I've been waiting for this test! I appreciate the peace of mind that there actually is a high end robot vacuum that doesn't scratch up floors. Definitely going to get one of these
Thank you, exactly what i was looking for! I have Hardwood floors, and the installer insisted not to use robots and just use a plain Mop to avoid damaging the floor, but this demo shows this can be an alternative !
@@MrRoombato we never get high end robot vacs here. If you want one, you have to import at close to a 100% markup. I run the Viomi S9. That is about the best I could get here - although the price was pretty steep
There is no need to test most robots. Only ones with free floating brush housings that press into the floor and rubber brushes. The S7 has both of these, but does not scratch (yay!!) but the S5 Max has neither, so also wouldn't scratch.
I have been waiting to see this test in particular. The good ol roombato floor scratching test. As a side thing I am wondering. As the robot always keeps its water tank full, and I do not know if it dries the pad. Would the tank grow mold and mildew on the pad. I am aware that if you are mopping every day this will not be an issue. But say I went on a vacation and came home to a moldy water tank. How easy would it be to wash. This would be good to review once the product is out and you are not held at gunpoint by roborock. Keep up the good work
lol they aren’t holding me at gun point. I am doing my best to help them perfect this robot before launch. As for a moldy mop pad, I’m pretty sure a standard cleaning cycle would take care of that. Or just replace the pad and throw the moldy one in the wash.
@@MrRoombato hey Mike, if you’re trying to help ROBOROCK perfect this robot, here are a few suggestions: -The S7 MAXV ultra should have the option for the light to stay on at all times, even during the day for better obstacle avoidance. There should also be a brightness adjustment setting as well. -The S7 MAXV should also have a feature where you can choose to avoid the obstacle at a distance or avoid the obstacle up close. -The S7 MAXV has a timer system for the washing cycle. They should utilize the same exact timer system as the washing cycle for the emptying cycle, or better, there should be a built in scale inside the robot where the dustbin goes, which measures the weight of the dustbin, and if the robot hits a weight limit, it goes back to the dock to empty and resume cleaning where it left off. The camera should also determine what kinds of debris it is running over so that it can adjust the weight limit. The carpet sensor or another sensor will be able to detect if the bot is sucking up carpet fibers. Why not just put a bin sensor? Welp iRobot has a patent. -Finally, the S7 MAXV should have Auto No-Go zone placement over obstacles, and (just for fun) a poop alert, notifying the user that there is poop on the ground.
@@MrRoombato Although this comment chain died 5 days ago I did get a good Ish idea. Companies that do sponsorships like this should give you a referral code. (Not a new idea it is just that I realized you have essentially sold me two robots.) The code would not be worth that much, maybe 25 dollars off or something small. But the company could count how many of your specific viewers purchased the robot. I am aware this is a small channel but you do a good job. I would not have a 360 s5 if it was not for you lol. And for the other I am just waiting for the s7maxV. But you are a good salesperson
It's relatively rare for robot vacuums to scratch hardwood floors. Typically, this kind of damage arises from inadequate maintenance over time. The culprits are usually small bits of debris, such as pebbles, that become lodged in the vacuum's roller area, wheels, or mopping pad. Regular upkeep can largely prevent this, particularly if you steer clear of budget models that might not be as efficient in picking up debris, thus increasing the risk of scratches. From my own use of various robot vacuums, including the latest Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra, I've not noticed any scratching on my wooden floors, despite not adhering strictly to the recommended maintenance schedule. On the other hand, my previous Neato robot vacuum did cause minor damage to my dining room chairs and baseboards. SimpleLifesaver
Well you could also in case buy those small little thing you put under chairs to avoid scratches and cut them and tape them on those little bumps if you're concerned, I guess just make sure they are super thin... I don't think they'll ruin the cleaning experience!
I have ordered a S7 and it has run 2 times now. I have noticed scratches on the floor( cast floor) along the walls. So somehow it creates these scratches during the first part when it runs along the edges of the room. The scratches follow the exact same pattern as the s7 shows in the app. Somehow the scratches are not visible in the middle of the room where it's doing the zigzagging around the room. Trying to find the cause and see what I can do about it.
Are you sure they are scratches? Mine leaves lines that I can rub away with my finger. There is really no way for it scratch unless something is caught in the squeegy strip behind the brush, or the brush itself.
