iRobot’s Roomba… The TRUTH

The other day I flaunted the fact that I got a robot vacuum, and my flaunting seemed to pique you people’s curiosity.

Did you REALLY get one? the emails read,

Did you get it for free? you asked me, and

Does it pick up DOG HAIR? you were dying to know.

Does it actually WORK? you begged me to tell.

And so, in the name of CONSUMER EDUCATION and TRUTH-TELLING of the most profound sort, I am here to answer your questions. Such an altruistic blogger I am!

Did you REALLY get one?
Yes. And I’m sort of offended that you asked. I DON’T make up important stuff like this.

Was it free?
I’m sad to say that I did NOT get it for free. You have to be a way bigger blogger than me to pull that off, sadly. And by bigger I DON’T mean that bigger… PUT THAT DONUT DOWN!

However, I still have (probably misguided) hope of getting one to give away. Can Bananas work her magic on the iRobot people? We shall see. We shall see.

I picked up my Roomba (it’s the newest model) at Costco for $279 on a whim. There was something about a mothering myself running through my mind… and I just put it right in the cart and never looked back.

Does it pick up dog hair?
This question I sadly cannot answer, not having a dog myself. It nicely picks up fish hair. Well… fish food flakes. But that’s about the extent of pet dirt that I can answer for.

Does it actually work?
Somehow by watching the excellent iRobot promotional video, I got it in my head that this miraculous little robot actually scurried all about the house, picking up underwear and putting away toys in its quest to clean absolutely and thoroughly everything in sight. Looking back, I can see that I was a little misguided.

So… If you hear “robot vacuum” and you think “miracle” or “magic cleaning elves” you’re bound to be disappointed. I’m just saying.

Here’s the reality.

1. You have to clean up before the Roomba can do its thing. Which means, in most houses, you probably can’t realistically schedule it to vacuum at a set day and time. Cause first thing you’re gonna forget your prized diamond brooch is laying on the floor, or the buttons, or something… and you’re gonna have a disaster on your hands.
2. The Roomba does best one room at a time. I had it do my living room and dining room (both rather large in size) and it got pretty confused.
3. The dust compartment has to be emptied. A lot. Like every other time you vacuum (or after half a room if your floors are in the state that mine were).
4. The Roomba is quiet. Much quieter than I expected.
5. The little guy is surprisingly nimble. We have wood floors with area rugs and it navigates smartly up and over and around without problem, adjusting to the appropriate setting for the surface that it’s on..
6. It has a woman’s voice. For some reason this was a major letdown to me. I was expecting, oh, I don’t know… Pierce Brosnan, or maybe a robotic voice beep-your-car-pets-are-done-beep.

There are the hidden but delightful unexpected benefits. For example, roomba has provided this family HOURS (literally) of entertainment. The first night that we brought it home we all sat in the living room for TWO HOURS and watched it clean. And watched and watched and watched…

CJ likes to spread his legs and watch it go under them. Or jump over it. Or help it by moving things out of its way. “I’m playing with the robot, mom!” he announces. Now THOSE are words that I never said as a child!

And it’s more than just the family. When we have guests over, just after dinner when we’re sipping coffee and digesting our food, we whip out the Roomba and let it turn on the charm. We all watch with bated breath as it scurries around, cleaning up our crumbs.

Now that’s entertainment.

If I could only figure out what to name the little guy. For some reason, this has me stymied. I’m thinking something British, or robot-like. (There I go with my stereotypes again!)

Ideas?

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