The Roborock Flexi Lite promises impressive features, including 17,000 pascals of suction, a self-cleaning and drying roller-mop, a 40-minute battery life, and the ability to clean right to the edges of your floors. But is it really as good as it sounds? Let’s dive into the details after a couple of months of use.
What It Is (and What It’s Not)
First things first: The Flexi Lite is not a vacuum cleaner. Despite boasting 17,000 pascals of suction, this device does little for carpets or rugs. Its primary function is as a power mop for hard floors, with the suction helping to remove dirty water from the mop’s roller, not lift dirt from carpets. So, if you’re looking for a vacuum with multi-surface functionality, this isn’t the tool for you.
Cleaning Performance
When it comes to everyday cleaning, the Roborock Flexi Lite does an admirable job. It uses its spinning roller to pull itself forward, making short work of spills and messes. For testing, I spilled ground coffee, grated cheese, and leftover spaghetti sauce on the floor and let the Flexi Lite tackle it. Moving slowly, it picked up the mess in a single pass with no need for a second round.
However, it’s important to note that while the Flexi Lite excels at cleaning fresh messes, it struggles with tougher, caked-on stains. For stubborn, sticky messes, you’ll still need to rely on a traditional mop that offers more elbow grease and pressure.
Convenience and Battery Life
The Flexi Lite features a useful lay-flat mode that allows it to slide under furniture with ease. It can squeeze into gaps as small as 60 mm (2.4 inches), making it effective for tight spots like under chairs and coffee tables. As for battery life, it comfortably lasted through my 15-minute cleaning sessions, and with its 40-minute run time, it should be more than enough for most small to medium-sized spaces. Note that I used the vacuum in Auto mode, as the Max setting didn’t seem necessary for standard floor cleaning.
The device’s edge cleaning is limited to the right-hand side, so if you need to clean both edges of your floor, you’ll have to reposition the unit. If you want a more comprehensive edge-cleaning experience, you’d need to opt for the more expensive Flexi Pro model.
Self-Cleaning Features
The Flexi Lite includes a self-cleaning function where, upon returning it to its charging base, it sprays fresh water onto the roller and uses suction to clean itself. This process is noisy but relatively quick. The charging base also dries the roller with warm air for about an hour.
However, cleaning the dirty water tank is a hands-on affair. You’ll need to remove the tank, empty it, and rinse it out, which is a bit of a chore. A downside I noticed is that the roller sometimes leaves a mess behind when stopping, and even the charging base can accumulate some leftover moisture. This can be avoided by pulling the roller back as you lift it and running the self-clean cycle multiple times.
Portability and Design
Weighing in at 4 kg (8.8 lb) dry, the Flexi Lite is relatively manageable, though with both clean and dirty water tanks full, it’s a bit on the heavy side. It’s best suited for being stationed near the cleaning area, as it might be cumbersome to move around the house frequently. While it’s not the lightest, it has a sleek, modern look that fits well in most kitchens or laundry rooms. Despite the noisy self-cleaning routine, it’s over quickly and the drying process is quiet, so it won’t disturb you for long.
Pricing and Competition
Normally priced at $399, the Flexi Lite is currently available at a more affordable $199 in the U.S. However, in Australia, it costs around $699. While it may seem like a steep price for a mop, the Flexi Lite offers a high-tech upgrade over traditional mops and is ideal for everyday spills and messes. However, for tougher stains, you’ll still need to rely on a manual mop.
Compared to traditional mops, the Flexi Lite feels like a significant upgrade, providing quicker and more efficient cleaning. Yet, for deep cleaning, a regular mop will still have the edge. Whether it’s worth the price depends on your cleaning needs, but for those who value convenience and time-saving, it could be a worthwhile investment.
Final Thoughts
The Roborock Flexi Lite is a solid power mop that works best for regular cleaning, especially for spot messes and quick touch-ups. It’s a great complement to a robot vacuum or regular mop, making it a handy tool to have on standby. While it doesn’t replace your traditional mop entirely, it’s a smart, efficient device for the modern home, especially if you can snag it at a discounted price.
Related topics:
What Are the 3 Best Vacuums for Bare Floors?