iRobot Scooba experience

[uno_bliss]

iRobot Scooba vs other "mopping" robots

The reason why Scooba brings cleanliness to the next level, I've written in past posts: http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/69799376-post9469.html

So unless floor is too sensitive to moisture, eg. laminate, else Scooba is the choice if u want REALLY clean floor.

 

[Patrick76]

Just refer these 2 posts regarding Scooba cleaning solution:
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/57282715-post8235.html
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/56662651-post8149.html

$22 for Newstar 100W is cheap. If it has Overheat Safety feature, then should be fine. It might intermittently toggle on/off whenever it gets too hot, so charging time might become longer.

Thanks, I will look for Kiwi Kleen these few days.

 

[bakasa2002]

I went for lunch yesterday and see that Challenger has the last unit of Nestar NF-100 for sale. I bought it at $22.

My next concern is on the cleaning solution for Scooba.....

Wooh, that's fast. I had thought u wld have chosen to mod since the guys here charge about the same.

Solution is not a worry, you can use water, vinegar and Kiwiclean or you wanna get solution, I think Juboo might have it?

 

[bakasa2002]

$22 for Newstar 100W is cheap.

I think I got mine for $25 at SLS a few years back, $22 is a good price.

 

[Jubooo]

The cloth that came with the Roboking is shaped specifically for their bot & has velcro on it... So it is not possible to use the Magic clean unless you can somehow mount it onto the attachment...

I was also very curious with the mopping cloth but ended up not using it at all cuz I also bought the Scooba....

It is stated that the mopping is supposed to be dry and not wet mopping for roboking. In my opinion, moisture from the wet floor is not good for the robot when it overlaps and clean the path that had already been "wet mopped"

Anyway, the wetness of the cloth might not even last through the whole cleaning process just like the earlier generation of mint without the proclean reservoir.

 

[uno_bliss]

Roboking tires are rubber, meant for dry floor.
Mint tires are foam, just like Scooba & meant for wet floor.

To forcefully wet Roboking cloth & expect to get wet mopping effect, will probably be a disaster cos the rubber tires might skid & also leave dirty trails on floor.

Regarding Mint, although I don't own one (unless Bakasa sell me Karung Guni price), I've repaired one before.
An Indonesian customer came to S'pore to pass me Mint which had one side totally stripped off tire, and the other side was starting to peel off.
As I dismantled to repair the tires, I was thinking, what a dumb design where tires are not end user replaceable. Tires will definitely suffer wear & tear.
Mint website (now iRobot website) also don't sell Mint tires. So boo hoo hoo when Mint tires spoil.

Without ever using Mint (1st gen), I could already predict the moist cloth will dry out after maybe 5 square metre area.
I use 3M Scotch Brite micro fibre mop, so I know...

Lucky they came out Mint with water reservoir, I assume it only drips clean water during cleaning & will halt this dripping when Mint comes to rest.
Don't think it's a complicated design, just use some Solenoid to open or close the air valve.

I think for me, the biggest satisfaction would be to DIY a spinning sidebrush for my Neato XV11. I'll probably be the first in the world to do it, despite I've read forums of various prototype ideas.

 

[~WindzStriker~]

wow i seldom come this section of the forum, am surprised this thread has so many replies.

there are too many detailed replies


does this really work ? pardon for the noob questions, these machines are just vacuum cleaners right, doesn't include wet mopping function ?

Is there any complement that I need to purchase after say a few months to support such machines ?

Actually I am interested to buy one

 

[uno_bliss]

wow i seldom come this section of the forum, am surprised this thread has so many replies.

there are too many detailed replies


does this really work ? pardon for the noob questions, these machines are just vacuum cleaners right, doesn't include wet mopping function ?

Is there any complement that I need to purchase after say a few months to support such machines ?

Actually I am interested to buy one

I've been selling iRobot products full-time on eBay since Aug 2008.
For local ready for delivery items & local round the clock tech support from me, pls visit my eBay iRobot store: uno bliss | eBay
Queries pls email me unobliss@yahoo.com

 

[wongkc]

It is stated that the mopping is supposed to be dry and not wet mopping for roboking. In my opinion, moisture from the wet floor is not good for the robot when it overlaps and clean the path that had already been "wet mopped"

Anyway, the wetness of the cloth might not even last through the whole cleaning process just like the earlier generation of mint without the proclean reservoir.

