Review on Effortlessly Clean Large Spaces with the iRobot Braava 380t Advanced Robot Mop: Wet Mopping & Dry Sweeping Modes, Black by Luca Washington

First impression. I will update after a few more uses. I have mostly hardwood floors and two cats and can't clean them. I'm a bachelor and haven't figured out how to clone a maid version of me (yet), so I'm a huge fan of someone else doing the job. So I bought a Braava (and a Roomba 890, which I also reviewed). It came with a charging dock, two mop/sweeping heads (more on that in a moment), and two washable microfibers. Sweepers/mops, spare wick for detergent, navigation cube with batteries, power cord, quick start guide and instructions. The packaging was neat and secure. Preparing Braava is very simple. Charging at the charging station. Choose a location for the cube (presumably it should have an unobstructed view of the ceiling). Choose your weapon (sweep or sweep). There are currently two options. You can either use their microfiber for sweeping or the microfiber for mopping on the head which uses velcro, and you can also use the detergent in a container that runs the length of the head and holds more than it looks. Or a Swiffer head is also included to hold your disposable towels or wipes. I have many of those who have done it by hand since ancient times, like the plebs, so I went with a mop. My Roomba has already done the farmer's job of cleaning up the cat dander and trash that rude idiots leave everywhere. Please note that the detergent wick needs to be replaced regularly. Preliminary pluses: options, ease of use. Preliminary cons: The loading indicator is a brazen liar. It charged overnight and still claimed to need a top up. However, the battery was fully charged. Using Braava involves placing it at a "start/end" location, including a cube with a directional label pointing to the center of the room, and releasing it. Two buttons move it; one for sweeping, one for mopping. The sweeper has a different cleaning pattern, which is good. Unlike Roomba, Braava doesn't return to its charging dock. It ends where it began. You must prepare it for the charging dock by removing all liquids/wet wipes from the Braava before placing it on the base. It doesn't lie flat. It stands upright to save space, which is good. Also, unlike Roomba, there's no scheduler or control app (or let's call it Pleb One). Works well: two modes for two models, easy to use, space-saving charger. The work is bad: you can't plan, you have to prepare for loading. The performance was a mix of really great and really bad. A damp cloth works better if you tell it to sweep rather than mop. It covers a large area on the fabric. But at the same time (expectedly) does a pretty mediocre job. It's really thorough in mopping mode. And it's super quiet. The battery seems to be holding up well. Worked two hours on one charge. It is gentle on carpets, but also does not run over strips of floor in doorways. It got stuck under furniture a few times and can't see iRobot's virtual wall/halos, so make sure you pick up pet food plates. Give him the cleaning cloth. Maybe this will help the process work better. I do not know. He may not finish two rounds with the same charge. May be. He ran for two hours, but that's not a four-legged horse. He works on the pace of the skilled workers' union. ie not fast. The living room with the connected kitchen was also difficult for him, but the bar screen. I had to move the cube so it washes both areas. The space, approximately 20 feet by 25 feet, that the cube should cover but does not cover. Performance is good: quiet, thorough, doesn't wash mats, lasts a long time on a single charge. Poor Performance: Requires babysitting. Mop and jam, Swiffer mop option almost fools gold, doesn't see halos/virtual walls, doesn't jump between rooms with floor strips in the door, navigation wasn't outstanding. Overall I like the idea, no sweeping or mopping which is actually a selling point. So this is the expected product. It does both while I do neither. This is thorough, but you must stay on task. Almost like your kids are sweeping and mopping, but it works longer than your kids. He has a decent job. This gives you options. And it's quiet and easy to use. But for the price, I expect more features and better navigation. .More positives than negatives. And indeed, many of the negatives are kind of nitpicking and can be said for the Roomba too, which is in a much more mature stage of development. I don't think anyone will buy this and expect it to be reasonable and self-sufficient. I gave him three stars. It could be four once I figure out how to use it more effectively. However, the price and lack of features mean it never gets a 5-star rating. It needs to recognize other iRobot accessories and be better at navigating them to break the four-star mark.