Cleaning robots - http://ironbound.snradventure.com

Editor's picks

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  iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, Black and Silver

  Home (iRobot)
  

  Rating (748 reviews):

  (3.7/5)

  

  Great but not perfect ***Downgraded Star Rating***

  My wife and I decided to get one of these because our 8 month old son is about to start crawling. While we try and keep our floors clean, our beagle has other thoughts as she sheds all over the place. We went with the latest 560 model as it has just about everything we would want with a product like this. It works as advertised and we will definitley keep it but there are some areas that need improvement. Here is a quick breakdown of the pros and consPros1. Quieter than a standard vaccuum2. Seems to learn the room dimensions quickly. The virtual walls and lighthouse feature are very nice.3. Is "smart" enough to avoid getting tangled in our area rugs4. Obviously easy to use as it is just a push of a button (or even better when you program it)5. Can use everyday to keep the floors spotless6. Have successfully used it on hard wood, vinyl, carpet and (accidently) concrete7. Cleans under... 4/5 M. Kelley "mpkelley20" (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews, September 16, 2007

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  A Worthy Successor to the Roomba Line

  We have two Roombas plus a Scooba in our house. When one of the batteries on one of our Roombas finally reached the end of its life cycle, we decided to donate that Roomba to a friend and to get ourselves the new top of the line - the Roomba 560. We got this right when it first came out, but we waited several months before posting a review. It's pretty much impossible to review one of these Roombas after only a few days! It takes weeks if not months to start to see how well they last over time, and what breaks down. Believe me - been there, done that.So now it's many months later, and I have to say, we are quite pleased with the improvements of this Roomba over the previous generations of Roombas. So first, for those who don't even have ANY Roomba yet (hard to believe!). Roombas are awesome. We have cats, and we work from home so we're home all day. It is AMAZING how much dirt and dust and junk collects in the carpet every single day. Who really has time to vacuum their... 5/5 Lisa Shea "medieval swordfighting enthusiast" - See all my reviews, December 12, 2007

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  Beware of the "new" Roomba 560 now only for single room (updated review)

  UPDATE 12/19/2011My review in late 2007 describing the red side brush "amputee" problem and poor customer support is still the highest rated critical response on Amazon. Because of that experience, the recounting of which is in the original review appended below after this update, I had not bought an iRobot product in over four years. Now I have bought two "new" 560s, which arrived today (more about "new" below). This update is primarily for (i) previous owners of a 560 that are contemplating buying a "new" 560 or (ii) those that have information on the original 560 and mistakenly believe that this is what they will get if they order a "new" 560.If it were not for the problems discussed in this update, I would raise my rating to 3.5 stars. Once again, I think iRobot may be shooting itself in the foot. And what upsets me is that I really want to see this company succeed.By way of disclosure I have owned several of every generation of Roomba. I... 2/5 Matrixunloaded (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, Black and Silver (Kitchen) UPDATE 12/19/2011My review in late 2007 describing the red side brush "amputee" problem and poor customer support is still the highest rated critical response on Amazon. Because of that experience, the recounting of which is in the original review appended below after this update, I had not bought an iRobot product in over four years. Now I have bought two "new" 560s, which arrived today (more about "new" below). This update is primarily for (i) previous owners of a 560 that are contemplating buying a "new" 560 or (ii) those that have information on the original 560 and mistakenly believe that this is what they will get if they order a "new" 560.If it were not for the problems discussed in this update, I would raise my rating to 3.5 stars. Once again, I think iRobot may be shooting itself in the foot. And what upsets me is that I really want to see this company succeed.By way of disclosure I have owned several of every generation of Roomba. I... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , November 20, 2007

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  List Price: $449.99
  

  Anti-tangle technology; gentle-touch bumper system; built-in cliff sensors

  Vacuuming robot picks up dirt and debris with the touch of a button

  Easy-to-empty bagless dustbin; fine-filtration system traps allergens

  Measures 16-3/4 by 21 by 5 inches; 1-year limited warranty

  Self-charging Home Base, 2 Auto Virtual Walls, an extra filter, and more included

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  iRobot 530 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, White

  Home (iRobot)
  

  Rating (365 reviews):

  (4.0/5)

  

  New Roomba vs. Old

  If you are new to Roomba, you will wonder if it is worthwhile. The answer is clearly YES, since anything it cleans is that much less for you to clean. However, which is better, the old (and cheaper) Roomba, or the new models like the 530?First, the 530 comes with the charging/base station, and this is very useful. I have placed this in the entranceway which leads into the livingroom, the kitchen or the bedroom. Using the virtual walls (included), I block off rooms so that it can only do the entranceway + 1 other room. I simply press the "Clean" button, and it backs itself off the charging stand and then spends the next 2 hours cleaning, finally returning to the charging stand. Nice!Should you upgrade from an older model Roomba (I now use my old Roomba upstairs)? It depends on your situation. By-the-way, the old virtual walls do NOT work with the new Roomba.New Roomba:Fall down stairs? NeverClimb onto thick throw rugs... 4/5 D. C. Eaton (Avon, IN United States) - See all my reviews, December 1, 2007

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  It's Like a Beloved Pet Who MAKES EVERYTHING BETTER