@@MrRoombato yes definitely scratches. Also the mark of the rubber wheels. Those can be removed by rubbing with me finger. 2 bad I cannot post any pictures on here. Scratches are about 20cm wide and can only seen in the morning or the evening when the sun is lower. Because I saw this I grabbed my cell light, which is led, and checked. Definitely scratches comparable with the scratches on your car after automatic car wash. We're not evening walking with shoes in your house. So there is not a lot of sand. My guess the scratches will get more after each run as dirt will stick onto the brushes.
@@floriskwakernaat2869 Then you need to turn that robot over and find whatever got caught in it to make those scratches. The rubber brush barely makes contact with the floor and cannot scratch anything on its own. The little plastic teeth don't touch at all, and the only thing that makes consistent contact is the silicone squeegy thing behind the brush housing. I tested this robot on plexiglass and it didn't leave a mark.
Hoi Floris, op mijn natuur stenen vloer komen ook krassen van de Roborock S7. Die 4 opstaande kunststof stukjes thv de borstel cover raken bij mij de vloer. Daardoor krijg ik krassen op mijn vloer. Heb jij misschien een oplossing?
Most of the scratch issues with soft/rubber rollers deal with the roller being dirty. Did you run the test after running it through a lot of dust and debris?
Yes, you can see the dirt in the video. I didn't clean it at all prior to the test. But it's kind of a moot point, because as one subscriber pointed out, and as I verified, neither the brush nor those plastic teeth make contact with the floor (only carpet). The only thing that makes contact is the squeegee behind the brush.
@@MrRoombato And it's that sequeegee roller that I've heard concerns of (not just Roborock) getting dirty and causing the scratching issues. Due to their nature, there tends to be more static buildup of very fine dust/particulate on them, which in turn can cause scratching. That said, good to know the unit had been used for a couple weeks prior to the Plexiglas test.
Only if something that can scratch the floor, like a small stone, somehow gets caught in it. But that's extremely unlikely, as such an object would be pushed aside by the mop. Also, if you're vacuuming and mopping at the same time, such an object would either be picked up the vacuum, or, as we all know and have come to love, get kicked away by the side brush. :)
@@MrRoombato good to know 😀 came across a few comments in other channels about the s7 scratching hardwood floors, was a bit of a concern. Thanks for sharing 👍
@@ykang568 No problem. Those robots probably caught something in their silicone squeegees, which aside from the wheels, mop and side brush is the only thing that touches the floor. In short, nothing about the robot itself will scratch your floor.
@@ykang568 I would recommend vacuuming on Max the whole area. I do it twice to make sure, but I have a small space. Then I run it on standard and handwash the mop pad. I wet the mop and put it on "deep" mode if I want the floor to be squeaky clean. I really like my S7!
I think the little bumps would help with that. But honestly, everything that touches your floor scratches it. The issue is in the degree of scratching. Plexiglass really shows this. Take the Roomba j7. Yes, it scratched the plexiglass, but it's been cleaning the same spot four times a day for months and there isn't a single noticeable sign of damage to the floor's finish. Contrast that to the s9, which damaged that same floor so quickly that I noticed it without even looking for it...that's what started me on this scratching issue. And the s9 did the same thing to the plexiglass that the j7 did, just MUCH worse. Again, degrees! So I wouldn't worry about the Roborock at all. It didn't leave a single mark on the plexiglass.
@@MrRoombato Thank you for this! Was very keen on the S7+ because of its navigation, reduced hair tangling and decent mopping, but the reports of scratching freaked me out. Good to see a proper test. nb. Noticed you were using the Max, are you sure its the same as the S7 in this regard?
Well, it could be due to some damage to those teeth on the housing, or something stuck to them. Or maybe a very dirty rubber brush. But absent those things, it's probably the cats!
I think the reason why Roborock S7/MaxV isn´t scratching the plexiglass is that the fins don´t have contact with the surface of a flat hard floor. There is a gap of about 0,5mm between floor surface and the edges of the rubber fins. Only the clear plastic lip behind has direct ground contact. You can clearly see that by placing the robot on an absolutely flat surface like a glass desk. The disadvantage of this philosophy is that fine dust sticking on the ground is not picked up by the robot. Thank god this fine dust is cleaned away by the mopping system.
@@MrRoombato The fins of my S7 MaxV clearly don’t touch the surface. It doesn’t matter whether the brush is turning or not. Contacted the Roborock support, they said thats normal in standby condition. Maybe i should get my robo replaced to ensure it doesn‘t have a problem…
@@ruhrpilot I wouldn't worry about it. It's probably just a case of normal production tolerances. Are you sure you looked along the entire brush at every possible position?