Although it is stated for dry cleaning, i always wet the cloth a little and let Roboking do its round. You can really feel the difference with and without the damp cloth... The wetness is enough to go thru my living, dining, kitchen and 1 small room at one go and i suppose it can go another round still with that wetness... And after one round, you can see the damp cloth picking up quite a bit of dust also...

As regards to the overlapping the wet mopped area, i dun think it does affects as the cloth is in btw the 2 back wheels and behind the front wheel... and it will wipe the front wheel tracks (if there is any, so far non for me) as it moves forward...

Overall... I really rate my Roboking very highly...

 

[Jubooo]

As regards to the overlapping the wet mopped area, i dun think it does affects as the cloth is in btw the 2 back wheels and behind the front wheel... and it will wipe the front wheel tracks (if there is any, so far non for me) as it moves forward......

We're not talking about cleaning the traces of wheel track but the moisture that is being vaccum into the heart of electronics components when it overlaps the wet path.

Corrosion on roomba's pcb is one of the number 1 killer and if you continue to use wet mop on roboking, who knows what will happen next. Why the manual states no when it gives you an option to mop? There is a reason!

Scooba's pcb is treated to prevent moisture ingression and is also silicon sealed in a white plastic case. Is your roboking too? Answer is no as I've strip it opened to see.

 

[Jubooo]

wow i seldom come this section of the forum, am surprised this thread has so many replies.

there are too many detailed replies


does this really work ? pardon for the noob questions, these machines are just vacuum cleaners right, doesn't include wet mopping function ?

Is there any complement that I need to purchase after say a few months to support such machines ?

Actually I am interested to buy one

Most of the robovacs are vacuum cleaner except for scooba which actually puts down clean water, scrubs your floor and picks up dirty water into another compartment in the tank.

Mint is one that uses dry microfibre to push around collecting dust and debris or uses a wet one to simulate a forward & backward pattern which is how you would mop a floor.

Feel free to browse my site for a wide selection of robovacs: www.RobovacShop.com

 

[uno_bliss]

We're not talking about cleaning the traces of wheel track but the moisture that is being vaccum into the heart of electronics components when it overlaps the wet path.

Corrosion on roomba's pcb is one of the number 1 killer and if you continue to use wet mop on roboking, who knows what will happen next. Why the manual states no when it gives you an option to mop? There is a reason!

Scooba's pcb is treated to prevent moisture ingression and is also silicon sealed in a white plastic case. Is your roboking too? Answer is no as I'll strip it opened to see.

I totally agree despite I didn't wanna comment, since I don't sell Roboking, might sound like Sour Grapes.
Based on WongKC's comment that his moist cloth can last many many rooms & still moist enough to remove stains, it must be soaking wet.

Unless Roboking will NEVER retrace where it gone before, else it'll go thru previous wet patches.

 

[Jubooo]

I totally agree despite I didn't wanna comment, since I don't sell Roboking, might sound like Sour Grapes.
Based on WongKC's comment that his moist cloth can last many many rooms & still moist enough to remove stains, it must be soaking wet.

Unless Roboking will NEVER retrace where it gone before, else it'll go thru previous wet patches.

Roboking has mapping mode & also a random mode but it makes sense to use the mapping mode since that is what people are paying for. Even in mapping mode, it overlaps and will pick up the water.

If defying the manual is ok, then "Yes" scooba is ok for laminate floor Anyway my room is parquet and Im using scooba, my new place will be laminate flooring & I'll still be using it

Mint (older moder without pro clean reservoir) also uses microfibre cloth but it never lasted enough for even a room. Maybe of the way it cleans in back & forth pattern that simulates human mopping action unlike roboking that moves in a straight line.

 

[wongkc]

I totally agree despite I didn't wanna comment, since I don't sell Roboking, might sound like Sour Grapes.
Based on WongKC's comment that his moist cloth can last many many rooms & still moist enough to remove stains, it must be soaking wet.

Unless Roboking will NEVER retrace where it gone before, else it'll go thru previous wet patches.

