Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop Review
Cleaning can be a tedious chore, especially if you’re scrubbing on your hands and knees. Luckily for us—who like to keep our homes clean—, there are a variety of tools that can help with the job. For instance, you can easily pick up dirt and debris off the floor using a broom or vacuum cleaner. Sometimes, you’ll need more than that though; after all, you can’t use those things to say, clean up a spill or pet accident. In cases like that, you’ll want to use something a bit more advanced—something like a spray mop.
Spray mops are unique in that they utilize a spraying system—one that dispenses cleaning solution onto the ground. With that, they’re able to thoroughly clean almost any surface, from hardwood to tile. In this post, we will be focusing our attention on the Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop. What situations can you use it in? How effective is it at removing stains? Is it something that you should invest in? These are some of the things that we’ll be taking a look at below. Hopefully, you will be able to get a better idea of the product after reading the post.
The Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop
Rubbermaid—formerly known as The Wooster Rubber Company—was founded by a group of businessmen in 1920. By the 1930’s, they had introduced the first Rubbermaid dustpan, which gained them a considerable amount of popularity. It wasn’t until the mid ‘50s, however, that they started to create the plastic products that they’re best known for today. In addition to food storage containers (which I’m sure we’ve all used), they also produce trash cans, closets, laundry baskets, shelving, water bottles—even air fresheners! As of 2018, the company is headed by Michael B. Polk, the CEO of Newell Brands (Rubbermaid is one of their subsidiaries).
The Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop is a powerful cleaning tool that is designed to be used on all types of floors including tile, hardwood, laminate, and vinyl. Lightweight yet durable, it comes with a thick microfibre pad at the bottom, which is reusable. Simply toss it into the wash after each use and you’ll be ready for your next cleaning session.
To use the spray mop, simply attach one of the washable pads to the bottom of the mop head—it’s easy, the “velcro-like” strips will help to hold it in place. Next, unscrew the top of the refillable bottle and fill it with hot water. From there, you’ll want to add two teaspoons of cleanser solution (or plain water, if you prefer). When you’re done, snap the bottle back into the lower assembly and you’re ready to go. You won’t even need to plug it in as it doesn’t require electricity!
What’s Included in the Box
- 2 refillable water bottles
- 3 reusable pads for the mop head
You’ll be happy to know that the Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop is ready to be used out of the box! In fact, you won’t even need to do much “assembling”—just attach a pad to the head and fill one of the bottles with hot water (and cleanser) as described earlier. Not only are the microfiber pads machine washable, but the refillable bottle can be placed in the dishwasher. As if that wasn’t convenient enough, each of the pads can be laundered up to 100 times! Considering that, you should be able to get a lot of cleaning done with just the three that they provide you with in the box. If you ever need more, though, they can be purchased separately (more on that later).
Build Quality
When it comes to buying a mop, you always want to take into consideration the build and quality. After all, you want something that’s durable and long-lasting, even with everyday use. Generally speaking, ones that are made out of aluminum tend to be the best. However, it’s understandable that not every mop would be constructed out of that alloy. Aside from the material, you’ll also want to think about its construction. How well is it made? Will it stand up to regular cleanings?
Despite being lightweight, the Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop is designed to be durable. Made out of metal, the handle has a soft grip at the middle, which you can hold onto when cleaning. At the top end, there is also a rubber hook that can be used for out of the way storage. You may be disappointed to know, however, that the head is made out of plastic. Don’t worry though, it doesn’t seem to break easily. In fact, the plastic gives it a bit of flexibility so that it can turn in multiple directions. As far as other features go, the head also comes with a scrubber bit, which can be helpful for stubborn spots.
Last but not least, the microfibre pads are thick and very absorbent. When you’re cleaning, one will probably last you several rooms. Once they’ve turned grey, you’ll want to swap it for a fresh one (changing the pads is fairly easy). If you don’t feel like doing that, though, you can always rinse it in a bucket.
Possible Issues with the Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop
Unfortunately, however, the spraying mechanism can be buggy; that is, many people have reported that the trigger stops working after a while. Seeing as how multiple users have experienced this issue over the past few years, there might just be some sort of a design flaw. The good news though, is that Rubbermaid does offer a 1 year warranty. If the item is defective, they will either replace the product, send a replacement part, or issue a refund, given that proof of purchase is provided.
Sometimes, the nozzle is also fixable with some lubricant. What you’ll want to do is unscrew and open up the rear of the bottle housing; from there, apply the spray where the spring meets the pump (it can be tricky as the housing doesn’t stay open). With a bit of luck, that might just be enough to get the spray mechanism working again. Still, the whole spraying mechanism thing is something that you should consider if you’re wondering on whether or not to buy the mop.
