iRobot Braava Jet M6 Ultimate Robot Mop Review
It’s amazing how far we’ve come with technology. Nowadays, we have computers that can land on Mars and cars that can drive themselves. Surely, no one would have imagined such things a few decades ago! If anything, it’s greatly changed the way that we live—in a good way. Think about it—technology has simplified a number of tasks that we do on a regular basis!
Cleaning is no exception. Nowadays, there are many tools that you can rely on—from vacuum cleaners to electric mops. Why do things manually when you have something that’ll make the job easier, right? As a matter of fact, robot cleaners have only gained more and more attention over the past few years. With the push of a button, it’ll automatically clean the house for you. What’s more, is that most of them are capable of sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming—all with minimal supervision! Sure, they’re not the cheapest of devices, but most would argue that they’re worth it.
On this page, we’ll be taking a look at a particular model—the iRobot Braava Jet M6. What features does it come with? Is it capable of mapping the house? Does it come with an app? We’ll be taking a look at these questions and more below. So be sure to read the rest of the post!
The iRobot Braava Jet M6 Ultimate Robot Mop
iRobot is one of the most well-known names in the consumer’s robotics market. Based in Massachusetts, the company was founded nearly three decades ago by members of MIT’s Artificial Intelligence Lab. Believe it or not but the group had not always created mops and robots—they originally designed robots for military use and space exploration! It wasn’t until 2002 that they released the Roomba, their first automated vacuum robot. Since then, they’ve come out with several other products including the Mirra and Braava, the former of which is for cleaning swimming pools.
The iRobot Braava Jet M6 is perfect for cleaning sticky messes and grime. Featuring a jet spray system, it will clean your hard floors (e.g. tile, hardwood, stone, etc) effortlessly. All you need to do is attach a cleaning pad and the robot will take care of the job! What’s more, is that it comes with patented iAdapt 3.0 Navigation technology. Not only will it navigate your house seamlessly but it’ll know exactly where to go for cleaning! When it’s finished the job, it will automatically return to its dock for a charge up.
What’s Included
The iRobot Braava M6 Robot Mop comes as a kit—that is, it includes all the parts and accessories that you need to start cleaning. More specifically, the box includes:
- 2 Single-Use Dry Sweeping Pads
- 2 Single-Use Wet Mopping Pads
- 1 Charging Dock and Dock Tray
- 1 Bottle of Cleaning Solution (Sample Size)
- 1 Power Cord
As noted above, the robot mop comes with a total of four pads—two for dry sweeping and two for wet mopping. They’re easy to use. All you have to do is slide them onto the underside of the device; it will automatically select a cleaning method based on the type of pad used. When it’s finished, you can detach the existing pads by pressing on the button at the front. Depending on the type of pad that you’re using*, you can either throw it out or put it in the wash.
Note: The robot cleaner comes with four disposable cleaning pads. Want to opt something that’s reusable? Consider getting their washable pads (available separately).
In addition to the pads, you also get a 4 oz. bottle of cleaning solution, which is meant for hard floors only. Since it’s a concentrate, you’ll want to dilute it with water in the tank. Assuming that you’re using the sample bottle, you’ll want to pour half of the contents into the tank when you clean. In other words, the bottle should last you two cleanings. Once it’s empty, you might want to consider getting the full-size product, which is sold separately (the Braava Jet Hard Floor Cleaning Solution is the only product that can be safely used with the robot mop).
As far as charging goes, you want to plug the dock station into an outlet with good Wi-Fi coverage. Don’t forget to attach the drip tray as well! Using the robot for the first time? If so, you’ll have to slide it in to activate the battery (it’s recommended that you charge it for three hours before its first cleaning job).
Smart Features
The Braava M6 comes with various features that make cleaning a breeze. Let’s take a look at some of them below.
Patented iAdapt 3.0 Navigation
As mentioned earlier, the robot features the iAdapt 3.0 Navigation system. Ultimately, what this means is that it’s capable of mapping its surroundings. In other words, it knows exactly where it has cleaned and where it still needs to go. On top of that, it comes with Imprint Smart Mapping, which allows you to control exactly which rooms it should clean and when.
Imprint Link Technology
The robot mop features Imprint Link Technology. Essentially, what that means is that you can use the Braava Jet with one of their Robot Vacuums. Once the latter is done the vacuuming, the M6 will automatically start to mop, which will save you time!
iRobot HOME App
As with most of their other robots, the M6 can be controlled remotely via the iRobot HOME App, which is available for both iOS and Android devices. All you need to do is connect it to your iRobot with your Wi-Fi network—once you do that, you’ll be able to start, cancel, or pause cleaning tasks from anywhere! Not only that, but you’ll be able to input cleaning schedules, customize preferences, monitor activity, and more, all from your mobile device!
Things that the iRobot Braava Jet M6
Potential Issues With the iRobot Braava Jet M6 Robot Mop
As great as it may be, however, the Braava M6 isn’t perfect—it does have a few flaws. Here are some of the more common issues that people have run into with the device.
