Roomba 104 Review — 75-Day Auto-Empty, Powerful Vacuum & Mop

Intro

The Roomba 104 Combo is a mid-range robot vacuum and mop hybrid designed to handle everyday dirt, dust bunnies and light spills without constant supervision. It combines powered suction, a multi-surface brush, an edge-sweeping tool and a microfiber mopping pad with an AutoEmpty base that collects debris into a disposable bag.

If you want a hands-off cleaner that both vacuums and mops, and you dislike dealing with dust clouds when emptying the bin, this model aims to reduce that upkeep. Quick verdict: the Roomba 104 Combo is a convenient, smart-mapping robot vacuum mop with a self-emptying dock that’s best for busy households looking to minimize maintenance.

What’s in the Box

• 1 Roomba 104 Combo robot
• 1 AutoEmpty Dock
• (Other accessories: Not specified)

Design & Build

The Roomba 104 Combo keeps the familiar circular robot profile with a low-height chassis that helps it fit under many couches and cabinets (exact height and weight: Not listed). The unit integrates a multi-surface brush system and an edge-sweeping brush positioned to pull debris from corners into the cleaning path. The rear or underside includes a microfiber mopping pad and a micro-pump system to control water flow during mopping.

Materials are not itemized in the listing; the robot appears to follow typical Roomba construction—rigid plastic shell with rubberized wheels and a soft mop pad. The AutoEmpty dock includes a bagged system that accepts the robot’s internal dust bin and seals dust and particles inside the bag for disposal.

Ergonomics are focused on low-touch maintenance: the dock automatically collects dirt, and the app plus voice control options reduce the need to physically interact with the robot often. If you’re sensitive to dust when emptying robot bins, the bagged dock is a practical advantage.

Key Features

70X More Power-Lifting Suction

This Roomba claims 70X more power-lifting suction compared with its baseline model on the brand listing (source: listing, checked 2025). In practical terms, that increased suction helps lift embedded dust and pet hair from carpets and rugs, making it more effective than basic models at removing ground-in debris. You’ll notice the difference on medium-pile rugs and pet hair hotspots, where a weaker unit might only skim the surface.

AutoEmpty Dock with 75 Days Hands-Free Capacity

The included AutoEmpty dock collects debris from the robot and holds it in a disposable bag that, per the manufacturer, can keep you hands-free for up to 75 days between bag changes (source: listing, checked 2025). The bag is also rated to trap 99% of allergens down to 0.7 microns (source: listing, checked 2025), which reduces the dust cloud that often bothers allergy sufferers during disposal. For busy families or allergy-conscious buyers, that means much less direct contact with collected dust.

ClearView LiDAR Mapping and Navigation

ClearView LiDAR mapping gives the Roomba precise room mapping and navigation so it can cover floorplans systematically instead of random-roaming. The LiDAR system helps the robot steer smoothly around furniture, plan efficient paths and avoid stairs. In practice this means fewer missed zones, predictable runs and quicker cleaning cycles on multi-room homes.

Rug Detection While Mopping

A common mopping concern is wetting rugs. The Roomba 104 Combo automatically detects and avoids carpets when in mop mode, so rugs and soft surfaces stay dry without manual intervention. If you switch to mop-only or combo mode, the robot will steer clear of carpeted areas—useful for homes that run regular vacuum+ mop passes without having to set spot exclusions.

Dual Cleaning Modes and Customization

Choose vac only, mop only, or combo vac-mop, and tailor how the bot cleans room-by-room. You can schedule cleans, set targeted rooms, and adjust suction strength, number of passes, and the amount of mopping solution pumped onto the pad. These options let you prioritize deep cleaning in high-traffic rooms and lighter passes where floors are less soiled.

Micro-Pump Mopping & SmartScrub

The built-in mop uses a micro-pump to maintain an even pad moisture level; the SmartScrub setting provides what the manufacturer calls “2x deeper scrubbing” for tougher spots (source: listing, checked 2025). For everyday streak-free hardwood and tile maintenance, that controlled water delivery helps avoid puddling while giving a more consistent wipe than passive damp pads.

Edge-Sweeping Brush for Corners

An edge-sweeping brush improves corner and edge pickup and—according to the listing—delivers about 20% better edge-and-corner cleaning versus the referenced baseline (source: listing, checked 2025). If you frequently find dust lines along baseboards or in corners, this adds measurable benefit compared with single-brush designs.

App Control, Voice Assistants and Scheduling

Control options include the Roomba Home app, which lets you start custom cleans, create keep-out zones, get time estimates and check filter life. The robot also responds to voice commands through compatible assistants, and its physical buttons provide an on-device fallback. The robot uses a 2.4 GHz Wi‑Fi connection for setup and operation (source: listing, checked 2025).

Performance & Use

Setup is straightforward: place the AutoEmpty dock on a flat floor against a wall, plug it in, charge the robot and connect to your 2.4 GHz Wi‑Fi through the app for mapping and scheduling features. Because the robot uses LiDAR, the first few runs will focus on mapping and can take slightly longer; this is normal and improves subsequent cleaning efficiency.

Practical tips:

• Position the dock in a low-traffic location with a clear approach so the robot can return and dock reliably.
• Use the app to establish keep-out zones for delicate decor, pet areas, or cables.
• For mopping, fill the micro-pump reservoir with water or a compatible cleaning solution (specific compatible solutions: Not specified). Adjust the pump level in the app to control how much moisture reaches the pad.
• If you have a lot of pet hair, perform more frequent runs or higher suction settings in high-traffic zones to prevent hairy tangles on the brush.
• Replace the dock bag per the app’s guidance or when the dock indicates it’s full. With typical household debris, the company claims up to 75 days between bag changes (source: listing, checked 2025).
• Clean the brushes and check the mop pad periodically. The listing doesn’t specify exact maintenance intervals, so adjust frequency based on use and visible dirt.

The LiDAR navigation handles obstacles and stairs safely, but you should remove small objects, cords and loose socks from the floor to avoid unexpected snags. If your home layout includes many narrow passages or very dark/reflective surfaces, watch the first few runs to confirm mapping accuracy; LiDAR typically handles these well, but unique room conditions may need slight human adjustments (e.g., adding virtual keep-out zones).

Pros vs Cons

Who Should Buy

• Busy households that want low-touch cleaning and minimal bin handling—especially those with allergies—because of the bagged AutoEmpty dock and claimed allergen capture.
• Homes with mixed surfaces (hard floors + rugs) that want one device to both mop and vacuum while avoiding wetting carpets.
• People who prefer predictable, mapped cleaning paths rather than random navigation and appreciate scheduling and app control.

Who Shouldn’t Buy

• Buyers who need detailed hardware specs up front (battery runtime per charge, robot dimensions and weight) because those numbers are not listed.
• Users who require a fully bagless solution—this model relies on disposable dock bags.
• Households that need heavy-duty carpet-deep-cleaning beyond what a combo robot is designed to do; this model is optimized for routine maintenance rather than deep carpet extraction.

Specs

If you need other technical details such as exact battery run time per run, noise level, robot dimensions or spare part counts, those specific numbers are Not listed in the product information provided.

Closing — Should You Buy It?

If you want a convenient, low-maintenance robot that vacuums and mops while limiting your contact with collected dust, the Roomba 104 Combo is a compelling choice—especially for allergy-aware households and busy people who value automated empties and smart mapping. It’s not the right buy if you need exhaustive, published technical specs before purchasing or if you must avoid bagged systems.

Ready to reduce daily floor chores? Check current offers and confirm compatible cleaning solutions or spare bags before ordering to make sure the setup matches your cleaning routine.