@@MrBlueCreeper I don't blame him, I loved my s9 until I realized what it was doing to my floors. I don't exactly have the most awesome super exotic floors in the world, but still, I don't want to run a sander over them every day for no good reason. That and the thing kept getting lost because of its stupid VSLAM navigation. But yeah, Adam!! Get with the program! :P
(if we are talking about the channel Adams tech reviews) I noticed the very fine and repetitive scratch marks on his floors. Always overlooked them until I saw the Roomba scratching video. Now they are hard to miss and it is funny that Adam does not notice or point that out.
The most dangerous thing for scratches is sand... I have 2 little pokemons and when they play in sand I take their clothes off before letting them in house😀 You should do a test with the sand on the plexi..
@@MrRoombato not the wife hahahah. I can't remember how its pronunced in english... You know those pits with sand that kids play in? Is it sandbox? Well that :/
Thank you! You are the single UA-cam robot vacuum floor scratch test reviewer.
No one else wants to piss off iRobot! :P
@@MrRoombato I got plexiglass,,,just need to find time.
@@AdamsReviews Please credit me so I can get more subs! :)
@@MrRoombato Lol confirmed iRobot simps 😂
I've been waiting for this test! I appreciate the peace of mind that there actually is a high end robot vacuum that doesn't scratch up floors. Definitely going to get one of these
Thank you, exactly what i was looking for! I have Hardwood floors, and the installer insisted not to use robots and just use a plain Mop to avoid damaging the floor, but this demo shows this can be an alternative !
definitely impressed! seems like the best robot option on the market!
For a single robot to do everything, it definitely is.
Thanks!
Thank you very much!
This is a great vac/mop combo. It is a pity I will probably never have the option to buy it, but I think Roborock has really raised the bar
Never say never!
@@MrRoombato we never get high end robot vacs here. If you want one, you have to import at close to a 100% markup. I run the Viomi S9. That is about the best I could get here - although the price was pretty steep
@@hansielategan969 I'm sorry to hear that. Maybe that will change though!
@@hansielategan969 Which country are you living in?
@@jonnylee8538 South Africa
Have you tested the Roborock S5 Max? Is it also likely to not scratch the floor like the S7?
There is no need to test most robots. Only ones with free floating brush housings that press into the floor and rubber brushes. The S7 has both of these, but does not scratch (yay!!) but the S5 Max has neither, so also wouldn't scratch.
I have been waiting to see this test in particular. The good ol roombato floor scratching test. As a side thing I am wondering. As the robot always keeps its water tank full, and I do not know if it dries the pad. Would the tank grow mold and mildew on the pad. I am aware that if you are mopping every day this will not be an issue. But say I went on a vacation and came home to a moldy water tank. How easy would it be to wash. This would be good to review once the product is out and you are not held at gunpoint by roborock. Keep up the good work
lol they aren’t holding me at gun point. I am doing my best to help them perfect this robot before launch. As for a moldy mop pad, I’m pretty sure a standard cleaning cycle would take care of that. Or just replace the pad and throw the moldy one in the wash.
@@MrRoombato hey Mike, if you’re trying to help ROBOROCK perfect this robot, here are a few suggestions:
-The S7 MAXV ultra should have the option for the light to stay on at all times, even during the day for better obstacle avoidance. There should also be a brightness adjustment setting as well.
-The S7 MAXV should also have a feature where you can choose to avoid the obstacle at a distance or avoid the obstacle up close.
-The S7 MAXV has a timer system for the washing cycle. They should utilize the same exact timer system as the washing cycle for the emptying cycle, or better, there should be a built in scale inside the robot where the dustbin goes, which measures the weight of the dustbin, and if the robot hits a weight limit, it goes back to the dock to empty and resume cleaning where it left off. The camera should also determine what kinds of debris it is running over so that it can adjust the weight limit. The carpet sensor or another sensor will be able to detect if the bot is sucking up carpet fibers. Why not just put a bin sensor? Welp iRobot has a patent.
-Finally, the S7 MAXV should have Auto No-Go zone placement over obstacles, and (just for fun) a poop alert, notifying the user that there is poop on the ground.
@@MrBlueCreeper Those are all excellent suggestions! I will pass them along.