Not Ideal If You Have Carpets or Rugs
The Braava M6 is meant for finished hard floors, though it is capable of going over rugs—at least it should, anyway. According to some of the reviews on Amazon, the robot tends to run into problems if it comes across a rug—that is, it’ll block the mopper’s path. You’ll either have to remove the rug altogether or reposition it in a way so that it’s not in its way. As you can imagine, that can be quite a hassle if you have more than one rug in the house.
It Can Leave Tire Marks
Depending on your hard floor, the robot might leave tire marks—they’re especially noticeable on dark tiles or hardwood. Unfortunately, there isn’t much that you can do about it as it’s due to the device’s design. With that said, the marks do not affect the cleanliness of the floor. If anything, it’s more of an aesthetic issue.
It Can Get Confused by Dark-Colored Floors
The robot can get confused if you have dark-colored floors. For instance, black tiles can make it think that it’s going off a “cliff”—that is, it won’t get any cleaning done. Unfortunately, there’s no way to turn this “cliff” function off so it might become a continuous issue.
Jet Spray Can be Wonky Sometimes
The jet spray is great when it works well. In some cases, however, it can get wonky. For instance, some users have experienced problems with the spray not releasing any fluid when mopping. It’s also worth nothing that the amount of sprayed water does not vary depending on the mopping distance—that is, the robot might turn around immediately after releasing a spray, which would result in excessively wet floors.
Does It Clean Well?
The iRobot Braava M6 is great at what it’s supposed to do—mopping and sweeping. Featuring a Maximized-Edge design, it easily gets into corners and along edges. Not to mention that it cleans under furniture! The way it works, it will move in a methodical manner across the floor (to ensure that every sort on the floor is clean, there will be some overlap). Assuming that you’re using a wet mopping pad, it will also wet the surface of the floor with the cleaning solution. You can easily adjust the amount of solution sprayed by changing your cleaning preferences with the app.
Note: You don’t have to use the iRobot with the cleaning solution. It’s perfectly fine to use plain water, especially if your floors are not that dirty. If anything, the cleaning solution should be reserved for tackling sticky messes and grime!
In terms of sweeping, the robot does a relatively good job of picking up loose dust. Keep in mind, however, that it’s not capable of removing larger particles. Considering that, you might want to go over the floor first with a vacuum cleaner for the best results.
Overall, the M6 is a solid choice if you’re looking for a robot that’s capable of mopping and light sweeping. What’s more, is that it’s great at picking up pet hair, especially if you vacuum beforehand!
How to Use the iRobot Braava Jet M6
The first thing that you want to do once you’ve taken it out of the box is to charge it. To do this, you’ll want to plug in the charging station and power cord into the wall. Place the drip-tray on the front and slide your iRobot in—that will activate the battery (a light will turn on to let you know that it’s awake).
From there, you’ll want to connect the device to the iPhone HOME app. That will allow you to customize your cleaning preferences. Not to mention that it’ll let you control your robot remotely! Once you’ve charged the iRobot for three hours, remove it from the docking station. Take one of the pads (either the dry or wet variety) and slide it onto the underside of the device. If you’re planning on mopping, you’ll have to fill the tank with cleaning solution (don’t forget to dilute the concentrate with water).
That’s all—you’re ready to clean! To get started, press on the “clean” button at the top of the robot. It will automatically explore and clean your home in a methodical manner. Want a quicker or deeper clean? You can easily adjust your cleaning preferences with the app. When the device is finished cleaning, it will return to the docking station for a recharge. Similarly, it will also return to the charging station if the tank is empty.
Note: You can always send the M6 back to the charging station by tapping on the “home” button.
Cost and Pricing Information
The Braava Jet M6 is one of the more expensive models offered by iRobot. Currently, it is listed for $499.00 on Amazon (with free two-day shipping for Prime Members). In contrast, the Jet 240, which doesn’t come with a jet spray feature, is priced at $174.99. Aside from Amazon, the product is also available from other retailers such as Best Buy, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Target (for the same price).
Once you’ve got the device, you’ll also have to buy cleaning pads. After all, the kit only comes with four (two dry sweep pads and two wet mopping pads)—chances are, that won’t last you that long. Sooner or later, you’ll have to buy replacement pads. When it comes to those, there are two options—you can opt for disposable pads (dry/wet) or washable pads (dry/wet). Naturally, the latter is more expensive due to the fact that it’s reusable—you’re looking at $24.90 for a pack of two (you can choose to get one wet one dry, or two wet pads). In contrast, the disposable M6 pads are $7.99 for a pack of 7. Depending on how much cleaning you’ll be doing, you might have to get more than one pack at a time.
Another thing to consider is the cleaning solution. Remember, you only get a 4oz. sample bottle with the iRobot. Once it’s finished, you’ll have to get the full-sized product, which is available for $7.99 (the M6 is not compatible with other cleaning solutions). With that said, there’s always the option of just using plain water.