skip to main content

Cleaning Tips Appliances Flooring

Best Robot vacuums?

linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

I don't get Consumer reports. Thinking about giving myself one for Christmas.

We have a mix of hardwood floor in the kitchen, marble tile in hall and bath, and wall to wall carpet with oriental rugs or kilim flat woven rugs on top of that. I'm not sure if these robots can handle all the transitions. One short haired cat here, 2 short haired people: so not much of a hair problem.

I will freely admit that the floor is a mess. I have carpal tunnel syndrome, and using vacuums and lawn mowers, vibrating tools like that, will leave my arms tingling for a day. My husband will vacuum, but to be honest, he does enough already.

I would appreciate your suggestions. Thanks!

Featured Answer

Donald

4 years ago

I bought one online, didn’t read any reviews, wasn’t a brand I’d ever heard of and it was about $50, no bells and whistles, just super basic. Yes, it eventually does an okay job, like a dust mopping, but not as thorough. Transitions can be tough, sometimes it’ll hop up on a rug sometimes it won’t, depends on the angle as it first encounters it. I still have to vacuum though, this just tides me over for a few days. So I’d suggest buying the least expensive one you can find and testing it out. If that seems worthwhile then you can invest more into one that you can schedule, recharges on its own, can set up perimeters, etc. but all of them will have problems going onto a rug on top of carpet

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

Crystalgirl9369
4 years ago
I had the expensive iRobot which is great if you have tons of pet hair but if not I would go with a cheaper version since basically all they are good for is daily animal hair, dust and tiny things. Will definitely cut down on having to vacuum as much .. PS I bought a refurbished one which worked fine .
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago) thanked Crystalgirl9369
Related Discussions
Robotic Vacuum - Roomba vs. Neato
Q
Comments (2)
Robot vacuums work best in small spaces and 4,000 sq. ft is going to give it a hard time for sure. Whatever limitations it may have, at the end of the day, iRobotÃ¢ÂÂs Roomba is still the best robot vacuum and changing to Neato or any other alternative is just not going to give better results. I couldnÃ¢ÂÂt clearly understand why you canÃ¢ÂÂt limit the Roomba to an area but I guess there is something wrong with your lighthouses and they are not working the way they should. There are two possible reasons why the virtual lighthouses may not be not working: 1-)They have a range of about 6Ã¢ÂÂ 6Ã¢ÂÂÃ¢ÂÂ. If the gap you set them to cover is larger than that the robot vacuum will find the spot where the lighthouse ray cannot reach and pass through. The solution to this could be to put two lighthouses 6 feet away from each other but two of those so close can confuse the robot. Another solution is to place some object in the middle of the gap where you do not want the Roomba to pass and place the lighthouses on both ends so their rays donÃ¢ÂÂt make contact. 2-) Roomba 530 is not compatible with lighthouses. But if you have lighthouses they will still work as virtual walls. You need to set to wall. This post was edited by patricc on Thu, Sep 25, 14 at 13:40
...See More
I bought a robot!
Q
Comments (15)
That suggests regular use of a sweeping robot may be very handy for some but perhaps not the best thing for allergy or asthma sufferers. As someone who has serious allergies and non-serious asthma the best thing about the robot vacs is that they stir up the dust when I am not home. My problem with traditional vacuums, even with HEPA filters, isn't the air quality of the house, it is the air quality of the house immediately after vacuuming. I can't be in the house for a couple of hours after vacuuming happens. I used to fix this by having the cleaning lady come when I was at work but the $85 per week adds up quickly. I still do my stairs and a few areas like closets with a traditional vacuum and I immediately leave the house when finished. While I do use a HEPA filter on my Botvac, I am making no claim that my air quality is as good as those with Rainbows but it has been fine so far.
...See More
Best robotic vacuums
Q
Comments (2)
Neato wins by a mile....pricey but great.
...See More
robotic vacuum
Q
Comments (0)
best robotic vacuum
...See More
bbtrix
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I’ve had my Roomba 960 for a year now. I did research them and also watched my sis’s inexpensive Roomba in action randomly cleaning her floor. I love my Roomba so much I am giving one to my daughter for Christmas this year. I thought about getting her a cheap one but she has a big house and a cat so the added features are better for her situation.