@@MrRoombato Great! :)
@@MrRoombato Although this comment chain died 5 days ago I did get a good Ish idea. Companies that do sponsorships like this should give you a referral code. (Not a new idea it is just that I realized you have essentially sold me two robots.) The code would not be worth that much, maybe 25 dollars off or something small. But the company could count how many of your specific viewers purchased the robot. I am aware this is a small channel but you do a good job. I would not have a 360 s5 if it was not for you lol. And for the other I am just waiting for the s7maxV. But you are a good salesperson
It's relatively rare for robot vacuums to scratch hardwood floors. Typically, this kind of damage arises from inadequate maintenance over time. The culprits are usually small bits of debris, such as pebbles, that become lodged in the vacuum's roller area, wheels, or mopping pad. Regular upkeep can largely prevent this, particularly if you steer clear of budget models that might not be as efficient in picking up debris, thus increasing the risk of scratches.
From my own use of various robot vacuums, including the latest Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra, I've not noticed any scratching on my wooden floors, despite not adhering strictly to the recommended maintenance schedule.
On the other hand, my previous Neato robot vacuum did cause minor damage to my dining room chairs and baseboards.
SimpleLifesaver
Well you could also in case buy those small little thing you put under chairs to avoid scratches and cut them and tape them on those little bumps if you're concerned, I guess just make sure they are super thin... I don't think they'll ruin the cleaning experience!
Turns out those things don't touch the floor, but if you have irregular floors, they may, so this is a good idea. Thanks!
I have ordered a S7 and it has run 2 times now. I have noticed scratches on the floor( cast floor) along the walls. So somehow it creates these scratches during the first part when it runs along the edges of the room.
The scratches follow the exact same pattern as the s7 shows in the app.
Somehow the scratches are not visible in the middle of the room where it's doing the zigzagging around the room.
Trying to find the cause and see what I can do about it.
Are you sure they are scratches? Mine leaves lines that I can rub away with my finger. There is really no way for it scratch unless something is caught in the squeegy strip behind the brush, or the brush itself.
@@MrRoombato yes definitely scratches. Also the mark of the rubber wheels. Those can be removed by rubbing with me finger.
2 bad I cannot post any pictures on here. Scratches are about 20cm wide and can only seen in the morning or the evening when the sun is lower.
Because I saw this I grabbed my cell light, which is led, and checked.
Definitely scratches comparable with the scratches on your car after automatic car wash.
We're not evening walking with shoes in your house. So there is not a lot of sand. My guess the scratches will get more after each run as dirt will stick onto the brushes.
@@floriskwakernaat2869 Then you need to turn that robot over and find whatever got caught in it to make those scratches. The rubber brush barely makes contact with the floor and cannot scratch anything on its own. The little plastic teeth don't touch at all, and the only thing that makes consistent contact is the silicone squeegy thing behind the brush housing. I tested this robot on plexiglass and it didn't leave a mark.
Hoi Floris, op mijn natuur stenen vloer komen ook krassen van de Roborock S7. Die 4 opstaande kunststof stukjes thv de borstel cover raken bij mij de vloer. Daardoor krijg ik krassen op mijn vloer. Heb jij misschien een oplossing?
my roborocks all have problem with the lidar tower after a few month, stopping spinning, getting stuck.
Most of the scratch issues with soft/rubber rollers deal with the roller being dirty. Did you run the test after running it through a lot of dust and debris?
Yes, you can see the dirt in the video. I didn't clean it at all prior to the test. But it's kind of a moot point, because as one subscriber pointed out, and as I verified, neither the brush nor those plastic teeth make contact with the floor (only carpet). The only thing that makes contact is the squeegee behind the brush.
@@MrRoombato And it's that sequeegee roller that I've heard concerns of (not just Roborock) getting dirty and causing the scratching issues. Due to their nature, there tends to be more static buildup of very fine dust/particulate on them, which in turn can cause scratching. That said, good to know the unit had been used for a couple weeks prior to the Plexiglas test.
What about the mop? Will it cause scratches?
Only if something that can scratch the floor, like a small stone, somehow gets caught in it. But that's extremely unlikely, as such an object would be pushed aside by the mop. Also, if you're vacuuming and mopping at the same time, such an object would either be picked up the vacuum, or, as we all know and have come to love, get kicked away by the side brush. :)
@@MrRoombato good to know 😀 came across a few comments in other channels about the s7 scratching hardwood floors, was a bit of a concern. Thanks for sharing 👍
@@ykang568 No problem. Those robots probably caught something in their silicone squeegees, which aside from the wheels, mop and side brush is the only thing that touches the floor. In short, nothing about the robot itself will scratch your floor.