  Awesome. This new generation fixes all the problems of the previous. Much smarter, much bigger dust bin, much better in every way. Great that it self-docks when tired. Maintanence is a snap...really could not be easier/faster. There are some negatives - how could there not be? - but this thing has such a contagious personality that it starts feeling like your pet, and you're inclined to forgive, and even find the faults charming.You have to prep the room (cords up and out of the way, no papers or clutter on the floor, move small items out of the room and learn which objects present problems and get them out of the way). Performance varies on throw rugs (it's great on rug/carpet surfaces themselves, but Roomba can get caught up as it travels over edges of throw rugs that don't have much weight or cling). It's good at slowing down and banging objects gently, but less so on narrow vertical objects (e.g. piano legs), which it really clunks (not enough to damage, but it will... 5/5 New Yawkuh "New Yawkuh" (Queens, NY United States) - See all my reviews This review is from: iRobot 530 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, White (Kitchen) Awesome. This new generation fixes all the problems of the previous. Much smarter, much bigger dust bin, much better in every way. Great that it self-docks when tired. Maintanence is a snap...really could not be easier/faster. There are some negatives - how could there not be? - but this thing has such a contagious personality that it starts feeling like your pet, and you're inclined to forgive, and even find the faults charming.You have to prep the room (cords up and out of the way, no papers or clutter on the floor, move small items out of the room and learn which objects present problems and get them out of the way). Performance varies on throw rugs (it's great on rug/carpet surfaces themselves, but Roomba can get caught up as it travels over edges of throw rugs that don't have much weight or cling). It's good at slowing down and banging objects gently, but less so on narrow vertical objects (e.g. piano legs), which it really clunks (not enough to damage, but it will... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , October 11, 2007

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  A Great Product Made Even Better

  With two dogs in the house we could not live without our Roomba. The 530 is a vast improvement from earlier models. It seems to pick up more dirt, the battery life is longer, the fast-charge is about 33% more rapid than its Discovery predecessors and it is generally more quiet.The new sensors that prevent the robot from "speed-bumping" into furniture are a very nice touch, but beware if the robot is in a tight area, it may appear sluggish -- the sensors are working to continually slow it down. It's a feature I like, but need to get used to.My only concern with this robot is the high cost of parts. The bot itself is cheaper than earlier models but the components most prone to breakage or wear-out are twice the cost so the lifetime operation costs may be higher. Replacement batteries are nearly $100. Earlier models were $50.ONE MONTH LATER ....This is a slight amend to my review above. Having used it for a month a couple points of... 5/5 damg1 "damg" (Tulsa, OK) - See all my reviews This review is from: iRobot 530 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, White (Kitchen) With two dogs in the house we could not live without our Roomba. The 530 is a vast improvement from earlier models. It seems to pick up more dirt, the battery life is longer, the fast-charge is about 33% more rapid than its Discovery predecessors and it is generally more quiet.The new sensors that prevent the robot from "speed-bumping" into furniture are a very nice touch, but beware if the robot is in a tight area, it may appear sluggish -- the sensors are working to continually slow it down. It's a feature I like, but need to get used to.My only concern with this robot is the high cost of parts. The bot itself is cheaper than earlier models but the components most prone to breakage or wear-out are twice the cost so the lifetime operation costs may be higher. Replacement batteries are nearly $100. Earlier models were $50.ONE MONTH LATER ....This is a slight amend to my review above. Having used it for a month a couple points of... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , September 12, 2007

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  List Price: $299.99
  

  Easy-to-empty bagless dustbin; fine-filtration system traps allergens

  Measures 16-3/4 by 21 by 5 inches; 1-year limited warranty

  Self-charging Home Base, 2 Virtual Walls, an extra filter, and more included

  Anti-tangle technology; gentle-touch bumper system; built-in cliff sensors

  Vacuuming robot picks up dirt and debris with the touch of a button

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  Irobot Roomba 760 Vacuum

  Home (iRobot)
  

  Rating (24 reviews):

  (4.1/5)

  

  What Fun!

  In a newly remodeled house with laminate wood floors, I see a lot of dust everyday; Roomba 770 has been a good fit. What I've noticed after three weeks of daily use - the pros:- Roomba does a great job in empty rooms; the entire downstairs comes out dust free.- Works well under beds, chairs, wide tables, and kitchen cabinet toekick.- Has great sensors for walls, boxes, pillows, and goes beautifully over heavy rugs back onto hardwood.- Roomba didn't like the fringe on my oriental carpets, but it didn't choke on it like my big vacuum did and kept on going.- The electronic barriers work well, but there is a learning curve on how to place them properly (The signal is cone-shaped). These need 2 "C" batteries each (4 total, not included).- It is not difficult to maintain: emptying the dust collection, removing brushes and using brush cleaner, wiping off sensors, moving it to a new room.The cons:- need to watch Roomba do a room before... 4/5 Holly H (Pasadena, CA) - See all my reviews This review is from: Irobot Roomba 760 Vacuum (Kitchen) In a newly remodeled house with laminate wood floors, I see a lot of dust everyday; Roomba 770 has been a good fit. What I've noticed after three weeks of daily use - the pros:- Roomba does a great job in empty rooms; the entire downstairs comes out dust free.- Works well under beds, chairs, wide tables, and kitchen cabinet toekick.- Has great sensors for walls, boxes, pillows, and goes beautifully over heavy rugs back onto hardwood.- Roomba didn't like the fringe on my oriental carpets, but it didn't choke on it like my big vacuum did and kept on going.- The electronic barriers work well, but there is a learning curve on how to place them properly (The signal is cone-shaped). These need 2 "C" batteries each (4 total, not included).- It is not difficult to maintain: emptying the dust collection, removing brushes and using brush cleaner, wiping off sensors, moving it to a new room.The cons:- need to watch Roomba do a room before... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , September 9, 2011

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  I'm likin' this model!

