Roomba or equivalent?

mrcheez

I recently got my entire downstairs re-floored and got rid of the carpet (joy!).

So I have the perfect environment to let a Roomba run free and do the cleaning for me.

Has anyone got any experience of a Roomba, or are there alternates I should look out for? How well does the battery last after a few years?

I'd like to go for the one that charges itself automatically and resumes cleaning. The area to clean is fairly small (40 sqm) so perhaps it can do it all on a single charge.

Graham

We've had the Neato D85 for over a year now. Still delighted with it.

Even after a year, I'd say it would have no problem with 40sqm on a single charge depending on the number of obstacles you have to work around and how messy you are

mrcheez

Graham wrote: »

We've had the Neato D85 for over a year now. Still delighted with it.

Even after a year, I'd say it would have no problem with 40sqm on a single charge depending on the number of obstacles you have to work around and how messy you are

Thankfully I have to re-position all the furniture after the floor was put down so I'll make sure to allow for the Roomba and take up all wires/rugs etc.

It'll mostly be dust, but might be the odd leaf or pine needle when I walk in from the front, will leaves/pine needles be ok for it?

Also, does it set off motion-sensor alarms?

mrcheez

Seems you can also control the Neato using Alexa?

https://www.engadget.com/2016/11/22/neatos-robot-vacuum-can-now-be-controlled-by-amazons-alexa/

Graham

mrcheez wrote: »

Seems you can also control the Neato using Alexa?

https://www.engadget.com/2016/11/22/neatos-robot-vacuum-can-now-be-controlled-by-amazons-alexa/

That looks like the newer WiFi enabled version so can't comment on the Alexa integration other than to say it looks like it has it

Graham

mrcheez wrote: »

It'll mostly be dust, but might be the odd leaf or pine needle when I walk in from the front, will leaves/pine needles be ok for it?

Also, does it set off motion-sensor alarms?

Can't see you'd have any problems with that type of debris, might struggle with larger leaves.

No motion sensors where ours is used so can't help with motion-sensors. As it's moving, I guess you may have issues. Do your motion sensors have a pet-mode?

mrcheez

Graham wrote: »

Do your motion sensors have a pet-mode?

Possibly, alternatively I can just have it clean the house during the night, or early morning before I leave the house.

mrcheez

I decided to try out a Roomba 650 first as it's on sale at the moment with 30% off

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00AXJW94S/

Don't really need the Echo integration as I'll probably just set it to clean at night anyway

Shefwedfan

Just wondering how the Roomba etc works with finding its way back to base? I got a system on trial and it could cover 150m2. The issue I found was I wanted it to clean 3 rooms at night, large rooms. It would clean them good but every morning would come and find it, battery dead in one of the rooms. It could never seem to find its way back.

It was a cheaper model. Just wondering with the more expensive can you map out house or something so it can find its way back?

mrcheez

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Just wondering how the Roomba etc works with finding its way back to base? I got a system on trial and it could cover 150m2. The issue I found was I wanted it to clean 3 rooms at night, large rooms. It would clean them good but every morning would come and find it, battery dead in one of the rooms. It could never seem to find its way back.

It was a cheaper model. Just wondering with the more expensive can you map out house or something so it can find its way back?

In my research before deciding on the 650, the more expensive Roombas come with a recharge and resume function so they make sure they can navigate back to base, recharge, then move back to the position they originally left. So I believe they always "know" where base is using a built in mapping app. None of the reviews mentioned it had a problem getting back so I'm hoping this is the case.

As I have only 40 sqm to cover, and essentially one large room with 2 smaller side rooms which aren't essential to be cleaned, the 650 worked for me, but the more expensive 960/980 might suit you better.

A tad overpriced I think though... keep an eye out for sales.

