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If you have lots of flooring not covered by rugs or carpeting, a cordless vacmop is as close to life-changing as a piece of home cleaning equipment can be. That's because it sucks up dry debris and mops hard floors at the same time.
I've been testing these vacuum-mop combos (also called mop vacs and vacuum-mops) in my own home since 2022, and year after year I have found that Tineco is making the best cordless vacmops money can buy. Though the breadth of the brand’s offerings can be a bit overwhelming (more on that later), I highly recommend two Tineco models at different price points. Lately, I've also been reaching for a versatile Dyson stick vac with a wet mopping component that's worth considering if you're short on space or don't want to deal with multiple floor cleaners.
The best cordless vacmop: Tineco Floor One S7 Pro
Budget pick: Tineco GO H20 Sense
A powerful stick vac that also mops: Dyson V15s Detect Submarine
New in this update: In 2025 I have a new budget pick from Tineco, as well as a recommendation for a powerful Dyson cordless vacuum that also has a wet mopping component. I also tested Dyson's first true vacmop as well as new Shark Hydrovac model.
The best cordless vacmop: Tineco Floor One S7 Pro
Pros
- Powerful
- Efficient
- Comparatively quiet
- Dual-edge cleaning
- Leaves floors mostly dry
- HEPA filter for dry debris
- Lots of included accessories
Cons
- Expensive (though often on sale)
- Annoying voice assistant (can be deactivated)
Specs
Weight: 21.5 lbs
Run time: Up to 40 minutes
Proprietary solution: Yes (included)
Self-cleaning mode: Yes
Warranty: 2-year limited warranty
Included accessories
Cleaning/docking station, cleaning brush, brush holder, cleaning solution, spare microfiber roller, spare HEPA filter (some accessories may vary by retailer)
Released in early 2023, Tineco’s top-of-the-line mop vac, the cordless Floor One S7 Pro, is a practically perfect floor cleaner thanks to a new-and-improved motorhead. Unlike my previous recommendation—the Floor One S5 Combo, which has a roller brush that goes to only one edge of the motorhead—the S7’s mop roller extends to both ends. The new design offers what's called dual-edge cleaning, making it possible to mop along baseboards and under cabinets from any direction without leaving a noticeable strip of dirty floor around the perimeter of the room. While the brush roller couldn't quite get flush with my baseboards, it got within about a quarter inch—a big difference compared to most other mop vacs that lack any edge cleaning capability at all.
The Floor One S7 Pro has more advanced smart features than the S5 Combo too, and getting started is easy. When you power it on after charging for the first time, you’ll get a guided video tutorial on the LED screen (which also indicates cleaning mode, battery level, and maintenance alerts). Once the clean water tank has fresh water and solution, you can begin the floor cleaning—and you barely have to push the thing since the motor is self-propelled.
This machine left my hard floors cleaner and drier than any other mop vac I tested, and it runs for 40 minutes on a single charge (twice as long as the Floor One S5 Combo). The long run time is due, in part, to the efficiency of Tineco’s proprietary iLoop sensor. It’s a feature of the brand’s smart models that detects wet and dry messes and adjusts the suction power, roller speed, and water flow accordingly. In other words, it only uses as much power as it needs.
When you’re done, the S7 cleans the brush roller with one of two cleaning cycles ("quick" or “super”) and charges on a dock that has additional storage for the included cleaning brush and spare microfiber roller. This model also comes with a cleaning brush, an extra HEPA filter, and a small bottle of cleaning solution concentrate (only a capful is needed every time you fill the clean water tank).
This high-tech mop vac is close to perfect, and for the price, it better be! Some pet hair does accumulate under the roller even after running the self-cleaning cycle, but I have a particularly hairy mutt and this is an issue I encountered with every model I tested. The voice assistance can be a bit annoying (especially because the default volume is loud and it’s not like you and your pal Alexa can voice control your mop vac to clean your floors in hands-free mode) but it’s helpful for getting to know the machine and can be disabled with a mute button on the main body or in the optional-to-use companion app. The only other issue is that cleaning out the debris trap is pretty nasty, but again, that’s true of nearly every mop vac I tested, and it’s probably not as bad if you don’t have pets.