  I saved up and bought this Roomba for my enclosed patio when both of my Dirt Dogs passed away and IRobot stopped making them....sigh....I really miss being able to use the Dirt Dog to sweep outside and in the garage. The IRobot people said this unit would work just fine in those areas, but I'm not going to put something I spent this much money on to clean up dropped screws and leaves!That said, I like this Roomba very much in our enclosed patio. I LOVE the two HEPA filters, which are easily blown out with a can of air or compressor after a vacuuming sesson. They're picking up a lot of dust that my regular vacuum misses....Ok, that I miss when I'm using the regular vacuum, which also has a HEPA filter. They pick up feathers and seeds from the birds, and lots of hair from the cats and dog. Mission accomplished.It does a nice job of moving from hard surfaces (concrete, in this case) to rugs, and cleaning them all well. Technology is really improved in this... 4/5 Janet "intersectionc" (GILROY, CA USA) - See all my reviews, October 22, 2011

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  Neat Freaks Be Warned: This is Only Part of What You're After

  I've been spoiled when it comes to vacuums: I have had the privilege of having a Lindhaus, which is a $1,000 German manufactured vacuum cleaner that I finally had to give up because it's so rarified that you can't get it repaired in some major cities. The Roomba is great, but if you're looking for suction, you'll be really frustrated.What's Good:Like virtually every kind of floor-cleaning robot, this will pick up dander, dirt, pet hair, and small objects that you had no idea were there.- It's good if you're trying to cut down on allergens and dirt, generally.- Also, the dreaded "unsealed, and-it-will-burn-out-in-six-months-unless-you-are-some-kind-of-engineer-and-can-take-it-apart-to-fix-it-part", is fixed. The gearbox on this one is sealed. You no longer need a screwdriver and reostat to do maintenance.-The computer location sensing technology on this is amazing. This can find its way around delicate dining... 4/5 Lisa M. Mims (Austin, TX United States) - See all my reviews, November 25, 2011

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  List Price: $449.00
  

  Roomba is easy to use just press the "Clean" button and let the robot do the dirty work

  Includes a polymer bumper which provides a soft cushion between the robot and objects it touches to protect walls, furniture and other household items from bumps and scratches

  Can be scheduled to perform up to seven cleaning sessions per week, even when you're not at home

  The robot can be scheduled to perform up to seven cleaning sessions per week, even when you're not home

  Effectively captures and stores large quantities of hair, lint and other debris

  The polymer bumper provides a soft cushion between objects it touches in the room, protecting your walls, furniture and other household items

  The robot effectively captures and stores large quantities of hair, lint and other debris

  The robot moves in a back and forth cleaning pattern to apply elbow grease where it's needed most, giving you the cleanest possible results

  Moves in a back and forth cleaning pattern to apply elbow grease where it's needed most -- giving you the cleanest possible results

  Easy to use -- just press the "Clean" button and let Roomba do the dirty work

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  Neato XV-11 All Floor Robotic Vacuum System

  Home (Neato Robotics)
  

  Rating (478 reviews):

  (4.1/5)

  

  I am now a believer in robotic vacuums!

  For months, no years, my wife has been asking for a robotic vacuum. She does most of the house work and I do most of the fixing. I have followed the progress of the Roomba and decided to have another in depth look at the reviews and how it performed to date. What follows is NOT a Roomba/Neato comparison. I have never owned a Roomba nor do I think I ever will, but who knows. I purchased a Neato Robotics XV-11 about four weeks ago. What follows is a detailed look at what the Neato XV-11 is and how it performs. I will try to be as objective as possible and share my journey of how I decided which robot vacuum to buy.First, a bit about me. I am an avid Amazon buyer and use them heavily for both personal and work related purchases. They are simply the best at the online experience and I typically only purchase items that they ship. They have the best pricing on a regular basis and ship promptly with a great online experience. I have only had two issues with Amazon and... 5/5 M. Pearson (California) - See all my reviews, December 22, 2010

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  Very efficient & effective robot

  I really like this robotic vacuum. It cleans a ridiculous amount of pet hair and dust from my carpet! I used a Roomba, which was fairly good but the drawback was it couldn't navigate to other rooms and back as well as the Neato does. The other drawback was it couldn't figure out how to get onto area carpets without the spinning brush on the front getting stuck. For the Neato, this is no problem at all. Instead of bouncing all around looking for light houses it will detect doorways and move from room to room in a more logical fashion.The suction and cleaning ability is amazing. I would place the suction power closer to an actual upright vacuum. The noise level is a bit quieter than an upright and maybe a little louder than the whine of a Roomba. There is significantly less bumping, which overall, makes the Neato quieter. It still bumps into things (mostly table legs) from time to time but nowhere near as hard or as frequent.Battery life is adequate. About an... 4/5 Ryan Mckenney - See all my reviews, September 10, 2010

