There is no way you will talk about the history of robot vacuums that you will not mention iRobot. It is one of the pioneering companies of this category of vacuum cleaners. We are about to find out if that daring innovation reflects in the iRobot Braava 380t Robot Mop.
The brand was founded in 1990 and since then it has been creating increasingly better robot vacuums.
To show its expertise in the robot vacuum category, it also makes a series of robot mops. These ones are meant to help you keep your hard floor looking shiny at all times.
That’s not all, this brand also manufactures pool cleaning robots. With that, you won’t have to go manual to clean your pools again neither will have to pay someone to do it.
Who Should Go For The iRobot Braava 380t Robot Mop?
This is a special offering in the world of robot vacuums. It is not a vacuum as it doesn’t have suction but it is also a floor cleaning robot.
The difference here is that it sweeps and mops. This means that it is only ideal for different types of hard floors.
There are homes that have a mixture of hard floors and carpets, their owners can pay attention to this robot as well. It could be that you hate the mopping part of the chores and the iRobot Braava 380t Robot Mop will come in handy.
This robot will help you sweep and mop your hard floors. It can even clean hardwood floors since it does not smear water all over the floor.
This robot also has an advanced navigation system that you might have read about from other iRobot vacuums. This mopping robot will learn its way around your house and move in a precise fashion to cover all the floor space.
If you want some more details, join us as we explore the workings and features of the iRobot Braava 380t Robot Mop. When you are done, you will be able to decide if you want this robot or not.
Features Of The iRobot Braava 380t Robot Mop
The iRobot Braava 380t Robot Mop has a unique navigation system. It works more like a GPS for indoors. It uses the Northstar navigation system and comes with an accompanying black cube.
The cube sends signals into the surrounding area and sends it back to the robot so it can get a spatial representation of its surroundings.
Now that the robot mop knows where the walls, drop points, and other obstacles are, it knows how to plan its route.
That’s not all, the map that the navigation system creates lets the robot mop know where it is at every point in time.
It also lets it know where it has cleaned and where it needs to clean. With this, the robot will always approach its task intelligently as it is working with real-time information.
Multiple Rooms Coverage
The iRobot Braava 380t as it is is only able to cover one room at a time.
However, you can have it clean multiple rooms if you want, it will just cost a little extra.
Ordinarily, this robot mop can sweep up to 1000 square feet of floor and mop 350 square feet.
If you get another Northstar cube, you will be able to expand its reach. With that, you can cover more rooms or a larger open space.
Sweep and Mop
It is general knowledge that you first sweep the floor before you mop it. So, it only makes sense that this robot can actually sweep and mop.
Though it cannot do it the same time, that would be cumbersome, it is actually cool that it can sweep at all. It does it so well that it can pick up even pet hairs off your hard floors.
There are two modes in which the iRobot Braava 380t Mop can operate. Here’s how they work.
The Dry Sweep Mode – This is the mode where the robot does a dry run across your floor. You will have a microfiber cloth fitted appropriately, of course. This is what it will use to trap dust and pet hairs off your floor.
In this mode, it moves back and forth like those intelligent robot vacuums that follow a purposeful pattern.
The Damp Mop Mode – This is where it does the real work of mopping. You will need to attach the water tank, and then wrap the appropriate microfiber cloth around it.
There is a mechanism that seeps water through to the cloth to dampen it. This mechanism is a key part of the process as it needs to be precise so the robot will not leave streaks of wetness on your floor.
The movement of the robot in this mop mode is a bit unique. It does not move in a straight line as in the sweep mode.
Though it moves in a generally straight line but it takes a short detour to either side after a short distance. The purpose behind this is to cover a larger path with its movement.
Impressive Battery Life
The iRobot Braava 380t Robot Mop will go the distance cleaning your floors. As well as it cleans, it lasts a long time too. Its battery packs a whole lot of power which is why it is able to go on for so long.
If the robot mop is sweeping, it can go on for a whopping 210 minutes on a full charge. When in the mop mode which uses more power, it can still mop for up to 150 minutes.
We are pretty sure you too will consider this impressive in every right. With this much battery life, the robot will rarely leave any task incomplete due to power.