Making sense of Tineco's many models
Navigating Tineco’s product offerings can be confusing and at times frustrating—especially because the names are so similar and it's easy to confuse an iFloor model with a Floor One model before you start adding qualifiers like Ultra, Complete, Combo, etc. It seems there's a slightly different variation on certain models made for nearly every major retailer and it makes it nearly impossible to recommend one specific product as the very best. However, the differences usually have more to do with accessories or water tank capacities than cleaning features. Still, whenever possible, I provide direct links to only the specific models I've tested and recommend.
Budget pick: Tineco GO H20 Sense
Pros
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Quiet
- Efficient
- Comes with cleaning tools
Cons
- Small water tanks
- Short battery life compared to top pick
Specs
Weight: 8.82 lbs
Run time: Up to 25 minutes
Proprietary solution: Yes (included)
Self-cleaning mode: Yes
Warranty: 2-year limited warranty
Included accessories
The specific model I tested came with a cleaning/docking station spare microfiber roller, a spare HEPA filter, a slim cleaning brush, and a small bottle of Tineco's cleaning solution—though the accessories that ship with your model will likely depend on the retailer.
The Tineco GO H20 Sense Cordless Floor Washer is a newer offering from the maker of our top pick, and while doesn’t run as long or have as many features as the Floor One S7 Pro, it's quiet, efficient, and leaves floors pretty dry. It's also the only model I tested in this price range that has a HEPA filter and an edge-cleaning motorhead (though only on one side). It's often on sale too, making it even more budget-friendly.
Unlike another affordable Tineco model, the iFloor 3, this cordless vacmop employs the brand’s iLoop technology to sense heavily soiled parts of the floor and adjust the suction power as necessary. There's also an LED screen with indicators and alerts for clogs and water tank levels, it comes with a dock for charging, self cleaning, and storing the included accessories.
As with any budget pick, you should expect to make some small compromises and for this cordless vacmop they're run time (up to 25 minutes) and water tank capacity (about a half a liter each). There's also the issue of Tineco's hectic and confusing naming system. I tested the GO H20 Sense, which is the the smart version of the GO H20 but certainly not the only one. Browsing at just one retailer (Walmart) you'll find the GO H20, the GO H20 Max, the GO H20 XL, and the GO H20 XL+GO Mini. However, the smart features of the GO H20 Sense make it the best option among the similarly-named models.
Top pick vs. budget pick
| Model | Battery runtime | Clean Water Tank | Edge Cleaning | Smart Sensor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tineco Floor One S7 Pro | Up to 40 minutes | 28 ounces | Both sides | Yes |
| Tineco GO H20 Sense | Up to 25 minutes | 17 ounces | One side | Yes |
Tineco is making the best and most efficient mop vacs on the market and the quality is reflected throughout the product line. Other than the huge price gap, there are a few main differences between the Tineco Floor One S7 Pro and the newer, more budget-friendly Tineco GO H20 Sense: run time, water tank capacity, and dual-edge cleaning.
If you don’t care about having the latest floor-cleaning gadgets and you can live without the edge-to-edge roller brush (which means you can only clean perimeter of your floors with one side of the motorhead), you’ll likely be very happy with the budget pick. It’s a quiet, efficient floor cleaner that will still change your life if you’re used to sweeping and mopping your floors the old-fashioned way.
A powerful stick vacuum with a wet mopping component: Dyson V15s Detect Submarine
NOTE: At the time of publishing, both the base model and the Absolute—which has a HEPA filter and is available exclusively through Dyson—are the same price. So if you want HEPA filtration, go for the Absolute.
