iRobot’s first wet and dry mop uses electricity to disinfect floors, free of chemicals

iRobot may be known for its features Robot vacuumsbut like competitors Dreame and Roborock, it also falls into the wet and dry mopping category. The Roomba Electro Plus is the company’s first non-robot vacuum product, but it’s also another first: It uses electricity to clean and disinfect hard floors instead of a traditional cleaning solution.

“The device uses tap water, which contains naturally occurring free chlorine,” Adam Pope, iRobot’s chief engineer and vice president, said in a video interview with me. “A small electrical current produces hypochlorous acid from this chlorine, which is a safe and effective disinfectant that is applied to the drum and floor to kill germs.”

The Roomba Electro Plus essentially creates electrolyzed water on demand that can be used in place of regular floor cleaners. According to Bob, it can kill 99.99% of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other germs without adding any chemicals, toxins, or steam, making it safe for pets, kids, and environmentally friendly. I asked Bob if a cleaning solution would still be required for those who prefer a specific scent, for example, and he told me that while a standard cleaning solution wouldn’t be compatible, an iRobot cleaning solution would be available.

In other ways, the Electro Plus is more than just a traditional wet and dry cleaner, although it does come with all the features we’ve come to expect from similar units we’ve tested, such as Roborock F25 Ultra. It has the PowerSpion spin mop we’ve seen in iRobot robot vacuums, with an automatic dirt detection feature that adjusts drum speed and water flow for a deeper clean. The drums use hair-wrap technology, and the included docking station automatically heats, washes, dries and sanitizes the mop at the push of a button after docking.

According to iRobot, it can be controlled with just one hand because, like the F25 Ultra, it has auxiliary wheels and is fairly lightweight. The design can lie flat up to 180 degrees to reach under furniture, and battery life should last about 35 minutes on the Eco mode setting.

the Rumba Electro Plus It will cost $400 at launch and will be available starting July 7.

All-new robot vacuum lineup

Also new from iRobot is a full line of robot vacuums, which replace parts of vacuum cleaners Current company lineup. At the top is Roomba Max 775 Combo Robot Plus Auto Wash Tub. At $1,000, it’s the most advanced model in the lineup, with lidar, 3D mapping, advanced obstacle recognition, pet area avoidance, ropes, shoes, and more. It’s also designed for electric mopping, with the same PowerSpin spin mop as the Electro, 167°F hot water cleaning, a self-emptying docking station and bagged waste collection with carbon odor control.

The 775 Combo also comes with a companion Roomba Max 715 Robot Vacuum Plus Auto-Empty Tubfor $700. It has the same suction and vacuum performance, as well as a docking station, but it won’t include mopping capabilities.

the Roomba 575 Robot Vacuum Plus Automatic Dock It’s a $700 vacuum-only model, but aside from mopping, it offers most of the same mobility and obstacle-avoidance features. It should last for three months without needing to be discharged using the included docking station.

the Roomba 515 Combo Plus Auto Wash It will cost $700, and offers a more compact design that fits into furniture more easily, as well as a longer battery life of up to 295 minutes (about 10 hours). iRobot says it can clean up to 2,000 square feet on a single charge. It also has an internal water tank for scanning and lidar mapping platforms and a self-cleaning docking station for washing and drying mops.

At the average price end is Roomba Plus 415 Combo Plus Automatic Wash Tub Priced at $600. It features the same compact chassis as the 515 Combo, which is 46% more compact, and also comes with dual-rotating mop pads, a dry pad and a lidar navigation system.

These robots are available for pre-order now through iRobot.