Robot Vacuums

Amy Anderson
by Amy Anderson
I'm thinking about getting a robot vacuum. Do you love them - hate them - do you have one? Which one do you recommend?
  17 answers
  • Don Don on Jan 31, 2013
    I don't know if you'll find this useful (due to my lack of memory). I don't own one of these units however I recently watched a review of two companies (Roomba and another I can't remember but it sounds a little like Roomba) on America's Test Kitchen (ATK). There were 2 Roomba models and they liked both. One was for dry vacuuming and the other for wet pickups. There were multiple things they liked such as the size of the vacuuming hole and it having 2 brushes instead of one. they tested all kinds of things (including flour) and said it picked up everything. I forget the episode of ATK however it should be one of this year's (2012-2013) shows. They are pricey at around $300 but ATK recommended both Roomba units.
  • The Robin's Nest The Robin's Nest on Jan 31, 2013
    OK, I have one, it was a birthday present (nearly $500) purchased directly from IRoomba, it was the latest model. It had problems almost immediately and continued throughout the entire time we had it/used it. It was a battery issue, a brush issue, it wouldn't sense the edges of things and would slam into the coffee table legs, it was always something. It worked good for picking up pet hair (but had to be emptied frequently) and it did not transition well between hardwood floors and rugs and always seemed to leave fuzz behind on the edge of the rugs as it attempted to climb up and over. Even after a few months (they had a VERY limited warranty period) they would not refund our money, and just kept trying to send parts to us, (at their cost initially and then at ours). I had high hopes for it and wanted it to work, but overall I would say it did not work for us. Now it sits in a drawer somewhere. Oh and the towers we had would run through batteries like crazy, and would often not work to block the particular area designated. Definitely not a vacuum for anyone who has lots of stuff around, as it would get lots of interuptions which would cause it to constantly change course. I remember reading somewere on www.gardenweb.com that someone had purchased one from another company or online store (can't recall where) but wherever it was, THEY offered an unlimited warranty period or would return it. If I had known how limited IRoomba direct would be I would have gone with this other company. Not a fan, but it did work ok when it was actually working well. I would certainly NOT spend alot of money on the high end model.
  • Atta Girl Amy Atta Girl Amy on Jan 31, 2013
    I'm interested to read these responses. I've been considering one, too. My aunt and uncle have one in their 4000 SF home in Florida, and they love it. But it's just the two of them and 2 dogs, and they both travel a lot. And they have mostly tile. I want to hear how it works for families with kids and also in homes with hardwoods, rugs and carpet. Sounds like @The Robin's Nest did not have a good experience. Those are words to heed.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Feb 01, 2013
    Do they make one chew proof? HA! Our dog does not chew on anything but her toys, BUT she does have an ongoing battle with the vacuum cleaner! And the leaf blower. She snatched the extension off the leaf blower and took off down the deck stairs with it! Boy did she get into trouble!
    • See 1 previous
    • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Feb 21, 2015
      @Stephanie Thanks for your response...I never thought about dogs and their superior hearing! But I had to laugh! Ours does not run from the leaf blower but attacks it! She has developed a "game" with hubs...one which she won every time until he permanently attached the tube together!
  • Tim Berrong Tim Berrong on Feb 02, 2013
    Rhoomba 650. Wife loves it, dogs fear it. Get it at Bed, Bath, and Beyond and use the 20% coupon.
  • Libby Libby on Jan 07, 2014
    I bought the Neato after some research. I would recommend unless you have rugs with long fringe. Mine has no trouble with short fringe but is constantly stuck on the long.
  • Kathy K Kathy K on Jan 07, 2014
    I have a Roomba from iRobot and love it. Have a lot of hardwood floors and I juts put it down and let it go. My towers work great and still on the same batteries.. I got mine at BB and Beyond with the 20% off and a special with all spare parts (brushes, etc) but have not switched them. I have a bad back so saves on the vacuuming. Must say it does not work too well on my son's dog (a lab) fur on one of my rugs but he is not here that often. I am always amazed the dirt it empties out as it is only my husband and I. Got one for my beach house too.
  • Brenda Wahlig Brenda Wahlig on May 07, 2015
    My sister has an IRobot by Roomba, and says it's the best money she ever spent! I'm considering one after she recommended.
  • Marlene Haigh Marlene Haigh on May 18, 2015
    I've had the Roomba 550 for years. Check out their website. I've replaced parts easy as pie! It is my best friend...love it
  • Skrizzo Skrizzo on Jul 26, 2015
    I loved my Rhoomba but when the battery died and wouldn't hold a charge we replaced it and it never seemed to work right again.
  • I also have a Roomba for IRobot and it works very well. I like it so much that named "him" as "Baltha" from "Balthazar"!! I strongly recomend!
  • Mimi Mimi on Aug 24, 2015
    Roomba's by IRobot ! I have 2 bought at a deal,BOGO. Wish I had bought another. Yes, best money ever spent ! Goes over cords, etc. it cleans my carpet better than my uprights, and I have a bag less E, and the popular hotel used O upright. They go under beds and places you cannot get with other Vic's. The only problem is the dirt container is small and MUST be emptied during use if you have a large house, but it definitely beats having to do the vacuuming yourself, and it will put itself up when your house is clean. It doesn't miss any areas either. Great way to spend your money. I ASKED for mine for a gift !
  • Alexscott Alexscott on Apr 21, 2016
    I have always wanted one but heard the stories how it gets caught in area rugs or has trouble going from wood to carpet, not anymore. It works really well. Of course, it's not going to get everything, but I use this every day to go over the rugs, then on Saturday I give the rugs the full vacuum treatment. I have dogs do it is great with all those fur balls drifting around. If you want to purchase it for the first time, it's a good deal, but you can save some money and buy the cheaper model. be careful and learn reviews on this site and some of these: http://www.bestadvisor.com/vacuums/cordless-vacuums http://robot-vacuum-review.toptenreviews.com/ http://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-robot-vacuums,review-2000.html
  • Tgisdances Tgisdances on Oct 25, 2016
    I would not call this a vacuum cleaner. It is only good for picking up top surface things like lint, etc. It does not suck anything up and out that has fallen down into the fibers of the carpet like sand, food crumbs etc. When walking around barefoot or after bathing when we dry off, or even when you feel itchy and scratch yourself, dry skin falls off our body This falls down into the fibers of your carpet. These robotic, rhoomba type cleaners are not going to suck this up and out of your carpet. Think about all those flaky skin cells whether from human or animals, building up in the fibers of your carpet. Icky, icky, icky. I lived with my 80 year old sister for six months and feel this type of machine is a germ breeder. The dirt cup had to be changed after every use. My old sister could not do it as it was to heavy for her to lift off the floor and she couldn't get down on the floor to do it. She had the Rhoomba 770. If this is being used in a commercial place like a hotel I can only imagine what is brewing on/in the carpets there. My sister also had a canister vacuum with a powerhead floor attachment. It was unbelievable how much filth was sucked up when I used this on her carpet after six months of using the Rhoomba. The Rhoomba may be adequate on hard flooring but I've never used it on a hard surface floor.
  • Annette Lemieux Annette Lemieux on Oct 07, 2017

