IRobot Roomba Vacuum Review

Best Of Hometalk
by Best Of Hometalk

For people that don’t like cleaning, have limited time, and love to come home to a clean house, there’s the iRobot Roomba vacuum.

Roomba Vacuum (iRobot)

These robot vacuum cleaners can vacuum floors with a touch of a button, attacking everything from small particles to large debris. With no cords and a rechargeable battery, these little cleaning robots can vacuum under and around furniture and the Cliff Detect sensors prevent the robot from falling down stairs or over drop-offs. Since there are a variety of Roomba models, consumers can choose a low-end Roomba vacuum with Dirt Detect technology for vacuuming and sweeping to a high-end model that additionally has Automatic Dirt Disposal, map learning, and an iRobot HOME app for a truly customized clean.


With all of these features and options, the iRobot Roomba is an easy, self-cleaning solution for busy people who want a clean home without spending time or energy pushing a vacuum cleaner around the house.


Pros:


  • Self-cleaning vacuum
  • Rechargeable battery
  • Vacuum under furniture
  • Some varieties can be controlled by an app
  • Scheduled cleaning


Cons:


  • Not for deep cleaning use
  • Must remove small items before use
  • The small bin must be emptied frequently
  • Higher cost than a standard vacuum
  • Can get stuck under furniture and cabinets


About iRobot

iRobot makes a variety of robots to help people get more done both inside and outside of the home. In addition to the award-winning Roomba vacuuming robot, iRobot has designed and built mopping robots as well. iRobot continues to explore technology and foster invention in order to create an ecosystem of robots and technology that work together to provide practical and valuable solutions for the home.


Not only does iRobot focus on building their own products and brand, but the company has also developed an outreach initiative to inspire students to learn about and choose careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. The iRobot STEM program brings the world of technology to students through classroom visits, demonstrations, and online resources.


iRobot Roomba Vacuuming Robot

The iRobot Roomba vacuum helps people save time and have a clean home. Instead of spending the time and energy it takes to vacuum a house manually, this little vacuuming robot can clean the house while the owner is away or occupied with another task.


The iRobot Roomba is a popular household machine that automatically vacuums carpets, floors, and rugs. When the job is done, the Roomba docks itself in the recharging station so that it will be fully charged for the next cleaning. Many of the Roomba versions have a schedule option that allows the scheduling of daily or weekly cleanings.


The Roomba is easy to use. To start, you press the big CLEAN button on top. Then, the Roomba can maneuver around and under furniture and other objects.


Some of the Roombas clean randomly, using sensors to help determine where to clean. There are touch-sensitive bumpers that cause the Roomba to stop when it hits something as well as underneath sensors that can detect stairs and drop-offs. Newer Roomba varieties have mapping technology that allows it to build a picture of where it has been and where it needs to go. To help with navigation and customized cleaning, there are virtual walls (lighthouses) that come with the Roomba. These can be placed at the edge of rooms to send out a beam that the Roomba will not cross. This makes cleaning small areas easier.


Another feature with newer, higher-end models is compatibility with the iRobot HOME app. Using the app, you can control when, where, and how your Roomba cleans.


Sold separately, and compatible with some Roomba versions is the iRobot Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal. This is a charging station that automatically empties the dirt canister into an enclosed disposal bag.


My Experience with a Roomba

In our house, we have three cats, a dog, and two children. I run the Roomba daily to help keep our house clean. It easily vacuums our hardwood floors, tile, and carpet. With the kids and pets, we have a lot of dirt that comes in the house from outside and animal fur floating on top of the hardwood. The Roomba easily sucks up the dirt and animal fur. I am always amazed when I empty the canister to see how much dirt we actually had on our floor and under furniture.


We do not use the scheduling feature because I have found that the Roomba will get caught or stuck on small items such as cords, toys, and clothes that may be left on the floor. Before we run the iRobot Roomba, I pick up all of the small objects off of the floor.


iRobot Roomba Recommendation

I highly recommend the iRobot Roomba. We use ours often and it saves our family a lot of time and gets our floors cleaned. It picks up animal fur, dirt, and other debris from our carpet, hardwood floors, and tile. I can even use the Roomba in my car on the floor mats! Even though this is a great vacuum, I do recommend that you own a standard vacuum in addition to the Roomba. Every week, I use our regular vacuum cleaner to get the spots the Roomba might have missed such as tight corners and small spaces.


Because there are a variety of Roomba versions, iRobot has products that can meet your budget and needs. Prices for new Roombas online range from $299.99 to $1099.99. You can choose a lower priced Roomba model that still has many great features. Alternatively, you could pick a high-end Roomba that will automatically empty the canister and map out cleaning routes.


If you have small children, pets, or spouses that tend to leave small objects on the floor, you will need to pick these up before you run the Roomba. Otherwise, the Roomba can tangle cords and small objects could temporarily clog the brushes, causing the Roomba to stop cleaning.


Overall, the iRobot Roomba vacuum is a great household machine that can help people have a clean house without spending a lot of time or energy. This vacuuming robot is great for people that have limited time, don’t like cleaning, and love to come home to a clean house.


Written for the Hometalk community by: Rachel Belkin | Cha Ching Queen

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