CathalDublin

We've a roomba 600series for 3 years now and couldn't fault it, love the thing, was originally in a 2 bed 900sq foot apartment, now in a 3 bedroom house, schedule is set to do the entire downstairs every weekday morning starting at 6am, battery is still good even 3 years later, the filters/rollers are now readily available on ebay/amazon/etc for very cheap too which is great. I bought it from Amazon.fr which for some reason worked out about €80+ cheaper than anywhere else, whether that's still the case I don't know but worth checking out. When I first bought it after a couple months there was an issue where the rollers were no longer spinning, I contacted Roomba directly and amazon.fr, Roomba at first didn't want to deal with me as it was bought in france, after an email back and forth they agreed to send me the part. in the mean time I also contacted amazon.fr and they sent me a whole new unit. so I've now a spare roller unit.

Good points:
7 Day schedule is great and easy to set/adjust.
Parts are cheap, spurious rollers/filters are readily available.
You do need to keep small items and cables off the floor, this makes you a cleaner person.
Good battery life.

Bad points:
Our couch is about the same height as the roombas and it can get stuck underneath it the odd time depending on how hard it hits it. I could get around this by raising the couch a couple mm with shims and then it would also clean under it as a bonus but I'm just lazy.
The feet on the dock slide easily on wooden floor so sometimes it pushes the dock and cant dock correctly, again easily fixed but I just never go around to it.
You do need to keep small items and cables off the floor, this makes you a cleaner person

mrcheez

CathalDublin wrote: »

Bad points:
Our couch is about the same height as the roombas and it can get stuck underneath it the odd time depending on how hard it hits it. I could get around this by raising the couch a couple mm with shims and then it would also clean under it as a bonus but I'm just lazy.

Could probably put a small rug or something under the couch to prevent access down there?

CathalDublin wrote: »

The feet on the dock slide easily on wooden floor so sometimes it pushes the dock and cant dock correctly, again easily fixed but I just never go around to it.

Aye, probably just some blu-tack, velcro, or double-sided tape would sort that.

Great to hear battery life is good. Can the battery be replaced?


Also I picked up some black 3M draught excluders which I'm going to tape around the edges to prevent it bumping into any furniture/skirting boards etc.

CathalDublin

mrcheez wrote: »

Great to hear battery life is good. Can the battery be replaced?


Also I picked up some black 3M draught excluders which I'm going to tape around the edges to prevent it bumping into any furniture/skirting boards etc.

Yes, the batteries are replaceable and it just plugs in/out on a wire, kind like the old battery packs in cordless phones if you know what I'm talking about, it's actually fine bumping the furniture, It's not too rough, the spinning side brush sometimes looses the brissles under skirting boards due to design but I generally replace that part every couple of months anyway as it wears down.
Here is a link to the parts kit, one of these kits will generally do you/year or even longer
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Techypro%C2%AE-Replenishment-Bristle-Flexible-Cleaning/dp/B015HFNFJ0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1483719970&sr=8-3&keywords=irobot+roomba+parts+600

My girlfriend was skeptical about buying it at the start as she generally thinks all new technology is a gimmick, but even her mother has since bought one after seeing it working so long in our house.

Shefwedfan

CathalDublin wrote: »

Yes, the batteries are replaceable and it just plugs in/out on a wire, kind like the old battery packs in cordless phones if you know what I'm talking about, it's actually fine bumping the furniture, It's not too rough, the spinning side brush sometimes looses the brissles under skirting boards due to design but I generally replace that part every couple of months anyway as it wears down.
Here is a link to the parts kit, one of these kits will generally do you/year or even longer
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Techypro%C2%AE-Replenishment-Bristle-Flexible-Cleaning/dp/B015HFNFJ0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1483719970&sr=8-3&keywords=irobot+roomba+parts+600

My girlfriend was skeptical about buying it at the start as she generally thinks all new technology is a gimmick, but even her mother has since bought one after seeing it working so long in our house.

Any issues with it finding it ways back to charge point?

mrcheez

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Any issues with it finding it ways back to charge point?