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  Neato is better than Roomba - I have had 6 different Roombas so I know

  I have had the Neato vacuum robot for a few weeks now and I am just now getting the time to write a review. I don't write reviews for everything I buy just the things I think people need to be warned about or things I think people should really buy.Compared to RoombasI have owned 6 different Roombas starting with the original red one. The thing about Roombas is they don't really know where they are or where they are going they just start going and when they come to a wall or furniture they change course. They travel in a pattern that is designed to cover the whole room but is some cases where there is an odd shaped room or furniture in the room they can end up going around in the same spot and not covering all areas evenly. Also the pattern that is left on the carpet looks like someone gave a monkey a vacuum and let it loose as there are lines going everywhere. Roombas don't always get all the rooms in the house either and if they do get into a remote area of the... 4/5 Amazon Addict (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Neato XV-11 All Floor Robotic Vacuum System (Kitchen) I have had the Neato vacuum robot for a few weeks now and I am just now getting the time to write a review. I don't write reviews for everything I buy just the things I think people need to be warned about or things I think people should really buy.Compared to RoombasI have owned 6 different Roombas starting with the original red one. The thing about Roombas is they don't really know where they are or where they are going they just start going and when they come to a wall or furniture they change course. They travel in a pattern that is designed to cover the whole room but is some cases where there is an odd shaped room or furniture in the room they can end up going around in the same spot and not covering all areas evenly. Also the pattern that is left on the carpet looks like someone gave a monkey a vacuum and let it loose as there are lines going everywhere. Roombas don't always get all the rooms in the house either and if they do get into a remote area of the... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , October 20, 2010

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  List Price: $399.00
  

  Laser-based Room Positioning System sees everything in the room, avoids bumping into walls and furniture

  Powerful XV-11 saves you time by automatically vacuuming your entire floor--even deep into corners and under furniture

  Automatically returns to charging base when vacuuming is concluded

  High performance vacuum removes all kinds of dirt and cleans all floors--carpets, rugs, hardwood, laminates, tile, and stone

  Schedule automatic cleanings while you're away via simple user interface

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  iRobot 610 Roomba Professional Series

  Home (iRobot)
  

  Rating (25 reviews):

  (3.6/5)

  

  OK, not great vacuum

  I've used the Roomba 610 and 560. I now have two refurbished 560s in our house, at the same price as one 610. And it's definitely a better value.Before I talk about the 610, let me share what's good and bad about Roombas in general, based on my experience with both the 560s and 610:Pros:- You don't have to vacuum, the Roomba does it for you- Scheduled cleanings so you don't even have to worry about it or be home to hear the noise- Floors stay clean without much effort- One button start it and forget about itCons:- Absolute pain in the butt to clean these things. There's the two brushes, the front wheel, the spinning brush (which requires a screwdriver to remove), and the dust bin. All of these must be disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled, at least once per cleaning session.- It's not effort free. As I said above, lots to clean, which requires 5-10 minutes each time you want to run the Roomba.- With pets,... 3/5 Roopesh Sheth (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews, November 29, 2009

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  Great for light upkeep, excellent customer service

  We have five pets. Three elderly long haired cats and two large short haired dogs. We recently upgraded to a new home with a cream colored carpet and a mix of tile and linoleum in an open floor plan. What was I thinking? I was thinking I had three days to pick a house for a relocation is what I was thinking! But I digress. The carpet isn't perfect, it's five years old and the previous owners were pet owners too, but I was determined to keep it in good shape.I held out for the professional model despite the difference in price. I figured we had a professional level of hair here. Between one cat whose fur has the texture of cotton candy, another cat whose main hobby is tearing paper apart bit by bit, and the dogs with their rolling around on the floor I needed something that could stand up to the mess. I assumed I would need the larger debris bin to hold all the stuff that comes out of the carpet but actually after a few runs I felt that the smaller one with an air... 5/5 Noelle W Dempsey (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews This review is from: iRobot 610 Roomba Professional Series (Kitchen) We have five pets. Three elderly long haired cats and two large short haired dogs. We recently upgraded to a new home with a cream colored carpet and a mix of tile and linoleum in an open floor plan. What was I thinking? I was thinking I had three days to pick a house for a relocation is what I was thinking! But I digress. The carpet isn't perfect, it's five years old and the previous owners were pet owners too, but I was determined to keep it in good shape.I held out for the professional model despite the difference in price. I figured we had a professional level of hair here. Between one cat whose fur has the texture of cotton candy, another cat whose main hobby is tearing paper apart bit by bit, and the dogs with their rolling around on the floor I needed something that could stand up to the mess. I assumed I would need the larger debris bin to hold all the stuff that comes out of the carpet but actually after a few runs I felt that the smaller one with an air... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , December 4, 2009

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  This thing is great!

