Home Runs

Mint Automatic Floor Cleaner

By Charlotte on February 3, 2011 8:05 AM

My mother tried teaching by example. When I was growing up, she swept our tile kitchen floor after every meal (or had me do it ... a natural consequence of being the oldest child.) But somehow the habit never stuck.

Don't get me wrong. I really appreciate a clean floor, but who has time for all that sweeping? After a long day at The Brief, I need to cook, do laundry and pay bills (not to mention deserve a little downtime) so something's gotta give.

 

Then the folks at Evolution Robotics offered to let me try a George Jetson-like solution: a new robotic device that would AUTOMATICALLY dust and wet mop our hard-surface floors (tile, hardwood, laminate and linoleum.) Thrilled by the thought of "hands-free" floor cleaning, I quickly agreed to give it a go.

 

Getting started was remarkably easy. I needed Bob's help to open the box but there was nothing that had to be assembled. I simply:

 

·         Charged the Mint overnight.

·         Attached a Swiffer cloth. Mint cleans with Swiffer and Pledge dry and wet cloths and similar products. It also comes with reusable microfiber cloths for use with your standard floor cleaners.

·         Put the included C batteries in the little black cube that helps the Mint find its way.

·         Turned on the cube and put it on my kitchen island.

·         Pressed Power followed by the Broom button on the Mint.

 

Afterwards, I stood back and watched the slim appliance set to work on my tile floor. Having used other automatic floor cleaners, I was struck by Mint's systematic approach. It cleaned the tile one row after the other much like I'd do myself. A built-in GPS system helps it remember where it has cleaned and what remains to be done. Check it out:

 

 

Thanks to its small, square design, Mint also cleaned hard-to-reach places like beneath the edge of my cabinets, all the way into tight corners and under my stove with ease. While it worked, I stood in the kitchen making a grocery list and watching HGTV (no problem since the Mint is super quiet.)  

 

Mint needed no help finding its way. In addition to a navigation system, it includes sensors and an energy absorbing bumper so it slows down when approaching furniture and walls, bumping them ever so gently; and completely avoids carpet and area rugs. I did stop my clean-up companion about midway through to change the Swiffer cloth. That's when I realized how badly I needed to sweep that floor!

 

With dusting done, I attached a wet cloth. In mop mode, this high-tech household helper used a special motion to wipe up deeper dirt and grime. It left my floor fresh and dirt-free without requiring any effort. Now, that's my kind of clean.

 

Just released to retailers in the fourth quarter of 2010, Mint is available for about $200 at Bed Bath & Beyond and Amazon.com.

 

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