Pros
- Versatile
- Space-saving
- Can be your only floor-cleaning device
- Powerful Dyson suction
- Extra attachments
- Up to 60 minutes of run time
Cons
- Expensive
- Vacuum and mop are separate tasks
- Have to change motorheads often
Specs
Weight: Dependent on configuration
Run time: Up to 60 minutes
Proprietary solution: No
Self-cleaning mode: No
Warranty: 2-year warranty
Included accessories
Digital Motorbar cleaner head, Fluffyoptic cleaner head, Submarine Wet Roller Head, Hair screw tool, combination tool, crevice tool, docking/charging station (wall-mount), drip tray for Submarine head
I'm a self-avowed vacmop evangelist and am not exaggerating when I say that a vacmop is a life-changing appliance, because it absolutely was for me. But vacmops are meant for cleaning hard floors and even the handful of models that are indicated for use on carpeting simply don't have enough suction power to effectively get pet hair and small debris out of my low-pile rugs. That's why, if I were limited to only one floor-cleaning device, it would absolutely be the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine.
Not to be confused with the Dyson Wash G1, the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine is not a true vacmop because it doesn't suck up debris and mop the floor simultaneously. But it still gets both jobs done—you just have to change motorheads between the two tasks. That means you won't clean your hard floors quite as quickly as you would with one of the Tinecos above, but unlike even the best vacmops, the Submarine is also a really good vacuum cleaner. In fact, the base is one of Dyson's premiere stick vac offerings, the Dyson V15 Detect, that comes with an additional wet-mopping motorhead. You'll also get all of the accessories that come standard with Dyson's cordless vacuum cleaners, including two full-size motorheads for dry vacuuming, a crevice attachment, an upholstery tool, and more.
All of the wet-mopping functions are contained within the Submarine motorhead (which is not compatible with any other Dyson stick vac models, sorry!) which makes it somewhat easier to clean than true mopvacs. Most people will probably find it mops sufficiently with just water too, though the manual does allow for the use of other brands' vacmop solutions if necessary.
Yes, it's pricey but it's an incredibly versatile, space-saving floor cleaner that will last for years—as long as you maintain the filters, that is.
Read my full review of the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine.
How we tested vacmops
Since 2022, I've thoroughly researched popular and highly-rated vacmops at various price points and tried 16 models at home. I assembled each according to the manual (or quick start guide if included) and fully charged the batteries as instructed.
Because I have small kids and the aforementioned big, hairy rescue mutt, my home is a wonderfully messy canvas on which to test. I used each mop vac multiple times to clean various floor types: my textured black kitchen floor, my old hardwood floors, and my tiled bathroom floor. And even though only a few of the devices were indicated for use on area rugs, I passed over my rugs with each model, too (no true vacmop impressed me in the rug-cleaning department).
What we looked for
Mopping and suction power
Does the mop vac clean everyday kitchen messes on the first pass? Does it leave water on the floor? Does it clean to the edge of the floor? While I wasn’t expecting the powerful suction of a Dyson vacuum, I still looked for enough suction power to pick up dirt, debris, and dog hair from the floor.
Runtime and efficiency
Mop vac runtime varies from 20 minutes to about 40, and I wanted one that could clean all of the exposed hard flooring on the main level of my (admittedly small) house. More efficient mop vacs could clean my floors on a single pass and with those machines, battery life was less of an issue.
Ease of use
Is the mop vac easy to put together and use out of the box? Is it easy to fill the clean water tank and add a solution? Is it easy to switch between modes and identify errors like a misaligned water tank or clogs? Is there a cord that makes quick cleaning not-so-quick? (I found cordless models to be much easier to use than corded models since the draw of these machines is the ability to vacuum and mop the whole house in a matter of minutes.) Does the mop vac automatically charge when I put it on the dock or do I need to plug it in?
Maneuverability
Is the mop vac easy to push? Can it handle tight spaces and corners? Does the handle recline enough to get under furniture and raised appliances? (Both of my top picks have motorheads that are about 2.5 inches tall and the handles on both recline to about a 30º angle.)
Size and storage
Do the water tanks hold enough water to last an entire cleaning session? Does the motorhead fit under cabinets and raised appliances? Is it easy to carry up and down stairs? Does it come with a docking station for easy upright storage?
