Mint Plus Automatic Floor Cleaner

After spending my fair share of time with the iRobot Roomba 790?and the Neato XV-21?, one thing was certain: My apartment floors were free of debris, but they still needed a good scrubbing. Unfortunately, my growing reliance on robotic vacuums rendered the thought of mopping more painful than ever. Between the unwieldy mop and big drippy bucket of soap and water, not to mention the physical act itself, I'd be overjoyed if I never had to mop again. Luckily, there's a 'bot for that.

The $299.99 Mint Plus Automatic Floor Cleaner is an update to the original Mint ?we reviewed two years ago. That version is still available, and it costs $100 less than the Mint Plus. But the Mint Plus has a bigger battery with faster charging, room-to-room cleaning capabilities, a pause button, a quick clean mode, and a furniture-protecting bumper. You'll still need a vacuum for large debris, as well as the occasional helping hand for tough spills, but it's a great accessory for the neat freak who hates to clean.

Design and Setup
The Mint Plus looks a heck of a lot like the original, with the same two-tier shape and dimensions. It measures 9.6 by 8.5 by 3.1 inches (WDH) and weighs in at 4 pounds. It comes in shiny black plastic instead of white this time around, with the same matte black plastic along the sides. There are just three simple function buttons on top of the device: Power, Mop, and Sweep, along with navigation system indicator lights underneath. There's also a handle on the back that allows you to pick up and transport the robot easily. The only way you'd really know that this is a new model, aside from color, is the rubber bumper on the front. While both Mint models work slowly and gently enough that I wouldn't worry about it scuffing even the most delicate furniture, the rubber bumper makes for added peace of mind.

Before you can start cleaning, first you must charge the robot. Stand it up on its back to access the charging port, plug it in, and wait for a solid blue light to appear on the Power button. It takes about four hours to reach a full charge, which should last for up to four hours of sweeping or two-and-a-half hours of mopping. A Turbo Charge Cradle is available for $69.99, which charges the Mint Plus to full capacity in just two hours. It's easier to use, too, since you don't need to stand the device on its back. Although you can currently buy the Mint Plus with the Cradle for only $30 extra, I feel like it should be offered for free, given the steep premium you're paying over the original.

Once fully charged, you need to attach the appropriate cleaning pad and microfiber cloth for sweeping or mopping. The Mint Plus comes with one multi-purpose cleaning pad, one reservoir mopping pad, two microfiber cloths for sweeping, and two microfiber cloths for mopping. The cleaning cloths are all machine washable, and can be used hundreds of times.

The pad for mopping comes with a small built-in reservoir you must fill up with water before using. Dampen the mopping cloth, then stick it onto the pad via Velcro attachments on the back. The pad for sweeping, meanwhile, uses a set of grip teeth to hold a dry microfiber cloth firmly in place. The pads are held in place by magnets, and are easy to put on. You cannot use the mopping and sweeping cloths and pads interchangeably.

I was a little surprised that there's no specialized cleaning solution for mopping. Mint claims that its microfiber pads have been specially formulated for optimal cleaning, so just water should do the trick. You may also use a mild solution of your choice, but anything thick can clog the wick (which is the porous cap to the reservoir pad). Still, as an avowed germaphobe, I like to take a heavy duty approach to my cleaning every once in a while, and it looks like I'll have to continue to do that by hand in the future. The multi-purpose cleaning pad does work with pre-moistened cleaning cloths though, like Swiffer pads, if that's any consolation.

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