I Ditched My Swiffer for the iRobot Braava Jet & My Floors Have Never Been Cleaner

Have you ever dreamed of having a clean home without ever lifting a finger? I definitely have. So when my husband and I moved into a three-bedroom home with a puppy and a cat—and all wood floors—I knew I’d either need to roll up my sleeves and scrub on the reg or find some help. Instead of immediately dropping cash on a weekly cleaner, I decided to invest in a little electronic mop to live out my Jetsons dreams. Yes, a battery-operated Swiffer-esque machine does exist and it does keep your floors looking spotless. Here’s everything you need to know about the iRobot Braava Jet.

What is it?

If you’re familiar with the iRobot Roomba (you know, the round machine that zooms around vacuuming your floor), it’s that but for mopping. Basically, you charge the battery, pop it in, fill the Braava Jet with water and press start. The tiny robot will go about its business spraying your floors and then running over them with a cloth until it deems a space clean enough (or runs out of battery).

Does it actually work?

It’s not just cute, it definitely works. However, you should use a Roomba (or a regular old vacuum) before mopping the area. Otherwise, the cleaning won’t be as effective and the machine will just spread dust around your place. It also takes a while for the Braava to get the floorboards sparkling, as it’s kind of slow-moving, but it’s worth the wait.

What are the pitfalls?

Although it’s a pretty great product, it has a few issues. For one, you can only start the mopping process by pressing the power button or using your iRobot app if you’re within ten feet of the machine. You can’t schedule cleanings, like with the Roomba, and I find it typically runs out of water and power after handling two rooms (about 750 to 1,000 square feet in my case). I’d say it’s best used on a room-by-room basis. It’s also not the smartest tech out there, so it does occasionally try to mop a rug or get stuck in a corner.

What kind of Braava Jet should I buy?

I personally use the iRobot Braava Jet 240 ($199; $150), but there are more advanced options, like the 380t ($299; $240), which does wet mopping and dry sweeping, as well as the super fancy M6 ($500; $449). This upgraded version actually maps your home so you can tell it to clean specific rooms. They all work wonderfully (especially the M6), so it just depends on your budget.

Anything else I should know?

The cleaning pads obviously get gross each time you use them, and while iRobot does make disposable wet mopping pads that you can toss, I’ve gotten a lot of use out of the washable pads ($20). Unlike their disposable counterparts, these babies are good as new after a quick cycle in the washing machine. They’re also the more eco-friendly and cost-efficient option. Oh yeah, and you can get the iRobot Braava Jet for $20 off this weekend.

Now go forth and enjoy your clean, almost-zero-effort floors.

$180 on Amazon BUY IT ($200; $180)

PureWow may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was created independently from PureWow's editorial and sales departments.