Cleaning and maintenance
No mop vac is fun to clean, and unlike robovacs, there isn’t a pricey model that has an auto-empty feature… yet. But many have a self-cleaning feature that you can engage after cleaning once the mop vac is back on its charging dock. You still have to empty the dirty water tank and deal with the debris, and some are easier to clean than others. So I looked at how easy/hard/gross it was to clean the dirty water tanks, debris traps, dust bins, and washable filters. I also noted which machines came with cleaning tools, like long handled brushes.
Cleaning solution
If the mop vac requires a cleaning solution, is a sample included with the purchase of the machine? Is it expensive to refill? Is it easy to find and order online?
Other vacmops we tested
Dyson Wash G1
The Dyson Wash G1 is Dyson’s first standalone cordless vacmop and it came very close to taking the top spot in 2025. This floor cleaner is simple, sleek, easy to clean, and even easier to use. It has dual-edge cleaning, which means it’s possible to clean along baseboards and under cabinets from any direction. Unlike most vacmops, the Wash G1’s dry debris trap is actually a little slide-out tray between the motorhead’s two brush rollers. Though unconventional, it dutifully collects solid debris before dirty water goes onto the dirty water tank. The 35-minute runtime is a little less than the Tineco Floor One S7 Pro’s 40 minutes, but still sufficient for most homes. This mop vac also cleans with only water, but allows for cleaning solutions from other brands. Just don't expect the suction power you'd get with a conventional Dyson stick vac. Like all true mop vacs, the Wash G1 can pick up small debris from hard floors but for rugs and carpeting, it's far from a sufficient vacuum cleaner. Other than a very minimalist charging/self-cleaning dock, it doesn’t come with any accessories, but ordering directly from Dyson gets you two extra microfiber rollers.
Tineco Floor One S5 Combo
Until 2023, the Tineco Floor One S5 Combo was my top pick. It’s a smart, compact, cordless wet-dry vacuum cleaner that converts to a handheld vacuum (the hand vac can’t be used for wet messes). It impressively cleaned my floors in a single pass without leaving any wet spots, and it was one of the quietest models I tried. The battery life has a shorter run time than many other mop vacs (20-ish minutes, compared to about 30–35 minutes for other brands), but thanks to Tineco’s iLoop technology, it was efficient enough to clean the areas of bare floor in my modestly-sized kitchen, living room, dining room, bathroom, and hallway on a single charge. The S5 Combo offers edge cleaning, but only on one end of the motorhead.
Tineco iFloor3 Wet Dry Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
In 2025, the Tineco iFloor 3 was unseated as our budget pick because it lacks edge cleaning on either side of the motorhead. Without edge cleaning, there’s always a little strip of floor along the walls, cabinets, or appliances that doesn’t get properly cleaned. If you don’t have pets or messy housemates, that may not be an issue, but the edges of the room are often where pet hair and random kitchen debris (in my house it’s usually wayward kosher salt crystals) accumulate the most. Even without edge cleaning, its' still a good budget option that cleans more efficiently and quietly than many of its competitors (that also lack edge cleaning). And while it’s technically not a smart device, it does have a backlit LED display with visual alerts for battery level, power mode, and brush roll tangles. It will also let you know if the dirty water tank is full or if the clean water tank is empty. So for what it needs to do (clean the floors) it’s smart enough. In its default power mode, it has powerful suction to clean up everyday messes on the first pass. I found the 25-minute run time sufficient for cleaning all the hard floors in the common areas of my home, and I’ve been repeatedly amazed at how little water and solution this machine requires to clean a very dirty kitchen floor. Should you need it to work a little harder, there’s a button on the handle to manually put it into max mode. Like the newer Tineco models, it has a HEPA filter and self-cleans with the push of a button when put back on the included charging dock.
