I spend a lot of time at home. I always joke that if there’s one thing I get my money’s worth on, it’s my rent because I work, eat, sleep, relax and entertain within my 800-square-foot apartment. Because of all this time spent at home, it’s essential to keep my space in tip-top shape with the help of the best cleaning products. I simply can’t work or relax unless the sink is empty, the counters are de-cluttered and the floors are free of crumbs and dust.
Though cleaning is like therapy for me, it doesn’t mean I want to spend all my free time refreshing my home. Time is precious, and if I can clear my cleaning schedule to focus on other important tasks (re: relaxing or shopping), then I will do whatever it takes to free up my agenda.
As a cleaning-obsessed shopping editor, I’ve tested a lot of hard-working products. Still, one area of the home I find myself dreading to clean is my hardwood floors. Not only do they need to be vacuumed, there’s so much dirt trapped within them that mopping is equally essential.
Enter the Tineco iFloor 3 Breeze vacuum-mop. The cordless, 2-in-1 system cleans sealed hard floors in half the time. Sounds like a dream, right? Spoiler: My Tineco iFloor 3 Breeze review left me in shock by how much dirt was trapped inside my floors. It’s the best thing to happen to my home—here’s why I’m never cleaning my floors with a regular mop again.
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What is the Tineco iFloor 3 Breeze?
Part vacuum, part mop, the Tineco iFloor 3 Breeze is a 2-in-1 hard floor cleaning system that efficiently washes floors while simultaneously picking up crumbs, hair and dirt. Unlike traditional mops, this duo cleans sealed hard floors with significantly less water. This means that the floors are left streak-free yet incredibly clean.
While it’s ideal for picking up everyday grime, the most beloved feature is its ability to clean serious messes in just one swipe. Instead of breaking out the paper towels, vacuum and mop for picking up heavy-duty jobs like spilled cereal milk, the Tineco iFloor 3 Breeze tackles any mess in half the time. All it takes is filling the clean water tank with a splash of cleaning solution and water, turning on the vacuum-mop and voila! Floors are clean in just one swipe.
Via Merchant
VIA MERCHANT
This 2-in-1 hardwood floor cleaner cuts cleaning time in half.
Product Features
- High water recovery rate to get floors cleaner while drying faster
- 20-minute run time
- 20-ounce clean water tank capacity
- 16-ounce dirty water tank capacity
- Cordless
- Weighs 9 pounds
How We Tested It
Madi Koetting/Taste of Home (2)
I unboxed my Tineco wet-dry vac as soon as it arrived. As an apartment dweller, I was pleasantly surprised to find the vacuum-mop duo was more compact than I originally imagined. I was expecting a hefty machine, but the Tineco is slimmer than a regular cordless vacuum cleaner (the traditional kind, not the sleek cordless type, to be clear). Plus, it’s easy to stash in a small closet. Now, let’s get into the Tineco iFloor 3 review.
Assembly
The Tineco iFloor 3 arrives mostly assembled. All I had to do was snap the handle into the wet-dry vac, and I was good to go. I was equally excited to clean with the high-tech machine as I was intimidated by it. The fact that it vacuums and mops at the same time truly still blows my mind, but I’m happy to report that it’s extremely easy to maneuver.
Before cleaning my floors, the Tineco required a four to five-hour charge. I planned to clean my floors the following day, so I plugged it in to juice up overnight. When I was ready to get cleaning, I ensured every attachment was in place: Brush roller (Check!), dirty water tank (Check!), clean water tank (Check!).
Following the assembly instructions, I filled the clean water tank with one capful of the included deodorizing solution and water up to the max fill line. The included Tineco cleaning solution is required to thoroughly wash floors (otherwise, they just get wet, and dirt is still trapped within). It has a light, clean scent that reminds me of Lysol disinfecting spray—but in a good, “I-trust-my-floors-are-sterile” kind of way. With the clean water tank in place and all the other attachments locked in position, it was time to wash the floors.
Cleaning Hard Floors
Though initially intimidated by my Tineco iFloor 3 review, once I kicked the machine in motion, I realized the beautiful simplicity of the wet-dry vac. With just two buttons—start and max water flow—all you have to do is maneuver the machine like a vacuum. The best part? Rigorous scrubbing isn’t necessary.
Pushing the Tineco back and forth through my kitchen, I was shocked by how little water the machine uses to wash hard floors. I turned on the max water flow button just to see what the machine could really do (and because I knew my floors were disgusting). With max water flow on, I could only see the slightest trace of water where I moved the machine. Better yet, absolutely no streaks were left behind like they are when mopping.
Between me, my dog and my partner, with whom I share an 800-square-foot apartment, our floors collect a lot of hair and crumbs. Clumps of hair, dust and random food scraps vanished as soon as the Tineco Vac-Mop touched it. Now, I’ll be honest, I take my sweet time while cleaning my floors with the Tineco. A slow, back-and-forth motion makes all the difference in knowing every last bit is vacuumed and mopped.
