Scooba 380 Review

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

And here are the auction prices for comparison:

144V 42Ah NiMH Battery Pack for iRobot SCOOBA 380 580 $34.95 Time Remaining: 15h 12m

144V 42Ah NiMH Battery Pack for iRobot SCOOBA 380 580 $34.95 Time Remaining: 1d 15h 13m

Scooba Battery for 330 340 350 380 385 590 5800 5806 models FOR PARTS $10.00 Time Remaining: 1d 17h 26m Buy It Now for only: $15.00

iRobot SCOOBA 330 340 350 380 385 HIGH CAPACITY BATTERY $31.90 Time Remaining: 1d 23h 39m Buy It Now for only: $31.90

144V 42Ah NiMH Battery Pack for iRobot SCOOBA 380 580 $34.95 Time Remaining: 2d 15h 12m

144V 42Ah NiMH Battery Pack for iRobot SCOOBA 380 580 $34.95 Time Remaining: 3d 15h 12m

144V 42Ah NiMH Battery Pack for iRobot SCOOBA 380 580 $34.95 Time Remaining: 4d 15h 12m

NEW Battery for iRobot Scooba Vacuum 330 350 380 5800 5900 5930 $25.65 Time Remaining: 5d 5h 14m Buy It Now for only: $25.65

Vacuum Battery for iRobot Scooba 300 330 340 350 380 385 Flooring Washing Robot $25.80 Time Remaining: 5d 5h 14m Buy It Now for only: $25.80

Here are the current prices at Amazon:

iRobot Scooba 230 + Essentials Kit Robotic Vacuum See Reviews For This Product

Features At just 6-1/2-inch in diameter, scooba can clean where dirt and grime hide Scrubbing brushes loosen stains, dirt and grime while the squeegee-vacuum picks up virtually all the dirty water, leaving only clean behind Works with regular tap water or scooba hard floor cleaner, natural enzyme formula Quickly and easily washes floors in your kitchens, baths and other high-traffic areas Cleans up to 150 square feet in a single session

iRobot Scooba 380 Floor Washing Robot List Price: $499.99 See Reviews For This Product

Features Preps, washes, scrubs and squeegees sealed hardwood, tile and linoleum floors Cleans beneath cabinet edges, tables, chairs and other hard-to-reach places while automatically avoiding carpets and stairs Ideal for homes with larger areas. A full charge allows the Scooba 380 to clean 850 square feet (3-4 rooms) Autonomous cleaning pattern covers each area of floor an average of 5 times Sensors allow the Scooba 380 to avoid stairs and ledges

	iRobot Scooba Hard Floor Cleaner, Natural Enzyme Formula, 16-Ounce List Price: $12.99 See Reviews For This Product
	Features All natural and non-toxic Pure vegetable-based enzymes break down grease, food particles, mold, mildew, and dirt Effective on all sealed hard floors, including wood Safe for you, your pets, and our planet Highly concentrated, 64 uses per bottle

	iRobot Scooba 390 Floor Washing Robot List Price: $499.99 See Reviews For This Product
	Features 4-Stage Cleaning Process Scooba 390 keeps cleaning solution in a separate tank so that only clean solution is placed on the floor Extensive Coverage - Scooba 390 has a wide cleaning head ideal for kitchens and other large areas up to 450 sq ft Easy to Use ? Let the robot do the work All parts that need to be cleaned or maintained are now colored grey and orange

Evolution Robotics Mint Automatic Hard Floor Cleaner, 4200 List Price: $249.99 See Reviews For This Product

Features Compact robot floor cleaner runs up to 3 hours on single charge using microfiber cloths or most brands of disposable cloths Guided by North Star Navigation System to methodically clean open areas, around furniture and rugs, and along room perimeter Whisper-quiet operation; turns itself off when finished Low maintenance with no bins to empty or filters to change Measures 9.6 inches wide by 8.5 inches deep by 3.1 inches high; 1-year warranty

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