Many people might have heard about Roomba (one of the best-automated robot vacuum cleaners), but have you heard of an automated mop?
Sounds pretty interesting, doesn’t it? But does it get around the whole areas you want to be cleaned, and does it do the job well? What’s the performance like? That’s all we are going to find out in this review of iRobot Braava 380t.
Like the iRobot Roomba, the iRobot Braava 380t is a scientifically advanced automated cleaning and mopping machine that rushes around your house, doing your floor cleaning thereby allowing you to get on with every other household thing you need or want to do.
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1-minute iRobot Braava 380t review
The iRobot Braava 380t is a mopping robot designed to give you sparklingly clean floors every day in the easiest possible way. It uses dry or humid cloths to mop hard surfaces to get rid of your home’s dust, dirt, and smudges to keep it looking its best.
The iRobot Braava has two modes of deep cleaning to choose from, depending on the job you need to do. Braava 380t dry mops your floors in sweep mode, using dry cleaning cloths to move in straight lines. It also uses a special back and forth mopping pad action in mop mode, and damp cleaning cloths to lift dirt from the surface and grime off your floors.
With the Pro-Clean System included in Braava 380t, a special Reservoir Cleaning Pad dispenses liquid throughout the cleaning cycle to keep the cloth damp mopping.
Cleaning cloths with Braava’s removable multi-purpose magnetic cleaning pads are easy to attach and remove.
The NorthStar Navigation System 2 works like an indoor GPS, projecting a signal that your Braava 380t keeps track of so it where it was and where it needed to go.
- Accurate sweeping and mopping coverage.
- It has a compact design and practically silent.
- Long battery life with up to 150 minutes of run time for mopping mode and 210 minutes for the sweeping mode.
- Easy-to-use with a simple interface.
- It doesn’t come with remote control.
- No scheduling options.
- It does not go back to its dock once you’re done mopping and does not self-charge.
- Cleaning availability is limited and needs a GPS cube so that it can navigate properly.
- Advanced Robot Mop with Pro-Clean System enables triple-pass mopping action for everyday dirt and grime.
Last update on 2023-09-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
2- Full Review of iRobot Braava 380t
How it Works
The iRobot Braava 380t is easy to use. Just attach the cleaning mopping cloth and press either ‘Mop’ or ‘Sweep,’ for it to go to work.
In Mop mode, the Braava damp mops the floor to clean away smudges and dirt. It uses a back and forth action much as I would normally use when damp mopping the floors to give them a really good clean look.
In Sweep mode, the Braava dry mops the floors sweeping up dirt, hair, and dust move in straight lines for the most efficient cleaning.
In either mode, you can use disposable cloths or, better still, microfiber cloths that can be easily washed and probably reused over and over again.
The fibers on the clothes cling and attract dirt and greasy grime so you can clean and wet mop just with water use, which I LOVE because I try to avoid using lots of chemicals in my home.
Performance
Braava 380t robot mop delivers a cleaning performance that’s a whole different level compared to its competitors. The robot mop Braava 380t comes with both dry and wet cleaning modes. Although these methods of cleaning are not so different from each other, they both offer features and advantages that make each one it’s own.
Wet mode. The wet or mopping mode also utilizes the Northstar navigation system. The device cleans differently in this mode. Instead of single, long passes across rooms, it will make several passes across the same room area to ensure that all dirt and grime are lifted from your floor before moving on to a different area. Fill the reservoir with water and the recommended cleaning fluid to keep it damp at all times
Dry mode. The dry sweeping mode is where the unit goes around your home to sweep its floors. You don’t need any water or cleaning solution to operate this model. Once you set the Braava 380t on the dry sweeping cleaning modes, it will start making passes back and forth across every room it’s set to clean. To create an efficient cleaning pattern, you have to use the Navigation Cube.
The Braava 380ts cleaning capability is rather impressive. It can clean nearly all types of flooring and track the most efficient paths while doing so. It also creates an extremely low sound while carrying out its task. However, one of its drawbacks is that while using and removing the cleaning pads and cloths, there is still some unavoidable work involved on your part.
The cleaning performance at this robotic floor mop is excellent. But remember, it needs to be run regularly and keep on top of the cleaning to get the best out of it. If you just run it once a week, it will struggle.
Ease of set up and use
As with its predecessor, the Braava 320, the Braava 380t comes with a unique design and two-tiered shape. Its body is made of glittering black plastic on its sides with matte black plastic.
- Control and performance. The unit has three buttons for power, mop, sweep, and a receiver sensor at the top. Its sensor receiver receives a signal from the Northstar Navigation Cube to remind the robot mop of the areas in your home it has already cleaned up.
- Cleanup. You need to attach one of the cleaning pads which come with it to its front end when you use the device. With the help of small magnets, these pads are held in place.
- Aesthetics. The 380t Braava boasts a sleek and modern look. Its all-black style is combined with the lights of the blue button, making it simple and yet attractive.
You have to charge it first before you can use the unit. Place it in an upright position on its charging dock, plug it in and then wait until the Power button shows a solid blue light.
The iRobot Braava 380t is a nice floor mopping robot that doesn’t only sweep the floors but mops it too without leaving much to be desired when it comes to thorough cleaning. With its separate wet and dry modes, you can use the unit’s Clean command whenever you want.
Aside from these two methods of cleaning, there are also disposable pads and microfiber cloths that make using this robot quite easy and straightforward. You can simply place it on the charging dock for a recharge between tasks or after finishing all cleaning operations.
