iRobot Scooba 350 Floor-Washing Robot
by iRobot
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List Price: Category: Home See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of iRobot Scooba 350 Floor-Washing Robot
Customer Review: Wish Scooba was as good as Roomba
Summary: 3 Stars
I really, really want to like the Scooba. In fact, I do love it--when it's working properly. We had our first Scooba for about two years before it died. I'd say we used it about once a week or so. One day it just wouldn't work. The battery said it was fully charged, the power light came on, but nothing happened. After reading some other reviews online, I thought it must be the battery and that it was my fault for leaving the battery plugged in even when not using for a few days. I ordered a new batter for iRobot; the same thing happens. My husband called iRobot to ask them if it can be sent in for repairs; we live in a small town and there is nowhere around here to take it to be repaired. After hearing how much it will cost for the repairs, he decides to take iRobot's offer of sending a replacement Scooba at a discounted price.
We've had our new Scooba for about a month now. It seems to work okay, although it doesn't seem to disperse water as much as the old one. I admit, it had been a while in between Scoobas that we had mopped, so there was a thin layer of grime on the hardwood floors. Scooba cannot even begin to scrub the floor to get this off. If used every day, it will keep the floors clean, but it has a hard time actually getting them clean the first time. I'll probably end up swiffering the whole floor and then letting Scooba do its thing.
Scooba works awesome on hardwood floors but really sucks on tile, especially with a little bit of texture. Our bathroom floor is 12x12 tile that has a slight texture to it. Scooba cannot get this clean; it leaves dirty water in all of the grout cracks in between the tiles. It also gets stuck on the door jamb in between the two floor surfaces. It also gets stuck on the edges of all of my rugs, so I have to roll them up out of the way to keep Scooba from getting stuck. Overall, I've liked Scooba enough to buy a replacement when it died. However, I'm not sure I'll replace it a second time because I'm not sure we're getting our money's worth.
Customer Review: Mops & Drys unattended,but needs more attention than vacuum robot
Summary: 3 Stars
Love the idea!
One thing that I wish I knew was that although this robot is rated to clean the square-footage of our floor, it must do it in 2steps (it'll stop and you must change the tank). The next size up would do our whole floor in 1 go. Since this is a second home, it is difficult to baby-sit it than if it was at our main home. Also, you need to clean it out right when it finishes cleaning, again not ideal for running as we walk out the door because it can't set until the next visit. For these reasons, the vacuum would have been a better match. (Plus we could also use it at the main house).
Problem with OUR robot, is that the suction drying does not work. So the floor is left wet to air dry. Not critical, as it leaves the floor clean, and I usually run it when I'm stepping out for a bit. Still, a bit annoying because I paid a pretty penny for something that is supposed to vacuum, scrub, wash, and dry all in the same pass!
Since the hardwood floors are not at our main house, I'd be open to swap this mopping robot for a similar-rated vacuum (with auto dock and auto scheduling).. good option for someone who hates mopping as much as I do!
I simply would get more usage from a vacuum (dog hair!).
Also, I msut say our dog is frightened of everything from Vacuums to Water, but does not mind this floor robot ! Great job on the design!
I really wish they named this Scoomba for consistency with roomba. Also I hate the confusion with utterly unrelated "scuba". Anyway, it is Very common for people to refer to is as scoomba.. it's natural. Easier fo rbrand recognition, too. Well, we can't all be in charge! Anyway product is cool.
Customer Review: Good at some things, not good on others
Summary: 3 Stars
What it is good at:
Cleaning lightly soiled smooth and flat hard floors.
What it is not good at:
Cleaning heavy dirt or heavy spots, such as jelly.
Cleaning hardwood floors with distinct seams between boards (leaves dirty fluid in seams).
Cleaning textured or rough-surface tiles (leaves dirty fluid on surfaces).
Cleaning tiles that have grout between them (leaves dirty fluid on grout). Because of this it is useless on these floors. You have to wash by hand anyway to clean the grout.
A time saver for some chores, but certainly will not eliminate all your work.
-dan z-
Customer Review: SCOOBA NEEDS TO GET SMARTER
Summary: 3 Stars
During the time I am writing this, my Scooba has ended up stuck on my floor heating grate FOUR TIMES!! Does this thing ever learn? It can - obviously - not be left alone, just like a child. Scooba has also managed to get itself stuck under my kitchen kabinets over and over. As far as I know, our kitchen kabinets are standard height from the floor. Why does Scooba then get stuck under them over and over? If I have to supervise it the whole time, I cannot say that it frees up time for me. Scooba does not get a passing grade from me, I am sorry to say. I am the happy owner of a Roomba, which I absolutely adore!Customer Review: too big
Summary: 3 Stars
I ordered this thinking It would help out with housework but found that it was going to be more work then I thought. I never used it because after reading the instructions I found that maintaining and cleaning it the way it required might be more work then just mopping the floor myself. Add that to the price ($399.00) and it was not worth it. My main reason for thinking it was not for me was that it was alot bigger then I thought. How could it possibly get into smaller spaces being so big. And it dosen't have a small side scrubber for getting right up next to the wall the way the roomba vaccum does.