Excuse the pun, but I really like my Roomba. I'd been thinking of buying one for a long while, just to try it out, and then a couple of months ago I happened to notice a refurbished unit (the iRobot Roomba 560) on buy.com at $100 off the new price. So, I thought, why not, plonked the virtual money down and a few days later it arrived on my doorstep.
Let me explain. We have four cats (it was only supposed to be three, but then a neighbor had a litter and there was this cute tabby who purred a lot, and the rest is history) and, despite our best intentions, the carpet gets furry and the little blighters tread cat litter everywhere despite buying those special mats that are supposed to help brush their paws as they exit the box. Neither of us has the time or inclination to vacuum every day, but to be honest that's what it needs. Once a week is just not often enough. Hence the thought about getting a robot to do it for us.
I recharged the Roomba and pressed the button on the top. I'd given it the biggest level: our lounge plus dining room plus kitchen. After a little trill, off it whirred, vacumming away. Bonk, it hit a table leg, rotated, and went off in another direction. It was fascinating to watch. It found the wall and then tracked along it until, bonk, it hit the sofa. And then, oh mirabile dictu, it went underneath where no vacuum cleaner had ever gone and yet which was a favorite cat hiding spot.
Talking of the cats, they were fascinated. They hate — with a passion — the upright vacuum cleaner, but this one they just watched warily. (Now, after two months, the youngest will just play with it, dashing in front of it, jumping over it; it's a wonder anything gets vacuumed any more.)
After about half an hour, it expired in the middle of the carpet. It was supposed to hunt the docking station and dock to recharge, but not this time. I picked it up, turned it over, and the bin was full. Totally and utterly full, I emptied it, cleaned the brushes, and set it on the docking station again. After it had recharged, I set it going again, only to have the same thing happen. It took in all three runs, before the bin wasn't overflowing and the robot found the docking station properly (another little trill).
And that was the story with the three levels I've tried it in (the one mentioned above, the family room and our bedroom/bathroom): the first time I had to make at least three runs before the robot decided that the room was clean enough to dock. After that it was fine. It would vacuum in about 25 minutes and then redock. Finally I was able just to set it going and forget about it: it would find the docking station every time.
It picks up dust and fur, no problem at all. Because I work at home, I can move it from level to level once it's recharged (about an hour, but I haven't really timed it), however I'm really thinking we need another to help out. The carpet looks great. In fact, it all looks so good, I now really notice the stairs need vacuuming, which of course the robot can't do. Gaak.
The only downside is that the dust/debris bin is fairly small and so really needs emptying after every run. The brushes need cleaning too, but this may be just a function of having four cats (it's their fur that gets wound round the brushes). But I'm willing to clean it afterwards (I've got it down to a fine art now) for the pleasure of heaving clean carpets every day.
I certainly recommend it, especially if you have the same kind of situation as we do. As I mentioned above, we're going to go for another one so that I don't have to move it around so much. Maybe a Scooba instead, since we're putting in wood flooring?
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3 Responses
#1 Tommi Prami said...
20-Oct-09 4:42 AMRoomba is very good, helps me a lot. It have some problems, but generally my apartment is much cleaner that it was before.
I think iClebo PlusA would be even better (less bumping into furniture and better filtering) but there was no customer feedback in internet back then while I was buying one my self... : www.youtube.com/.../watch
-TP-
#2 Tommi Prami said...
20-Oct-09 4:58 AM...
And best part is that I had to make my apartmen Roomba-secure (like when you have kids). all loose cords, wires and stuff had to be secured. Way or other, so Roomba will not get tangled to it. And some thin and Cheap carpets had to go. By that procedure alone my home is now much better (visually and just works better)
-TP-
#3 Tommi Prami said...
12-Nov-09 2:53 AMOK, glad that I am not Dog owner :)
http://naurunappula.com/514535
-Tee-
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