Hmmm... it was never soaking wet... i give it quite a few big twist to squeeze out as much water out as possible... and when it goes pass an area... the wetness is almost immediately evaporated and it feels clean and dry to the touch immediately... definitely not soaking wet... and that damp cloth can go another round... u guys should try and see what i meant... i dun think that kind of dampness will cause too much problem... the moisture will probably be evaporated before it reaches the internal structure given that the heat inside will help dry up faster oso...

Just my thoughts... other users please do it at your own risks...

 

[Jubooo]

.. i dun think that kind of dampness will cause too much problem... the moisture will probably be evaporated before it reaches the internal structure given that the heat inside will help dry up faster oso......

Actually that amount of heat might just be what it needed to accelerate the moisture from your damp cloth and the hungry vacuum suction will gallop very bit of moisture into the pcb.

 

[Patrick76]

Just received my Scooba 380 from VPOST yesterday evening.

I charge it overnight and turn it off this morning.

I read the manual and it indicates that we should not leave the battery in the machine if it is not plugged in. I am just wondering how you guys maintain and prolong the life of the battery. I intend to use it once a week. Meaning to say that my next usage will be 1week later. Will the battery discharge easily? How should I store the battery between usage?

Again, the manual states that I use less water in the clean water tank if I intend to clean a smaller area. Do you guys trial and error to determine the right amount of water to use? Or fill it full and clean and pour away the rest after each clean? Or leave it in the tank for the next clean?

 

[wongkc]

Just received my Scooba 380 from VPOST yesterday evening.

I charge it overnight and turn it off this morning.

I read the manual and it indicates that we should not leave the battery in the machine if it is not plugged in. I am just wondering how you guys maintain and prolong the life of the battery. I intend to use it once a week. Meaning to say that my next usage will be 1week later. Will the battery discharge easily? How should I store the battery between usage?

Again, the manual states that I use less water in the clean water tank if I intend to clean a smaller area. Do you guys trial and error to determine the right amount of water to use? Or fill it full and clean and pour away the rest after each clean? Or leave it in the tank for the next clean?

I used it once a week oso... i just take out the battery after every use and charge it using the charger and leave it there after finish charging... and put it back in when i want to use it again...

As the scooba is not smart or it wun know when it had covered all the floor areas... you need to trial and error the amount of water to put in for your area... you put too much it will just go on and on until it runs out of water or battery... you manage ur water lvl well you can somehow manage how long it will run... i always fill in little water at a time as i always let it run in small area at a time... Personally, i felt that the scooba is only suitable for areas like kitchen, balconies and bathrooms... i felt it was too wet for my liking for the living, dinning halls and rooms even after the dry run...

 

[Kain999]

Just received my Scooba 380 from VPOST yesterday evening.

I charge it overnight and turn it off this morning.

I read the manual and it indicates that we should not leave the battery in the machine if it is not plugged in. I am just wondering how you guys maintain and prolong the life of the battery. I intend to use it once a week. Meaning to say that my next usage will be 1week later. Will the battery discharge easily? How should I store the battery between usage?

Again, the manual states that I use less water in the clean water tank if I intend to clean a smaller area. Do you guys trial and error to determine the right amount of water to use? Or fill it full and clean and pour away the rest after each clean? Or leave it in the tank for the next clean?

Just curious on how much Vpost charge u for the postage to Singapore.

For me is after i finish using, i will charge the battery to full and store in a cool place then use. Normally i just fill it full with water and let it finish. Dun think it is a good idea to store the water for the next clean.

 

[kun1he2]

I used it once a week oso... i just take out the battery after every use and charge it using the charger and leave it there after finish charging... and put it back in when i want to use it again...

How long have you been using your scooba? Curious to know the lifespan of the battery, e.g. running weekly but removing the batt, vs simply leaving the batt in the scooba continuously charging for convenience.

 

[Patrick76]

Just curious on how much Vpost charge u for the postage to Singapore.

For me is after i finish using, i will charge the battery to full and store in a cool place then use. Normally i just fill it full with water and let it finish. Dun think it is a good idea to store the water for the next clean.

Vpost charge me $124.20.