

ECOVACS DEEBOT X1 OMNI

Following the N9+, Ecovacs released an updated robot vacuum cleaner at the end of 2021. ECOVACS DEEBOT X1 OMNIIts unique feature is that the station can not only rinse the cloth during cleaning, but also self-clean the dust container in the robot vacuum cleaner.

Additionally, a lidar system is already installed onboard, which more accurately maps the room and appears to expand the robot vacuum's functionality. But that's not all. The ECOVACS DEEBOT X1 OMNI is equipped with an active bumper camera that recognizes objects on the floor and carefully navigates around them while cleaning. You can also connect to the camera remotely from your smartphone for home monitoring if needed.

The cleaning module features two rotating pads at the back, two side brushes at the front, and a main turbo brush in the center. At first glance, the ECOVACS DEEBOT X1 OMNI seems like the best robot vacuum of the first half of 2022. But how it performs in real life and how effective its cleaning system is remains to be seen after testing. I hope to be able to order this unit for review in the near future. It's not cheap, starting at $900 (from $1,200). But the features it offers certainly justify the price.

Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra

On January 4, Roborock unveiled its new flagship robot vacuum cleaner at the world-renowned CES 2022 trade show. The model is called the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra.

One of the model's key features is the self-cleaning station, which is included with the most powerful version of the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra. This station can automatically empty the dust bin and rinse the cleaning cloth during cleaning. This is thanks to the station housing not only a dust bag but also two reservoirs: one for clean water and one for dirty water. The robot vacuum can also refill with clean water from the station's reservoir. According to the manufacturer, the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra can wet clean areas of up to 300 square meters without human intervention.

The next major upgrade concerns the object recognition system, which was previously implemented in Roborock S6 MaxVThe updated technology is called ReactiveAI 2.0. In addition to the active camera, it also features a 3D sensor system and an RGB camera. The Roborock S7 MaxV more accurately identifies objects on the floor and then avoids them while cleaning. All identified objects are displayed as icons on the map. The active camera also allows you to remotely monitor your home and even make video calls for remote communication.

The cleaning module remains unchanged compared to the previously released one. Roborock S7The robot vacuum cleaner cleans using a main silicone central brush, a side brush, and a platform with a vibrating cleaning cloth. When moving over carpets, the platform with the cleaning cloth rises 5 mm, allowing the robot to simultaneously perform dry and wet cleaning, even cleaning carpets while leaving them dry.

Furthermore, according to the manufacturer, the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra charges 30% faster than its predecessors and can create a 3D map of the room using a mobile app. The only performance change is the suction power, which now reaches 5100 Pa. This is twice as powerful as previous models, which is impressive.

The robot vacuum cleaner will be available in three versions: the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra with a dustbin emptying and rinsing station, the Roborock S7 MaxV Plus with a dustbin emptying station only, and the Roborock S7 MaxV with a standard charging station. All robots will be available to order starting in the second quarter of 2022. Currently, the company has confirmed that the S7 MaxV Ultra will cost $1,399.99 in the US and €1,399 in the Eurozone. By comparison, the S7 MaxV Plus will cost €999, and the standard S7 MaxV will cost €799.

I hope to be able to test the robot vacuum cleaner in its most powerful configuration as soon as possible to determine whether the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra deserves to be considered the best robot vacuum cleaner with a rinsing station in 2022.

Dreame Bot W10

THE REVIEW IS READY: https://robovac.washerhouse.com/en/obzory/dreame/robovac-dreame-bot-w10.html.

At the AWE 2021 exhibition in early 2021, Dreaeme (one of Xiaomi's popular sub-brands) announced the release of a new Dreame Bot line, which included three models: Dreame Bot L10 Pro, Z10 Pro and the W10. The first two robot vacuums were released within a year and are already selling well, and I've written detailed reviews of them. The Dreame Bot W10, however, hasn't yet gone on sale in Russia, and at the time of writing, company representatives couldn't give a definitive answer as to when we can expect this robot vacuum to appear in the official AliExpress store. However, several "grey" offers have already surfaced for $600-650 (US$815-880).

