Floor cleaner: a new protocol for a revised comparison

Our comparison dates from September 2020. It has therefore been a little over four years since the editorial staff of Les Numériques dissected and scrutinized floor cleaners. If, at the time, this market was only emerging, today it is mature and benefits from welcome innovations. Several manufacturers are trying to do well and the broom models are multiplying.

To continue to offer you a relevant comparison, Les Numériques has worked on a new protocol.

Wine, cereal, an egg and ketchup: new recipe to disappear

The primary mission of the floor cleaners being to wash our home with water, we had to give them a hard time. The traditional washing test involves washing four different substances after letting them dry overnight: lipstick, soda, oil and carbon black – to reproduce soot.

To spice up the test and, above all, to make it more representative of daily life, we first added red wine. Who, after a drunken evening, preferred to postpone cleaning until the next day? The enemy of festive households then has its place on the floor of our laboratory.

Ketchup also makes an appearance. It is one of children's favorite side dishes. Greasy, thick and sticky: it should be one of the worst enemies of floor cleaners.

To reproduce the consequences of toddlers’ clumsy actions – and not only that – we also add cereals. Well softened in water, they test the brooms' abilities to suck up liquid and soft waste.

Finally, we take great pleasure in cracking an egg in front of the washermen's noses. They will then have to prove to us their ability to suck up the white, the yolk and the shell without complaining. Through this test, devices that can vacuum up waste of all kinds are valued. They then prevent the user from vacuuming before grabbing their floor scrubber.

Favor the most hygienic floor cleaners

It's still their pet peeve. Floor scrubbers have difficulty offering a truly hygienic washing system.

The egg also comes into play here to allow you to note the filtration capacity of the brushes. Some in fact retain traces of viscous white in their filter, while others make them disappear.

We also evaluate the effectiveness of the self-cleaning procedure, when provided. Because although the majority of floor scrubbers are equipped with microfiber rollers that are formidable against stains, this is not an easy-maintenance option. Washing them by hand requires dipping your hands into the grease and waiting a while before they are completely dry. The self-cleaning function then allows you to space out the in-depth cleaning of the rollers. It's even better when followed by an automatic drying cycle.

An imposing product, but pleasant to use

Now, almost all floor cleaners are equipped with a dirty water tank, in addition to the one reserved for clean water. Above all, these two separate water tanks gain volume. If they avoid going back and forth to the water point, they should not weigh down the brooms considerably.

This is why we note their maneuverability and grip. Recently, we are seeing devices appear capable of rotating it 180° to vacuum under low furniture. It's a small revolution on the market, which tends to make washers a little more relevant. To go further, we promote all-purpose washing heads, capable of going as close as possible to furniture and plinths.

Other devices also choose high-end equipment, such as LEDs on the washing head, an LCD screen, automatic water flow management and the addition of cleaning solution.

In the interest of fairness, Les Numériques will recall old models already tested as much as possible. Concerning the next ones, they will not escape this new protocol, much more complete.