iRobot sweeps in with convenience
Wouldn't it be nice if someone vacuumed your house while you were at work or relaxing on the couch in front of the TV? Well, that's the idea behind the iRobot Roomba.
Priced between $119 and $370, this robotic cleaner has developed a dedicated following since its launch in 2002, with more than 2 million sold worldwide. But if you're hoping for something that will allow you to put away your upright forever, you may be disappointed.
The iRobot is more of a sweeper than a vacuum, relying on rotating brushes that throw dirt up into a catch basin, kind of like a droid version of a push sweeper. The model we tested -- the iRobot Roomba Scheduler Vacuuming Robot ($330) -- can be set on a timer so it will roll out of its docking station, clean an entire room, then return for recharging.
If it sounds a little gimmicky, that's because it is. But in tests, it worked well on both carpet and bare floors, although at times it had difficulty climbing from the hardwood to a throw rug. (It alerts you when it gets stuck, with a little robotic voice that chirps "Uh oh!")
Roomba's AWARE Robot Intelligence System allows the device to sweep the entire floor via sensors that adjust the cleaning pattern up to 67 times a second. It crosses each area four times on average and it can clean for two hours on a single charge. And while it may miss tight edges or corners, it's great at getting into those hard-to-clean places such as under the bed, dresser or couch. And its sensors keep it from falling down the stairs.
The Roomba's not really meant to replace your main vacuum, says marketing director Nancy Dussault. Rather, consider it a nifty maintenance tool for all those "Saturday cleaners" who wait until the weekend to tackle their carpets and floors.
The Roomba won't do any deep cleaning. It will, however, do a fair job of keeping things under control until you can get around to a more serious cleaning. It's the only model we've tested that actually makes vacuuming fun, and the only one we were truly sorry to pack up and send back to the manufacturer.