Samsung Jetbot Mop Review: Do the Mopping Routine
"Don't be fooled by its strange design, because the Jetbot Mop is easy to clean and doubles as a hand cleaner."
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Easily removes superficial stains
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Quiet operation
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Double as a hand cleaner
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Inefficient cleaning routine
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Can be caught by obstacles
Mopping robots are not new. You have your specialty mopper like iRobot's Braava series as well as a growing number of versatile 2-in-1 models that can both vacuum and mop. What Makes the Latest Samsung Robotic Mop So Special? For one, the Samsung Jetbot Mop is an odd looking mopper in terms of design. It also doubles as a useful hand cleaner for walls, tiles, and more. While this kind of dual functionality adds significantly to the sticker price of $ 299, the main question I want to answer at the end of the day is whether it can wipe well at all.
Rotate for good cleaning
The Samsung Jetbot Mop has a compact design that is half the size of most robotic vacuums on the market. Essentially, what you have here is a fully plastic bot with a handle on top and two spinning brushes below. What is interesting, however, is how the Jetbot moves for cleaning. While other robots rely on wheels to navigate, this one uses the rotating motion of its large brush cushions to move forward, from side to side, or in a different pattern that reminds me of a Do-Si-Do dance. Because of this implementation, it is difficult to avoid humps and partitions.
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In all honesty, it's fascinating to see it in action because it behaves differently than we are used to. I was expecting the pads to spin a little faster as this would likely help remove some stubborn stains on the floor. Instead, the mother yarn pads that I attached to the Jetbot did an excellent job of removing them – although it took a couple of passes. I'm really happy with the cleaning performance as it removes stains better than the push mop systems on other robotic vacuums I have tested. The experience is enhanced because it is shockingly quiet during operation.
Not that smart navigation
Unfortunately, the Samsung Jetbot Mop is an inefficient cleaner as it lacks the space allocation features that many other robotic vacuums offer. Cleaning hardwoods and tiles is largely random as it is straight, diagonal, or a mixture of both, depending on the cleaning mode you choose. For smaller, cramped areas like my kitchen, almost the entire room can be wiped. With rough edges it seems to be trying to navigate in straight lines, but it often runs into something. Due to its random cleaning pattern, I find that it is difficult to adequately cover large rooms – in some cases there were isolated areas that were not touched by the jetbot at all.
It can remove stains better than the push mop systems on other robotic vacuums.
There have also been a few times when it got trapped trying to navigate furniture – like the legs of kitchen chairs. Whenever it comes into contact with an object, it follows the typical tactic of moving back a little and then moving forward at a slight angle to get around it. Of course, everything makes for a painfully long and arduous cleaning process. After all, surfaces can neither be recognized nor restricted areas can be set up. In fact, I found it moving multiple times from the hardwood floors of my living room to a tiny rug at the entrance to my front door.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
Another important point when cleaning is that surfaces are not disinfected. Rather, only water is poured into the storage container, which then slowly drips onto the attached cleaning pads. This is similar to other robot wipers as the disinfectant solution can affect cleaning performance. Yes, floors are technically mopped, but not disinfected.
The battery life is 100 minutes, which was more than enough to wipe my little apartment. You should move furniture before using it for cleaning to reduce the chance of it getting stuck trying to get around items.
Hand cleaning convenience
It's not often that a mopper doubles as a hand cleaning tool, but the Samsung Jetbot Mop does just that. Pressing the power button twice while in the air starts this cleaning mode. If you loathe scrubbing walls, windows, or tiled surfaces in the bathroom, this mode comes in handy as it does most of the work for you. All you need is to apply light pressure when driving over surfaces.
It is not often that a mopper doubles as a hand cleaning tool.
Unfortunately, not using cleaning solutions defeats the purpose of this cleaning mode. The water will help the pads remove minor stains or streaks. However, you should use a cleaning solution afterwards to make sure the surfaces are free of germs. For harder surfaces like tiles, consider using the mother thread pads (there is also a microfiber pad that is good for delicate surfaces like windows). The yarn pads effectively wipe off superficial dirt, but don't think for a moment that it is strong enough to remove clinging lime.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
I really like that the Jetbot Mop can be used as a handheld. However, I would recommend rinsing the pads frequently so you don't just slide around dirty water.
Our opinion
There are many regulations that must be met in order to qualify the Samsung Jetbot Mop as a useful bot for home cleaning. If you can commit to a lot of pre-cleaning jobs and not worry about the random cleaning pattern, the $ 299 Samsung Jetbot Mop is worth considering.
How long it will take?
With its sturdy plastic housing, the Samsung Jetbot Mop seems to be ready for minor touches if it comes into contact with objects while cleaning. Proper cleaning and maintenance will of course extend the service life. However, there is a 1 year limited parts and labor warranty in the event of a defect. There is also a 10-year warranty on the digital inverter motor only.
Is there a better alternative?
The iRobot Braava 300 series is a direct competitor starting at $ 299 and wipes proficiently. It's also far more efficient and precise at cleaning, thanks in part to the advanced navigation system that shows where it's going and what it's already cleaned.
In addition to dedicated mopers, the next logical solution is to invest in a 2-in-1 vacuum and a mopper like the Roborock S6 Max or the Eufy RoboVac L70. On the other hand, you'll have to pay more than $ 500 to catch them as they offer advanced navigation, mapping, and mopping capabilities.
Should you buy it?
Yes, but only if you're willing to accept some of its tradeoffs, because $ 300 for a double-functioning mopper isn't too shabby.
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