The only room without hardwood floors is the bedroom. After cleaning the kitchen, bathroom and living room floors, it takes me 10 minutes flat to slowly (but efficiently!) move the Tineco through my apartment. That’s a huge improvement from the 30-minute chore of vacuuming and then mopping my floors the old-fashioned way. So, if you’re just now tuning in, the fact that this machine cleans floors in half (or less) the time is reason enough to add to cart.
Mopping Heavy-Duty Messes
Madi Koetting/Taste of Home (2)
My initial Tineco iFloor 3 review made me a believer in the wet-dry vac system, but the true test is seeing how it performs on heavy-duty messes like spilled cereal milk. After watching several social media videos of the Tineco effortlessly cleaning up nasty spills, I had a lot of trust in this product. Still, I had to see the magic for myself.
As much as it pained me, I intentionally dumped yogurt on my floors and let it sit for half an hour before going in with the Tineco Vac-Mop. In just four swipes, the machine effortlessly picked up every last bit of yogurt while leaving the area with a streak-free finish to prevent sticky residue. Success!
Next, I spilled freshly brewed coffee all over my kitchen. The Tineco cleaned up every inch with no sticky residue left behind. As for spilled cereal? This mess was a tad trickier to clean, but I discovered that moving the Tineco very slowly is key for picking up all the cereal chunks. The Tineco can handle chunkier messes like this, but depending on how much is spilled, the base may get clogged. I had to wipe off the bottom mid-clean to prevent clogging, but the Tineco certainly accomplished the assignment much quicker than I would have on my own.
Where I used to rush to the paper towels to clean up spilled liquids, the Tineco is a total superhero. No more two-step cleaning routine—all it takes is a few back-and-forth motions of the Tineco, and you’re good to go.
Cleanup
Because the Tineco iFloor 3 Breeze picks up significant gunk, it’s essential to clean the machine after each use. I mean, no one wants a dirty tank of water sitting in their house until the vac-mop’s next use—gross! After turning off my Tineco Vac-Mop, I removed the dirty water tank and dumped it in the toilet. Then, I rinsed the tank in the sink to remove excess hair and debris. I also re-filled the clean water tank (more on that later) and snapped both tanks back into place on the vac-mop.
Depending on the mess, I also remove the brush roller and give it a rinse. There tends to be some hair and debris where the brush roller sits, so I wipe the area with a microfiber cloth after each use, too.
Time for the fun part—the self-cleaning feature. With the Tineco Vac-Mop plugged in, I attached the clean water tank (filled, not empty) and made sure all the bells and whistles were locked into place. Then, I held the power button until the self-cleaning mode was activated. This rushes clean water through the machine to prevent clogs or dirt from getting trapped inside. This also thoroughly dries the brush roller to remove excess liquid. The self-clean function took about three to five minutes. Once complete, the dirty water tank was semi-full, so I dumped and rinsed it. I let my Tineco charge overnight to ensure it was all juiced up for when it was time to clean my floors again.
Long-Term Testing Update
I received the Tineco iFloor 3 Breeze in August 2023. I’ve tested it for one year and can confirm that the vacuum-mop cleans my floors just as well as it did on day one. As a professional product tester, I test a lot of products (and not all of them are worth talking about!). I’m not exaggerating when I say this vacuum-mop is the single most-loved appliance in my entire home.
It’s also the product I can’t stop recommending to loved ones. Washing floors is no simple task. First, you must vacuum crumbs and then go in with a mop. Talk about time-consuming! This vacuum-mop cuts cleaning time in half by simultaneously vacuuming and mopping floors. I’ve gained precious time back by not having to break up floor washing day into two parts.
The only grievance I have about this product is the size of the dirty water tank. I live in an 800-sq-ft apartment, and I always have to dump the dirty water tank halfway through and refill it with a cleaning solution to thoroughly wash my floors. Newer models come with bigger dirty water tanks, which are worth considering depending on the size of your home. Still, I always clean on the “max water flow” setting to make sure my floors are getting a deep clean. If I use the regular water flow setting the dirty water tank takes longer to fill.
In my year of testing, I have not experienced any malfunctions with this product. My one note of guidance is to thoroughly rinse the brush roll after each clean. Overall, this is one of the few cleaning products I use every evening, and it has never done me dirty!
Pros
- Cuts cleaning time in half
- Leaves floors with a streak-free finish
- Cordless and compact
- Quieter than some vacuum cleaners
- Safe on most sealed hard floors
- Included cleaning solution leaves floors smelling clean and disinfected
- Self-cleaning function thoroughly dries the brush roller
Cons
- Must empty the dirty tank as soon as it’s full otherwise, it starts leaking
- Needs to charge for 4-5 hours before use (pro tip: charge it overnight!)
- Must clean the vacuum-mop immediately after use to avoid build-up and odors
Why You Should Trust Us
I am a shopping editor for Taste of Home and an expert at curating the internet’s best gifts, kitchen appliances, cleaning gear and viral home buys. I’m constantly testing products for “best” lists, I Tried It reviews and gift guides. If there’s a viral product taking the internet by storm, you can count on me to give an honest review.