  I got the professional series because I have a family of professional grade mess makers (kids, husband, pets, etc.). I love it! I think when people are dissatisfied with it they do not understand what it is and what it is not. It won't clean up an already neglected floor. You start with clean floors and then push a button everyday and let it run around your house doing upkeep and you won't have to vacuum anything except for behind items it can't get to once a month or so. Before my roomba I vacuumed 2 times a week and still dirt would show up on the bottom of peoples white socks. Since roomba no more dirt!!! It handles the cat fur and it even found an earring I lost over a year ago that must of been hiding someplace. The best part is it can get under things my vacuum never could reach. Yes, you have to know its limitations. It is a programmed device. You have to change something's around your home to work with it. Get wires off the floor so it won't get stuck, for instance... 4/5 Unna (NJ United States) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: iRobot 610 Roomba Professional Series (Kitchen) I got the professional series because I have a family of professional grade mess makers (kids, husband, pets, etc.). I love it! I think when people are dissatisfied with it they do not understand what it is and what it is not. It won't clean up an already neglected floor. You start with clean floors and then push a button everyday and let it run around your house doing upkeep and you won't have to vacuum anything except for behind items it can't get to once a month or so. Before my roomba I vacuumed 2 times a week and still dirt would show up on the bottom of peoples white socks. Since roomba no more dirt!!! It handles the cat fur and it even found an earring I lost over a year ago that must of been hiding someplace. The best part is it can get under things my vacuum never could reach. Yes, you have to know its limitations. It is a programmed device. You have to change something's around your home to work with it. Get wires off the floor so it won't get stuck, for instance... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , March 30, 2009

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  List Price: $599.99
  

  Schedule up to seven cleaning times per week; 3 cleaning modes

  Vacuuming robot efficiently picks up dirt, debris, pet hair, dust, allergens and more from carpets and hard floors

  Designed for small business owners or those with larger areas to clean

  Measures 17 by 18 by 5 inches; 2-year limited warranty

  Cleans the whole floor, under and around furniture, into corners and along wall edges

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  Irobot Roomba 562 Pet Series Vacuum Cleaning Robot

  Home (iRobot)
  

  Rating (127 reviews):

  (4.2/5)

  

  Still Happy and Content

  We've had our Roomba since January 2010 and approx. 6 months later, I still love it and am really glad we made the purchase. It took a little convincing for me to get my husband to agree with the purchase, but now he calls it "his vacuum", and likes to show it off to our friends and family when they come over. For us, it really has reduced my weekly in-house workload. With two cats in the house, birds, bunny, and a dog, pet hair gets tracked throughout the house. With two young children, our kitchen (hardwood floors) gets nibblets of food all over the floor. Setting the vacuum up to focus on one room (by using the virtual walls) makes a big difference. Frequently ours is venturing throughout the entire house.The only problem we occasionally have is when it gets stuck under our china cabinet, or stuck while trying to suck up a toy that was left behind, or shoelaces hanging off a shoe left out. All very minor issues. I will say, it's a bit odd, when in the middle of... 5/5 S. Long - See all my reviews, July 15, 2010

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  Note that bins are interchangeable, not used concurrently

  I've had quite a few Roomba cleaning robots, and was interested in the 562 because it's advertised as being new and different for homes with pets. Experienced "Roomba" users should note (as I failed to) that the new bin advertised for the pet model is simply a different bin that's used place of the normal one (as opposed to a secondary bin that's used concurrently, as I'd incorrectly assumed). The sweeper bin can be used in place of the normal bin, and seems to disables the vacuum functionality, making the Roomba a sweeping robot.The Achilles Heel of this robot (as with all Roomba floor-cleaning robots) is the constant need to clean the machine's brushes. We're not talking once every few days here--we're talking 1-2 times per cleaning cycle. You don't set the Roomba to clean while you're at work and expect it to be done when you get home. You learn to expect to find it in the middle of the floor, requiring a brush cleaning before it can continue. And ultimately--after a... 4/5 Jonathan K. Perkins (Harbor City, CA, USA) - See all my reviews, September 19, 2010

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  Doggie Roomba

  Our Roomba is really part of the family. We call him Paco (don't know why, it just seems to fit). We have four (4) dogs, two long hair and two short hair. Without Paco, it is impossible to keep up with the hair and dirt they bring in. By running Paco every other day, we manage to keep the hair to a minimum, even under the beds where cleaning is nearly impossible. Cleaning Paco up is easy if you have the right tools. My problems with the Roomba (my third one) is that it is impossible to get a person on the phone or on line. Emails to iRobot are generally answered within 30-45 days which is also a problem. They send extra brushes, sweeps, etc., with the robot which helps but I keep an old comb, a small screwdriver, a hemostat, and an old toothbrush to clean Paco. I'm hoping that this one lasts longer than the other two. 5/5 Dennis A. Cox (Jacksonville, FL, US) - See all my reviews, May 20, 2010

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  List Price: $0.00
  

  Cleans up to four rooms on a single battery charge

  Two interchangeable cleaning bins provide the option for everyday vacuuming or heavy duty cleaning in hairier and dirtier areas.

  Features the latest irobot roomba innovations with unprecedented efficiency coverage and cleaning performance

  Reaches deep into your carpet to remove dirt dust and pet hair

  Includes a set of replaceable brushes, two extra filters and two brush cleaning tools

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  Evolution Robotics Mint Automatic Hard Floor Cleaner, 4200

  Home (Mint)
  

  Rating (409 reviews):

  (4.2/5)

  

  Fantastic cleaning robot!

