12.11.2006
AUTONOMOUS DEBRIS COLLECTION RUMINATIONS
... or, The Roomba Report.
There were some curious folks over at chez Cafe-Nation , wondering about the effetiveness of a certain circular vacuuming device. I threw in my 2 cents on the topic explaining that I had all but given up on the technology of vacuums and was regressing into pre-carpet technology as a defense against destroying more household appliances. Not too long after that, the wife and I received an early Christmas present, and after about 5-6 weeks of use, I feel like I can actually offer up some useful info on the Robot Vacuum cleaner that is Roomba.
First you need to understand that there are some environs that this is just not going to be an option for you - mainly if you have a a bunch of crap on your floors, like electrical cords, shoes, numerous pet toys etc. These are the enemies of Roomba, and if you are the type to simply kick these things out of the way as you vacuum, then you'll have to think of some new tactic to employ or stick with your current methods. The Roomba wants minimal obstructions when working, and anything much beyond your furniture is really going to affect it's efficiency.
Next, you need to realize that this thing is small, and you are going to have to clean it out after every use. But hey, the thing is going to vacuum without you, so you can spend a few minutes emptying it out, and pulling pet hair from the brushes. I know you can.
Finally, you are going to have to understand that the word vacuum, is applied more so you understand the task it is designed for, not the technology that is being employed, as the thing is really little more than two opposing brushes and a collection bin. If massive suction is your cup of tea, then the Roomba is going to be a disappointment, I'm afraid. This thing does not strike me as a workhorse on shag carpet, but then I am not cursed with that kind of pile on my floors. If tile / wood / low-pile carpets are your target surfaces, the Roomba will get the job done handily. While you can purchase units that allow you to schedule it to run while you are out of the house, I wouldn't bother. Unless you have decor so sparse that Danish design majors are always coming over to photograph it, you are always going to need to be within earshot of it when it gets stuck. Otherwise you'll just come home to find out that the scheduled run failed, and have to recharge the thing and redo it anyway, why spend money on a feature that you will probably never see the full benefits of. If you have pets, you might want to get the model up from the one I linked to (and own), as for $20 more, you get some tools that help you clean out the brushes easier, and supposedly, the brushes themselves have some special design to help aid in the cleaning of pet hair. I have no Idea if these features work, but for $20 - if you have pets, it's probably worth the gamble. As for me, I've got four cats, and I find that after 6 weeks of regular use, I'm definitely not going back. Heck, If the Scooba floor scrubber wasn't $400, I'd probably have one of those on order already. So in short, for lazy people who would like a clean floor, but are not complete slobs (anymore), the Roomba is a pretty fine solution, and a damn fine way to amuse yourselves and your pets.
go and tell me all about it
There were some curious folks over at chez Cafe-Nation , wondering about the effetiveness of a certain circular vacuuming device. I threw in my 2 cents on the topic explaining that I had all but given up on the technology of vacuums and was regressing into pre-carpet technology as a defense against destroying more household appliances. Not too long after that, the wife and I received an early Christmas present, and after about 5-6 weeks of use, I feel like I can actually offer up some useful info on the Robot Vacuum cleaner that is Roomba.
First you need to understand that there are some environs that this is just not going to be an option for you - mainly if you have a a bunch of crap on your floors, like electrical cords, shoes, numerous pet toys etc. These are the enemies of Roomba, and if you are the type to simply kick these things out of the way as you vacuum, then you'll have to think of some new tactic to employ or stick with your current methods. The Roomba wants minimal obstructions when working, and anything much beyond your furniture is really going to affect it's efficiency.
Next, you need to realize that this thing is small, and you are going to have to clean it out after every use. But hey, the thing is going to vacuum without you, so you can spend a few minutes emptying it out, and pulling pet hair from the brushes. I know you can.
Finally, you are going to have to understand that the word vacuum, is applied more so you understand the task it is designed for, not the technology that is being employed, as the thing is really little more than two opposing brushes and a collection bin. If massive suction is your cup of tea, then the Roomba is going to be a disappointment, I'm afraid. This thing does not strike me as a workhorse on shag carpet, but then I am not cursed with that kind of pile on my floors. If tile / wood / low-pile carpets are your target surfaces, the Roomba will get the job done handily. While you can purchase units that allow you to schedule it to run while you are out of the house, I wouldn't bother. Unless you have decor so sparse that Danish design majors are always coming over to photograph it, you are always going to need to be within earshot of it when it gets stuck. Otherwise you'll just come home to find out that the scheduled run failed, and have to recharge the thing and redo it anyway, why spend money on a feature that you will probably never see the full benefits of. If you have pets, you might want to get the model up from the one I linked to (and own), as for $20 more, you get some tools that help you clean out the brushes easier, and supposedly, the brushes themselves have some special design to help aid in the cleaning of pet hair. I have no Idea if these features work, but for $20 - if you have pets, it's probably worth the gamble. As for me, I've got four cats, and I find that after 6 weeks of regular use, I'm definitely not going back. Heck, If the Scooba floor scrubber wasn't $400, I'd probably have one of those on order already. So in short, for lazy people who would like a clean floor, but are not complete slobs (anymore), the Roomba is a pretty fine solution, and a damn fine way to amuse yourselves and your pets.
go and tell me all about it
