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iRobot Braava 380t Floor Mopping Robot Review PROS & CONS

Keeping your hardwood floors clean is easy with iRobot Braava 380tFloor Mopping Robot. The Braava is the product of iRobot’s $74 million dollar acquisition of Evolution Robotics, makers of the Mint robotic floor mop.

Rebranded and rereleased as the Braava, the “whisper-quiet” floor cleaner will mop dust, dirt, hair, and grime off of any hard surface, according to iRobot.

For basic cleaning, this robot might make sense, but it misses some key features like autorecharging and scheduled cleanings The Braava 380t looks a lot like the Braava 320. It measures 9.6 by 8.5 by 3.1 inches (WDH) and weighs in at 4 pounds.

 

iRobot Braava 380t Review

There are just three simple function buttons on top of the device: Power, Mop, and Sweep, along with navigation system indicator lights underneath.

iRobot Braava 380t Cleaner
iRobot Braava 380t Cleaner
It’s discreet, has a smart navigation system and works its way around obstacles with expert precision. It does a decent job of washing floors. All in all, the Braava 380 is a handy solution for home cleaning.

There’s a handle on the back that allows you to pick up and transport the robot vacuum easily. Before cleaning, you must charge the Braava. Stand it up on its back to access the charging port, plug it in, and wait for a solid blue light to appear on the Power button.

It takes about four hours to reach a full charge. Charge should last for up to four hours of sweeping or two-and-a-half hours of mopping. A Turbo Charge Cradle is available for about $59.99, which charges the Braava to full capacity in just two hours.

Once fully charged, you need to attach the appropriate cleaning pad and microfiber cloth for sweeping or mopping.

The Braava comes with one multi-purpose cleaning pad, one reservoir mopping pad, one microfiber cloth for sweeping, and one microfiber cloth for mopping.

Excellent product, keep my terrazzo floor dust free, i would let it run before i leave the house, when i got back, it stopped where it started and the house was clean. – Buyer

The cleaning cloths are all machine washable, and can be used hundreds of times. The pad for mopping comes with a small built-in reservoir you must fill up with water before using. The pads are held in place by magnets, and are easy to put on.

You cannot use the mopping and sweeping cloths and pads interchangeably. Before it can start cleaning, you must turn on the included, battery-powered NorthStar Navigation Cube. When you turn it on, a flashing blue light will appear.

Place the Cube on a counter or table with a clear view of the ceiling, and point the flashing blue light toward the center of the room. This will help guide the Braava around your room.

 

iRobot Braava 380t Floor Mopping Robot

Braava 380t includes a detachable Reservoir Pad that fills and empties easily over the sink. To use, pour in water or mild solution, close the fill cap, attach a damp Pro-Clean microfiber cloth and place the Reservoir Pad back on Braava.

Braava 380t has NorthStar Navigation System 2 which works like an indoor GPS. It projects a signal to determine, and later map, its location in your room.

braava-380t-review

With NorthStar 2, simply place a Cube in the first area you’d like to clean and place additional Cubes set to different channels in other rooms or areas you would like iRobot Braava 380t to reach.

The robot is constantly communicating with the NorthStar cube, which maps out the ceiling in order to deduce the shape of the floor. The robot’s sensors then allow it to adjust the cleaning patterns dictated to it by the cube for greater precision.

The advantage with this system is that a single cleaning session won’t dry the battery, since the robot stops once it’s cleaned the entire surface. As Braava finishes cleaning one room, it will travel from channel to channel thoroughly cleaning floors as it goes.

It uses a combination of dry and damp microfibre cloths. Before you can start cleaning, you have to insert the microfibre cloth. There are two cloths. Each of a different fabric.

The blue cloth is for damp mopping and the white cloth is for dry sweeping.

We bought the Braava a few months ago and love it. It holds wet Swiffer pads which has been our preferred cloth to use it with (versus the reusable pads that only use plain water to clean with and you have to wash after every use).