In addition to that, issues with the handle have also been reported. More specifically, there have been cases where it completely breaks off during or after use due to poor plastic moulding. With that said, it doesn’t seem to be as common as the spray nozzle issue. Regardless, the handle seems to be relatively delicate; depending on how strong you are, you might even be able to bend it with force. Considering that, you’ll want to be gentle (especially if you’re scrubbing an area) when using the spray mop. As a precaution, it’s probably a good idea to keep your paperwork so that you’ll be able to get a refund or replacement should something happen.
As you can probably expect, the bottles also have a limited life-span (which is why they give you an additional one with the set). Over time, it’s not uncommon for some to start leaking fluid. When this happens, you’ll want to swap it for a new one (remember to recycle the old bottle!). If the bottle starts leaking from the get-go, though, you might have a defective product. Should this be the case, you’ll want to contact Rubbermaid about their warranty.
Does it Clean Well?
The Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop does a good job of cleaning, especially if you vacuum beforehand (otherwise the mop might push around debris). For one thing, the microfiber pads are fairly wide, which helps to pick up gunk from the floor. However, they might not be the best choice if you’re trying to clean the grout from between your tiles. If that’s what you’re going for, we recommend that you scrub it separately with a brush; the pads just aren’t designed for reaching down that far as the fibers are short.
Thanks to the swivel head, the mop is also easy to manuever around and under furniture. Depending on how strong you are though, you might find that you need to give it a bit of extra push (the head is relatively heavy). With that said, most people don’t seem to find it an issue. If you have a pet, you’ll also be happy to know that it picks up hair and cleans up muddy paw prints!
In terms of how well it utilizes the spraying function—well, it gets the job done when the trigger is working (refer to what we said earlier about the nozzle issue). After pouring hot water into the refillable bottle, you snap it back into the lower assembly with the flat side facing away from the pole. From there, you’ll usually have to pump it a few times before it starts spraying. When the mechanism works, the wide mop head is usually good at picking up dirt and debris—whether’s it’s from vinyl, hardwood, tile, or laminate. Just remember to change out the pad when it gets too dirty!
Now, about the cleaner. What sets the Reveal Spray Mop apart from some of the rest is the fact that you can mix your own cleaning solution. For instance, you can easily pour some enzyme cleaner into the refillable bottle. If you prefer, you can even use good ol’ vinegar and water. Anyhow, you’re able to control exactly what goes in and out of the mop.
Another one of its features is the scrubber on the head of the mop. Just keep in mind that it’s pretty small—it’s more of a pad than anything. Still, it’s generally strong enough to help with those stubborn and sticky spots. However, you might want to be careful when using it as it’s neither removable nor replaceable (though you can always replace it with a regular scrubber, just cut it into shape!).
The mop is incredibly versatile, given that it can use different cleaners—you’ll just have to use the appropriate cleaning solution for the floor surface. With that, you can easily clean stains off of porcelain tiles or stone floors. Indoors, the mop is great for bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, pretty much everything. As a plus, it also takes up very little space in storage; this makes it ideal for small apartments and condos. Not only that, but it’s great for other settings such as offices, schools, even churches.
Cost and Pricing Information
For what it does, the Reveal Spray Mop is at a decent price point. At the time of this writing, it sells for $29.99 on their official website. Often, however, you’d be able to get it for a little cheaper on Amazon (and you get free two-day shipping if you’re a Prime member). As far as we can tell, though, it is priced similar to its many competitors.
Now, I’m sure you’re all wondering—what about the pad replacements? Once you’ve used up the ones they give you (which will take a while, seeing as how you can put them in the wash), you can purchase new ones for $5.99 from Rubbermaid’s official website. On Amazon, you can also get them as a 4-pack for $23.29, which works out to around $5.80 per pad.
Aside from the microfiber pads, there are also the refillable bottles that you’ll need to replace from time to time. Luckily, the set gives you an extra so you’ll only need to worry about it after you’ve use both of them up (aka when they start to leak). While you can get them on Amazon, your best bet is probably to buy them through the official Rubbermaid website. If they’re out of stock, you can find them at various other retailers such as Walmart or Home Depot.
The biggest savings, however, come from the fact that you don’t need to buy fancy cleaners. Instead of spending $15+ on a specific type of solution, you can simply mix your own at home. If you want to be really economical, you can even just use hot water (steaming does wonders for the floors).
So, is it worth the money? Ultimately, this all boils down to your preferences and what you’re looking for. If you want something that’s affordable, that’ll get the job done, the Reveal Spray Mop may be a good option. If you want something that will be a bit more durable, however, you might want to consider other models as there tends to be issues with the spraying mechanism. In the end, you get what you pay for. For $29.99, though, I’d say it’s worth it; even if it’s to only to clean the kitchen and bathrooms.