The Dreame Bot W10 boasts a rinsing and drying station for wipes, lidar for navigation, and a cleaning system featuring a side brush, an extended central brush, and two rotating discs with wipes at the rear. The body isn't round like similar devices, but more of a D-shape, which allows it to better sweep out debris that has accumulated in corners. I'm really looking forward to this robot vacuum's release and will definitely be testing it out!

Xiaomi Mijia Self-Cleaning Robot Vacuum-Mop Pro (STYTJO6ZHM)

Xiaomi's Mijia factory is also following its competitors and has released a very similar robot vacuum cleaner called the Xiaomi Mijia Self-Cleaning Robot Vacuum-Mop Pro. It's also known as the Xiaomi No-wash Sweeper Robot PRO. It may also be called the Xiaomi Mijia Pro with part number STYTJ06ZHM (station part number JZ2101). The name may change, but the robot vacuum cleaner itself looks like this:

It features a cloth rinsing station, lidar for navigation, and a D-shaped body for better cleaning in corners. The cleaning module consists of a side brush, an extended center brush, and two rotating discs with cloths at the back, behind the turbo brush. While nothing out of the ordinary is included, it is stated that the cloth is not only rinsed in the base but also dried after the cleaning cycle. This prevents wet cloths from causing unpleasant odors in the room.

Price ranges from $500 to $530 on AliExpress ($680-$720). It's sold in several stores, including TookFun, a trusted one; see the link below. I'll try to order one for review and testing in the first half of 2022!

Xiaomi Mijia Self-Cleaning Sweeping Mopping Robot MJSTP

Another robot vacuum cleaner in Xiaomi's Mijia line, capable of rinsing its cleaning cloth at the station, is called the Xiaomi Mijia Self-Cleaning Sweeping Mopping Robot MJSTP, or alternatively, Xiaomi's No-Wash sweeping robot. Again, this is likely not the final name, and the robot may be called something else. For now, the only known part number is MJSTP, and the station is MJSTPQXZ. Here's what it looks like:

The main difference from the Xiaomi robot reviewed above is the cleaning module. Instead of two rotating mops, the robot is equipped with a platform with a cleaning cloth. This cleaning cloth can lift up on carpets, similar to the Roborock.

This round robot vacuum cleaner uses lidar for navigation and collects debris using a side brush and a standard center brush. The price ranges from $430 to $450 (US$580-$610). The Xiaomi Mijia Self-Cleaning Sweeping Mopping Robot MJSTP is now available on AliExpress, a verified store!

Roidmi EVA

Well, the latest of the well-known announced/released robot vacuum cleaners is called Roidmi EVA. Not to be confused with Roidmi EVE Plus, a review of which is already on the site. The names are similar.

Roidmi, also a Xiaomi sub-brand, is gaining popularity. The new Roidmi EVA could prove itself and become a leader in the segment of robot vacuum cleaners with a rinsing station. The station features not only a tank for clean and dirty water but also a dust bag for emptying the dust bin. Only the Ecovacs Deebot OMNI X1 boasts a similar solution, but unlike the Ecovacs, this robot vacuum cleaner will definitely be cheaper. The initial price is in the range of $600-750, which is very attractive. The robot vacuum cleaner is not yet available for order on AliExpress. I'll post a link to purchase it when it becomes available.

Roidmi EVA is equipped not only with lidar for navigation but also with a sensor system on the mechanical front bumper. It's not yet clear whether it's a camera, a ToF sensor, or a 3D sensor. Therefore, whether the robot will recognize objects on the floor or only be able to identify certain objects is unclear. We'll find out soon. What is known is that debris is collected using a side and central brush, behind which are two rotating discs with cloths. These are what perform the wet cleaning. After the official launch of sales on AliExpress, I'll try to order this robot vacuum cleaner for testing. It's very interesting!

So, we've reviewed the robot vacuums with a rinsing station available at the time of writing. It's encouraging to see that these devices are generally advancing and becoming more efficient, autonomous, and affordable. I hope to be able to review them all (or at least most of them) in 2022, so we can test them, compare them, and choose the best robot vacuum with a rinsing station. That's all I have to say for now.