The Roborock S7 Simultaneously Mops and Vacuums Your Floors
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There are a lot of cool things out there that make us wonder, “Do they really work?” In our I Tried It series, we set out to use them in the real world and have determined that, in fact, they really do.
On Trial: Roborock S7 Robot Vacuum and Mop
Tester: Brandon Carte, daily vacuumer thanks to a German shepherd named Mika who endlessly sheds
The Brief: I’ve tested more than a dozen different robot vacuums and think the Roborock S7 is the best one in the business.
If you have kids or pets, you’re probably well aware that there is no such thing as too much vacuuming. And if you’ve been spending more time at home than previously, you’ve also probably come to the realization of how quickly your floors get dirty.
You’re in good company! I have three dogs and two nieces who might actually be messier than my pups. Did I mention one of the dogs is a German shepherd who seriously never stops shedding? If I don’t vacuum each day, my floors get grosser than I care to admit.
I primarily rely on a cordless stick vacuum to keep my carpets and hardwoods looking their best, but I also lean heavily on a robot vacuum when I don’t have the time (or energy) to vacuum by hand.
I’ve been testing the Roborock S7 robot cleaner for more than a month now and am truly amazed at how well it works. It’s one of those products that is so helpful you won’t know how you managed to live without it.
There’s one caveat, though — the vacuum starts at a steep $649, which likely is more expensive than your stick vacuum or upright cleaner. Speaking as someone who once traveled to multiple Walmart stores to purchase a Dyson that was on sale in stores only, I seriously think the Roborock S7 is worth it. Here’s why I think it should be your next vacuum cleaner.
It Doubles as a Mop and Can Empty Itself
The Roborock S7 is the first robot vacuum that vacuums and mops at the same time. Conveniently enough, it can even detect carpet and will automatically lift its microfiber mop pad out of the way when approaching carpet or rugs.
Unlike the majority of robot mops, the Roborock uses sonic vibrations to “scrub” your floors. Granted, it’s not as good as some good old-fashioned elbow grease, but it was able to clean some dried juice stains without issue.
Roborock also sells an “Auto Empty Dock” that sucks the debris out of the robot’s dustbin. It’s definitely a nice luxury to have but costs an additional $300. The base uses 3-liter vacuum bags, which hold 8 weeks’ worth of dust and debris.
It Navigates Almost Flawlessly
Most robot vacuums bump into everything that’s in their path, but the Roborock S7 uses LIDAR (the same sensor as self-driving cars) to get around. It had no issues making a map of my floorplan and systematically cleans room by room in straight lines.
Despite lacking front-mounted cameras like some Roomba robot vacuums, it's still smart enough to avoid obstacles. It easily cleaned around corners, around barstools, and in between chair legs. Like most robot vacuums, it doesn’t get along with phone chargers and is prone to getting tangled in them, causing the robot to shut off until you reset it.
It Works Well on All Floor Types
Whether your home has wall-to-wall carpet, hardwood, polished concrete, tile, or a combination of the four with some area rugs to boot, the S7 doesn’t skip a beat. It works incredibly well at sucking up debris of all shapes and sizes no matter the floor type. Crumbs in my dining room, coffee grounds in between my kitchen tile, and pet hair on my living room rug all disappeared thanks to the power of this small but mighty vacuum.
Its rubber brush roll helps provide a deeper clean on carpet, and its side-sweeping brush effectively makes dust bunnies that get in its path disappear.
The only issue I had was that if I’d go more than 2 days without vacuuming, significant hair buildup would occasionally get tangled around the main brush, which I’d have to remove by hand. But the solution to this problem is easy — just allow it to run every day (even if it's a short cycle), so there won't be as much hair to struggle to clean up.
Its App Is Useful But Not Overwhelming
Next to the mopping feature, probably my favorite part about the Roborock S7 is its smartphone app. I’m obsessed! The app packs plenty of customizable features to make the most of the vacuum, but it’s extremely easy to use.
You're able to set regular cleaning schedules, designate times you don't want the vacuum to run, remotely instruct the vacuum to clean specific rooms or areas of your home, and adjust suction speed. There’s also an incredibly useful “No-Go Zones” setting you can enable so the vacuum will avoid certain spots of your home (for both mopping or vacuuming). I used the feature to keep the vacuum from running into Mika’s dog bowls.
Its Battery Life Is Outstanding
I tested the Roborock in a 2,500 square feet home and was surprised to discover that the robot was able to clean my entire floor plan in a single charge. But even if your space is bigger than that, the Roborock is smart enough to return to its dock to charge and then will resume cleaning where it last left off. You can expect around 180 minutes of runtime. It’s also worth mentioning that if your home has multiple floors, it stores maps of each level.
Closing Argument: The best robot vacuum is one that works so well that you almost forget about it. That sums up the Roborock S7. It’s smart enough to navigate around your home without getting stuck, it empties its own bin, and it’s the first robot vacuum that simultaneously mops your floors while it sucks up debris. Its biggest downside is its steep price, but given its smarts and cleaning performance, I think it’s definitely worth your hard-earned dollars.
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