A recent Chinese social media post drew widespread attention after its writer said they had spent more than 6,000 yuan (about $900) on several cleaning appliances before returning to a disposable electrostatic dust mop.

The writer said smart machines require tending including, cleaning the filters and docking station, and their parts wear out.

In comparison, an electrostatic mop is light enough to use with one hand, its disposable sheets trap fine dust and hair instead of scattering them into the air, and with a dry sheet to collect dust and a wet one to wipe up stains, the cleaning takes 10 minutes, the writer said, adding that the money spent on the appliances could pay for replacement sheets for years.

Illustrative photo from Pexels.

Since entering the market in the early 2000s, robot vacuums have evolved into machines that use cameras, sensors, and lasers to map homes.

Higher-end models can even return to their docks to have their mop pads washed. However, automation still has its limits.

The same debate has played out on Reddit, the world’s largest internet forum.

In one discussion, an owner said a robot handled about 90% of their floor-cleaning work. Other users described robots as maintenance tools that cannot replace periodic manual vacuuming and mopping.

Many flashy cleaning products disappoint, but robot vacuums and mops work and save users time.

Traditional methods remain reliable for other cleaning jobs, Michael Silva-Nash, president of American cleaning company Molly Maid, said.

Amber Joglar wrote in Popular Mechanics after testing the machines at home and under controlled conditions that many robot vacuum-mop combinations can handle surface cleaning, but their microfiber pads, compact size and light weight mean they do not press hard enough to remove dried-on or stubborn stains.

She still uses a traditional mop for deep cleaning.

Robot vacuums averaged 88% for dirt pickup on hard floors in CHOICE tests, but only 26% on carpet, 54% for pet-hair removal from carpet, and 65% in corners and along edges.

CHOICE’s vacuum expert Adrian Lini said smaller motors produce less suction, and robot brushes agitate surfaces less effectively than conventional vacuums. Thick rugs, shoelaces, and charging cables can also trap the machines unless users clear the floor first.

In a separate test of manual mops, CHOICE found that a cotton model costing about $10 removed dried jam with relative ease and flexed into corners.

For many homes, the most effective setup is to use a robot for daily cleaning in large, open areas and a manual mop for corners, stubborn stains and spills, experts suggest.