 My fiancé is obsessed with moving it from room to room and letting it clean away. We have 2 dogs and 3 cats, and the Braava somehow always manages to pick up hair that our 2 Roombas missed. – Buyer

The Pro-Clean System combines dry and damp, using a reservoir and a pad to dampen the cloth during cleaning. The cloths (included) are washable and the multifunction pad accepts disposable cloths.

There’s also a large handle on the bot for easy transport. To charge the Braava 380t, you just plug the adapter into any socket. The iRobot 380t is intended to clean 90 m² surfaces.

Area can be doubled with the use of additional NorthStar navigation cubes. Just keep in mind that each additional Cube costs around $39.99.

The Braava 380t has very few buttons. The ON/OFF button shines red while the robot is charging and turns to blue once it’s charged.

The same light is used to indicate errors, switching from red to blue, flashing or staying lit, and flashing different numbers of times to indicate different errors. iRobot Braava 380t Floor Mopping Robot uses sensors to detect empty spaces.

No boundary markers are included. if you have any especially dangerous areas on your floor like balconies or any drops, then you’ll have to use objects to stop the iRobot Braava 380t floor mopping robot from dropping.

The robot follows precise navigation patterns while making any necessary adjustments to avoid obstacles.In damp mode, it moves forward to backward like a broom.

The iRobot Braava 380 is not designed to clean multiple rooms and the navigation system won’t distinguish two distinct areas.

iRobot-Braava-380t-Floor-Mopping-Robot

The Braava doesn’t use suction like a robot vacuum does. Instead, it mops and/or sweeps up dust with the cloths. The 380 does a great job covering the surface, even when there’s furniture in the room.

For rooms with a lot of furniture and objects, it necessarily won’t pass every single location several times, but you can rest assured that it will get to each spot at least once.

The iRobot Braava 380t robot mop does an excellent job picking up dust, pet hair and people hair using the microfibre cloths. It doesn’t vacuum.

It won’t pick up larger objects such as cereal, cat litter or bits of gravel that you’ve dragged in from your garden. It even cleans corners and skirting boards as the cloths stick out from the sides.

iRobot says the Braava 380t is “whisper-quiet“, capable of cleaning while you sleep. And they are not wrong. It is so quiet you will have to watch out not to step on it by accident.

Since there are no spinning side brushes or inward air movement, the iRobot 380 doesn’t get caught up in cables or rug hairs and it does not clean rugs and carpets.

There are four cleaning modes. Dry and damp which can be run in normal mode or in quick, 15-minute cycles. To use the quick cycle mode, you just hold either the dry or damp button for a few seconds.

iRobot Braava 380t Floor Mopping Robot

Braava 380t includes a detachable Reservoir Pad that fills and empties easily over the sink. To use, pour in water or mild solution, close the fill cap, attach a damp Pro-Clean microfiber cloth and place the Reservoir Pad back on Braava.

The navigation cube is included and comes with two batteries. You can add more cubes to increase the robot’s surface area.

The Braava 380t floor mopping robot doesn’t consume much power, because it doesn’t need a motor for vacuuming. Only one to move around. As a result, each charge lasts three to four times longer than many robot vacuums.

NorthStar Navigation Cube
NorthStar Navigation Cube
The Room 2 Navigation Cube lets you set up an additional area in your home .

Roomba Braava 380t can move under chairs, couches and bookshelves without any problem. It precisely moves around obstacles, such as table feet and lamps.It isn’t the most delicate robot around and has a tendency to knock objects.

The iRobot mop 380t is not compatible with any kinds of cleaning detergents, so never put anything but water inside. It does not wash floors. It only mops them without using any cleaning solution.

 

iRobot Braava 380t Performance

Once you’re all set up, all you have to do is press the Mop or Sweep button and let the iRobot Braava 380t do the rest. The Braava 380t only works on flat surfaces, like tile or hardwood floor.