  I must say, I'm impressed with the mapping system on this little guy. I have a very large (20'X20') open living room/kitchen area giving plenty of obstacles to confuse it. There's a staircase (which it deftly avoids), an island, a kitchen table with chairs, a couch and a number of tables for it to go under, an area rug and a piece of curved beveled glass on the floor that serves as a stand for a fireplace (which it surprisingly does not ride up on). Also, the room is overall "U" shaped with several entryways. This is the only robotic cleaner that has been able to figure this room out in its entirety. Other things to note is the room has a large fan and high, sloped ceilings and it can still find it's way.My Roomba did terribly. It would get stuck in one section, the Neato XV was OK but would miss some parts. This thing does a great job of freshening up the floor and getting at just about everything due to it's small size!One thing I did not know is the Mint... 5/5 Ryan Mckenney - See all my reviews, September 9, 2010

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  Mint v Roomba: Which is hte Better Sucker

  The short version, for those reading many reviews quickly is this; the Mint has many advantages over the Roomba on a feature for feature basis. But at the end of the day, the Roomba is the better product and picked up a LOT more pet hair.Here's the longer version with the gory details:Both of these are great innovations. True, the Mint is far quieter, cheaper and cooler looking than the Roomba. It is also easier/cheaper to maintain. But the Roomba gets more dust off the floor, despite the fact that the Mint can get under places Roomba can not, and Roomba returns to its base for a re-charge on it's own, as needed. The Mint just dies in place.The guy on here who's review said that he sent his Roomba on a mission and then sent the Mint after it to discover dirt the Roomba missed, would have had the same result if he performed the experiment in reverse. I know b/c I did just that. these two devices clean differently, so any comparison is useless... 2/5 dusthater - See all my reviews This review is from: Evolution Robotics Mint Automatic Hard Floor Cleaner, 4200 (Kitchen) The short version, for those reading many reviews quickly is this; the Mint has many advantages over the Roomba on a feature for feature basis. But at the end of the day, the Roomba is the better product and picked up a LOT more pet hair.Here's the longer version with the gory details:Both of these are great innovations. True, the Mint is far quieter, cheaper and cooler looking than the Roomba. It is also easier/cheaper to maintain. But the Roomba gets more dust off the floor, despite the fact that the Mint can get under places Roomba can not, and Roomba returns to its base for a re-charge on it's own, as needed. The Mint just dies in place.The guy on here who's review said that he sent his Roomba on a mission and then sent the Mint after it to discover dirt the Roomba missed, would have had the same result if he performed the experiment in reverse. I know b/c I did just that. these two devices clean differently, so any comparison is useless... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , October 7, 2010

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  Beware False Hopes

  First: notice the 5-star rating that I have given this.I agree with all of the 5-star reviewers: this product is worth the price (have had it about 6 weeks now). I have used it on vinyl (Congoleum/linoleum) floors, tile floors and wooden floors. It works well on all of them. Time will tell more.However, rather than repeat what others have said, I will describe some aspects that might disappoint you when/if you buy it, but these do not outweigh the benefits.- This does NOT do a deep clean. That takes elbow grease and this, naturally, is not heavy enough to scrub that well (you wouldn't want it to be that heavy). You will have to do a deep clean first. The Mint will then maintain that clean floor. I use it about once a week.- The designers did a generally good job, except for the week when they all took vacation at once and let the janitor decide where to put the charging port. Believe or not, these idiots put the port in a spot on the... 5/5 Careful Reviewer - See all my reviews This review is from: Evolution Robotics Mint Automatic Hard Floor Cleaner, 4200 (Kitchen) First: notice the 5-star rating that I have given this.I agree with all of the 5-star reviewers: this product is worth the price (have had it about 6 weeks now). I have used it on vinyl (Congoleum/linoleum) floors, tile floors and wooden floors. It works well on all of them. Time will tell more.However, rather than repeat what others have said, I will describe some aspects that might disappoint you when/if you buy it, but these do not outweigh the benefits.- This does NOT do a deep clean. That takes elbow grease and this, naturally, is not heavy enough to scrub that well (you wouldn't want it to be that heavy). You will have to do a deep clean first. The Mint will then maintain that clean floor. I use it about once a week.- The designers did a generally good job, except for the week when they all took vacation at once and let the janitor decide where to put the charging port. Believe or not, these idiots put the port in a spot on the... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , September 21, 2010

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  List Price: $249.99
  

  Low maintenance with no bins to empty or filters to change

  Guided by North Star Navigation System to methodically clean open areas, around furniture and rugs, and along room perimeter

  Compact robot floor cleaner runs up to 3 hours on single charge using microfiber cloths or most brands of disposable cloths

  Whisper-quiet operation; turns itself off when finished

  Measures 9.6 inches wide by 8.5 inches deep by 3.1 inches high; 1-year warranty

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  iRobot Roomba 4230 Remote Scheduler Robotic Vacuum

  Home (iRobot)
  

  Rating (216 reviews):

  (4.1/5)

  

  3 dogs and an RV

  Simply put, it exceeds my expectations. I'm traveling in a 26ft class C Rv with 3 dogs and a husband, all of which shed copious amounts of fur. My partner was very critical of this vac before we got it, and to be honest, I bought it for our cabin, not the RV. However it arrived while we were on the road so I took a risk at an "told you so" and used it in the RV. To my delight, we are hair free for a month now without having to lift a finger (except cleaning the bin and brushes on a regular basis) and the skeptic even praises it and named it Hazel. For a techno-phobe, this is saying something. It does a good job avoiding problem areas like steps and squeaky toys. The dogs watch it from the sofa and have accepted it as a family member. I find we watch it a lot too. It's mesmerizing. We run it once a day, often as we walk the dogs, and return to a very clean floor. I disagree with those who say it is a toy. It is not a toy; it does a good job maintaining a floor on a daily basis. I... 5/5 Randy Reeves "PapaBear" (Gold Bar, Wa USA) - See all my reviews, November 10, 2005

