The latest version of iRobot's floor washing robots builds on the success of, and improves upon the weaknesses, its predecessors. The Scooba 380 handles up to 850 square feet, although the tank is good for 425 square feet, so there's going to be a refill of the cleaning solution and a dump of the dirty water in the cleaning cycle. To be fair that's a good thing, I'm always amazed by how much dirty water comes off my "clean" floor, even just a couple of days apart from cleaning. The Scooba 380 is not a vacuum, so it's a good idea to run a Roomba or sweep up the dust before you unleash it. The previous Scoobas required a special Clorox cleaning solution, this one can use vinegar and water.
I was skeptical of the Scooba's ability to clean, after all a mop and a bucket have been used for hundreds of years, how is a little robot going to do a better job? Well I found out. The Scooba 380 will make several passes over each area- how many times do you mop it by hand? If you're like most people (and me!)- once or twice. The Scooba hits those areas again and again. Next question, how many times do you change your mop water when you're doing the floor? Once? Twice if it's really dirty? The Scooba constantly puts out clean fluid, then suctions up the dirty water.
Here's a video of how the Scooba works:
Another reason the Scooba 380 beats a mop and bucket it because...well, it's easy. I'll run my Scooba two or three times a week, I used to mop once- because it's a pain. With the Scooba, I set up my virtual walls (think of it like little flashlights that create an invisible barrier for the Scooba), add the cleaning solution to water, prime the Scooba, and walk away. I come back when it has filled the dirty water tank, dump that water and rise the tank, refill with clean water, and after another cycle (I like to watch TV while it works, indulgent, I know) the floors are done.
So it sounds great, what's the catch? Well Scoobas aren't inexpensive. Also they can be temperamental- if you don't set the tank in properly, or prime the system using the included "mini turkey baster" it's not going to put out fluid. If you have deep scuffs, or something is caked on the floor which requires scrubbing with a brillo pad on your hands and knees, the Scooba 380 won't get that clean. Also if you have tile with deep grooves in the grout, the Scooba can't suction out all the water. All that being said, the convenience of having a chore that can on a good day be called boring and on a bad day be called tortuous virtually eliminated, is definitely worth it for me, and thousands upon thousands of Scooba owner like me.
Differences between Scooba models:
Scooba 5800
- Small room, about 250 square feet
- Includes 1 virtual wall
Scooba 350
- 1-3 Average Rooms, about 500 square feet
- Includes 1 virtual wall
Scooba 380
- 3-4 Average Rooms, about 850 square feet
- Includes 2 virtual walls