Probably best answered by Cathal, but I see on the Roomba site they have a whole wiki entry dedicated to sorting problems if the Roomba can't find it's way back. So it would seem to be the exception rather than the rule.

http://homesupport.irobot.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/592/~/roomba-500,-600,-700-will-not-return-to-its-home-base%C2%AE-or-runs-past-virtual


I think the basic idea is that you should avoid putting anything loose or too many objects on the floor that will get in the way of the Roomba. Basically de-clutter, which is a good thing. I'm perfectly happy to re-position everything downstairs now to cater for the free movement of my (yet to be named) robot.

mrcheez

Also this might provide some insight...

I think it basically wanders around until it "sees" the charging base via infrared.. it probably tries to get close to the charging base when the battery is almost empty so that it can find it's way home without running out.

CathalDublin

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Any issues with it finding it ways back to charge point?

Never once had any issues there, except when its pushed it's charging point and can no longer dock, I believe its on special on amazon.co.uk at the moment @£;266
https://www.amazon.co.uk/iRobot-Roomba-Vacuum-Cleaning-Robot/dp/B00AXJW94S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1483959348&sr=8-3&keywords=roomba+650

Basically de-clutter, which is a good thing. I'm perfectly happy to re-position everything downstairs now to cater for the free movement of my (yet to be named) robot.

That's basically it, will make you a cleaner person
Picked Jessie(ours) up a set of goggly eyes in Tiger too

mrcheez

CathalDublin wrote: »

Picked Jessie(ours) up a set of goggly eyes in Tiger too

Ha.. must try that... still deciding on a name for mine.. maybe Phil (for no particular reason)

EDIT: Actually it turns out the original Roomba programmer was named Phil Mass ... I think it's a sign!

paulbok

picked up a Vileda robot duster for €15 in Lidl the other day (think it was a clearance item).
Has a velcro on cloth to pick up dust rather than hoover it up, so far doing an ok job.
if nothing else it is getting the dust bunnies from under the couch that tend to be ignored when using the Dyson.

I'd been tempted to get one for a while, so I think this may make up my mind for me and I'll invest in a decent one later in the year.

mrcheez

Phil is doing an outstanding job (I get him to tidy up the house after I cycle home and drag my bike through the house).

Activate Phil, head up for shower, come down to a tidy house.

Shefwedfan

Out of interest how much Roomba set uou back?

mrcheez

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Out of interest how much Roomba set uou back?

Around £265 on Amazon... it's still on at this reduced price although currently out of stock

https://www.amazon.co.uk/iRobot-Roomba-Vacuum-Cleaning-Robot/dp/B00AXJW94S/

Shefwedfan

mrcheez wrote: »

Around £265 on Amazon... it's still on at this reduced price although currently out of stock

https://www.amazon.co.uk/iRobot-Roomba-Vacuum-Cleaning-Robot/dp/B00AXJW94S/

I am about the pull the trigger but the misses will kill me, need to get rid of some of the other 100 devices I have first :-)

givecredit

Shefwedfan wrote: »

I am about the pull the trigger but the misses will kill me, need to get rid of some of the other 100 devices I have first :-)

She will love ya for it. I am working from home today. While i sit here, my Roomba is pottering around my Kitchen, Hallway, Conservatory and Utility room cleaning away. All i have to do is remember to lift my feet when she heads my way.

Later, Ill close the door leading from hallway to kitchen, and open doors to living room and sitting room and let her do her thing again. (Roomba charges in my hallway)

mrcheez

Shefwedfan wrote: »

I am about the pull the trigger but the misses will kill me, need to get rid of some of the other 100 devices I have first :-)

Go for it.. it may not stay at this reduced price for long

http://uk.camelcamelcamel.com/iRobot-Roomba-Vacuum-Cleaning-Robot/product/B00AXJW94S

It's probably one of the most useful "devices" you'll own

*just bear in mind shipping might be a month away or whenever they get new stock in*

B-D-P--

How would these survive to a husky infested home??

Edit: The fur, not them attacking it.

mrcheez

Check the reviews. Should be fine though U may have to clean the brushes after every use.

mel.b

B-D-P-- wrote: »

How would these survive to a husky infested home??

