iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ robot vacuum and mop review
iRobot’s world first ‘fully hands-free vacuum and mop robot’ can avoid pet poop and hold dirt for up to two months. But is it worth the hefty price tag?
These products are hand-picked by our team to help make shopping easier. We may receive payments from third parties for sharing this content and when you purchase through links in this article. Product prices and offer details are not assured, and should be confirmed independently with the retailer. Learn more
We’ve seen the hilarious videos, but finding dog poop smeared across the floor is certainly less stinking funny when it’s your robot vacuum that missed the memo on how to avoid pet waste.
Robot cleaners have become the must-have item for convenience, allowing you to vacuumn and mop the house without having to actually do the hard yards.
Although this hands-free solution hasn’t always provided consumers the best value, with many models often impressing as a vacuum cleaner but then disappointing when it’s time to mop (or vice versa). And while object detection technology is constantly improving, it’s still not perfect.
RELATED: iRobot Roomba j7+ vacuum review
RELATED: Best vacuums to buy in 2023
So, when leading brand iRobot promised the trifecta with the poop-avoiding - yes, you read that correctly - two-in-one Roomba Combo J7+ robot vacuum cleaner (and an on-board camera to better avoid obstacles), I knew I had to test it out.
PROS:
+ Includes vacuum-only and vacuum-and mop modes.
+ Easy to set up and sync with the iRobot app.
+ Constantly updates the map and offers feedback to improve accuracy.
+ Can recognise more objects compared to older Roombas, including kitty litter, dog and cat poop. pet bowls and more.
+ Good suction power.
CONS:
- Expensive.
iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ Robot Vacuum and Mop, $1699 (down from $2199) at Amazon Australia
IN THIS REVIEW
- How much does it cost?
- Key Features of Roomba Combo J7+
- Design and set-up
- Suction power and mopping power
- Mapping and object detection
- Can robot vacuums detect cat and dog poo?
- Is the Roomba Combo J7+ noisy?
- Should you buy the Roomba Combo J7+ Robot Vacuum?
HOW WE TESTED THIS PRODUCT
It’s our mission to help you make informed shopping decisions by rigorously testing products so you don’t have to. As well as sorting through mountains of consumer reviews, product manuals and conducting thorough product research, our team of expert writers puts each product we review through a series of hands-on tests to ensure we give you honest feedback about its performance and whether it’s worth your hard-earned money.
HOW MUCH DOES THE ROOMBA COMBO J7+ ROBOT VACUUM COST?
The iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ retails for $2,199 (however, it’s currently on sale for $1699 at Amazon) and comes with a self-emptying Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal station. Accessories include two AllergenLock bags, two cleaning pads, a bonus corner brush and an extra high-efficiency filter.
When it comes to maintenance, the Clean Base Evac Bags cost $59 for a pack of three and will need to be repurchased twice a year (if you change the bag every 60 days). You can buy the iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ at leading electronics retailers such as Amazon Australia, The Good Guys, Bing Lee, Betta Home Living, iRobot Australia and Harvey Norman.
KEY FEATURES OF ROOMBA COMBO J7+
Following robot vac owner tradition, I nicknamed my Roomba Combo j7+ ‘Meryl Sweep’. Here are her top features:
• Can automatically switch between vacuuming and mopping mode, allowing you to complete both tasks in one job.
• Lifts the mop pad whenever it detects carpet or a rug.
• Contains an integrated bin and tank.
• Can use voice command to tell the robot to clean certain rooms or objects (such as around kitty litter boxes or dining tables).
• Continues to learn and update its mapping plan over time.
• Four-Stage Cleaning System – Edge-Sweeping Brush, Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes and mop, and Power-Lifting Suction.
• The Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal system automatically empties dirt and debris, and doesn’t need to be changed for up to two months.
• Can identify and avoid objects such as shoes, cords, backpacks, pet bowls, kitty litter boxes and pet waste.
• P.O.O.P (Pet Owner Official Promise): iRobot guarantees the robot vacuum can detect and avoid solid cat or dog waste. If this isn’t the case, you can get the model replaced with no charge (as long as it happens within one year of purchase).
DESIGN AND SETUP
iRobot’s latest j Series Roomba wows with a sleek, matte black design and a noticeably good quality build straight out of the box. And it should, priced at $2,199 – the Combo j7+ is one of the most expensive robot cleaners on the market. (Although it’s still slightly cheaper than the brand’s s9+ robot vacuum.)
On top of this mini transformer, you can spot a clean button, camera, mopping pad plate, wall follow sensor and faceplate.
On the underside, you can expect caster wheels, cliff sensors, floor sensors, Dual Multi Surface Rubber Brushes that flex and adjust to suit different types of floors, plus an Edge Sweeping Brush to tackle hard-to-reach areas. There are two fully retracting, metal mop arms that lift the mop whenever the robot detects carpets and rugs.
The home base additionally has a small compartment to store dust bags or bonus accessories.
The Roomba is fairly lightweight at 3.4 kilograms, which is handy since you’ll need to tip it over to detach the water tank. Thankfully, the tank is also transparent so you can easily see how much water is left. But be careful when picking up the robot vac because water will leak if you turn it over.
From inserting the attachments to connecting the iRobot app, the set up process was super easy. Everything was clearly labelled, the instructions were easy to read, and there was nothing glitchy or unnecessarily complicated when you sync the app to the robot.
There are a couple of things to remember when finding a place for the charging station: the area must be flat and free from clutter, otherwise the robot vac will have trouble docking.