The performance of the iRobot Braava 380t has decent and commendable in both its wet and dry modes of operation. It sweeps and mops your hardwood floors effectively with ease.
The Braava 380t uses the regular charging port to charge completely for at least four hours. Once charged to its full capacity, attach for cleaning the appropriate microfiber cloth and multi-purpose cleaning pad.
Braava 380t Reliability
Braava 380t is quite reliable for hardwood floors, tile, or stone; this is a powerful vacuum and mop. It gets the job done, and the floors will be looking mighty shiny after a Braava 380t wet mopping.
The battery lasts for a long time. You can clean over 1500 sq. ft., and it still had some power left. So, it has a very good run time.
One thing you might not like is the fact it needs a separate navigation cube. This is a little bit old nowadays and I’d expect it not to be needed, but it’s not the end of the world. I’d rather have it than not have any smart navigation at all.
The square shape helps it get into corners easier, which is always good, and the construction seems durable enough to survive a house with kids and even pets.
It has a cool modern, streamlined look that is designed to be reliable and easy to use, which it is.
The pads aren’t all that expensive to replace, but they don’t last very long either.
The 380t is a little bit on the noisy side when it’s working in the cleaning mode, but I think this robot mop deserves 4 out of 5 stars for its reliability and value for the price. It’s not perfect, but it does a far better job than I could do manually and saves me lots of time and effort without creating too much noise or leaving streaks behind.
Ongoing Maintenance
For the most part, the iRobot Braava 380t mop works as advertised, although the biggest complaint is the lack of onboard sensors which means, it can’t detect the object that it’s running into; it will be very nice if an onboard sensor is added to it.
Maintaining the Braava 380t is quite simple. There are only a few key areas to pay attention to, none of which require a lot of time or effort.
- Change the cleaning cloth – The cleaning cloth needs to be washed or changed after every major cleaning cycle.
- Change cleaning pad – The multi purpose cleaning pad needs to be changed if you move from wet or damp mop to dry sweeping.
- Replace the battery – Replacing the battery should be completed if you notice the battery of the Braava 380t not holding a charge, or if it has died entirely.
Annual maintenance costs for the Braava 380t land are around $5 / year. This will cover replacing the battery every three years. Once you run out of the cleaning cloths that come with the Braava, you should get a pack of machine-washable microfiber cloths.
Key Features of iRobot Braava 380t
Ease of use: You don’t need to do any heavy lifting or assignment when using the Braava 380t. All you need to do is press one button then watch as it does all the work for you. This vacuum robot is super quiet in terms of noise.
Durable design: The iRobot Braava 380t is built with high-quality shiny black plastic; thus, it has a strong body and can withstand everyday wear and tear on a hard floor. The 500ml bottle capacity lets you clean more floors without stopping and refilling too frequently.
Performance: The iRobot Braava 380t is built to deliver optimal performance every time thanks to its automatic mopping features. It comes with three different cleaning modes including dry mode, damp mode, and wet mode. The dry mode enables the unit to sweep hard surfaces leaving them completely free of dust particles while the damp worker of mine had a Braava 380t and it did a great job.
IAdapt 2.0 Navigation: IAdapt 2.0 Navigation helps Braava keep track of where it’s been and where it needs to go even on the hard floor.
Battery life: The iRobot Braava 380t uses Lithium-ion batteries that last for up to three hours on a single charge. When they’re depleted, you can easily plug in the unit to recharge fully in four hours or less.
Warranty: There is a one-year limited warranty with this unit which covers parts and labor costs.
Cost-effective: Over time, this machine will pay for itself because you won’t need any other machines to clean your hard floors anymore. You would only have to get replacement pads down the line after heavy use but they are very cheap too.
A couple of alternatives to consider
If you want to try out some other alternatives then there are many other options available which you can consider.
ILIFE Shinebot W450 is one of the best Wet Mopping, Wet Scrubbing, and Floor Washing Robots, especially for hard floors. It has various features such as Smart Panoview Navigation, Smart App Control, Customizable Cleaning Plan, Anti-Collision & Anti-Dropping, etc.
as a unique patent design brush that works great in scrubbing and wet mopping, the cleaning cloth is reusable and machine washable.
It was created to help people who have pets or kids, it does a good job on hardwood floors, tile, stone, etc., getting rid of the mess fast. It has three cleaning modes as Path Mode, Area Mode, and Spot mode.
If you want to save some money then you can go with the iRobot 240 Braava Robot which is a versatile robot with affordable pricing. It is very compact and lets you use it in any place you want.
iRobot 240 Braava Robot is easy to use mopping robot with better flexibility and unique features that make it versatile.
FAQs on Braava 380t
iRobot Braava 380t — final thoughts
The Braava 380 t iRobot is an extremely convenient way to clean your floors, especially if you are a very busy person.
With a single push of its power button, you can easily clean your home. You also don’t need to worry about storing it as once done with the cleaning task; it will go back to its dock and automatically power it off.
Anyone who has stone, hardwood, or tile will be delighted with the 380t wet mopping iRobot Braava.
If you are looking for something a bit smarter, then the iRobot Braava m6 is a bit more expensive, but has a few more cool features such as auto-docking and doesn’t require the navigation cube.
But overall, this is a very good choice for your home mopping robot.
Emma Marie is a valued writer at the Little Robot Shop. She studied robotics and deeply understands technology, which shows in her writing. She consistently produces high-quality content, making her a perfect fit for the Little Robot Shop team.
While not writing, Emma works in a popular electronics retail chain. Emma also enjoys running and has two dogs with whom she loves spending time.