@@ykang568 I would recommend vacuuming on Max the whole area. I do it twice to make sure, but I have a small space. Then I run it on standard and handwash the mop pad.
I wet the mop and put it on "deep" mode if I want the floor to be squeaky clean.
I really like my S7!
Thanks for that test! If the surface was dirty do you think the roller would push the dirt down as it picks up and possibly scratch?
I think the little bumps would help with that. But honestly, everything that touches your floor scratches it. The issue is in the degree of scratching. Plexiglass really shows this. Take the Roomba j7. Yes, it scratched the plexiglass, but it's been cleaning the same spot four times a day for months and there isn't a single noticeable sign of damage to the floor's finish. Contrast that to the s9, which damaged that same floor so quickly that I noticed it without even looking for it...that's what started me on this scratching issue. And the s9 did the same thing to the plexiglass that the j7 did, just MUCH worse. Again, degrees!
So I wouldn't worry about the Roborock at all. It didn't leave a single mark on the plexiglass.
@@MrRoombato Thank you for this! Was very keen on the S7+ because of its navigation, reduced hair tangling and decent mopping, but the reports of scratching freaked me out. Good to see a proper test.
nb. Noticed you were using the Max, are you sure its the same as the S7 in this regard?
@@blackpaw29 Yes, I'm sure.
Good idea. 👍
god i wish i got this instead of my t8, hell i shouldve gotten the dreametech z10 pro
Hi, Mike. I bought S7 thanks to your video and now I know that the scratches on the floor are only due to cats.
Well, it could be due to some damage to those teeth on the housing, or something stuck to them. Or maybe a very dirty rubber brush. But absent those things, it's probably the cats!
I think the reason why Roborock S7/MaxV isn´t scratching the plexiglass is that the fins don´t have contact with the surface of a flat hard floor. There is a gap of about 0,5mm between floor surface and the edges of the rubber fins. Only the clear plastic lip behind has direct ground contact. You can clearly see that by placing the robot on an absolutely flat surface like a glass desk.
The disadvantage of this philosophy is that fine dust sticking on the ground is not picked up by the robot. Thank god this fine dust is cleaned away by the mopping system.
There actually is some very slight contact with the fins, but yeah, not enough to scratch. And definitely not enough to pick up all fine dust.
@@MrRoombato The fins of my S7 MaxV clearly don’t touch the surface. It doesn’t matter whether the brush is turning or not.
Contacted the Roborock support, they said thats normal in standby condition. Maybe i should get my robo replaced to ensure it doesn‘t have a problem…
@@ruhrpilot I wouldn't worry about it. It's probably just a case of normal production tolerances. Are you sure you looked along the entire brush at every possible position?
It really is ScratchSafe! Great great robot vacuum!!!
Plexiglass doesn't lie!
@@MrRoombato yup! Dang Adam, you overlooked floor scratching? Adam thinks the s9 is the BEST robot out there. Oof I don't agree.
@@MrBlueCreeper I don't blame him, I loved my s9 until I realized what it was doing to my floors. I don't exactly have the most awesome super exotic floors in the world, but still, I don't want to run a sander over them every day for no good reason. That and the thing kept getting lost because of its stupid VSLAM navigation.
But yeah, Adam!! Get with the program! :P
(if we are talking about the channel Adams tech reviews) I noticed the very fine and repetitive scratch marks on his floors. Always overlooked them until I saw the Roomba scratching video. Now they are hard to miss and it is funny that Adam does not notice or point that out.
@@lukestar401 Yeah, Adam! Notice the scratches!! :P
The most dangerous thing for scratches is sand... I have 2 little pokemons and when they play in sand I take their clothes off before letting them in house😀 You should do a test with the sand on the plexi..
No doubt it would scratch. But once it's on the floor, there's little you can do to prevent that.
@@MrRoombato I learned that the hard way... I told my wife I am getting rid of it😂
@@Aleskoo100 Getting rid of what? The sand? It's not the vacuum's fault!
@@MrRoombato not the wife hahahah. I can't remember how its pronunced in english... You know those pits with sand that kids play in? Is it sandbox? Well that :/
@@Aleskoo100 Ah, good idea!
Im glad my floor is not made of plexiglass.
Plexiglass just makes it more obvious.