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  Independence from the floor stuff

  I spend a lot of time away from my house and don't always have any time to clean when I am home. I also like to have a fairly clean house with minimal work when I do get home. I got this vacumn about 2 weeks ago. I wanted to give it a fair chance before I reviewed it. Setup was incredibly easy and only took about 5 minutes. Everything was already in the machine except for the battery. I had the vacumn charged and ready to go 2 hours after I got home. The first couple of runs it picked up more dirt than I expected. I had it run once a day every day for the first week. Since then I only use it 1-2 times a week. It does such a good job that there is no need to run it more often in my place. The main area I use it is the front room and kitchen areas. They are connected at one end and the machine has no problem cleaning both without getting lost. The scheduler function of the walls and the vacumn work as they are supposed to. One of the few drawbacks is the fact that it is... 5/5 Charles Pugh "navyguy96" (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews, October 16, 2005

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  The roomba is worth it- but know what you're getting.

  OK. First let me say that this product is amazing and well worth the money. As an engineer, this thing has amazing obstacle avoidance software, and it navigates rooms extremely well. I put a good deal of research into this vac before I bought it - so let me tell you what you can expect, and more importantly- what not to expect. The majority of reviews that are negative are from people with defective units or people who expected something completly unrealistic. On a side note - all of the units have the same capabilities. So I would recommend that you buy a slightly cheaper unit to test it out. If you really like it, then buy the schduler seperately. The high-end vacuum is no different than the low end one. The only exception is the red - which doesn't have "max" clean mode. I personally recommend the sage unit that comes with the home base. It has everything you really need to fully test out the unit - the home base is particularly useful, but the black basic remote (not the white... 5/5 R. Dotson "Aggie '04" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews, August 27, 2006

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  List Price: $329.99
  

  Virtual wall mechanism establishes two invisible perimeters for vacuuming specific zones

  Remote scheduler sets and changes vacuuming times and zones

  Artificial intelligence and sensors navigate between walls and furniture legs and adjust for carpet, tile, and wood floors

  Low-profile design fits under beds, sofas, and other tight spots where conventional vacuums can't reach

  Robotic, battery-powered floor vacuum and remote scheduling device

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  iRobot 330 Scooba Floor-Washing Robot

  Home (iRobot)
  

  Rating (290 reviews):

  (3.2/5)

  

  Not bad on my linoleum & hardwood floors.

  It meets the 80/20 rule. It does 80% of the work that you would do if you did a thorough, good clean yourself. However, I usually don't do a thorough good clean myself on mopping floors since I left the navy.obviously, make sure that your floor is swept before starting Scooba. (I use my Roomba since I am doubly lazy..) Scooba won't get into the corners, but neither do I when I mop. The point is.. I don't like mopping. Neither does my wife. The hardwood floors never get mopped. I have a dog & 2 cats. Thus, the kitchen floor always looks like &*$(#! most of the time. Now it doesn't. It looks great. I'd suggest it for people that hate mopping & just want someone (or thing) to do it..The first time I had scooba clean, it ran, but no water came out, and ittold me to check the tank, so i fiddled with it (pulled it apart & put it together again) and it worked. perhaps I didn't put the little rubber tube in right or didn't snap things together right the... 4/5 Kevin Gabbert (Salem, OR) - See all my reviews, September 24, 2006

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  Very pleased with robot and customer service

  I was impressed with the ease in which the Scooba operates. Every part is clearly marked on the machine and the directions are uncomplicated. The first time I used my Scooba, it started out working fine. But then the "Check Tank" light came on without any apparent reason. I opened and closed the tank, making sure it was securely locked and it started right up again. I left the room and, when I returned after the cycle was completed, the floor was VERY wet. When I emptied the dirty tank, there was barely any water in it! It was obvious that the vaccum system that squeeges the floor and sucks the dirty water back into the machine wasn't working properly. I called Customer Service and they were very helpful and immediately sent out a replacement part at no charge to me.Actually, it turned out that the machine was working fine. When I opened and closed the tank, the vaccum portal had some water around the opening and didn't seal properly when the machine started up... 5/5 Grace K. Sheehan "thesilverpennydotcom" (Cape Elizabeth, ME United States) - See all my reviews, December 8, 2006

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  Absolutely Worth the Money

