A mobile robot comprising: a robot body defining a forward drive direction; a drive system supporting the robot body to maneuver the robot across a floor surface; a cleaning assembly disposed on the robot body, the cleaning assembly comprising: a pad holder configured to receive a cleaning pad having a center (Pc) and lateral edges (PR and PL); and a fluid applicator configured to apply fluid to the floor surface; and a controller in communication with the drive system and the cleaning assembly, characterized in that the controller is configured to control the drive system and fluid applicator while executing a cleaning routine comprising: applying fluid to a floor surface area at an initial volumetric flow rate (Vi), the floor surface area being in front of the cleaning pad and in the forward drive direction of the mobile robot; moving the robot to the floor surface area in a movement pattern that moves the center (Pc) and lateral edges (PR and PL) of the cleaning pad separately through the floor surface area to moisten an exterior surface of the cleaning pad with the fluid applied to the floor surface area at the initial volumetric flow rate (Vi); and applying the fluid to the floor surface area at a subsequent volumetric flow rate (Vf) when the exterior surface of the cleaning pad is moistened, the subsequent volumetric flow rate (Vf) lower than the initial volumetric flow rate (Vi). a robot body defining a forward drive direction; a drive system supporting the robot body to maneuver the robot across a floor surface; a cleaning assembly disposed on the robot body, the cleaning assembly comprising: a pad holder configured to receive a cleaning pad having a center (Pc) and lateral edges (PR and PL); and a fluid applicator configured to apply fluid to the floor surface; and a controller in communication with the drive system and the cleaning assembly, a pad holder configured to receive a cleaning pad having a center (Pc) and lateral edges (PR and PL); and a fluid applicator configured to apply fluid to the floor surface; and a controller in communication with the drive system and the cleaning assembly, characterized in that the controller is configured to control the drive system and fluid applicator while executing a cleaning routine comprising: applying fluid to a floor surface area at an initial volumetric flow rate (Vi), the floor surface area being in front of the cleaning pad and in the forward drive direction of the mobile robot; moving the robot to the floor surface area in a movement pattern that moves the center (Pc) and lateral edges (PR and PL) of the cleaning pad separately through the floor surface area to moisten an exterior surface of the cleaning pad with the fluid applied to the floor surface area at the initial volumetric flow rate (Vi); and applying the fluid to the floor surface area at a subsequent volumetric flow rate (Vf) when the exterior surface of the cleaning pad is moistened, the subsequent volumetric flow rate (Vf) lower than the initial volumetric flow rate (Vi). applying fluid to a floor surface area at an initial volumetric flow rate (Vi), the floor surface area being in front of the cleaning pad and in the forward drive direction of the mobile robot; moving the robot to the floor surface area in a movement pattern that moves the center (Pc) and lateral edges (PR and PL) of the cleaning pad separately through the floor surface area to moisten an exterior surface of the cleaning pad with the fluid applied to the floor surface area at the initial volumetric flow rate (Vi); and applying the fluid to the floor surface area at a subsequent volumetric flow rate (Vf) when the exterior surface of the cleaning pad is moistened, the subsequent volumetric flow rate (Vf) lower than the initial volumetric flow rate (Vi).