Up until now, I’ve never really questioned how to make cleaning my floors easier. Sure, I’ve got a decent stick vac that cleans my entire house. I’ve even got multiple mops to ensure the floors are regularly clean, particularly when the pets are running about. But I’m not quite sure how I never thought to seek out a device that combines those two functions.
Tineco’s newest Floor One S5 Combo aims to build upon the standard Floor One S5 by adding a miniature vacuum to its functionality. Put simply, the Floor One S5 Combo might not do enough to justify the upgrade for current owners, but even at A$849, there’s certainly plenty of value to be gained from this newer combined form factor.
Design
The Floor One S5 combo is easy enough to assemble but does require a little maintenance upon each clean, which we’ll touch on a little later. The mop vacuum itself is light and nimble and features a detachable smaller handheld vacuum at the centre, which is recommended for smaller areas and crevasses in things like general furniture.
Getting this thing going might be easy enough once you’ve done it a couple of times, but it’s worth noting that a few detachable pieces require regular maintenance when finished. You’ll be able to fill the Floor One S5 Combo with water and a cap of the provided floor cleaning solution to the 0.8-litre water tank which sits on the back. When finished, it usually needs to be refilled, which is a little disappointing given it’s only good for around 10 minutes’ worth of cleaning.
The Floor One S5 Combo also includes additional accessories for the handheld vacuum portion of the device, with a small barrel, a long head for gaps in furniture and a brush head for surfaces. They’re also super easy to attach and detach, and the vacuum itself is quite light in the hands. The Floor One S5 Combo isn’t necessarily anything flashy at first glance but does a great job at coming together for ease of use, particularly when so many moving parts are involved.
Functionality
When it comes to cleaning, the Floor One S5 Combo does a fantastic job. It’s a personal gripe, but as this automatically mops as it vacuums, I was only able to use it on the floorboarded and tiled areas of my home. It’s not a criticism, but it is worth considering if your home is heavily or predominantly carpeted. Its bulkier head doesn’t allow it to sneak under lower furniture, but I still felt that it cleaned extremely close to walls and corners.
Having never used a mop vacuum before, I was also impressed at just how evenly clean and quiet the actual process of using this is. I had it in my head that these things would churn away, leak and leave puddles, but the Floor One S5 Combo adequately disperses an even spread of water for the roller to clean over, removing most lighter prints, spills and scuffs. In tiled areas, however, I’m not sure how this will clean into the grout, as it doesn’t feel powerful enough to get into those crevasses for a deeper clean, even if it left my actual tiles sparkling.
You’ll be able to choose between an Automatic mode and a Max mode, which is about as basic as you would expect. The Max mode drains the battery relatively quickly but does a fantastic job at vacuuming. Considering I have two dogs, both a Labrador and a Golden Retriever which are notorious for shedding hair, there wasn’t much left to complain about after using this. Even so, while the Automatic mode gets you around 22 minutes of cleaning time, would still be the recommended option for larger homes and floors.
The handheld vacuum does a fine job of cleaning furniture and the smaller gaps in between, providing some serious suction in the process. But at the same time, as I have carpeted areas, wasn’t the answer I was looking for personally, all while doing a solid job at removing pet hair from my furniture. The provided canister, while small, is easy enough to empty and clean. The included 2.1-inch display is also vibrant and easy to read, automatically updating to reflect the chosen mode and form.
The Floor One S5 Combo also includes voice prompts for all of the various modes when in use, even pointing out when it’s time to be recharged or cleaned. The included charging stand is also easy to set up and even allows the unit to run through a self-cleaning mode, which helps because I’m terrible at remembering when I last cleaned many things.
Software
The Floor One S5 Combo is also compatible with the Tineco Life app, a feature that I admittedly was not aware of until later in this review period. While it can’t control the functionality of the vacuum itself, it can do a couple of cool things. Firstly, it can detect and track how often you’ve used it per day and even track how dirty the water you’ve collected is, thanks to the vacuum’s iLoop Smart Sensor technology. Secondly, it can also be used to alter the volume and even silence the voice prompts featured and even download those prompts in various languages.
It’s not the flashiest app or even a necessary one for most users, but I can commend the added functionality and flexibility that this provides, should you want to keep on top of your cleaning schedule.
Verdict & Value
The Tineco Floor One S5 Combo is great for hardwood floors and tiles alike. While it’s worth considering the layout and flooring of your house, this mop vacuum hybrid is sure to keep the everyday dirt and even pet hair off your floor at a moment’s notice. Given the multiple moving parts and frequent cleaning/refilling, it’s still incredibly easy to do so, along with a nifty handheld vac that while not attempting to replace a standard stick vac, is great for furniture and smaller corners.
While the battery life isn’t great at just 22 minutes, that A$849 price tag will only feel as steep as your home and situation allow. If you’re living in a home that’s predominantly featuring hard floors, this might be the all-in-one option for you.
THREE AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Easy to use, clean and refill; Handy self-cleaning mode and clear display; Super quiet compared to standard vacuums
Lowlights: Average battery life; Needs to be cleaned rather regularly and full tank only allows for a 10-minute clean
Manufacturer: Tineco
Price: A$849
Available: Now
Review based on unit supplied by Tineco.