  I have two children (1 and 10 year old boys) and three large dogs (great dane, mastiff, and shar pei), needless to say keeping floors clean is a struggle. I also happen to have an obsession with clean floors.Every floor in my home is hardwood. I run it twice a day (once per level) and now all of my belongings are no longer covered in dog hair and I can walk around in bare feet without feeling yucky. If it only went up and down steps it would be perfect!Another bonus side effect is that, when you run it every day, it keeps all that dust and dirt from just floating around your house and clinging to other stuff so I have to clean less often in general.I suppose if I got out a bucket, sponge and set of knee pads I could do a better job but really who needs that in thier life? I do suggest moving or stacking things like dining room chairs as the scooba'll get all tangled up in the legs and shut off.The only annoying thing was, when I... 5/5 Marlee (Cleveland Heights, OH United States) - See all my reviews This review is from: iRobot 330 Scooba Floor-Washing Robot (Kitchen) I have two children (1 and 10 year old boys) and three large dogs (great dane, mastiff, and shar pei), needless to say keeping floors clean is a struggle. I also happen to have an obsession with clean floors.Every floor in my home is hardwood. I run it twice a day (once per level) and now all of my belongings are no longer covered in dog hair and I can walk around in bare feet without feeling yucky. If it only went up and down steps it would be perfect!Another bonus side effect is that, when you run it every day, it keeps all that dust and dirt from just floating around your house and clinging to other stuff so I have to clean less often in general.I suppose if I got out a bucket, sponge and set of knee pads I could do a better job but really who needs that in thier life? I do suggest moving or stacking things like dining room chairs as the scooba'll get all tangled up in the legs and shut off.The only annoying thing was, when I... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , October 8, 2006

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  List Price: $399.99
  

  Uses water, water and vinegar, or Clorox Scooba cleaning solution

  Preps, washes, scrubs, and dries; cliff sensor; 1 virtual wall included

  Can handle up to 250 square feet on a single battery charge

  Floor-washing robot cleans sealed hardwood, tile, linoleum, and more

  Measures 14-3/4 by 14-3/4 by 3-1/2 inches; 1-year warranty

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  iRobot 44001 Roomba Vacuum-Cleaning Robot

  Home (iRobot)
  

  Rating (35 reviews):

  (3.9/5)

  

  Happy.

  I just sent my roomba 440 off on its first assignment, clean my 750 sq ft apt! I am surprised at well this little robot is cleaning the floor, its no deep clean mind you but its picking up a ton of stuff! I have already emptied the bin twice. On the down side the roomba has gotten stuck about 6 times now, so i would recommend that you watch it carefully the first time you use it, plus it will let you know with a chime when its stuck and gives up on freeing itself. The run time is about 1 hr, which is enough time for this roomba to go over my entire apartment twice, at the moment its headed back into my bedroom for the 4th time. Just died! Ran from 8:10am to 9:21am. I can't wait to give it another charge and set it free before i head out for work in the morning, after i fix its little favorite places to get stuck.Pros:-Obviously cleans so you don't have to.-Highly entertaining!-Picks up lots of stuff from the carpet/tile/vinyl-**Cleans under places i... 5/5 Nicholas Clay (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews, July 11, 2010

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  It's a Very Love Hate Relationship

  I got my Roomba for Christmas the year before last and once I got over my initial hurt feelings about getting a vacuum as my big suprise, I really loved it. It did an awesome job of keeping our floors clean and was able to get under pieces of furniture which were really hard work before. I have two dogs, a cat and two small children and it was able to handle that. I had just had my second child and so the roomba was such a help, when nothing else was getting done, the floors still always looked clean. I think it's a great appliance for anyone who has just had a baby. I also really appreciate it when we have guests over as I could be cooking or whatever else while the floors were getting vacuumed, it feels like an extra pair of hands. I do need to use our old vacuum to go around the edges of the carpet every month or so.Unfortunately after 5 months it stopped working. I contacted customer service who were really slow and would email every couple of days to get me to try... 4/5 Helen E. Echols - See all my reviews, August 30, 2010

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  They Die Fast

  I love the concept. They just aren't reliable enough for me. I went through 3 in 3 months. The first one had a bad battery. The second one started going in circles after 2 weeks. The third one stopped picking up dirt. The gears that turn the brushes stopped working. Never figured out why. I generally have a very clean home. So, it wasn't operator error. I still want one... but I want one that is going to last. I was happy with the cleaning it did. They are kind of noisy. They bang into everything in order to change direction (at least until they learn the floor plan). I loved the remote, the docking station that it parks itself in when it needs a charge. Irobot, I still have all the accessories. It's time you pony up and make them so they last! 1/5 My Honest Opinion (USA) - See all my reviews This review is from: iRobot 44001 Roomba Vacuum-Cleaning Robot (Kitchen) I love the concept. They just aren't reliable enough for me. I went through 3 in 3 months. The first one had a bad battery. The second one started going in circles after 2 weeks. The third one stopped picking up dirt. The gears that turn the brushes stopped working. Never figured out why. I generally have a very clean home. So, it wasn't operator error. I still want one... but I want one that is going to last. I was happy with the cleaning it did. They are kind of noisy. They bang into everything in order to change direction (at least until they learn the floor plan). I loved the remote, the docking station that it parks itself in when it needs a charge. Irobot, I still have all the accessories. It's time you pony up and make them so they last! Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , July 31, 2010

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  List Price: $199.99
  

  Cleans hard-to-reach areas; built-in cliff sensors and virtual-wall system

  Counter-rotating brushes; dirt sensor; Spot mode; gentle-touch bumper system

  Measures approximately 13-1/5 by 13-1/5 by 3-1/5 inches; 1-year limited warranty

  Includes 2 virtual walls, power supply, rechargeable battery, extra filter, and brush cleaning tool

  Vacuuming robot for any type of hard-surface floor and low- to medium-pile carpet

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