Does anybody have a Roomba?

moanymoany

Lizalu wrote: »

MY friend has one of these and I'd have to warn against them. While they may be easy to use, they're not very effective at all... Very weak suction.

Interested to see your name 'lizalu' because in France amongst mid 20's women 'Lisalu' or varied spellings is very popular . It comes from Tess of the D'Urbavilles.

luckylukey

I have one! I bought it from John Lewis about 4 months ago, and I absolutely love it! It sucks up an incredible amount, even more that my old vacuum cleaner. It also goes under my bed which I would never vacuum with a conventional one.

I was quite sceptical, and bought it thinking I could return if it was rubbish, but I really loved it. I can stick it on while I am doing other things like ironing or washing. I would really recommend it (how gushing am i!)

pixie1

i have to say im very tempted to buy one of these, not OS i know but i like the idea of 'him' working away whilst im at work and then i just clean him out when i get back.

Anyone still using theirs?

Pix

party_of_five

I have one and have for a couple of years - all my flooring is wood/tile and I find that 'he' (we call him Robert) works really well under normal circumstances. He does an excellent job of picking up day to day stuff and I just go round once a week with a hoover and pick up anything that has gone in a hard to reach place where he can't get to.

That said, I have two golden retrievers and so I have had to confine him to duties in one room only as all of the hair was killing him, even with cleaning him out after every use. So every morning, he cleans up the bedroom which is where both we and the dogs sleep and so it usually pretty hairy by the morning (that is from dogs, not us). Saves me having to lug the hoover upstairs and just one more job I don't have to think about.

The cleaning part only take a minute, you just empty the little bin which clips off the back and pull any loose hair of the brushes. There is a huge satisfaction I find in listening to him do the hoovering while I'm getting on with something else - if you don't have pets with long hair, I'd recommend one - you can just leave it to patrol around while you are out and come back to much cleaner floors.

Sarjsmith

Hi
I bought a roomba 530 just before xmas 2008, and I would replace him ('wallee') tomorrow if he 'died'. I have gone from hoovering everyday (three dogs two kids and a cat) to doing a 'proper' hoover of the carpets once a week. We have 70 % hard floor and wallee does a better job than I do on those. On the carpets, he gets the surface animal hairs up, so the kids don't get covered in dog hairs everytime they are on the floor, then once a week I use my upright on the carpets and stairs. I have to clean him after each use because he picks up so much dust and hair, but as a previous poster said, that only takes a minute. I bought the 530 because it was considerably cheaper than the 560 and I didn't need automated cleaning. I just put him on as I need to. I love him so much I'm going to get a scooba!!!

ktpie

I got a cheapo one from ebuyer last year for £40 similar to this. I was pregnant at the time and it saved me carrying the heavy vac up and down the stairs.
DH was very doubtful about the suction but had to agree when we got it that it does a pretty good job. It has a lot more patience than me and my dyson! I put it on whilst I am getting on with other jobs but it is a little distracting as you want to watch it all the time and see how it is getting on.

I've been pleased with the cheap version but I know they aren't as user friendly as the proper Roombas, the first one I had broke the first day when I charged it up but ebuyer replaced it. It doesn't have a very intelligent charging system and you have to time how long you charge it for and be careful that you switch the plug on to the charger before you put the lead in the machine and take the lead out of the machine before you switch the plug off. The one they are selling now has a docking station so might be less of a hassle.
Also to clean it out you need a screwdriver to take the brushes out and it doesn't have a very big dustbin so needs emptying every time.
If I had lots of spare money I would treat myself to a fancy Roomba but for the £40 I spent I've been really pleased with mine.

larmy16

OOOh maybe I shall treat myself to one of these for Christmas. One question though, does it mange to get over the door thresholds to move from room to room?

I heard some people discussing these on a radio show and they were thrilled with them. Seem to remember a figure of about £300 being quoted?

[Deleted User]

I saw them when walking through leekes yesterday

They made me laugh, what a gimmick!! designed to end up in the back of people cupboards

I do the roomba when vacuuming to music

Sarjsmith

larmy16 wrote: »

OOOh maybe I shall treat myself to one of these for Christmas. One question though, does it mange to get over the door thresholds to move from room to room?

I heard some people discussing these on a radio show and they were thrilled with them. Seem to remember a figure of about £300 being quoted?

If they are flattish door plates, it will go over them, it climbs on and off my rugs quite happily, but it will not manage even small steps as the 'cliff' technology will stop it.

EslaDee

I like the sound of these very much. Ideal if you are arthritic, had an op or are unable to carry the usual vac upstairs. :T