FAQ
What is the difference between the Tineco iFloor 3 and S3?
The iFloor 3 Breeze is the second edition of Tineco’s floor washers. The S3 is one step above the iFloor 3, offering a 35-minute runtime (compared to the iFloor 3’s 20-minute run time) and fancier functions like LED display and smart app integration. Still, both models vacuum, mop and deodorize in one simple step—the latter is just a bit fancier and runs longer.
Which Tineco vacuum is best?
It depends on what you’re looking for! If you want a time-effective and affordable way to clean floors, the Tineco iFloor 3 Breeze is a trustworthy pick that has been around for years. Or, if a long runtime, large dirty water tank capacity and smart technology are important to you, Tineco’s newer floor washers (like the S7) are for you. They do, however, come at a higher cost.
Can you use the iFloor 3 on carpet?
No, it’s not recommended to use the iFloor 3 on carpet. It vacuums while it mops, so there’s not a vacuum-only mode (or a mop-only mode).
What Other Shoppers Had to Say
I’m not the only one who swears by the Tineco iFloor 3 as the mop of the future—over 25,000 reviewers are in love with this smart system.
“This machine is a game changer!” raves verified Amazon reviewer Yesenia Green. “Mom of three boys here, with the youngest being two years old. My toddler is constantly spilling as all toddlers do. This floor cleaner serves as a mop and a drying rag. I use it for standard mopping or to pick up juice, milk, water or any spills. It’s so convenient to just turn it on and clean, as opposed to bringing out the mop and bucket. I can’t believe I never knew this existed…highly recommend to anyone that’s looking for a convenient and fast way of cleaning their floors.”
“I have had multiple dogs and purchased at least 12 different hard floor cleaners over the past 27 years,” adds verified Amazon reviewer Gail Heisler. “This is by far the best! It’s easy to use, clean and it actually cleans the floor—great! No streaking, no dripping, very lightweight and I love that it’s self-propelled and self-cleaning.”
“This thing suctioned entire pieces of chicken, scattered wet ramen and vomit off my floors,” shares Vicky Stotler. “If you have children in your home, I cannot recommend this vacuum-mop enough. Dare I say, it even makes cleaning fun. I have added different floor cleaning products to the clean water tank for a better smell. I would say, it will smell better if you’re efficient about dumping the dirty water tank, if it sits it smells bad. Good power life, I have about 1,000 square feet, usually only spot clean around my dining table throughout the day but it will go days without needing a charge.”
Product Comparison
With several wet-dry vac options available from brands like Bissell and Shark—how does the Tineco iFloor 3 Breeze compare? All Tineco Vac-Mop models are comparable to the Shark Cordless HydroVac and the Bissell CrossWave line. At their core, the Tineco, Shark and Bissell wet-dry vacs combine the tiresome task of vacuuming and mopping into one do-it-all multitasker. Where they differ is additional features and price.
At $360, the Shark Cordless HydroVac boasts an antimicrobial brush roll, odor-neutralizer technology and LED headlights. The Bissell CrossWave series goes for $220 to $400, depending on the model. The pet models boast a pet hair strainer, while higher-tech options boast Wi-Fi connectivity. At under $280, the Tineco iFloor 3 Breeze strikes the perfect balance of affordability and diligence without all the tricked-out extras.
As for how the Tineco iFloor 3 Breeze compares to newer Tineco models like the Floor One S5 and Floor One S7? The S5 and S7 are more advanced and more expensive, with features like enhanced edge cleaning, digital display, smart suction and flow control and smart app integration. These models also boast a longer run time and large capacity dirty water tank, so they’re ideal for large homes. Still, all three models boast the same core functions that have made shoppers fall in love with the wet-dry vacuum, which is the ability to detect, vacuum and mop in one simple step.
Final Verdict
If you can’t tell by now, I’m never using a regular mop again. My Tineco iFloor 3 review taught me there’s a smarter (and more fun) way to wash my hardwood floors—and it takes half the effort. It’s important to note that the Tineco iFloor 3 doesn’t replace the need for a vacuum. It simultaneously mops and vacuums, so there’s no mode where it just vacuums or mops. Still, it’s the gadget I rely on for everyday hardwood floor maintenance and serious catastrophes like spilled spaghetti.
Where to Buy the Tineco iFloor 3 Breeze
VIA MERCHANT
VIA MERCHANT
The vac-mop tackles everything from pet hair to spilled cereal and serious dirt.
There’s a smarter way to clean hard floors, and the secret is the Tineco iFloor 3. Find it on Amazon, Walmart, Target or the Tineco website, where it goes for around $280. Though it’s an investment, my Tineco iFloor 3 review proves it’s one of the hardest-working (and most affordable vacuum-mops) on the market. The best part? You’ll never have to buy a mop again. The Tineco iFloor 3 Breeze is truly the mop of the future.
For more cleaning gadgets that basically clean the home for you, check out our EyeVac touchless vacuum review.