Roomba Plus 405 Review: A Solid 2-in-1 Cleaning Companion with a Few Quirks

If you've ever been tired of constantly sweeping up pet hair or tackling those sticky kitchen messes, the Roomba Plus 405 might have caught your eye. It's a 2-in-1 vacuum and mop, which means it promises to do double duty in keeping your floors clean. I decided to put it to the test over a couple of weeks to see if it could handle daily dirt and grime.

What initially drew me to the Roomba Plus 405 was its ability to vacuum and mop simultaneously. It's a feature that sounds pretty appealing if you're short on time or energy. Plus, the idea of not having to empty the dirt bin for 75 days seemed like a dream come true.

Before I dive into the specifics, it's worth noting that I live with two cats, so there's always a trail of fur and the occasional litter scatter to contend with. This robot had its work cut out for it right from the start.

So, let's dig into how this device stacks up in terms of design, performance, and overall effectiveness.

When it comes to value, the Roomba Plus 405 offers a mixed bag of features for its price. On one hand, you're getting a 2-in-1 device that vacuums and mops, which can save you the hassle of buying separate gadgets. The self-emptying and auto-wash features are huge conveniences if you're not a fan of constant maintenance.

However, with a price tag that's on the higher end compared to some other robotic vacuums, you have to weigh if these features align with your cleaning needs. If you have a busy household with pets and a mix of flooring types, the convenience might be worth it. For those with smaller spaces or mostly carpeted areas, you might want to consider if the mopping feature justifies the cost.

Another aspect to think about is the ongoing cost of replacement parts like bags and mop pads. They're not exorbitant, but they do add up over time. So, budget-minded users should factor this in.

In summary, the Roomba Plus 405 is a decent value if its dual cleaning capabilities match your lifestyle, but for pure vacuuming or mopping, there might be more cost-effective options out there.

The design of the Roomba Plus 405 is straightforward and functional. It's round, like most robotic vacuums, which helps it navigate corners and edges fairly well. It's not the most compact, but it manages to fit under most furniture, which is a plus when it comes to reaching those hard-to-get spots.

One of the standout features is the AutoWash dock. This thing is a game-changer in the sense that it takes care of the mop pads for you. After a mopping job, the robot returns to the dock, and it rinses, washes, and dries the pads. It’s a nifty feature for those who dread cleaning up after their cleaning devices.

On the downside, the size of the dock is a bit bulky, so finding a suitable spot for it might be a challenge in smaller spaces. It's not a dealbreaker, but definitely something to consider if you're tight on space.

Overall, the Roomba Plus 405 is designed to blend well with your home while offering practical features that simplify floor cleaning. It's not flashy, but it gets the job done without too much fuss.

The battery life on the Roomba Plus 405 is a mixed bag. On paper, it boasts 120 minutes of cleaning time, which seems like plenty. In practice, however, the duration varies depending on the cleaning mode you choose. For example, if you're using the higher suction settings for carpets or the SmartScrub mode for mopping, the battery drains a bit quicker.

During my tests, I found that for an average-sized apartment, it could clean the main areas without needing a recharge. However, if you're covering a larger home or using the more intense cleaning modes, expect it to return to its dock for a charge midway through the job. The good news is that it resumes cleaning where it left off once charged.

The time it takes to fully recharge is fairly standard, around 3-4 hours. This isn't too bad if you're running it on a daily schedule, but if you're someone who likes to do impromptu deep cleans, you might find the wait a bit inconvenient.

In terms of battery longevity, it's too early to tell if it will hold up well over time. But based on current performance, it's adequate for most cleaning tasks, just not necessarily impressive.

When it comes to performance, the Roomba Plus 405 is decent but not mind-blowing. The vacuum's suction is pretty solid, and it does a great job on hard floors, picking up dirt, dust, and pet hair effectively. However, on carpets, especially thicker ones, it struggles a bit more. It's not that it doesn't clean, but it sometimes takes more than one pass to feel truly clean.

The mopping feature is where things get interesting. The dual spinning mop pads handle general grime well, but tougher stains like dried food spills need some extra attention. I found that running the robot in SmartScrub mode helped, but it's not always guaranteed to get everything in one go. The fact that it can lift the mop pads when it detects carpet is a smart touch, preventing wetting those areas unnecessarily.

One of my favorite aspects is the LiDAR navigation. It efficiently maps out the rooms and doesn't miss spots, which is great if you're particular about coverage. It avoided obstacles pretty well, though it did get a bit confused by one of my darker rugs, thinking it was an obstacle.

Overall, the Roomba Plus 405 gets the job done for the most part. It's not perfect, but for routine maintenance, especially on hard floors, it’s pretty effective. Just don't expect miracles on high-pile carpets or with set-in stains.