Edit: The fur, not them attacking it.

I have a malamute and was just wondering the exact same thing!

deadlast

What is your opinions on this?

http://www.lidl.ie/en/Offers.htm?action=showDetail&id=51960

Bluefoam

The one I'd be most interested in is the Xiaomi Mi... but I have to stop buying stuff...

Bluefoam

mel.b wrote: »

I have a malamute and was just wondering the exact same thing!

I've never heard of that brand... must be Chinese

Yourself isit

Do these things know where they've been or do they just bang around hitting obstacles and reversing?

Shefwedfan

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Just wondering how the Roomba etc works with finding its way back to base? I got a system on trial and it could cover 150m2. The issue I found was I wanted it to clean 3 rooms at night, large rooms. It would clean them good but every morning would come and find it, battery dead in one of the rooms. It could never seem to find its way back.

It was a cheaper model. Just wondering with the more expensive can you map out house or something so it can find its way back?

I bought a roomba about 8 years ago and had it for 2 years and never ran into problems of it finding its base. Its one of the key features of the roomba. Even basic, cheap clones should have the functionality, as its a relatively easy bit of software. My parents bought the robotic hoover Aldi had about a year ago and it has that feature.

Shefwedfan

Deleted User wrote: »

I bought a roomba about 8 years ago and had it for 2 years and never ran into problems of it finding its base. Its one of the key features of the roomba. Even basic, cheap clones should have the functionality, as its a relatively easy bit of software. My parents bought the robotic hoover Aldi had about a year ago and it has that feature.

I had the below. Once it went from one room to another it would never find it ways back. It would just run till the battery went dead

http://www.gearbest.com/cleaning-appliances/pp_349224.html

mrcheez

Really can't fault the Roomba after a few months of usage. I use it practically every 1 or two days... depending on how much dirt I drag in after cycling home.

Worth spending a bit more than the cheaper ones to guarantee a quality clean.

Shefwedfan

Shefwedfan wrote: »

I had the below. Once it went from one room to another it would never find it ways back. It would just run till the battery went dead

http://www.gearbest.com/cleaning-appliances/pp_349224.html

Well at 106 euro thats probably the cheapest one on the market. The Aldi one my parents bought was 160 I think. Mine was 350 when I bought it and as I said that was 8-9 years ago.

Its simple maths to figure out what the starting point is, but maybe to shave 20 quid off the cost, they didnt add it.

woidoi

Scored a Neato Botvac Connected just after Christmas for £210 in the Amazon warehouse (camelcamelcamel is your friend). I was planking it because they said that it was only in OK condition. I took a gamble as I had been reading that people were having trouble connecting it to the internet. When it arrived I thought my worst fears had come true, the original box had a big gash in the corner. When I opened it up though the Botvac was encased in poly and pristine. I checked the menu and it said that it had five minutes running time. I reckon whoever got it sent it back because of the wifi issue. The day after I bought it Botvac issued an update to the software. Happy days! Works perfectly. In fairness, it worked perfectly without the wifi. I mean how hard is it to press the button on the front. It's their top of the range bot (usually €750 'ish), proper mapping and navigation (no random bumping and turning). It has lithium-ion batteries instead of Nickle Cadmiums. You can see where it has gone and get messages when it's finished. It does our entire 1200 sq foot house and goes from room to room efficiently, then trundles back to its dock to charge. It's great! My wife says it's the best piece of technology we ever bought.

Irish Gunner

Looking at option of getting a Roomba
Any good deals out there or other recommendations?

jmBuildExt

Interested in this too.... Anyone chanced the cheapo eBay Chinese jobbies?
E.g. http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/JISIWEI-Smart-Cleaning-Robot-Vacuum-Floor-Cleaner-Sweeper-Camera-Remote-Control-/182466218340?hash=item2a7bd58964%3Ag%3AdVIAAOSwaEhZIspn&_trkparms=pageci%253A9e7c4947-42ad-11e7-a7e4-74dbd1801de2%257Cparentrq%253A48cb713415c0aa42ecc9991ffffee57a%257Ciid%253A2
I've no carpet just wood and tiles.