The 380t floor mopping robot uses a mostly forward motion to sweep, pushing forth and carrying dust, debris, and plenty of pet hair.

It doesn’t vacuum, which means you’re going to need to clean off all that debris it picks up by hand rather than emptying out a bin.

I have had my iRobot for a while and it is so easy to use. I purchased extra mopping cloths so it’s always ready to go. Just move things out of it;’s way and turn it loose. I feel it works better in larger spaces vs. small like a bathroom. Corners are a hard spot due to its size. – Buyer

After a thorough sweeping, you can set Braava to mop. To do this, it employs a back-and-forth technique in which it leaves a liquid trail in the shape of the letter Y.

The main problem is that the Braava iRobot 380t pays the same amount of attention to each area it cleans, so it will spend just as much time on a dried up spill as it will on a perfectly clean section of floor.

That means that it’s perfectly fine for a quick cleaning, especially if you usually keep things tidy, but you’ll need to put in some of your own manpower on tough stains and spills. The NorthStar Navigation Cubes do a good job in guiding the robot around.

Pro-Clean Reservoir Pad for Braava
Pro-Clean Reservoir Pad for Braava
The special Reservoir Cleaning Pad dispenses liquid throughout the cleaning cycle to keep the cloth damp.

 

Why Braava and not Roomba, or Scooba?

The cost barrier between Roomba and Scooba is huge. The Scooba is $600, and the new high-end Roomba is $700.
The Braava does not:

  • Support scheduling or automatic cleaning
  • Dock back into its charger at the end of a run
  • Vacuum
  • Memorize the layout of a room

These are the features you pay for in a Roomba or Scooba. Some call them luxuries, not necessities and will rather take Braava at half the cost.

 

What Does iRobot Braava 380t Do?

The iRobot Roomba 380t is actually two things. It’s a mop and floor sweeper.

The “dry” mop mode of the Braava just runs in a pattern over the cleaning area, including along the walls, and uses a dusting cloth to gather up debris and push larger junk to the edge of the room.

Hitting the wet mode button initiates a different behavior in Braava. Instead of just zigzagging across the cleaning area, Braava will go back and forth, overlapping and “scrubbing” the floor with the textured terry pad.

The reservoir pad base slowly wicks liquid out of the reservoir and onto the cleaning pad via a small antimicrobial fabric wick (which is replaceable). Mop stays wet throughout the cycle.

In wet mop mode, it gets up a fair amount of stains in kitchen.

On the laminate, the wet mop mode covers whole living area, though if you want it to do more than 350 sq. ft. of wet mopping, you’ll have to move it where you want to go, along with the navigation beacon.

Dry mopping doesn’t really benefit from multiple passes, so the Braava requires a more precise location system to achieve maximum efficiency and coverage.

Braava uses something called a “navigation beacon” which bounces a signal off the ceiling which is sort of GPS. The Braava has a big, translucent window on the top.

Using the static beacon as a reference point, Braava builds a map of a room as it cleans, making sure it cleans the entire room. In dry mop mode it doesn’t cover the same area twice.

In wet mop mode, it uses this map to ensure all areas are thoroughly scrubbed. The cube needs to be somewhere relatively high up and point roughly toward the center of the area you want the robot to clean.

The cube takes two C batteries. The Braava displays a rating of 1-3 lights for signal strength with the cube. If you want to cover areas outside the cube’s range you’ve got to buy another cube.

The cubes need to have some coverage overlap to work in tandem, and only the 380t supports working with multiple cubes.

The cubes don’t extend the maximum sq. footage of the iRobot Braava 380t floor mopping.

While I was a little skeptical purchasing this item due to my experience with robot products in the past, I’m glad I gave it a shot. Sure it doesn’t replace a vacuum and mop but it sure does a pretty good job of stretching the time between manual cleaning. – Buyer

Braava is not a vacuum. It does not pick stuff up, at least not stuff of substantial size. It collects dust, hair, liquids, and maybe a few small crumbs if you’re lucky. You will still have to vacuum.