    My son works for iRobot. I have a Roomba. I love it. He said if you have carpets or rugs you would want to go with the 900 series. If just floors then 800 series is great and 600 series is lower cost alternative.

  • Валко Лариса Валко Лариса on Oct 02, 2018

    I have a Roomba 980, a great vacuum cleaner. I now without robot vacuum cleaner as without hands.

    The Richard blog helped a lot, thanks a lot to him.

    P.S. if anyone is interested, here is the link

  • Hughes Dylan Hughes Dylan on Dec 27, 2018

    My husband bought an iRobot Roomba 980 years ago back to use on our hardwood floors. I wasn't so thrilled at first, but once I realized how much it helped with the pet hair from our two dogs and crumbs from the kids, I didn't mind having it around.


    I say "it" but he and the kids named "it" Cookie. For a couple of weeks, I just thought my then one-year-old was into asking me for cookies all day long until my husband finally remembered to tell me that is what they named the Roomba. So, what my youngest was really asking for the whole time was for me to turn the Roomba on. That was pretty funny.


    The whole family enjoys the Roomba. It is quiet, does as advertised and doesn't bother our dogs. We are happy to have Cookie as another member of our family. You can earn reviews on this site and some of these: https://getcleaningdone.com/best-robot-vacuum-for-pet-hair-and-hardwood-floors/