iRobot Roomba 104 Robot Vacuum & Mop: The Ultimate Set-It-and-Forget-It Cleaner?
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If you’ve ever wished your floors could clean themselves — no cords, no clunky vacuums, and no weekly dustbin dumps — the iRobot Roomba 104 might just be your new favorite appliance. Designed to vacuum, mop, and self-empty for up to 75 days, this robot packs serious convenience into a sleek, renter-friendly design.
This review dives deep into how the Roomba 104 performs in real homes, what makes it stand out, and where it falls short — based on verified data from iRobot, Amazon, Tom’s Guide, PCMag, and user feedback.
At first glance, the Roomba 104 looks like every other round vacuum bot. But underneath its familiar frame is a powerful LiDAR navigator, a 2-in-1 cleaning system, and an extra-large base station that automatically collects dust, pet hair, and debris for months at a time.
What’s Included and How It Works
Inside the box, you get the vacuum/mop unit, a microfiber mop pad, and a docking station that doubles as a self-emptying bin. It’s just 4.09 inches tall, so it fits under most furniture, and weighs around 15.6 lbs — portable enough for multi-floor homes. The robot holds 240 ml of debris internally, while the base station holds up to 3 liters, which means you can literally set it and forget it for weeks.
And yes — it vacuums and mops. The dual cleaning mode lets you choose what kind of cleaning you want, and it even avoids rugs while mopping. You won’t find a self-washing mop pad here, but it’s effective at removing light dirt, spills, and shoe prints in high-traffic zones.
Navigation and Smart Features
The Roomba 104 uses ClearView LiDAR, a laser-based mapping system that tracks room layouts with impressive accuracy. It works in daylight or low light, avoids pet bowls and staircases, and never crashes into furniture.
Through the iRobot app, you can set cleaning zones, draw boundaries, schedule routines, and even rename rooms. And if you have Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant, voice control is ready out of the box. Just say: “Alexa, clean the hallway,” and the Roomba rolls into action.
Cleaning Power and Performance
According to iRobot, the Roomba 104 delivers 70x the suction power of their older 600-series vacuums. That’s enough to lift pet hair from carpets and cereal from tile. It doesn’t publish Pa levels, but real-world testing by Just A Dad Reviews and Tom’s Guide confirms strong suction and reliable pickup across most flooring.
The side brush grabs dust from edges and baseboards, and the mop covers a decent area — though it’s better at maintenance cleaning than heavy scrubbing. The SmartScrub feature helps here, giving high-traffic zones extra attention when enabled.
Battery Life, Charging, and Maintenance
With a runtime of around 120 minutes, it cleans up to 1300 sq ft on a single charge. When the battery runs low, it docks automatically, charges, and continues where it left off. The bag in the base station usually lasts 60–75 days, and you only need to rinse the mop pad and clean the HEPA-style filter once or twice a month.
If you have pets or allergies, the 0.7-micron filtration traps allergens effectively — keeping your air as fresh as your floors.
Privacy and Data Protection
iRobot now offers stronger privacy tools in its app. All cleaning maps are encrypted, and you can delete saved data at any time. Firmware updates are automatic, and the Roomba 104 runs with standard cybersecurity protections for smart home devices.
What Real Users Think
On Amazon, the Roomba 104 has a 4.3-star average, with most reviews praising how little effort it requires. Users like the convenience, the suction, and the smooth app experience. Common critiques include basic mop functionality (it doesn’t replace manual mopping) and occasionally metallic-sounding voice prompts.
Still, it’s currently #1 in Robotic Vacuums and ranks within the Top 150 in Home & Kitchen overall — strong indicators of its growing popularity.
Pricing and Value
At full price, the Roomba 104 costs around $519 USD, but discounts during major sales events have dropped it to $249 USD, making it a serious contender in the mid-range market. Compared to high-end vac-mop robots with auto-mop wash or obstacle detection that cost $800+, the Roomba 104 punches above its price class.
Is It Right for You?
If you:
- Want to clean without managing dustbins weekly
- Prefer minimal maintenance and reliable mapping
- Have pets or allergies
- Use Alexa or Google Assistant
- Live in an apartment, condo, or multi-floor home
…then the iRobot Roomba 104 might be the perfect match. It’s not the most advanced model, but for set-it-and-forget-it cleaning, it nails the essentials. Lightweight, efficient, and smart enough to know when it’s mopping the kitchen — it offers a balanced mix of tech and practicality.
Just don’t expect it to scrub grout or polish hardwood. But for everyday cleaning and floor freshness, it’s a winner.
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