If you want a vacuum and a mop and don’t want to ruin your laminate, buy a Roomba and a Braava, or a Scooba if you don’t have laminate.

There’s a reason that it’s half the cost of the Scooba, and less than half the cost of the latest Roomba.

And on that same note, it’s also not a steam cleaner or a floor buffer. It lightly mops your floors. It is not going to pull up years-old tar or random sticky spots that have been in your kitchen for years. If you want a deep clean for your floors, you still need to mop.

Braava Microfiber Mopping Cloths
Braava Microfiber Mopping Cloths
Braava’s textured Pro-Clean microfiber mopping cloths remove dirt and hair from your floors. The cloths can be washed and used hundreds of times.

 

Why Get Braava 380t?

Because it removes 95% of the work of mopping and sweeping up a hard-floored house / apartment, and it does that 95% a lot more often and a lot better than you probably would.

A Braava will reduce the allergen factor in your house when used regularly. It will keep floors looking nice and clean, and it doesn’t require much babysitting.

It’s quiet and can do up to 4 hours of work on a single charge. The 380t comes with the extended-release Pro Reservoir attachment which wet cleans a lot better, which is otherwise $30 separately.

irobot-braava-review

It also comes with a Turbo charge dock that takes 2 hours to charge as opposed to 4+ on the wall wart. The 380t has a bigger 2000mAh battery, and by design covers more square footage.

The only reason to get the base model is if you’re only using it for like, one small room. If you have pet hair issues, this is actually probably better than a Roomba for keeping it under control, especially if you just dampen the cloth.

The iRobot Braava 380t has three moving parts: the electric drive and the two wheels attached to it. You don’t need a second cube unless you want it for the convenience.

Just move the one it comes with to another room if you want it to clean another room. Cheaper, and not really difficult.

It really does clean along the edges of walls. It’s actually very good at it. And it gets around chair / table legs really closely. You can pause and then resume cleaning by pressing the cleaning button or just picking up the robot.

 

Braava 380t Replacement Parts

 

Features of Braava 380t

The Braava series from iRobot looks similar to the Mint vacuum series. Incidentally, the Mint brand was recently acquired by iRobot so they may have made use of their technology and design.

  • Hard Floor Specialist: If carpets are not your thing, the Braava is built for hardwood floors, laminates, linoleum, and tiles.
  • Dry/Damp Mop: This dual-mode allows for maximum flexibility, depending on your cleaning needs. Dry mode picks up top-level dust and dirt, while damp mop provides a deep clean to take out grime and stains. Both clothes are microfiber.
  • Multiple Pass Technology: Borrowing from the Roomba series, the iRobot Braava makes multiple passes over the same service area.

irobot-braava-380t-video

  • Ease of User: Braava has replaceable clothes for the bottom of the device. It is easy to tell when they are dirty and easy to replace as needed. You can start with a sweeping run with the dry microfiber cloth, followed by a deep clean with the microfiber mop cloth.
  • Smart Mapping: The Braava uses the latest iRobot technology and sensors to avoid stairs, carpets, and other pitfalls that could cause problems.
  • Compact Size: Braava is built to fit under the usual household furniture. It can get under couches, tables and other tight spaces. It also has enough coverage to clean corners as well.
  • Quiet: Unlike some of the older Roomba and Neato models, the Braava is surprisingly quiet.
  • Price: Braava is a cheaper than robot vacuums and is more effective  and efficient than hand mops. Within a year the investment pays for itself in time saved. While still not within everyone’s budget, the list price is more affordable than expected.
  • Keeps on Cleaning: Braava’s rechargeable battery cleans for up to 4 hours dry sweeping on a single charge, or up to 2 hours wet mopping.
  • Knows where not to go: Braava’s smart sensors avoid stairs, area rugs and raised transitions to carpet.

What’s In The Box?