I threw my back out 18 months ago and vacuuming is now disallowed. My DH has taken over, but like you I try to minimize what I rely on him for. I also like a clean floor. This bot does an excellent job cleaning. I have a mix of hardwood, LVP, tile, and area rugs. Bot handles them all just fine. I have a thick jute rug and flat weaves and it has never had a transition problem. This model keeps track of where it’s been and is thorough. The most I have to do is empty the bin and move it to different floor levels. It needs maintenance a few times a year to keep it cleaning optimally but it’s not difficult. One of the reasons I went with Roomba is that replacement parts are available so hopefully it can last many years. I also believe the brand and model will make a big difference in your cleaning experience. I run mine every 2-3 days. Both times I made my purchases through Bed Bath and Beyond watching for super sales. I got the last one on cyber Monday for over $100 off. I’d be happy to answer any specific questions for you.
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago) thanked bbtrix
User
4 years ago
We have an iLife in our house in Memphis. It's wonderful for picking up dust bunnies and general dust. We run it every day while we're out and it does a great job!
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago) thanked User
daniel boring
4 years ago
I have a Deebot N79S which is an older cheaper model ($170 usually) and it’s been great. I did have a main brush motor burn out but they are so cheap I just bought a refurbished one for about $100. But I think even the cheapest dumbest vacuum will do a better job than a human.
PRO
G & S Floor Service
4 years ago
Buy one with a soft bumper. These vacuums will go full speed into your furnitures and baseboards. Which will damage or mark up the bottom.
B T
4 years ago
We have an iRobot Roomba 800 series named Sonya (after our best cleaning lady who retired.) We’ve had it for 3 years. We have two cats. I have to say that we LOVE our Roomba. It does an amazing job. We also use a Dyson stick vacuum just to get the baseboards and any tricky spots. Our house consists of hardwoods and tile.
A friend of ours bought a cheaper iRobot Roomba and absolutely loves it. She says it is her favourite appliance!
Another girlfriend has the top model and is enthusiastic about her Roomba. She has darker hardwoods that show every speck of dust, so the Roomba was a welcome addition to her home. She loves it.
We have had no issues with our Roomba. No repairs, no nothing.
Like someone mentioned earlier, there are deals at certain times of the year. If you keep an eye out for this, you might save a considerable amount.
Susan
4 years ago
Following
whirlpool_trainee
4 years ago
I really like this YouTube channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvavJlMjlTd4wLwi9yKCtew/videos

Related Stories

HOME TECH Home Tech: Where Is My Robot Housekeeper?

We haven't mastered the all-purpose humanoid house cleaner, but these gadgets make quick work of chores

HOME TECH Here Come the Home Robots — for Real

This is the droid you're looking for. Humanoid servants are poised to finally be of service around the home

DECORATING GUIDES Gadget Watch: What's New for the High-Tech Home

A heater fan, robotic vacuum, solar-powered iPhone charger and other hot home gadgets

DECORATING GUIDES What Goes With Dark Wood Floors?

By Laura Gaskill

Avoid a too-heavy look or losing your furniture in a sea of darkness with these ideas for decor pairings

HEALTHY HOME 18 Ways to Allergy-Proof Your Home

By Laura Gaskill

If you're itching to reduce allergy symptoms, this mini guide to reducing allergens around the house can help

MOST POPULAR A Fine Mess: How to Have a Clean-Enough Home Over Summer Break

By Alison Hodgson

Don't have an 'I'd rather be cleaning' bumper sticker? To keep your home bearably tidy when the kids are around more, try these strategies

CLOSETS Get Your Broom Closet Just Right

By Laura Gaskill

The Hardworking Home: Make cleanup easier with storage space that neatly organizes your equipment and supplies

REMODELING GUIDES 15 Ways to Design an Easy-Clean Home

By Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR

Spend more time doing what you love with these pointers for minimizing cleaning needs throughout the entire house

HOME TECH Harness the Cloud: 8 Ways to Automate Your Housekeeping

By Laura Gaskill

Make life easier by scheduling regular deliveries, managing appliances, simplifying meal planning and more via the web

PETS Dealing With Pet Messes: An Animal Lover's Story

By Tiffany Carboni

Cat and dog hair, tracked-in mud, scratched floors ... see how one pet guardian learned to cope and to focus on the love

Sponsored

More Discussions

Cleaning old rusty lamps ?

1

White fuzz growing on pizza oven

2

Outdoor granite stain from plant pot container

1

Water Filters for future

0

limestone floor looks dirty

0