Shefwedfan

jmBuildExt wrote: »

Interested in this too.... Anyone chanced the cheapo eBay Chinese jobbies?
E.g. http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/JISIWEI-Smart-Cleaning-Robot-Vacuum-Floor-Cleaner-Sweeper-Camera-Remote-Control-/182466218340?hash=item2a7bd58964%3Ag%3AdVIAAOSwaEhZIspn&_trkparms=pageci%253A9e7c4947-42ad-11e7-a7e4-74dbd1801de2%257Cparentrq%253A48cb713415c0aa42ecc9991ffffee57a%257Ciid%253A2
I've no carpet just wood and tiles.

I had something similar, bought it from Gearbest(see below)

http://www.gearbest.com/cleaning-appliances/pp_349224.html

It worked ok, found it hard to get back to recharge....

Read a few review on that one you linked....a good few people saying the same about returning to the base point.....

I suppose it does depend on area you are covering as well. I have very large rooms, 3 of them I wanted to cover and it just didn't seem to be able to find its way back into middle room with charge if it went into either of the other rooms

slicedpanman

We've been looking into getting a robovac (maybe the Eufy 11) too but I have a question for all of the current robovac owners, that I can't seem to find an answer for online:

Do these manage to get over door saddles ok? i.e. if I leave doors open can the manage to go from room to room?

givecredit

slicedpanman wrote: »

We've been looking into getting a robovac (maybe the Eufy 11) too but I have a question for all of the current robovac owners, that I can't seem to find an answer for online:

Do these manage to get over door saddles ok? i.e. if I leave doors open can the manage to go from room to room?

I own the Roomba 650. Great Machine. It will go over any door saddle with no bother. Always finds its way home to recharge afterwards.

slicedpanman

givecredit wrote: »

I own the Roomba 650. Great Machine. It will go over any door saddle with no bother. Always finds its way home to recharge afterwards.

Good price for the Roomba 650 on Amazon.fr at the moment (€328). A follow up question for you - can you get 2 base stations for the one Roomba? i.e. leave one upstairs and one downstairs and just move the Roomba from floor to floor?

givecredit

slicedpanman wrote: »

Good price for the Roomba 650 on Amazon.fr at the moment (€328). A follow up question for you - can you get 2 base stations for the one Roomba? i.e. leave one upstairs and one downstairs and just move the Roomba from floor to floor?

I really do not know. Not sure why you would want 2 base stations. When I want Roomba to hoover upstairs, I just carry it up and let it do its thing. Then when I get home from work I just have to find it. It will have stopped somewhere when battery drains, usually under a bed. I carryit back down to base station and let it recharge. €351.95 is a good price for it.(Incl delivery and Irish VAT)

slicedpanman

I really do not know. Not sure why you would want 2 base stations. When I want Roomba to hoover upstairs, I just carry it up and let it do its thing. Then when I get home from work I just have to find it. It will have stopped somewhere when battery drains, usually under a bed. I carryit back down to base station and let it recharge. €351.95 is a good price for it.(Incl delivery and Irish VAT)

doh good point - obvious when you say it
time do decide so; roomba 650 or Eufy 11

jmBuildExt

Shefwedfan wrote: »

I had something similar, bought it from Gearbest(see below)

http://www.gearbest.com/cleaning-appliances/pp_349224.html

It worked ok, found it hard to get back to recharge....

Read a few review on that one you linked....a good few people saying the same about returning to the base point.....

I suppose it does depend on area you are covering as well. I have very large rooms, 3 of them I wanted to cover and it just didn't seem to be able to find its way back into middle room with charge if it went into either of the other rooms

Fyi I bought the one in my link above... It does "a" job. Suction etc is grand and if you leave it in a room it will clean the floor eventually. Very frustrating to watch though. It's cleaning pattern seems totally random. It seems it will keep going til it runs out of battery or gets stuck.

