iRobot Roomba 105 Combo Review: Budget Vacuum and Mop That Keeps Rugs Dry
Our verdict: 4 / 5
The 105 Combo adds a mop to iRobot’s cheapest LiDAR Roomba, and it does it sensibly. A micro-pump keeps the pad evenly damp, and the robot steers around carpet while mopping instead of dragging a wet pad over it. There’s no self-emptying and the suction is modest, so it’s best for small homes with mostly hard floors.
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The Roomba 105 Combo is what you buy when you want a robot to sweep and lightly mop a small home and you don’t want to spend much. It’s the same robot as the Roomba 105 Vac, with a microfiber mop pad and a water tank added.
The interesting part is how it handles rugs. Many cheap combo robots either drag the wet pad straight over your rugs or make you remove the mop first. The 105 Combo detects carpet and avoids it while mopping. This review covers how well that works in practice, what the mop can and can’t do, and who should spend more. We based it on iRobot’s published specs and the design, not on our own home testing.
Specs
| Model | Y314020 |
| Released | March 2025 |
| Suction | 7,000 Pa (maker rating) |
| Cleaning | 4-stage: suction, Multi-Surface brush, Edge-Sweeping brush, microfiber mop pad |
| Mop water | Micro-pump keeps pad evenly moist |
| Rugs | Detects and avoids carpet while mopping |
| Modes | Vac only, mop only, combo |
| Navigation | ClearView LiDAR, works in the dark |
| App | Room targeting, passes, suction, mop water amount, keep-out zones |
| Voice | Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant |
| Dock | Charging only |
| Warranty | 1 year |
What we like
It keeps the wet pad off your rugs
This is the 105 Combo’s best trick. When it’s mopping, it detects carpet and steers around it, with no zone drawing needed. That means you can run a combo clean on a floor that has a kitchen runner and a living room rug, and they’ll stay dry. The trade-off is that those rugs don’t get vacuumed in the mop run. Do a vac-only run for them, which the app makes easy.
An evenly damp pad
Cheap mopping robots often drip a lot at the start of a run and almost nothing at the end. The 105 Combo uses a micro-pump to keep the pad moist at a steady rate, and you can choose how much water it uses. iRobot also offers a SmartScrub option that it says gives deeper scrubbing than the standard mode on coffee spills and grime.
LiDAR mapping at a low price
Like the 105 Vac, it maps with ClearView LiDAR and cleans in neat rows. It works in the dark, so evening schedules are fine. The map also powers room-by-room cleaning and keep-out zones, which are the features you’ll use most.
Three modes for different days
Vac only for rug days, mop only for a quick wipe after cooking, combo for daily maintenance. Having all three is more useful than it sounds, because different rooms need different jobs.
Simple to own
No dock bags, no dirty-water tank to empty. You empty the bin, rinse the pad and refill the small tank. For a small apartment, that’s a manageable routine.
What could be better
- No self-emptying. You empty the bin after every run or two.
- Light-duty mopping. A flat microfiber pad picks up dust and footprints, not dried-on spills.
- Rugs get skipped while mopping. You’ll need a separate vacuum-only run for them.
- 7,000 Pa suction. Fine for hard floors, weak on thick carpet.
Who should buy it
- Small apartments and condos with mostly hard floors
- First-time robot buyers who want light mopping
- Homes with a few area rugs that must stay dry
- Anyone who wants a combo robot without a bulky dock
Who should skip it
- Heavy-shedding pet homes, because the small bin fills quickly
- Homes with sticky kitchen floors that need real scrubbing
- People who want hands-free self-emptying. Look at the Roomba 104 2-in-1.
Roomba 105 Combo vs Roomba 104 2-in-1
| Roomba 105 Combo | Roomba 104 2-in-1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Mopping | Pumped microfiber pad | Pumped mop pad |
| Rug handling | Avoids carpet when mopping | Avoids carpet when mopping |
| Self-empty | No | Yes, up to 75 days |
| Navigation | ClearView LiDAR | ClearView LiDAR |
| Allergen bag | No bag | Bag traps 99% of allergens to 0.7 microns (maker) |
| Check price | Roomba 105 Combo | Roomba 104 2-in-1 |
The 104 2-in-1 adds a self-emptying dock with an allergen-trapping bag. If you can stretch the budget, it’s the more convenient robot. The 105 Combo is the simpler, lower-cost option.
Tips to get the most out of it
- Use mop-only mode for the kitchen after dinner and vac-only for rugs the next morning.
- Rinse the microfiber pad after every mop run and let it dry fully.
- Use water or a compatible iRobot cleaning solution. Don’t add vinegar or bleach.
- Empty the bin after each run. A full bin reduces suction.
- Read our guide on whether to vacuum before mopping for the best order on hard floors.
FAQ
Does the Roomba 105 Combo mop carpets?
No. It detects carpet and steers around it while mopping, so rugs stay dry. Use a vac-only run to clean rugs.
Does the Roomba 105 Combo empty itself?
No. It has a charging dock only. The Roomba 104 2-in-1 adds a self-emptying dock.
Can I use cleaning solution in the Roomba 105 Combo?
Yes. iRobot says you can use water or a compatible cleaning solution in the tank.
Does the Roomba 105 Combo work in the dark?
Yes. ClearView LiDAR doesn’t need light, so it maps and cleans in neat rows even at night.
Final word
The Roomba 105 Combo is a tidy little robot for small, hard-floor homes. LiDAR mapping, smart rug avoidance and a steady, pumped mop are good features at this price. Just accept that you’ll empty the bin yourself and that the mop is for upkeep, not deep cleaning. If you want hands-free emptying, step up to the Roomba 104 2-in-1.