I use the Mint 5200 to clean the hardwood floor in a 22''x22'' living/dining area and for a separate 9''x15'' kitchen. It does an excellent job despite a large number of obstacles like area rugs, cabinets, dining table, side tables etc. It sometime looks like it will get stuck in some narrow weirdly shaped corner, but it always finds it way out and does not seem to skip anything.The Mint 5200 comes with two different cleaning pads, one for dry sweeping and one that has liquid reservoir for wet mopping. A set of two reusable clothes to be used with each pad is also provided. I always use the dry sweep mode first and then do wet afterwards.
The setup is pretty straight-forward. The navigation cube goes to corner of the dining table with flashing blue light pointing into the room. Then a cloth is attached to one of the cleaning pads and the Mint is ready to go. Mint first finish the living area, then continue to clean the kitchen before it goes back to its starting point. There is a staircase leading down from the room, and Mint backs away w/o falling, though the manual recommends to block the staircase as a precaution.
The clean up is simple as well. Detach the cloth and recharge the Mint. That''s it.
I have to say that dry sweep mode is ok, but not very impressive. Mint simply rubs the floor with the cloth which get covered in dust quite quickly, and is not really able to absorb "larger" pieces dirt like breadcrumbs. However, this is workable, if the floor is not too dirty to begin with, and some care is taken to remove the "larger" particles first.
In any case, the wet mode is what I need most for my hardwood floor, and I am happy with enough the result. Even with plain water the Mint leaves the floor clean and shiny.
A few tips after 2 months:
Mint spends a lot of time navigating and recalculating the routes when it encounters chairs and obstacles. It takes over 2 hours to dry mop the area mentioned above and not enough power left for finishing the wet mopping. So, I remove chairs from the floor, it greatly speeds up the cleaning process.
Two reasons can cause the liquid reservoir not working properly. I have run into both: 1) the cloth is not wet enough before beginning the wet mopping. Making it wet (but not dripping wet) would solve the problem. 2) the wick cap is clotted. I used diluted Murphy oil (1:100) and noticed that no liquid was dispensed anymore after a few usages. I called Mint Customer Service and learned that one shall not use Murphy oil or any soap based cleaning product as they will clot the wick cap. Since then, I have been using Bona (carried at Home Depot) recommended by the Customer Service, and the liquid is being wicked out nicely.
Before throwing away the clotted wick cap, try to thoroughly rinse it without pulling its fiber. Mine works perfectly fine with Bona after the rinsing.
After using Mint 5200 and Roomba 780 both for 6+ months, I find I like Mint better as it is quiet and less abrasive to the surface. (See my review on Roomba 780). Now I own 2 Mint 5200 to clean multiple floors simultaneously.
and here are the observations:
Pro:
Much better battery life than 4200, it now covers a lot more area.
Much reduced battery charging time. It takes 7-8 hours for the 4200, not really an issue if you let it charge overnight. The 5200 charges in about 2 hours. Good for those spring cleaning / emergency visitor days.
The universal charger adapter allows for use around the world (or at least here in Singapore: 230v, 13amp) without need to buy step up or down transformers.
The mopping pad containing a water reservoir is surprisingly simple, elegant and effective. Simplicity is the epitome of good design.
Love their included C batteries, wiping and mopping cloths.
As usual, love the option to use disposable swiffer or any dust papers instead of the cloths. You are not limited for choice.
General laminate floor cleaning tips:
Don''t waste money on laminate cleaning products. Water is still the best. Tried it all, horrible mess. back to water.
Don''t use any acidic / alkaline solutions which will damage the rubber ring on the wheels. Stick to water. It''s the best, really.
Buy Evolution Robotics Mint Plus Automatic Hard Floor Cleaner Now
After seeing all the good reviews for the original 4200 model, we decided to go with the new 5200 model that was released this year. We have a large hardwood floor home and could have used something like this a LONG time ago. It''s quiet, efficient, and does a great job finding it''s way around the house. It''s amazing to watch this thing go into tight spaces and then find it''s way out, it does not miss an inch. We just charge it every night and let it clean and mop during the day and it''s kept our floors spotless. VERY impressed, and well priced.Read Best Reviews of Evolution Robotics Mint Plus Automatic Hard Floor Cleaner Here
I think it is a great tool for maintenance of Marmoleum and wood floors. I have the Marmoleum Click, Marmoleum Decibel, wood floors and... dogs. I spritz the pads with a mixture of vinegar and water (that I keep in plastic spray bottles around the house)for quick clean up of the Marmoleum. I choose the sweep feature for a damp mop that I can set and let it do it''s thing. For my wood floors, I have a Murphy''s Oil Soap and water spray bottle and do the same. It isn''t a heavy duty cleaning machine but, for people with pets, I highly recommend it.Want Evolution Robotics Mint Plus Automatic Hard Floor Cleaner Discount?
We bought this unit and used it for 2 weeks and returned it. We have mostly hard floors in our home, so we used the mopping function only.First, let me say I did read the instructions and troubleshooting guide in full before and during use. The information did not resolve the issues.
Pros:
1. When it works, it cleans well and thoroughly.
2. Very quiet and unobtrusive
3. Easy to assemble and use
Cons:
1. It sometimes does not work. It just sits there and spins in circles.
2. Has some quirksthe Northstar cube sometimes shuts off for no good reason. The Mint sometimes shuts off and stops cleaning for no good reason.
3. Not a set it and forget deal. We have one living room 20x20 and I had to set it in 3 different sections just for it to clean the entire
room. That''s too much hassle for one room. And yes, I had the Northstar cube placed with the blue light facing the center of the room with a clear line of sight to the ceiling.
Overall, I am disappointed to have to return it. This would be a great timesaver if it worked as advertised. We''ll buy the next iteration of this unit with the hope that it is much improved.
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