iRobot Braava 380t

amazon iRobot Braava 380t reviews

The iRobot Braava 380t is a great accessory for those who like to be neat but lazy, but you still need to help it from time to time.

After spending a fair portion of my time with the iRobot Roomba 790 and Neato XV-21, one thing is for sure: My apartment floors are free of debris, but they still need a thorough cleaning. Unfortunately, my growing reliance on robot vacuums makes the thought of mopping more painful than ever.

The $299.99 iRobot Braava 380t is like a big brother to the iRobot Braava 320. The Braava 320 is $100 less, but the 380t has a larger battery with faster charging, room-by-room cleaning, a temporary button stop, quick clean mode, and a protective bumper. You’ll still need a vacuum for large debris, as well as an occasional helping hand for tough spills, but it’s a great accessory for the tidy-up who hates cleaning.

Design and installation

The Braava 380t looks like the Braava 320, with the same two-tier shape and size. It measures 9.6 x 8.5 x 3.1 inches (WDH) and weighs 4 pounds. It comes in shiny black instead of white, with the same matte black plastic along the edges. There are only three simple function buttons on the top of the device: Power, Wipe, and Sweep, along with a navigation system indicator below. There is also a handle on the back that allows you to pick up and transport the robot easily. The only way you know that this is a different model, aside from color, is the rubber bumper on the front. While both Braava models work so slowly and softly that I wouldn’t worry about it scratching even the most delicate pieces of furniture, the rubber bumper gives you extra peace of mind.

Before you can start cleaning, you must first charge the robot. Place the device on your 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 fully charge, which can last up to four hours of sweeping or two and a half hours of mopping. The Turbo Charge Cradle is available for $59.99, charging the Braava to full capacity in just two hours. It’s also easier to use, as you don’t need to put the device on your back.

Once fully charged, you need to attach the appropriate cleaning pad and microfiber cloth to sweep or wipe. Braava comes with a multi-purpose mop, a mop with a holder, a microfiber cloth for sweeping, and a microfiber cloth for wiping. The cleaning cloths are all machine washable and can be used hundreds of times.

The mop pad comes with a built-in small reservoir, which you must fill with water before use. Moisten the cleaning cloth, then glue it to the pad via the Velcro attachments on the back. Meanwhile, the scanning pad uses a set of clamp teeth to hold a dry microfiber cloth in place. The pads are held in place by magnets and are easy to put on. You cannot use cloths and wipes and sweepers instead.

I was a bit surprised that there was no specialized cleaning solution to clean the house. But the microfiber pads have been specially formulated for optimal cleaning, so just water is enough. You can also use a mild solution of your choice, but anything thick can clog the wick (the container pad’s foam cap). However, as a connoisseur, I like to take a heavy-duty approach to my cleaning from time to time, and it looks like I’ll have to keep doing it manually in the future. However, the all-purpose mop works with pre-wetted wipes, like the Swiffer pad, if that’s any consolation.

Finally, before you can start cleaning, you must enable the included battery-powered NorthStar Navigation Block. When you turn it on, a flashing blue light will appear. Place the Cube on the table with a clear view of the ceiling and direct flashing blue light towards the center of the room. That will help guide Braava around your room. I’ve had trouble getting Braava to connect to the Cube at times, but this passes with repeated attempts.

A key benefit of the Braava 380t is that you can use additional Navigation Blocks to guide the robot from room to room. Just keep in mind that each additional Cube costs $39.99, and the Braava 380t has just so much battery life. But if you live in a small one-bedroom apartment as I do, cleaning up again is suboptimal.

Performance and Conclusion

Once you’re all set, all you have to do is press the Wipe or Sweep button and let Braava do the rest. I first tried sweeping to prepare my floors for a good mop. The Braava 380t only works on flat surfaces, such as tile or hardwood floors, so get rid of carpets and carpeted areas.

The Braava 380t uses a primarily forward motion to sweep, eject, and carry dust, debris, and lots of pet hair. I was quite surprised at the amount of pad dirt I get up, as I tend to keep a fairly clean house.

After a thorough scan, I set the Braava to wipe. To do this, it uses a back and forth technique where it leaves a trail of liquid in the shape of the letter Y. I just filled the reservoir pad with water to see if the microfiber cloth would work. How well it works. Once again, I am very impressed with the results. I guess I didn’t expect my apartment to get dirty, but I was amazed at the amount of dirt visible on the wipes when Braava was finished, as well as the overall “clean” feel of the floors.

The main problem is that the Braava 380t pays equal attention to each area it cleans, so it will spend as much time on a dry spill as it does on a perfectly clean portion of the floor. That means it’s perfectly fine for quick cleanups, especially if you usually keep things organized, but you’ll need to use your workforce to tackle tough stains and spills.

NorthStar Navigation Cubes did a great job guiding the robot around my apartment. It usually gets right close to the furniture without actually hitting it and does a really good job navigating corners. Even so, a large fluffy rug in the middle of the living room threw the robot around. While there should have been just enough space to move around the rug, it could never get through; I had to pick it up and move it myself. As far as I know, if I use a robot to do my housework, I want to put in as little effort as possible. Also, there’s no way to schedule cleanings with Braava Plus, as you can with robot vacuums like the Neato XV-21.

That aside, I like the Braava 380t. That’s great for someone like me who lives in an apartment with mostly hardwood floors. While its mopping isn’t quite on par with the superior suction of the premium Roomba 880, it has the added benefit of being able to mop my floors after sweeping them. There’s also the Scooba 450, which vacuums and mops, but at $600, it’s double the price of the Braava 380t.

That model sells for $100 less, and I’m not sure if the features added here are worth the extra for most people. The extended battery is certainly nice, and the room-by-room cleaning is also convenient, but keep in mind that you’ll have to pay more for the extra Cubs. Rubber pads are welcome but not required, as are some other new features. So, if you don’t need any of these, then go for the Braava 320.

Advantages

Sweep and wipe.

Exact coverage.

Almost silent.

Defect

There is no special cleaning solution.

Not effective on hard-to-remove stains.

Sometimes it takes a while to connect to the Navigation Cube.

where can you get a iRobot Braava 380t online

iRobot Braava 380t Advanced Robot Mop- Wet Mopping and Dry Sweeping Cleaning Modes, Large Spaces: Buy it now