Shark Hydrovac Pro XL Cordless
As a fan of Shark vacuum cleaners (especially their stick vacuums), I was really looking forward to trying the cordless Shark Hydrovac Pro XL. Overall, this Shark vacmop is a nice, lightweight floor cleaner and it’s really easy to use; I was able to start cleaning without consulting the manual. The headlights on the motorhead are a nice touch to help see dirty spots on darker floors (or dust on lighter floors), as are the washable foam filters. I appreciated the LED “headlights” and the fact that the brush roll is treated with "antimicrobial substance to preserve roller and resist bacterial odors." I can't say it made a difference in my testing, but it could be a benefit with longer-term use. While the Shark is mostly comparable to the Tineco iFloor 3, it’s pricier at most retailers, yet it felt a little less sturdy, was a little louder, and left my floor a little wetter.
Shark Hydrovac Messmaster Cordless 3-in-1 Cleaner
In 2025, I tested a newer Shark vacmop, the Hydrovac Messmaster (WD260 Series) and I hoped it would impress me more than the Hydrovac Pro. However, other than the fact that it left my floors drier than the earlier model, it’s pretty much comparable performance-wise. I appreciate that Shark's mop vacs are lightweight and the little LED lights on the motorhead are helpful features. But both Shark models were louder than other brands and they don't have edge cleaning—which is really nice to have in the kitchen, especially. Also, the “3-in-1” claim is misleading since the three things it does (vacuum, mop, self-clean) are three things all cordless vacmops do in 2025.
Bissell Crosswave X7 Cordless Pet Pro Multi-Surface Wet Dry Vac
In order to engage the wet mopping function on a Bissell Crosswave, you need to keep your finger on a trigger. And if you just want a decent vacuum that can suck up wet and dry messes and also occasionally work as a mop, or if you prefer to do a vacuum-only pass before mopping, this might not be an issue. But if you want something that will continuously mop and vacuum, you may find the trigger annoying. Another selling point of the Crosswave is that unlike the other devices, which are marketed as “hard floor cleaners,” the Crosswave’s mop vac function is indicated for area rugs, too. But it’s not a true carpet cleaner and I wasn’t impressed with the rug-cleaning power of any of the Crosswaves I tried. For big spills or pet accidents on area rugs and high-pile carpets, you’ll still need a true carpet cleaner, like Bissell's Little Green.) All of that said, if the Bissell Crosswave X7 Cordless Pet Pro Multi-Surface Wet Dry Vac had been my first and only cordless vac mop, I likely would have fallen in love with it. But for the price, it just doesn’t compare to the Tinecos. It’s heavier, didn’t pick up as much on the first pass, left more water on the floor, and didn’t alert me when the clean water tank was empty.
Bissell Crosswave Hydrosteam Corded Wet Dry Vac (Corded)
I'm no longer including corded vac mops in my testing, but in 2023, I tested this triple-threat Bissell Crosswave. The Bissell Crosswave Hydrosteam Corded Wet Dry Vac is a vacuum, it’s a wet mop, and it’s a steam mop. I’ve tested three Crosswaves, and their big selling point is versatility—you can use the Crosswave as just a vacuum cleaner (though not a super powerful one), or a mop vac (though you have to keep your finger on a trigger to make the clean water solution flow). The Bissell Crosswave Hydrosteam is the most versatile Crosswave yet because you can push a button on the handle to turn it into a steam mop, which can sanitize floors. I find the steam especially beneficial in the kitchen and with the steam feature engaged, this model cleaned gunky, greasy messes off of my textured kitchen floor as well or better than the Tineco Floor One S7 Pro. That said, it doesn’t have edge cleaning, the steam function will not be good for older wood floors, and the brush roller got stuck when I tried to transition from tile to a flat weave rug in my bathroom. This is also one of the bulkiest mop vacs I’ve tested and it has a cord, so it’s not necessarily something I’d whip out for a quick clean. But if you want the option to steam clean and you don’t mind the cord, it’s a good floor cleaner at a good price.
Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro Multi-Surface Bagless Wet Dry Vac (Corded)
The Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro Multi-Surface Bagless Wet Dry Vac is a less-expensive Pet Pro model, and that lower price means it’s corded. It was lightweight compared to the X7 and I appreciated that the clean water tank had indicators for small areas (up to 350 square feet) or or large areas (up to 700 square feet). But a corded device just can't compare to older, similarly-priced (and cordless) Tineco models.