Low Profile Design
Robot vacuums are often low enough to get under furniture which is a good feature a lot of people obviously like. The Braava 380t can do that too.
It is only 3.1 inches high which is low enough for it to get under most furniture and beds.
Now, you can rest assured your floors are truly clean. You won’t be worried to move furniture anymore for fear of how much dirt you might find.
User-friendliness Of The iRobot Braava 380t Robot Mop
Most people will consider it user-friendly that just to have a robot that can sweep and mop their floors on its own. However, there are some other aspects of the iRobot Braava 380t that might help you make up your mind concerning its ease of use.
Firstly, the robot mop uses a magnetic cleaning pad, two of them. One has a reservoir which is the one to use for moping and the other is for the dry sweeping.
These pads are used with microfiber cloths. The best part is that you can use either disposable ones or those you can wash and reuse.
This makes it easy for you to find a convenient option to sweep or mop your floors.
Secondly, even though the robot has a long-lasting battery life, you still won’t have to wait for long for it to recharge. With its turbo charge cradle, the battery will return to full in about 2 hours. That is less than the sweeping battery life.
Furthermore, you only have a manual option of control for this robot but it is still easy to use. There are just three buttons on it.
One button for the power, another for the damp mode, and the third for the sweep mode. All you need to do is to turn it on and select the mode based on what you need.
That’s not all, the iRobot Braava 380t operates quietly. The sound is so silent that you can have a phone conversation in the same room while it is working.
With these, it is left for you to decide if this robot is user-friendly or not.
Pros Of The iRobot Braava 380t Robot Mop
i. The robot mop uses an advanced navigation system.
ii. You can expand the robot’s reach by getting an extra Northstar cube.
iii. It follows the serpentine pattern to fully cover your floors.
iv. The robot can sweep and then mop.
v. It has impressive battery life.
vi. The battery charges quite fast due to its turbo charge cradle.
vii. You can use almost any microfiber cloth with its cleaning pads.
viii. It can easily go under furniture for wider coverage.
Cons Of The iRobot Braava 380t Robot Mop
i. Only water is suggested for use in the tank. You can’t use a specialized floor cleaning solution.
ii. You have to change the pads often to get a clean floor. But then, that shows it is cleaning the floor.
Alternatives To The iRobot Braava 380t Robot Mop
More Affordable Option – iRobot Braava Jet 240 Robot Mop
If you feel that the price tag on our featured vacuum is too high, we have good news. Here is a less expensive variant from the same brand.
This one too can sweep and mop. You can also use different types of microfiber reusable cloth or disposable pads for this one. One extra you can get from this one is that it releases a jet of water onto the floor in front of it and then wipes it off.
It uses basically the same navigation system as the Braava 380t. You can rest assured it will cover your floors well and even underneath furniture.
High-End Option – 360 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner
This is a top of the line robot that can vacuum and mop. Of course, you know that with high-end performance comes a high-end price.
This robot uses a laser navigation system to scan your home and create a map of it. This helps the robot move around precisely and clean optimally. It even uses the SLAM algorithm to plan the best routes.
That’s not all, it has a HEPA filter which you already know is the sought after filtration system in vacuums. It will protect the sensitive occupants from inhaling dust and allergens.
You can also use the app to set virtual boundaries for this robot so it does not get into trouble. With the app, you can also monitor and schedule its operations.
User-Friendly Option – Roborock Xiaowa E25 Robot Vacuum
This is another robot vacuum that can mop. This one comes at a rather affordable price and gives you a wide range of options.
Firstly, it uses a dual gyroscope system for its navigation in conjunction with 13 sensors to move around and avoid collisions and falls.
Secondly, this robot can sense when it is on a carpet in the vacuuming mode so, it will increase its suction power to provide deep cleaning.
Thirdly, it uses a map that lets you monitor its performance and schedule tasks for it. This app works on both Android and Apple smartphones. You can read the review for more information.
Opposite Spectrum – Oreck Commercial TaskVac Cordless Vacuum
Oreck is a brand known for making vacuum cleaners with high-end performance. Its TaskVac is a commercial vacuum standard which provides good suction for highly trafficked areas.
It will clean on both hard floors and carpets with ease. You can easily turn off the brush roll when cleaning delicate hard floors.