SUCTION POWER AND MOPPING POWER
Whether you’re choosing the vacuum-only or vacuum-and-mop mode, there are three levels of suction power to choose from. The Roomba similarly offers three water levels for mopping. You can also perform one pass or two passes (for areas with stubborn stains), and customise all of these settings so it changes depending on the room.
I tested Meryl Sweep on a mix of tile, hard floor and low-pile rugs. It performed brilliantly on all three floorings and the suction power has been great. For high traffic areas like the door way, the Dirt Detect Technology works well at recognising dirtier areas and giving these a more thorough clean without you having to program it.
Meryl Sweep consistently picked up majority of the dust, pet hair, human hair, crumbs and other debris. It didn’t look like the side sweeping brush pushed much dirt away either, which is a common problem for all robot vacuums. However, I do recommend choosing the double clean option (i.e. pass each area twice) for a noticeably better clean.
You can probably give up on removing ground-in debris though, especially if it’s thin like onion and garlic skins. Keep in mind if you can’t clean a particular area with the main brush head of ‘regular’ vacuum (i.e. you need to use a special attachmnent, such as a crevice tool), then it’s likely a robot vacuum won’t be able to reach the same spot either.
When it comes to mopping, the Eco and standard settings seemed underwhelming so it’s best to opt for the double pass and ultra mop setting. It will take longer to clean and use more water, but the results are 100 per cent worth it – totally spotless. The fact the mop pad is removable and washable is another win.
The water tank carries up to 210ml and the app will send you an alert once it needs to be refilled.
MAPPING AND OBJECT DETECTION
The Roomba won’t avoid bumping into things completely. Instead, it will slow down near obstacles and use its bumper to see exactly how far it can clean without actually ramming into the object. Meryl even surprised me when it tilted itself to clean the edges of a small step.
What makes the Combo j7+ great is that it continues to learn over time and encourages you to give feedback on where it went right and wrong. After each job, you can review photos of the different obstacles and confirm if it’s a permanent fixture, such as furniture, or something temporary like shoes or a Christmas tree. The robot additionally does a complete sweep of the area each time and will identify any new areas, such as a room that was previously closed. The app even suggests more cleaning paths for greater accuracy.
Of course, you can create ‘no-go’ zones and clean zones, add room dividers, label areas, set favourite jobs (e.g. kitchen and living room only), schedule tasks and see where your robot vacuum is in real-time. You can also skip rooms by hitting the icon on the iRobot app or using voice command (compatible with Amazon Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant).
CAN ROBOT VACUUMS DETECT CAT AND DOG POOP?
Yes – the Roomba Combo 7+ can detect and avoid pet poop. To help with our testing, my dog Prada kindly offered a few samples. After doing several runs (no pun intended), we learned the poop must be solid and in good lighting. Meryl Sweep also stayed away further compared to how it would usually approach other obstacles, which helped me relax knowing there’s no chance of getting Prada’s waste onto the brushes.
IS THE ROOMBA COMBO J7+ NOISY?
The slight downside is the robot vacuum is very loud when it self-empties into iRobot’s Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal. But considering the AllergenLock bag can hold 60 days of dirt and debris, I would say the convenience outweighs a few seconds of noise.
There’s also a ‘chugging’ sound as it moves, although it isn’t overly noticeable once you’re both in different rooms.
SHOULD YOU BUY THE ROOMBA COMBO J7+ ROBOT VACUUM?
It’s no wonder the Roomba became synonymous with robot vacuums because the Combo j7+ is pretty much perfect. iRobot’s latest model steps up with a hands-free vacuum and mop that requires very little human intervention, and you can even leave the dust bag in the home base for up to two months. I didn’t need to refill the water tank that often either, although it’s likely you’ll find the reservoir on the small side if you have a larger house. Plus, Meryl Sweep has only gotten tangled a handful of times in three months (mainly on chunks of dog toys that Prada had bitten off).
The robot vacuum also cleans extremely well and the app’s interface is just as smooth and tidy as the floors.
The biggest trouble I had was when the robot had trouble docking after two months. But this was easily fixed after giving the camera, wheels and brushes a quick clean and turning the robot vac off and on.
Another con is that the robot vacuum is slow and takes much longer to complete a job compared to stick vacuums and corded models (this is also a common complaint for most robot vacs).
And let’s best honest, $2,199 isn’t exactly cheap or anywhere near budget friendly. You’ll also need to repurchase the Clean Base Evac Bags, plus iRobot’s cleaning solution if you want to use more than water to mop.
But if you want to invest in a good robot vacuum and mop, and one that’s from a reputable brand, the Roomba Combo j7+ is worth saving up for.
iRobot loaned us a Roomba Combo j7+ for the purpose of this review.
Want to sweep up more cleaning gadgets for the home? Check out our guides on the best robot vacuums, best robot vacuums to buy on Amazon, best stick vacuums and best car vacuum cleaners.
You can also sign up to our shopping newsletter to be kept in the loop about popular products and upcoming sales or head to news.com.au Coupons page to see a list of current deals and offers.
$200 off robot vac with ‘rare godsend’ feature
Spend more time relaxing with these two-in-one robot vacuum and mop combos shoppers recommend.
‘Genius’ new robo vac delivers ‘in spades’
We tested the luxe Dreame X40 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop and found it overdelivers with a ‘really thorough and customised clean’.
‘Game-changer’ Dreame vacs for the ultimate clean
There’s a reason Dreame’s best-selling vacuums come with a premium price tag. Here we’ve rounded up the best ones for every type of lifestyle and space.
Tried and Tested: Dreame’s new L20 Ultra robot vacuum
Dreame’s new robot vacuum and mop comes with a fully automatic base station and impressive new tech. But is it worth the premium price tag?