Eureka All in One Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner (Corded)
Though we're no longer testing corded vac mops as of 2025, the the Eureka All in One Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner is another corded mop vac we previously tested, and it’s very similar to the corded Crosswave Pet Pro. It’s a little louder and not as smooth to maneuver than the Crosswave, but it does have a more attractive black and white body and comes with a couple of handy tools for cleaning the machine. Considering the quieter, cordless Tineco iFloor 3 is only about $50 more than the Eureka (at the time of publication, anyway), it’s easy to pass on this one.
Hoover FloorMate Deluxe Hard Floor Cleaner (Corded)
When I was testing the corded Hoover FloorMate Deluxe Hard Floor Cleaner, I called it “The Street Sweeper.” Not only is it much larger than all of the other mop vacs I tried, it also has flat spinning brushes instead of a soft, cylindrical roller. Unfortunately, the size and unique design didn’t quite translate to more cleaning power and the FloorMate Deluxe somehow felt like too much and not enough for my cleaning up everyday messes in my house. It struggled to collect small debris from the textured kitchen floor and couldn’t get into corners at all.
Hizero Bionic Hard Floor Cleaner (Discontinued)
There was a lot to love about Hizero Bionic Hard Floor Cleaner I tested in 2022, starting with the fact that it was, by far, the easiest mop vac to clean. It was also super quiet, even on max cleaning mode, because it doesn’t use suction to collect debris. Instead of a brush roll, the Hizero has a soft polymer roller that’s supposed to mimic the way a dog licks things off the floor. It’s a cool technology but it wasn’t great at cleaning my textured kitchen floor (to be fair, the product description does state that it performs best on “leveled” floors). If you have the benefit of perfectly flat floors this could work—especially if you’re in an apartment and worry about noise. But if your floors have seen smoother days or you have an old house with kids and pets, you’re probably better off with something that actually sucks (in the good way). As of this update, the model I tested seems to be discontinued, you can still get a similar model on Amazon.
INSE Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner (Discontinued)
The INSE Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner was similar to my former budget pick, the Tineco iFloor 3, in both form and function, but it’s the only mop vac I tested that year had the clean water tank built into the motorhead. It was also the only one that came with dissolvable solution strips instead of liquid. It felt aggressively motorized, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, and if the exceptionally dark water that I dumped out of the dirty water tank multiple times was any indication, it did a very good job of cleaning my floors. After multiple rounds of testing, I decided I liked it just as much as the iFloor 3, but I didn’t like it $100 more.
Roborock Dyad Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum (Discontinued)
I was very excited to try the Roborock Dyad Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum when I first tested mop vacs in 2022, and not just because this promo video made it look like a real party starter. This was the only mop vac I tested back then that was supposed to clean sufficiently with just water (the product description indicated that a cleaning solution was only needed for deep cleaning). In 2022, the Dyad was the only one that offered true-edge-to-edge cleaning on both sides of the motorhead too. Unfortunately, it took me about 40 minutes to get it working because the sensor couldn’t recognize that the clean water tank actually had water in it. I eventually figured out it’s a known issue that only happens out of the box, and I eventually got it going by adding salt and cleaning solution from a different machine. Once operational, it did a great job of cleaning but because the motorhead is so bulky, it wouldn’t fit in the area where my lower cabinets jut out—which is where I needed the edge cleaning the most. It was also very loud on my textured kitchen floor and emptying the debris filter seemed more complicated than it should have been. The model I tested has been discontinued and replaced with the Dyad Pro, which has the same bulky motorhead.
Vacmops 101
How does a vacmop work?
Unlike vacuum cleaners which collect dry dirt and debris, mop vacs (you may also see them called “vacmops” or “wet-dry vacuum cleaners”) suck up dirt and debris while also mopping hard floors with a constant supply of fresh water and cleaning solution. The fresh water comes from the machine’s fresh water tank and works with a rotating soft brush roller to mop the floor. In the same pass, the mop vac sucks the used water back into a separate dirty water tank where it filters out any solid debris. If the mop vac is any good, it should also leave your floors fairly dry.
