A mobile surface cleaner (100, 300, 370, 380, 400, 500, 600) comprising: a mobile body (102, 306, 381) configured to travel over a surface (125, 302); a source (14, 70, 106, 502, 602) of a liquid; a liquid dispenser (194, 310, 352, 354, 362, 371, 406, 506, 606); a flow path (16, 17, 18, 59, 70, 71, 160, 160A, 160B) from the liquid source to the liquid dispenser; a functional generator (10, 40, 162, 324, 504, 604) in the flow path, which comprises an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by an ion exchange membrane (27, 43) and which electrochemically activates the liquid from the liquid source which is passed through the functional generator, wherein the liquid dispenser dispenses liquid from the anode chamber and liquid from the cathode chamber; characterized by a first operating mode during motion of the cleaner relative to the surface being cleaned, during which the cleaner energizes the functional generator to electrochemically activate the liquid that is passed through the functional generator and delivered to the surface by the liquid dispenser; and a second operating mode when the cleaner is at rest relative to the surface being cleaned, during which the cleaner terminates flow of the cleaning liquid along the flow path and de-energizes the functional generator. a mobile body (102, 306, 381) configured to travel over a surface (125, 302); a source (14, 70, 106, 502, 602) of a liquid; a liquid dispenser (194, 310, 352, 354, 362, 371, 406, 506, 606); a flow path (16, 17, 18, 59, 70, 71, 160, 160A, 160B) from the liquid source to the liquid dispenser; a functional generator (10, 40, 162, 324, 504, 604) in the flow path, which comprises an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by an ion exchange membrane (27, 43) and which electrochemically activates the liquid from the liquid source which is passed through the functional generator, wherein the liquid dispenser dispenses liquid from the anode chamber and liquid from the cathode chamber; characterized by a first operating mode during motion of the cleaner relative to the surface being cleaned, during which the cleaner energizes the functional generator to electrochemically activate the liquid that is passed through the functional generator and delivered to the surface by the liquid dispenser; and a second operating mode when the cleaner is at rest relative to the surface being cleaned, during which the cleaner terminates flow of the cleaning liquid along the flow path and de-energizes the functional generator. a functional generator (10, 40, 162, 324, 504, 604) in the flow path, which comprises an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by an ion exchange membrane (27, 43) and which electrochemically activates the liquid from the liquid source which is passed through the functional generator, wherein the liquid dispenser dispenses liquid from the anode chamber and liquid from the cathode chamber; characterized by a first operating mode during motion of the cleaner relative to the surface being cleaned, during which the cleaner energizes the functional generator to electrochemically activate the liquid that is passed through the functional generator and delivered to the surface by the liquid dispenser; and a second operating mode when the cleaner is at rest relative to the surface being cleaned, during which the cleaner terminates flow of the cleaning liquid along the flow path and de-energizes the functional generator.