  • Braava 380t Floor Mopping Robot
  • Wall Charger
  • NiMH Battery (2000 mAh)
  • NorthStar 2 Navigation Cube
  • 1 Multi-Purpose Cleaning Pad
  • ProClean Reservoir Pad
  • 2 “C” Batteries
  • Turbo Charge Cradle
  • Cloths: 1 Microfiber Sweeping Cloth
  • 1 Microfiber Mopping Cloth


 

PROS:

  • Very easy to use
  • Quiet
  • Effectively cleans dust and minor dirt
  • Cleans along wall edges and in corners
  • Can be used with disposable or washable cloths
  • Dry or damp cleaning
  • Navigates obstacles very well
  • Low power use

CONS:

  • Can’t be used with detergent
  • Doesn’t pick up larger dirt or debris
  • Does take some time to set up
  • Not programmable
  • Only works room by room

iRobot Braava 380t FAQ

Are the cloths washable, or single-use?

Cloths are washable. They can be air-dried or put in dryer.

Does this automatically go back to the turbo charge cradle when it is finished cleaning?

No. It returns to the spot where it started. Turbo charge cradle just lets it recharge faster.

Does this product includes the charge cradle?

Yes, it does.

How exactly should I position the Braava on top of the quick charging cradle?

Just drop it vertically on top of the charging cradle with the handle-side down.

Can I use this robot internationally with 220v power outage?

Yes, but you will need to buy another power adapter because, the original, who comes included, works only with 110v

Can I use wet pad and does the reservoir work when using dry mode (instead of mopping mode)?

Yes you moisten the pad. And the kit come with a dry pad for picking up dirt and another pad used moistened . You can use the reservoir dry but the kit comes with one white pad used in dry cleaning

How do you prevent it from falling down stairs?

It has sensors that keep it from falling

Does it work well on tile floors?

Yes it works wonderful on tiles and laminated floors

Does it come with cloths or do you have to purchase them separately?

It comes with two cloths. A microfiber one for wet mopping and a separate one for dry mopping. Both are reusable. However swifter wet or dry inserts can also be used.

 

Braava 380t vs Mint 4200 vs Mint Plus 5200C


  • Overview
  • Description
  • Brand/Store
  • Availability
  • User Rating
  • Review
  • Specification
  • Operating Time (hours)
  • Charge Time (hours)
  • Operating Pattern
  • Scheduled Cleaning
  • Hardwood, Tile & Linoleum
  • Carpet
  • Height Adjustment
  • HEPA Filter
  • Multi-Room Navigation
  • Battery Indicator
  • Full Bin Indicator
  • Cliff Sensor
  • Charging Base
  • Return to Charging Base
  • Bumper
  • Boundary Markers
  • Virtual Walls
  • Remote Control
  • Dimensions
  • Weight
  • Price
  • Dirt Sensor
  • Infrared Sensor
  • Spot Mode

 

iRobot Braava 380t Review Conclusion

Although there’s room for improvement it still delivers on its promises. It’s discreet, has a smart navigation system and works its way around obstacles with expert precision.

It does a decent job of washing floors. All in all, the Braava 380 is a handy solution for home cleaning.

7.8 Total Score
Good

If you have a large home with a mix of wood floors, tile, and linoleum, this nifty machine makes maintaining them a breeze. But Braava 380t is not robotic vacuum for for carpets.

Noise
8
Cleaning Performance
8.5
Easy To Use
8.5
Ability to work around Obstacles
8
Features
8
Overall Quality
8
Price
8.5
PROS
  • Very easy to use
  • Quiet
  • Effectively cleans dust and minor dirt
  • Cleans along wall edges and in corners
  • Can be used with disposable or washable cloths
  • Dry or damp cleaning
  • Navigates obstacles very well
  • Low power use
CONS
  • Can’t be used with detergent
  • Doesn’t pick up larger dirt or debris
  • Does take some time to set up
  • Not programmable
  • Only works room by room
User Rating: 3.67 (3 votes)
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