It has a scuff guard to protect your walls, floors, and furniture from scratches and bump marks. It features Oreck’s Endurolife belt which automatically shuts off the vacuum whenever there is a jam on the brush roll. This prevents further damage to the vacuum essentially increasing its lifespan.
Its lithium-ion battery is easily removable. This means that if you get an extra battery, you don’t have to stop vacuuming to recharge.
You can keep vacuuming with one battery while the other charges. The battery is designated to last you for about 25 minutes on a full charge.
Comparison Table
| Featured | More Affordable | High-End Variant | User-Friendly | Opposite Spectrum | |
| Products |
iRobot Braava 380t
|
iRobot Braava Jet 240 Robot
|
360 Robotic Vacuum
|
Roborock Xiaowa E25 Robot
|
Oreck Commercial TaskVac Cordless
|
| Dimension | 9.6 x 8.5 x 3.1 inches | 6.7 x 7 x 3.3 inches | 13.8 x 13.8 x 3.9 inches | 13.8 x 13.9 x 3.6 inches | 23.3 x 10.9 x 8.3 inches |
| Weight | 8.05 lbs | 3 lbs | 7.7 lbs | 7 lbs | 12.45 lbs |
| Mode of control / Attachments | Manual | Manual | Smart app | Smart App and Voice | None |
| Runtime | Up to 150 minutes | Up to 120 minutes | 110 minutes | 100 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Special Feature | It can operate in 2 cleaning modes | It sprays the floor before wiping | Washable HEPA filter | It can sweep and mop at the same time | The battery is removable |
| Image | Title | Buy |
|---|---|---|
 | iRobot Braava 380t Advanced Robot Mop- Wet Mopping and Dry Sweeping Cleaning Modes, Large Spaces | Buy Now |
 | iRobot Braava jet 240 Superior Robot Mop - App enabled, Precision Jet Spray, Vibrating Cleaning Head, Wet and Damp Mopping, Dry Sweeping Modes | Buy Now |
 | 360 Robot Vacuum and Mop Cleaner, Compatible with Alexa, Intelligent Cleaning with 1800Pa Super Power Suction, Laser Navigating, Multi-Map Management, Up to 110Min for Pet Hair, Carpet and Hard Floor | Buy Now |
 | roborock E25 Robot Vacuum Cleaner, Vacuum and Mop Robotic Vacuum Cleaner, 1800Pa Strong Suction, App Control, Route Planning for Pet Hair, Hard Floor, Carpet | Buy Now |
 | Oreck Commercial XL2100RHS Commercial Upright Vacuum Cleaner XL,Blue | Buy Now |
General Feeling Among Users
There are more people who like the iRobot Braava 380t than those who had complaints but the love for this robot mop is not exactly overwhelming.
First, a lot of users like that it can clean well. The sweeping and moping is something it does a pretty decent job with.
Secondly, users like how low profile the design is which let it get under furniture easily.
A particular user like this feature especially, she says that the robot mop gets under her bed which is low itself.
On a third note, some users were particular about how quiet this robot is. They say that it does its thing without calling everyone’s attention to it. It is almost like it does not want to disturb anybody.
That’s not all, users also like the fact that the battery charges pretty fast. This makes you wait for lesser a time for it to resume cleaning.
Some complaints…
One complaint other users agree to is that the robot is too manual, in the sense that it is not really programmable. They say that it would have been nice if you could schedule the cleaning.
Another complaint was that the robot mop is not so good at handling spots on the floor. If it had a scrub mode or even a scrubbing pad you can attach, it might have worked better.
Our Verdict
This might sound like a harsh verdict but we are just lukewarm about the iRobot Braava 380t Robot Mop. This is because it can only work on hard floors and all it does is to sweep and mop.
If you factor in its price, we really don’t think that is sufficient value for its cost. Look at it this way, there are robot vacuums that can vacuum and mop.
That’s not all, these vacuums are also programmable and you can control them remotely. The best part yet, they cost only a little more than this. We hope you get our point.
Don’t get us wrong though. We don’t mean that this vacuum is not good or we wouldn’t have bothered reviewing it.
You have read about it, so you can decide if it is for you or not. If you want to give it a try, we’re pretty sure you will like it. In that case, you should order it now!
