The iRobot Braava 380t can dry mop or damp mop hard floors to reduce daily dirt and dust accumulation. It uses reusable microfiber cleaning cloths and smart navigational systems to sweep and mop the floor.
Braava 380t: Overview
The Braava 380t can do basic dry and wet mopping for cleaning up thin layers of dust, hair and dirt. It has two basic automatic modes: dry mop mode and damp mop mode. However, you cannot program this robotic mop to follow a weekly schedule. You have to start it every day by pressing the power button and selecting either sweep or mop mode.
The Braava 380t might sweep the floor for up to 4 hours. It might mop the floor for up to 2.5 hours before the battery runs low. Maximum floor coverage is up to 1000 square feet in sweeping mode and 350 square feet in mopping mode.
This mopping robot does not self-recharge when the battery is low. Even so, it returns to the place where it started mopping. This way, you will know where to find and recharge it with the included charging adapter. The battery recharges in about 4 hours. You can also buy a special turbocharge cradle which recharges the battery in only two hours.
Do not expect this mopping robot to clean up a major mess or a filthy floor. It does not vacuum the floor, so it does not remove hair or debris. It is made for sweeping and mopping up the daily dirt that accumulates unnoticed.
What is included with the Braava 380t?
The Braava 380t mopping robot comes with reusable microfiber cleaning cloths, charging adapter and navigation cube.
The main body of the Braava 380t houses the internal parts. The top has the control buttons, a navigation sensor and a navigation system indicator. A handle is found at the back of the robot. The bumper and removable cleaning pad is located in the front. The multipurpose cleaning pad uses either disposable or reusable microfiber cloths for dry and wet mopping.
Buttons And Lights
The most important button is the POWER button. Press this button once to turn the robotic mop on. The power button can change color to provide extra information about the state of the battery.
The button with the broom symbol is the SWEEP button. Press this button only once to start the robot when a dry cloth is attached. It will start to sweep the floor. A blue button color indicates activity, while a blinking button indicates a pause.
The water drop symbol is shown on the MOP button. Press it when you use a wet cloth to damp mop the floor. A solid blue light indicates the mop is active, while a blinking blue light shows that it is paused.
The navigation system lights are located below these buttons. A connection is being established when the lights are blinking. Solid lights show the connection strength.
The navigation cube shows the same light messages, but it also shows a red light if its battery is low. The navigation cube uses two C batteries.
How does it clean the floor?
Firstly, remove the cleaning pad from the robot. Insert the dry or wet microfiber cleaning cloth into the gripping strips on both sides. Put the cleaning pad back into the robot. The pad has magnets that help it to stay in place.
The Braava 380t does not clean carpets, only hard floors such as wood, laminate, linoleum and tile. It might work on properly sealed cement floors, but not on any unsealed surfaces. It is very important that the floor is smooth. Uneven or rough surfaces might snag the cleaning cloth and prevent the robot from cleaning.
The Braava 380t moves in straight lines when sweeping up dust in sweep mode. It goes back and forth in parallel lines while sweeping up the dirt.
The Braava robotic mop behaves a little differently when mopping the floor with a wet cloth in mop mode. It moves forward at an angle to the left, reverses and then moves forward to the right. It reverses again and goes to the left etc. The mopping robot cleans a smaller area in mop mode when compared to sweep mode.
The NorthStar navigation cube works like a beacon that sends a signal to the Braava 380t robotic mop. This interaction between robot and cube helps to build up a map of the current cleaning area. However, this mapping is unique to each cleaning cycle. Place the navigation cube close to the center of the area you want the Braava robotic mop to clean. It will keep cleaning in the general area of the cube.
The Braava 380t has the ability to receive signals from multiple navigation cubes. This expands the effective cleaning range of the Braava robot mop, since it will automatically move from one cube to the next. However, this is only true for dry sweeping. The Braava 380t limits its wet mopping to about 350 square feet to prevent the cloth from drying out too much.
The Braava 380t can also function without the navigational aid received from the NorthStar cube because it has iAdapt smart navigation. However, the cleaning area covered by the robotic mop will be smaller. It will also not be able to clean the edges of the room.
Do I need more than one cube?
No, you can move the navigation cube from room to room and place it where you want the Braava 380t to clean the floor. The navigation cube creates a temporary map of the room each time it is used. It does not save the information, and therefore a single cube can be used all over the house.
Are the microfiber cloths washable?
The cloths are reusable and can be washed either by hand or in a washing machine. Do not use bleach on the cloths. Wash it in warm water and dry it out.
Braava 380t: Conclusion
The iRobot Braava 380t does not completely replace the floor mop or broom. You still need to sweep and mop the floors now and again. This mopping robot is merely an additional, mostly hands-free way of keeping the daily accumulation of dust and dirt under control. The Braava 380t robotic mop is most effective in small spaces and on smooth, hard floors.
You still need to charge it because it cannot self-recharge like the Roomba 650 robot vacuum. Then you have to attach the dry or wet cloth, position the navigation cube, press the buttons and see if it works. It only becomes fully automatic after you have properly prepared the robot and the room. Afterwards, you need to plug in the adapter and recharge the battery. You also need to rinse the microfiber cloth after every cleaning cycle.
The Braava 380t is quiet while sweeping and mopping the room. It does not vacuum, therefore there is no loud noise to worry about. The robotic mop will navigate around the room and underneath furniture while avoiding most obstacles in its path. It also avoids ledges and stairs and should not fall off a balcony. Nevertheless, it might be prudent to put a physical barrier on the edge of the abyss, should the robotic mop ever miss the presence of the sharp drop in height.
To sum up, the iRobot Braava 380t will never get the floor as clean as when you mop it yourself. You have to run it once per day so that it can keep up with the daily dirt. Even so, there are very few robotic mops on the market, and the Braava 380t is one of the few models to consider buying (check price on Amazon).