Watched a YouTube video of comparison between it and iLife v5 (which is a bit more expensive) and iLife is way more efficient. This one, jisiwei, can find a patch of dirt and then back away, whereas iLife will get straight in and clean it.

Finally, it uses infra red to dock so if it in a different room, it usually won't find its way back. I've seen it where it was 1metre away from the docking station and there was only the leg of a table between them, and it couldn't make it's way round it. Just kept backing off and going for it again as that was line of sight to the ir signal.

Ps. Has a camera on the front which is viewable remotely, so you can drive it round like a security guard, which is kind off cool.

Anyway, as with most things... You get what you pay for

Shefwedfan

jmBuildExt wrote: »

Fyi I bought the one in my link above... It does "a" job. Suction etc is grand and if you leave it in a room it will clean the floor eventually. Very frustrating to watch though. It's cleaning pattern seems totally random. It seems it will keep going til it runs out of battery or gets stuck.

Watched a YouTube video of comparison between it and iLife v5 (which is a bit more expensive) and iLife is way more efficient. This one, jisiwei, can find a patch of dirt and then back away, whereas iLife will get straight in and clean it.

Finally, it uses infra red to dock so if it in a different room, it usually won't find its way back. I've seen it where it was 1metre away from the docking station and there was only the leg of a table between them, and it couldn't make it's way round it. Just kept backing off and going for it again as that was line of sight to the ir signal.

Ps. Has a camera on the front which is viewable remotely, so you can drive it round like a security guard, which is kind off cool.

Anyway, as with most things... You get what you pay for

I did say it would have issues. To be fair the iLife did seems to collect an awful amount of dirt. I ran the hoover over the floors one evening, set it off. Next morning(after I found it under the couch) it was packed full of dirt.

So it worked in terms of cleaning but it just got annoying after a while that it never made its way back.

You did have options to set it how to clean(along edges etc) but I never used them. The pattern it used seemed very random. Go one way, hit something, spin a bit and then head another way. Some of the times it would go over the same bit of floor an awful lot.

Shefwedfan

I am wondering do any companies do a loan version? or a Trial version? I would love to try one of the more expensive models but my Misses would kill me if it was the same as iLife.

Irish Gunner

Deal on Amazon for a Eufy Robot does not have an app but cheaper than others
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eufy-Anker-Robot-Vacuum/dp/B01M5BCRJR/ref=gbps_img_s-3_bf76_c8c9084a?smid=A2PGPJL0BBLHLX&pf_rd_p=78284097-89a3-4697-b673-3d468066bf76&pf_rd_s=slot-3&pf_rd_t=701&pf_rd_i=gb_main&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1MNHFV5QJTZ1KZZ7163E

Slippin Jimmy

Irish Gunner wrote: »

Deal on Amazon for a Eufy Robot does not have an app but cheaper than others
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eufy-Anker-Robot-Vacuum/dp/B01M5BCRJR/ref=gbps_img_s-3_bf76_c8c9084a?smid=A2PGPJL0BBLHLX&pf_rd_p=78284097-89a3-4697-b673-3d468066bf76&pf_rd_s=slot-3&pf_rd_t=701&pf_rd_i=gb_main&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1MNHFV5QJTZ1KZZ7163E

Apologies for bumping an old thread. I have been looking at the Eufy Robot on Amazon. My house has mainly carpets. The dog sheds a good bit of hair. Would this type of vacuum be any good or would I be wasting my money?

Shefwedfan

Slippin Jimmy wrote: »

Apologies for bumping an old thread. I have been looking at the Eufy Robot on Amazon. My house has mainly carpets. The dog sheds a good bit of hair. Would this type of vacuum be any good or would I be wasting my money?

I think it might be a waste of money, better holding out and buying the better models.

I had something similar, probably posted about it here....was ok for wooden floors but I doubt it would do much on carpet. I never did try it so maybe someone else might know?