Cordless vacmop vs. robo mop
Mopping the floors of my century-old home used to be a whole thing. It involved sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, drying, and going around the perimeter with a microfiber cloth to get everything (dog hair, wayward kosher salt, etc.) that was left behind.
For a while, I thought a pricey Wi-Fi-enabled robot mop might be the secret to consistently clean floors, but early models didn’t actually suck anything up and I had to manually switch dry and wet mop pads mid-cycle. The disposable cleaning pads felt wasteful, too and I didn’t like washing the reusable microfiber mop pads with my regular laundry, so even the best robot mop I could buy at the time ended up being more of a hassle than it was worth.
But then I discovered the mop vac: a magi cal device that can suck up dirt and dog hair and mop the floor with clean water. All at the same time. It was love at first use.
After zipping around the main floor of my house for 20 minutes, my floors were cleaner than they’d ever been—and they stayed that way. And until there’s a robot vacuum mop that works as well as the upright mop vacs, I’m quite happy to push mine around the house for a few minutes a few times a week.
All of that said, robot vacuum-mop offerings have certainly improved since I first used one, and it’s possible to get a self-emptying model that does a better job of mopping (the Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni has an especially impressive mop function). However, none of the robot vacuum-mops I tested performed as well as an upright vacuum mop model. Some had issues with obstacle avoidance and clearing uneven thresholds, while others clogged when they encountered too much dog hair.
Who should buy a cordless vacmop?
If you’re anything like me—a person for whom mopping was once a rare and onerous occurrence—a good mop vac can transform you into a regular and enthusiastic mopper. This is especially true for parents and pet owners.
In addition to weekly cleaning sessions, I bust out my mop vac when my kids make a mess under the dinner table, when my dog tracks mud into the house, and when I get a little overzealous in the kitchen (the best vacuum mops can tackle grease and grime). My mop vac is also great for doing a quick panic clean when I’m expecting guests.
While some mop vacs can technically be used on area rugs, none of the models I tested impressed me with their rug-cleaning abilities. Most mop vacs are meant for cleaning hard surfaces and they’re safe and effective on sealed hardwood, vinyl, laminate, and tile floors.
Because a mop vac effectively and efficiently mops a floor while also sucking up dirt and debris, it cuts cleaning time in half. At least. So if you have a substantial amount of flooring not covered by carpet, and you would like to spend less time cleaning those floors, a cordless vacmop is for you.
How to clean a vacmop’s dirty water tank
Most mop vacs have a self-cleaning cycle that cleans the brush roll and rinses the inner components with clean water. Just like the dirty mop water from your floor, the dirty water from the self-cleaning cycle ends up in the machine’s dirty water tank—and cleaning the dirty water tank is the absolute worst part of using a mop vac. But you can avoid pouring that filthy floor water down the sink drain by dumping it into the toilet, and you can avoid the sink altogether by installing a diaper/bidet sprayer, which you can get for about $20 on Amazon.
You need zero plumbing skills maybe and one set of pliers to connect this handy little hose to the pipe that feeds (very clean) water into your toilet tank and you can use it to rinse all of your mop vac parts.
How to make a vacmop smell fresh
To freshen your mop vac and bring a little aromatherapy to your housekeeping routine, you can add a few drops of essential oil to the brush roller once it’s wet. This way you don’t have to worry about putting oils in the clean water tank or damaging the clean water jets (if the mop vac can clean up food oil splatters from the floor, a few drops of oil on the roller shouldn't’t be a problem). I like to use lavender oil since it’s generally considered safe for pets.
We’re home cooks just like you—and we bring a home cook’s perspective to all of our rigorous testing. But unlike you, we have an extra 10 hours a day to spend geeking out over kitchen tools because it is literally our job. We don’t only use our recommended products in controlled settings, we bring the best ones into our own kitchens to help us put dinner on the table on a Wednesday night for our families, or to throw a dinner party for 12. When we recommend a product, you should trust that we’ve used it—a lot—just like you will. Read more about our testing process and philosophy here.
